Jan. 20, 2013
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 1 nationally in Intermat's TPI, beat home standing Purdue 35-3 in a Big Ten road dual on Sunday. The Nittany Lions, under the guidance of veteran head coach Cael Sanderson, received pins from David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) and Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) in the win.
Sophomore All-American Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) once again got the dual off to a hot start, posting a dominating 5-1 win over No. 17 Camden Eppert of Purdue. Megaludis piled up 3:43 in riding time in the victory over the ranked Boilermaker. Red-shirt freshman Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) remained unbeaten in dual meets with a convincing 13-4 major over Purdue's Danny Sabatello at 133. Senior Bryan Pearsall continued his strong season with a 4-2 win over Boilermaker Brandon Nelsen at 141.
Purdue picked up a win at 149 as undefeated Ivan Lopouchanski, ranked No. 13, downed Nittany Lion James English (York, Pa.) 5-2 to cut Penn State's lead to 10-3. The victory would end up being the lone one for the home standing Boilermakers as Penn State went on to real off six straight wins to close out the dual. Junior James Vollrath (Richboro, Pa.) posted a strong 12-9 win over Purdue senior Tommy Churchard at 157 to give Penn State a 13-3 lead at intermission.
Two-time All-American Taylor, ranked No. 2 at 165, continued the Lion onslaught after the break, getting a first period fall over Doug Welch at the 2:41 mark. Sophomore Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 3 at 174, was impressive as well, notching a 15-3 major over Kyle Mosier. Two-time All-American Ruth, ranked No. 1 at 184, matched Taylor's pin, this time with a second period fall over Dian Crowder at the 3:42 mark. Three-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 3 at 197, downed No. 17 Braden Atwood 7-1 in a key battle at 197. Sophomore Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) rounded out the Penn State victory with a 4-1 win over Alex White at 285.
The Nittany Lions improve to 7-0, 4-0 in Big Ten action, while Purdue falls to 10-5, 1-3. Penn State is now 37-3 in its four Big Ten duals and has outscored its opponents by a combined score of 164-9. Taylor and Ruth both joined Wright on Penn State's top ten career pins list as well. Taylor now has 31 and Ruth now has 30. Wright picked up his 34th last night. Wright is tied for second, Taylor is tied for 7th and Ruth is tied for 10th.
Penn State's next action will be on Sunday, Jan. 27, when No. 13 Nebraska invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual. Penn State's full season of home duals is sold out but limited Standing Room Only 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 35, Purdue 3
January 20, 2013 - West Lafayette, Ind.
125: #2 Nico Megaludis PSU dec. #17 Camden Eppert PUR, 5-1 3-0
133: Jordan Conaway PSU maj. dec. Danny Sabatello PUR, 13-4 7-0
141: Bryan Pearsall PSU dec. Brandon Nelsen PUR, 4-2 10-0
149: #13 Ivan Lopouchanski PUR dec. James English PSU, 5-2 10-3
157: James Vollrath PSU dec. Tommy Churchard PUR, 12-9 13-3
165: #2 David Taylor PSU pinned Doug Welch PUR, WBF (2:41) 19-3
174: #3 Matt Brown PSU maj. dec. Kyle Mosier PUR, 15-3 23-3
184: #1 Ed Ruth PSU pinned Dion Crowder PUR, WBF (3:42) 29-3
197: #3 Quentin Wright PSU dec. #17 Braden Atwood PUR, 7-1 32-3
285: #16 Jon Gingrich PSU dec. Alex White PUR, 4-1 35-3
Attendance: 803
Records: Penn State 7-0, 4-0 Big Ten; Purdue 10-5, 1-3 Big Ten
Up Next for Penn State: Home vs. #13 Nebraska, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: All-American Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 125, met No. 17 Camden Eppert of Purdue in one of the dual's marquee match-ups. Megaludis quickly took Eppert down by countering an early Eppert shot. Leading 2-1, Megaludis controlled the action for the bulk of the first period, keeping Eppert moving backwards while looking for a chance to score. Trailing 2-1, Eppert chose down to start the second period. Megaludis put together a strong ride, however, maintaining control for the entire period to lead 2-1 with 2:36 riding time after two periods. Megaludis chose down to start the third period and steadily worked his way to a reversal and a 4-1 lead at the 1:30 mark. Megaludis clinched the riding time point and then began looking for a chance to turn the ranked Boilermaker. While not managing to turn Eppert, Megaludis rolled to a 5-1 win with 3:43 in riding time.
133: Sophomore Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) met Purdue's Danny Sabatello at 133. The Boilermaker red-shirt freshman notched the first takedown, opening up a 2-0 lead at the 2:20 mark. Conaway forced a scramble trying to reverse Sabatello but the Boiler was able to force a stalemate and keep his 2-0 lead at the :35 mark. Conaway continued to work his magic underneath, however and scrambled his way to a reversal with :10 left, nearly turning Sabatello in the process. Tied 2-2, Conaway chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 lead. He then used a swift low single for his first takedown. He then turned Sabatello for three near fall points to lead 8-2 after two periods. Sabatello chose down to start the final stanza and quickly reversed Conaway to cut the lead to 8-5 after a quick Conaway escape. The Nittany Lion freshman was undaunted, however, notching another takedown and turning Sabatello for two more back points and a 13-4 lead. Conaway then rode the Boiler out to post the convincing 13-4 major decision.
141: Senior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) took on Boilermaker Brandon Nelsen at 141. The duo battled through a scoreless two minutes before Nelson instigated a scramble that resulted the duo fighting for position. The action resulted in a stalemate at the :20 mark and the bout moved to the second period tied 0-0. Nelsen chose down to start the second period and Pearsall nearly turned the Boiler for back points. But Nelsen continued to work and reversed Pearsall for a 2-0 lead at the :55 mark. Pearsall escaped to a 2-1 deficit with :40 left in the period and trailed by one heading into the third. Pearsall chose down to start the third period and returned the reversal favor but working his way around Nelsen for the two-pointer. Leading 3-2, Pearsall put together a strong ride, building up over 1:00 in riding time in the process. Pearsall went on to ride Nelsen out and posted the strong 4-2 win, putting Penn State up 10-0.
149: Senior James English (York, Pa.) faced off with No. 13 Ivan Lopouchanski in a key battle at 149. Lopouchanski entered the dual undefeated at 17-0. English forced the bout's first scramble, getting in on a low single that nearly led to a takedown on the edge of the mat. But the ranked Boiler forced a stalemate at the 1:15 mark and action returned to the center circle. The Lion senior took another solid single but once again Lopouchanski was able to defend the move and force a stalemate. Tied 0-0, English chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. A quick scramble in the middle of the mat led to a Lopouchanski takedown, giving the Boilermaker a 2-1 lead at the 1:14 mark. English quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. The Boilermaker added a second takedown with :20 left and then rode English out to lead 4-2 after two periods. Lopouchanski chose down to start the third and English cut him loose to a 5-2 score. English fought for a takedown but Lopouchanski was able to stay out of trouble and the Boilermaker picked up a hard-fought 5-2 win.
157: Junior James Vollrath (Richboro, Pa.) took on Purdue senior Tommy Churchard at 157. Vollrath used a quick low single to notch the bout's first takedown and led 2-1 early on. Vollrath continued to work on offense with Churchard's defense holding steady. With :25 on the clock, Vollrath used a head inside single to gain control of the Boilermaker and get a second takedown as the period ended. Trailing 4-1, Churchard chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 4-2 score. Vollrath continued his offensive pressure, picking up a third takedown at the 1:05 mark. But Churchard quickly reversed the Lion junior and cut the lead to 6-4. Vollrath worked his way to an escape and a 7-4 lead at the :22 mark. Vollrath chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to an 8-4 lead. After a Churchard shot, Vollrath used another low single for another takedown and led 10-5 after a quick Purdue escape. Churchard got his first takedown but was countered by a Vollrath reversal. Churchard had a final reversal of his own but Vollrath went on to post the 12-9 win.
165: Two-time All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 2 at 165, met up with Purdue's Doug Welch. Taylor wasted no time, getting a takedown five seconds into the bout. Taylor cut Welch loose and then immediately took him down again. Another cut led to a third takedown and a 6-2 Taylor lead just over 1:00 into the bout. Taylor then spent the next minute-plus trying to turn Welch but eventually cut him loose to an 8-4 lead with :35 on the clock. Welch took a low single that Taylor countered. Taylor then stepped over Welch, got the takedown and quickly turned the Boilermaker to his back, picking up another first period pin (this one at the 2:41 mark).
174: Sophomore Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 3 at 174, wrestled Purdue's Kyle Mosier. Brown picked up the first takedown early, opening up a 2-0 lead on the edge of the mat at the 2:24 mark. Brown then dominated action from the top position, working up over 1:00 in riding time. Mosier worked his way to an escape but Brown quickly slid down through a low double and another takedown. Brown wrapped up a cradle and picked up three near fall points to lead 7-1 after the opening stanza. Mosier chose down to start the second period but Brown continued to maintain control, building up nearly 3:00 total riding time before Mosier escaped. Brown forced Mosier into a first stall warning and then used a low diving double for a takedown and a 9-2 lead. Brown, leading 9-2 with over 3:00 of riding time, chose down to start the third period. Brown quickly escaped and then countered a Mosier shot, working his way into control and another takedown. Brown cut Mosier loose and worked for one final takedown. With just :01 left, Brown's continued pressure led to a final takedown and a 15-3 major.
184: Two-time All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 184, met Boiler sophomore Dion Crowder. Ruth used a low single early to gain control of Crowder. But a minute's worth of work on the edge of the mat did not lead to any score and action resumed in the center circle scoreless. Ruth picked up his takedown with :55 left in the opening period and then turned Crowder to his back for two near fall points. Trailing 4-0, Crowder chose down to start the second period. Ruth quickly took the Boilermaker down and cut him loose to 6-1 lead. Another Ruth takedown and the Lion was up 8-1 with 1:24 on the clock. Ruth then gained control of Crowder's arm, turned him to his back and got the pin at the 3:42 mark, putting Penn State up 29-3.
197: Three-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 3 at 197, met No. 17 Braden Atwood in another of the dual's key bouts. Wright wasted no time taking an early lead, taking the ranked Boilermaker down for a 2-0 lead with just over 2:00 on the first period clock. Wright put together a strong ride, forcing Atwood into a stall warning and building up over 2:00 riding time with the ride-out. Wright chose down to start the second period and steadily worked his way to an escape and a 3-0 lead with 1:22 on the clock. The duo traded high shots with :35 left on the clock with no one connecting and Wright carried the 3-0 lead with 1:31 riding time into the third period. Atwood chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 deficit. Atwood was called for a second stall and Wright led 4-1 with :40 left with a clinched riding time point. The Lion senior battled his way for a final takedown and, with the bonus point, rolled to the 7-1 win.
285: Sophomore Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 16 at 285, battled Purdue's Alex White. The tandem battled through a scoreless first period and Gingrich chose down to start the second stanza. A quick escape gave the Nittany Lion sophomore a 1-0 lead and action resumed in the center circle. Gingrich then reset himself and blew through a high double leg for a takedown and a 3-0 lead with just over 1:00 on the clock. Gingrich then controlled the action, building up nearly 1:00 riding time before White escaped. Trailing 3-1, White chose down to start the third period but Gingrich controlled the action, working his way to more than 1:00 in riding time. Gingrich spent the entire period in control and, with the ride-out, rolled to the 4-1 win with 2:57 in riding time.