Dec. 9, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State wrestling team, holding the No. 1 spot on Intermat's TPI, shut-out visiting Indiana 52-0 in the Big Ten dual meet opener for each team. The Nittany Lions collected six pins and sophomore Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) tallied the evening's biggest win with a victory at heavyweight for head coach Cael Sanderson.
With over 6,100 fans packing sold-out Rec Hall, Penn State put on a pinning show to begin the match. The Nittany Lions notched four straight falls on their way to a 27-0 halftime lead. Sophomore All-American Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 3 at 125, pinned Indiana's Joe Duca at the 4:36 mark. Red-shirt freshman Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) picked up his first collegiate fall, pinning Hoosier Quin Murphy at the 4:42 mark.
Senior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) picked up his third pin of the year, getting a fall (4:42) over IU's Eric Roach. Sophomore Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 5 nationally at 149 and making his season dual meet debut, made it four in a row for the team with a quick 0:52 fall over Hoosier senior Geno Capezio. Alton's pin was his sixth in a 7-0 start to the year. Sophomore All-American Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 5 nationally at 157, dominated Indiana's Taylor Walsh to the tune of an 11-6 decision, giving Penn State a 27-0 lead heading into intermission.
Two-time All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 2 at 165, dominated No. 18 Ryan LeBlanc in the bout's marquee match-up, posting the 8-0 major. Sophomore Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 3 at 174, followed that up with Penn State's fifth pin, getting a fall over Cheney Dale at the 6:40 mark. Two-time All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 184, connected on Penn State's sixth fall of the dual, finishing off an early cradle for a pin (1:24).
Senior Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 3 at 197, received a forfeit at 197, putting the Nittany Lions up 49-0. With a packed Rec Hall looking for a shut-out, sophomore heavyweight Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) brought the fans to their feet, collecting two third period takedowns on his way to a 6-5 win over No. 8 Adam Chalfant of Indiana. The final victory gave Penn State the 52-0 shut-out.
The Nittany Lions posted a lop-sided 27-1 edge in takedowns, with Chalfant getting IU's only one. PSU's six pins, a forfeit and a major amounted to 22 bonus points. The shut-out is Penn State's fifth under Sanderson and the first since a 43-0 Big Ten road shut-out at Wisconsin on Jan. 15, 2012. The margin of victory was the most for a Penn State team since joining the Big Ten conference in 1992-93 and the most-lopsided win for Penn State since a 54-0 win over Millersville on Jan. 25, 1983. Top-ranked Penn State moves to 3-0, 1-0 in the Big Ten. Indiana is now 5-3, 0-1 Big Ten.
The Nittany Lions host neighborhood rival Lock Haven on Saturday, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m. in Rec Hall. Already a sell-out, only a limited number of standing room only seats are available. Penn State's full season of home duals was sold out prior to the season opener, but limited SRO tickets are available for select dual meets. For information on which duals have a limited number of SRO tickets available and to purchase tickets, fans can call 1-800-NITTANY or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office windows from 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstateWREST and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2012-13 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
#1 Penn State 52, Indiana 0
December 9, 2012 - University Park, Pa. - Rec Hall
125: #3 Nico Megaludis PSU, WBF Joe Duca IND (4:36) 6-0
133: Jordan Conaway PSU, WBF Quin Murphy IND (4:42) 12-0
141: Bryan Pearsall PSU, WBF Eric Roach IND (4:32) 18-0
149: #5 Andrew Alton PSU, WBF Geno Capezio IND (0:52) 24-0
157: #5 Dylan Alton PSU, 11-6 dec. Taylor Walsh IND 27-0
165: #2 David Taylor PSU, 8-0 maj. dec. #18 Ryan LeBlanc IND 31-0
174: #3 Matt Brown PSU, WBF Cheney Dale IND (6:40) 37-0
184: #1 Ed Ruth PSU, WBF Luke Sheridan IND (1:24) 43-0
197: #3 Quentin Wright PSU won by forfeit 49-0
285: Jon Gingrich PSU, 6-5 dec. #8 Adam Chalfant IND 52-0
Attendance: 6,152
Records: Penn State 3-0, 1-0 Big Ten; Indiana 5-3, 0-1 Big Ten
Up Next for Penn State: Home vs. Lock Haven, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2 p.m., Rec Hall
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: All-American Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 3 at 125, took on Indiana sophomore Joe Duca. Megaludis gained control of Duca's leg and finished off his first takedown at the 1:40 mark. He then cut Duca loose and quickly took him down again for a 4-2 lead at the 1:10 mark. The Lions sophomore added a third takedown off a reset and then rode Duca out to lead 6-2 after three minutes of wrestling. Duca chose down to start the second period, was cut loose by Megaludis. The Lion picked up a stall point and then tacked on a flurry of takedowns to up his lead to 11-5 at the 1:00 mark of the second period. Continuing his offensive outburst, Megaludis tacked on two more takedowns before turning Duca to his back for a pin at the 4:36 mark. It was Megaludis' third pin of the year.
133: Red-shirt freshman Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) met IU freshman Quin Murphy at 133. Conaway drew first blood with a fast takedown that he turned into a near fall and a 4-0 lead early. But Murphy managed a reversal to cut the lead to 4-2 before Conaway reversed Murphy and led 6-2 after one period. Conaway chose neutral to start the second period and used a quick low double to up his lead to 8-2 at the 1:30 mark. Conaway then put together a strong ride, picking up a riding time point before cutting Murphy loose. A quick takedown led to a fast Conaway turn and the Nittany Lion freshman picked up the pin at the 4:42 mark to put Penn State up 12-0. The pin was Conaway's first of the year.
141: Senior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) battled Hoosier freshman Eric Roach at 141. Pearsall and Roach traded shots early in the match, battling evenly for two minutes. The Lion senior connected on a low double to lead 2-0 at the 1:00 mark and the put together an effective ride, building up a solid time advantage with a ride-out. Trailing 2-0, Roach chose down to start the second stanza. Pearsall took advantage of the decision, connecting on a cradle and turning Roach to his back for three back points, nearly getting the pin. Leading 5-0 with 1:05 on the clock, Pearsall continued to dominate Roach and this time finished off the cradle to get the pin at the 4:32 mark, Penn State's third straight fall (and the third for Pearsall this year).
149: Sophomore Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 149, made his '12-13 dual meet debut against Indiana senior Geno Capezio. Alton connected on the first takedown to lead 2-0 less than :20 into the bout. Capezio escaped to cut the lead to 2-1. Alton wasted no time connecting after that, gaining control of Capezio's shoulders, turning the Hoosier to his back and getting the quick pin at the 0:52 mark. Alton moved to 7-0 on the year with six pins.
157: Sophomore All-American Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 157, met talented Hoosier sophomore Taylor Walsh, who carried a 15-3 record into the bout. Alton scored first, taking Walsh down for a 2-1 lead after quick Walsh escape at the 2:20 mark. Alton was continued to force the action. The Lion sophomore countered a Walsh shot for a 4-1 lead with 1:16 on the clock. Walsh escaped after a reset and action resumed in the center circle. Alton chose down to start the second period and quickly reversed Walsh to lead 6-3 after a quick IU escape. Trailing 6-3, Walsh chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 6-4 deficit. Alton answered with yet another takedown, upping his lead to 8-4 at the 1:40 mark. Walsh escaped to an 8-5 score. Alton continued to pour on the offense, using a high double for another takedown and a 10-6 lead as time wound down. Alton rolled on to the 10-6 win, putting Penn State up 27-0 at the half.
165: Two-time All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 2 at 165, took on No. 18 Ryan LeBlanc of Indiana. Taylor came out fast, nearly connecting on a shot out of the blocks. LeBlanc fought off the early effort, keeping the bout scoreless a minute in. Taylor continued to shoot and LeBlanc played defense into the midway point of the opening period. Taylor took a low single and LeBlanc countered, nearly scoring himself. But Taylor was able to get to his feet and keep the bout scoreless at the :45 mark. Tied 0-0, Taylor chose down to start the second period. He quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Taylor worked steadily to break through LeBlanc's defense, picking up his takedown at the :55 mark to lead 3-0. Taylor then rode LeBlanc out to lead 3-0 after two periods. LeBlanc chose neutral to start the third period. Taylor worked to force the tempo and LeBlanc backed off the mat. With the Hoosier playing defense, Taylor used a low single to take the IU grappler down and up his lead to 5-0. The Lion All-American worked for a turning combination, picking up three near fall points to post the convincing 8-0 major decision.
174: Sophomore Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 3 at 174, met IU's Cheney Dale. Brown and Dale battled through an even first period with the Lion sophomore forcing Dale towards the outside circle and the Hoosier fighting off Brown's shots. Brown turned a low single into a scramble and a takedown at the :30 mark to lead 2-0. A quick ride out gave the Lion the two point lead after one period. Brown chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Brown used a low shot at Dale's ankle to up his lead to 5-0 with another takedown, which led to a strong Brown ride. The Lion then forced Dale over on his shoulder, picking up two near fall points to lead 7-0 at the :20 mark. Dale chose down to start the third period and Brown continued to build his riding time edge. Dale escaped at the 1:30 mark, but Brown quickly shot low and upped his lead to 9-1 with another takedown. Brown cut Dale loose to a 9-2 lead. He picked up a stall point then added three more quick takedowns before hitting a cradle. Brown got the pin at the 6:40 mark, Penn State's fifth of the dual and Brown's second of the year.
184: Two-time All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 184, battled Indiana sophomore Luke Sheridan. Ruth wasted no time opening up a lead, getting a quick takedown and cutting Sheridan loose to lead 2-1. He then added another takedown and cut and led 4-2 with 2:06 on the clock. Quickly joining in Penn State's pin barrage, Ruth turned the takedown into a cradle and picked up the pin at the 1:24 mark, Penn State's second first period pin of the dual and sixth overall.
197: Three-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 3 at 197, received a forfeit at 197 and improved his season record to 8-0.
285: With Penn State sophomore Jimmy Lawson (Tom's River, N.J.), ranked No. 15 at 285, getting the day off, the Lions sent talented sophomore Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) into action where he met Indiana junior Adam Chalfant, who was ranked No. 8. Chalfant got the first takedown, taking a 2-0 lead early. But Gingrich battled to an escape and trailed 2-1 with :40 on the clock. The duo battled evenly for the rest of the period and the Nittany Lion sophomore trailed by one after the first period. Chalfant chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 3-1 lead with 1:40 on the clock. Gingrich got hit with a first stall warning at the :55 mark and then shot low, looking to connect on a single. Chalfant countered but Gingrich fought the move off and trailed 3-1 after two periods. Gingrich chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 deficit. Sensing an upset, Gingrich countered a Chalfant shot and posted a takedown to briefly lead 4-3. Chalfant escaped and the bout resumed knotted at 4Gingrich chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 deficit. Sensing an upset, Gingrich countered a Chalfant shot and posted a takedown to briefly lead 4-3. Chalfant escaped and the bout resumed knotted at 4-4 with 1:10 on the clock. Gingrich forced a scramble and then took Chalfant down again, taking a 6-4 lead with :45 on the clock. The Lion sophomore then rode Chalfant to the :22 mark, with the Hoosier escaping to a 6-5 Lion lead. Gingrich fought off Chalfant's last efforts and thrilled the SRO crowd with the 6-5 win.