March 21, 2013
BLOG: NCAA Session I Roundup
DES MOINES, Iowa - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team sits in first place after the opening session of the 2013 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Penn State holds a slim lead over Oklahoma State at Wells Fargo Arena thanks in large part to a flurry of bonus point victories. Penn State sits in first place with 14.5 points while OSU has 13.0.
Sophomore All-American Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), the No. 4 seed at 125, blazed his way through Ohio's Kevon Powell to start the tournament, posing a 17-2 technical fall at the 6:25 mark, picking up key bonus points early for Penn State. Sophomore All-American Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), the No. 8 seed at 157, had Penn State's only pigtail of the day and made it count with a 10-2 major over Columbia's Jake O'Hara. He then used three takedowns and an escape to roll to an 8-4 win over Pittsburgh's Donnie Tasser in the first round.
Junior David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), the defending NCAA champion at 165, opened up his quest for a second crown in outstanding fashion. Taylor, the No. 2 seed, turned North Carolina's John Staudenmayer twice before picking up the first period pin at the 2:51 mark. Sophomore Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), the No. 2 seed at 174, continued Penn State's bonus point barrage with a dominating 10-1 major decision over Missouri's Todd Porter. Brown picked up takedowns in each period and forced Porter into three stalls
Junior Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), the defending NCAA champion at 174 and the undefeated No. 1 seed at 184, made short work of Lock Haven's Fred Garcia in his first bout. Ruth took Garcia down early and then locked up a cradle for a fall at the 0:28 mark, continuing Penn State's string of bonus point victories. Three-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), NCAA champ at 184 two years ago and the No. 2 seed at 197, opened up his quest for a national title with a solid 7-3 win over Rider's Donald McNeil, using three takedowns and an escape to secure the victory.
Red-shirt freshman Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), the No. 12 seed at 133, made his NCAA tournament debut against Rutgers' Vincent Dellafave. Conaway battled the Knight into sudden victory but dropped a 3-1 (sv) decision. Senior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.), unseeded at 141, lost a battle of scrambles to Northern Iowa's Joey Lazor, falling 12-4. Sophomore Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) then dropped a tough 4-1 decision to Missouri's Drake Houdashelt. Sophomore Jimmy Lawson (Tom's River, N.J.) mounted a late comeback before dropping a 4-3 decision to Ohio's Jeremy Johnson at heavyweight. All four of these Nittany Lions are still alive, looking to finish as high as third place, and begin their work towards All-America status in tonight's consolation action.
The Nittany Lions went 7-4 overall in session one, stacking up 7.5 bonus points off two pins, one technical fall and two majors. Penn State is looking to win its third straight NCAA title after claiming the crown in 2011 in Philadelphia and 2012 in St. Louis.
The event continues this evening with session two, starting at 7:30 p.m. Eastern/6:30 p.m. Central, in the Wells Fargo Arena. The three-day event runs March 21-23, concluding Saturday night with the championship finals and the crowning of the team champion. 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.
2013 NCAA Wrestling Championships - Team Standings After Session 1 - -TOP FIVE
Thursday, March 21, 2013 - Wells Fargo Arena - Des Moines, Iowa
1: PENN STATE - 14.5
2: Oklahoma State - 13.0
3: Minnesota - 11.0
4: Iowa - 10.0
5: Iowa State - 9.0
Northern Iowa - 9.0
Oregon State - 9.0
The following is a weight-by-weight breakdown/agate of Penn State's tournament to date (rankings listed are NCAA Championship Seed):
125: #4 Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), Sr. - 25-3 overall
1st Rd: vs. Kevon Powell, Ohio - W, 17-2 TF (6:25)
2nd Rd: vs. Christian Cullinan, Central Michigan - Tonight
All-American Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), the tournament's No. 4 seed at 125, began his quest for a national title with a big win. Megaludis, last year's NCAA runner-up as a true freshman, opened the tournament against Ohio's Kevon Powell, and rolled to a 17-2 technical fall at the 6:25 mark. The win, including 1.5 bonus points, moved Megaludis into the second round.
133: #12 Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) Fr. - 16-9 overall
1st Rd: vs. Vincent Dellafave, Rutgers - L, 1-3 (SV)
Cn 1: vs. Dylan Hyder, Air Force - Tonight
Red-shirt freshman Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), the No. 12 seed at 133 as a red-shirt freshman, made his NCAA Championship debut against Rutgers' Vincent Dellafave. Conaway battled the Knight into sudden victory and nearly one on a single leg, but Dellafave countered and got the takedown himself for a 3-1 (sv) win. The loss dropped Conaway into consolation action.
141: Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.), Sr. - 23-10
1st Rd: vs. Joey Lazor, Northern Iowa - L, 4-12 maj. dec.
Cn 1: vs. Frank Goodwin, Maryland - Tonight
Senior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) made his NCAA Championship debut at 141 against Northern Iowa's Joey Lazor, who won a pigtail match earlier in the day. Lazor won a battle of scrambles and worked his way to a 12-4 win, dropping the Nittany Lion into consolation action.
149: #11 Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), So. - 26-5 overall
1st Rd: vs. Drake Houdashelt, Missouri - L, 1-4
Cn 1: Daniel Young, Army - Tonight
Sophomore Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) entered the NCAA tournament as the No. 11 seed at 149 and opened the tournament against Drake Houdashelt of Missouri. Houdashelt used near fall points in the second period to escape with a tough 4-1 win, sending Alton into the consolation bracket.
157: #8 Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), So. - 27-6 overall
Pigtail: vs. Jake O'Hara, Columbia - W, 10-2 maj. dec.
1st Rd: vs. Donnie Tasser, Pittsburgh - W, 8-4 dec.
2nd Rd: vs. Zac Cibula, Rider - Tonight
Sophomore All-American Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), the No. 8 seed at 157, had Penn State's only pigtail and made it count with a 10-2 major over Columbia's Jake O'Hara, picking up bonus points and moving into a first round match-up with Pitt's Donnie Tasser. Alton then rolled up the takedowns in a thorough 8-4 win over the Panther, moving into the second round after a 2-0 morning.
165: #2 David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), Jr. - 27-1 overall
1st Rd: vs. John Staudenmayer, North Carolina - WBF (2:51)
2nd Rd: vs. Zach Strickland, Appalachian State - Tonight
Defending NCAA Champion David (St. Paris, Ohio), the No. 2 seed at 165, opened up defense of his 165-pound NCAA crown against North Carolina's John Staudenmayer. Taylor dominated from the start, turning the Tar Heel twice before picking up the first period pin at the 2:51 mark, grabbing key bonus points and moving into the second round.
174: #2 Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) -- 26-4 overall
1st Rd: vs. Todd Porter, Missouri - W, 10-1 maj. dec.
2nd Rd: vs. Nick Bonaccorsi, Pittsburgh - Tonight
Sophomore Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) entered his first NCAA Championship as the No. 2 seed at 174 and began his title quest against Missouri's Todd Porter. Brown was in charge from the start, using a takedown in each period and forced Porter to three stalls on his way to an impressive 10-1 major decision. The win, tacking on another team bonus point, moved Brown into the second round.
184: #1 Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), Jr. - 29-0 overall
1st Rd: vs. Fred Garcia, Lock Haven - WBF (0:28)
2nd Rd: vs. Kevin Radford, Arizona State - Tonight
Defending NCAA 174-pound champion Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), the No. 1 seed at 184 with a 28-0 mark, opened up his third NCAA tournament against Lock Haven's Fred Garcia. After fighting off an early Garcia shot, Ruth put his patented cradle to work, taking Garcia down and quickly locking him up for a first period pin at the 0:28 mark. The win, which added more bonus points to Penn State's team score, moved Ruth into the second round.
197: #2 Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), Sr. - 28-0 overall
1st Rd: vs. Donald McNeil, Rider - W, 7-3 dec.
2nd Rd: vs. Branden Palik, Drexel - Tonight
Three-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), the undefeated No. 2 seed at 197, opened up the 2013 NCAA Championship against Rider's Donald McNeil. Wright controlled the action from start to finish three takedowns to roll to a 7-3 win and move into the second round.
285: Jimmy Lawson (Tom's River, N.J.) - 22-8 overall
1st Rd: vs. Jeremy Johnson, Ohio - L, 3-4 dec.
Cn. 1: vs. Ben Apland, Michigan - Tonight
Sophomore Jimmy Lawson (Tom's River N.J.) made his NCAA Championship debut at 285 against Ohio's Jeremy Johnson. Lawson tried to complete a comeback from a 4-0 deficit late with an escape and a late takedown but dropped a 4-3 decision. The loss pushed Lawson into the consolation bracket.