March 8, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
VIDEO: McIntosh, Taylor Lead Five Nittany Lions to Big Ten Finals
Head coach Cael Sanderson's Penn State wrestling squad finds itself in first place at the conclusion of day one at the 2014 Big Ten Wrestling Championships. The Nittany Lions, working for their fourth straight Big Ten crown, will have five wrestlers in the Championship Finals tomorrow afternoon. Penn State leads rival Iowa by a slim one point margin, 122.0 to 121.0, in the team race.
Junior Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), the No. 1 at 125, withstood a strong effort from fourth-seeded Ryan Taylor of Wisconsin. Megaludis battled his way to a 4-3 win on 1:45 in riding time to advance to tomorrow's Big Ten title bout against Illinois' Jesse Delgado.
True freshman Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), the No. 1 seed at 141, dominated Michigan's Stephen Dutton in his semifinal bout, rolling to a 4-0 win with 1:15 riding time to advance to the finals tomorrow against Ohio State's Logan Stieber.
Senior David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), the No. 1 seed at 165, made short work of fifth-seed Jackson Morse of Illinois in the semifinals, gaining control of the Illini's shoulders, stepping over his chest and turning his shoulders flat to the mat for a pin in just 0:40. The pin was Taylor's 13th of the year and the 50th of his career, leaving him three shy of the Penn State record of 53. Taylor will take on Iowa's Nick Moore in the finals tomorrow.
Senior Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), the No. 1 seed at 184, took care of Michigan's Dom Abounader in the semifinals, rolling to a 9-1 major decision with over 3:00 in riding time (3:05). Ruth's impressive victory moves him into tomorrow's finals where he will face third-seed Ethan Lofthouse of Iowa.
Sophomore Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), the No. 1 seed at 197, used a late reversal in the tie breaker period to grab a 3-2 (tb) win over Iowa's Nathan Burak, the fifth-seed. Each wrestler had an escape in regulation and wrestled a minute of scoreless action in the sudden victory period. McIntosh rode Burak for all but a second of the opening tie-breaker stanza but the Hawkeye's late escape gave him a 2-1 lead. McIntosh was steady on bottom, however, deftly working his way into control of Burak with :07 left for a reversal. A short ride out gave the Lion sophomore the 3-2 (tb) win and moved him into the finals tomorrow where he will take on Nick Heflin of Ohio State.
Junior Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), the No. 2 seed at 174, suffered a 3-2 upset at the hands of Iowa's Mike Evans, giving up a first period takedown that would prove to be the difference. Brown shifts down to the consolation semifinals tomorrow morning.
Junior Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.), the No. 8 seed at 285, could not follow up his upset of the tournament's top seed by defeating the defending NCAA Champion. Tony Nelson of Minnesota was able to pin Gingrich at the 1:58 mark and send the Lion junior into the consolation semifinals tomorrow morning.
Red-shirt freshman Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), the No. 7 seed at 133, punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships with a solid 9-4 win over Nebraska's Shawn Nagel in his first consolation bout. He then dropped a tough 6-1 decision to Ohio State's Johnni DiJulius in the conso quarters and will wrestle for seventh place tomorrow morning
Senior James English (York, Pa.), the No. 7 seed at 149, picked up his first career win at the Big Ten Championships in the first round of consolation action, riding Purdue's Brandon Nelsen for the entire third period to post a 3-2 decision thanks to 1:23 in riding time. Needing one more win to move on to NCAAs, used a second period near fall and ride-out to post a 5-2 win over sixth-seed Ian Paddock of Ohio State, earning his first trip to the NCAA Championships, Penn State's 10th qualifier.
Junior Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), the No. 5 seed at 157, posted a hard-fought 2-1 win over Ohio State's Randy Languis in his first consolation bout, using a quick third period escape to secure 1:00 in riding time to post the critical point. The win moves Alton on to the NCAA Championships as well. In the consolation quarters, Michigan's Brian Murphy notched a late takedown to post a 3-1 win over Alton, sending Alton to the seventh place bout.
The Nittany Lions went 9-3 in the second session, including a 5-2 mark in the semifinals and are now 23-7 overall. Penn State's bonus point tally stands at 15 off two pins, one default win, two techs and six majors. The event continues on Sunday with consolation and seventh place bouts at 12 p.m. Eastern (11 a.m. Central). The Championship Finals begin at 2 p.m. Eastern (1 p.m. Central) and air live on the Big Ten Network. 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 2013-14 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline. 2014 Big Ten Wrestling Championships - Team Standings After Session 2 Saturday, March 8, 2014 - Kohl Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Wis.
1: PENN STATE, 122.0
2: Iowa, 121.0
3: Minnesota, 86.0
4: Ohio State,73.5
5: Illinois, 69.5
6: Nebraska, 68.0
7: Wisconsin, 58.0
8: Michigan, 49.5
9: Northwestern, 44.0
10: Indiana, 34.0
11: Purdue, 30.0
12: Michigan State, 15.0
The following is a weight-by-weight breakdown/agate of Penn State's tournament to date (rankings listed are Final NCAA Coaches Rankings):
125: #2 Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), Jr. - #1 seed - 26-2 overall NCAA QUALIFIER
1st Rd: Garrison White, Northwestern, -- WBF (3:19)
Qtrs: #20 Nick Roberts, Ohio State (8th-seed) -- W, 12-5 dec.
Semis: #9 Ryan Taylor, Wisconsin (4th-seed) - W, 4-3 dec.
Finals: #3 Jesse Delgado, Illinois (2nd-seed) -- Tomorrow
Junior Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), the No. 1 at 125, got Penn State off to a fast start by pinning Northwestern's Garrison White at the 3:19 mark in his first match, Penn State's first of the tournament. He then posted a strong 12-5 decision over Ohio State's Nick Roberts to move into the semifinals and secure a trip to Oklahoma City for the NCAA Championships.
The two-time national finalist then withstood a strong effort from fourth-seeded Ryan Taylor of Wisconsin. Megaludis battled his way to a 4-3 win on 1:45 in riding time to advance to tomorrow's Big Ten title bout against Illinois' Jesse Delgado.
133: #15 Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), Fr. -- #7 seed - 16-13 overall NCAA QUALIFIER
1st Rd: Dominic Malone, Northwestern (10th-seed) -- W, 15-0 (TF; 5:47)
Qtrs: #5 Tyler Graff, Wisconsin (2nd-seed) -- L, 1-8 dec.
Consos: Shawn Nagel, Nebraska -- W, 9-4 dec.
Conso Qtr: #8 Johnni DiJulius, Ohio State - L, 1-6 dec.
7th Place: Tomorrow morning
Red-shirt freshman Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), the No. 7 seed at 133, dominated Northwestern's Dominick Malone in his Big Ten Championship debut, rolling to a 15-0 technical fall at the 5:47 mark. Gulibon took on second seed and fifth-ranked Tyler Graff of Wisconsin in the quarterfinals and dropped an 8-1 decision. The loss moves him into the consolation bracket tonight. Gulibon punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships with a solid 9-4 win over Nebraska's Shawn Nagel in his first consolation bout. He then dropped a tough 6-1 decision to Ohio State's Johnni DiJulius in the conso quarters to fall to the seventh place bout.
141: #2 Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), Fr. -- #1 seed - 29-0 overall NCAA QUALIFIER
1st Rd: Colton McCrystal, Nebraska -- W, 8-0 major dec.
Qtrs: Jesse Thielke (8th-seed), Wisconsin -- W, 7-2 dec.
Semis: #11 Stephen Dutton, Michigan (4th-seed) - W, 4-0 dec.
Finals: Tomorrow vs. #3 Logan Stieber, Ohio State (2nd-seed) -- Tomorrow
True freshman Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), the No. 1 seed at 141, made his Big Ten Championship debut with a dominating 8-0 major over Nebraska's Colton McCrystal, including 2:52 in riding time. He then took on 8th-seed Nick Roberts of Ohio State 7-2 to move into the semifinals and punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships.
149: #26 James English (York, Pa.), Sr. - #7 seed - 10-4 overall NCAA QUALIFIER
1st Rd: Bye
Qtrs: #2 Nick Sardines, Minnesota (2nd-seed) -- L, 2-3 dec.
Consos: Brandon Nelsen, Purdue -- W, 3-2 dec.
Conso Qtrs: #18 Ian Paddock, Ohio State -- W, 5-2 dec.
Conso Semis: Tomorrow
Senior James English (York, Pa.), the No. 7 seed at 149, had a first round bye, one of three for Penn State. In the quarterfinals, he nearly pulled off an early upset, taking No. 2 Nick Sardines of Minnesota to the wire before dropping a close 3-2 decision. The loss moved him into consolation action.
In the evening session, English picked up his first career win at the Big Ten Championships in the first round of consolation action, riding Purdue's Brandon Nelsen for the entire third period to post a 3-2 decision thanks to 1:23 in riding time. Needing one more win to move on to NCAAs, used a second period near fall and ride-out to post a 5-2 win over sixth-seed Ian Paddock of Ohio State, earning his first trip to the NCAA Championships, Penn State's 10th qualifier.
157: #11 Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), Jr. - #5 seed - 18-4 overall NCAA QUALIFIER
1st Rd: Roger Wildmo, Michigan State (12th-seed) -- W, 12-3 major dec.
Qtrs: #4 Derek St. John, Iowa (4th-seed) -- L, 1-4 dec.
Consos: Randall Languis, Ohio State -- W, 2-1 dec.
Conso Qtrs: #13 Brian Murphy, Michigan (8th-seed) - L, 1-3 dec.
7th Place: Tomorrow
Junior Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), the No. 5 seed at 157, took out Michigan State's Roger Wildmo to the tune of a 12-3 major decision in his first round match-up, setting up a quarterfinal bout against defending NCAA Champion Derek St. John of Iowa. Alton led into the third before St. John rallied for a hard-fought 4-1 decision, sending Alton into the consolation bracket.
In the evening session, Alton posted a hard-fought 2-1 win over Ohio State's Randy Languis in his first consolation bout, using a quick third period escape to secure 1:00 in riding time to post the critical point. The win moves Alton on to the NCAA Championships as well. In the consolation quarters, Michigan's Brian Murphy notched a late takedown to post a 3-1 win over Alton, sending Alton to the seventh place bout.
165: #1 David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), Sr. - #1 seed - 28-0 overall NCAA QUALIFIER
1st Rd: Bye
Qtrs: #20 Austin Wilson, Nebraska (8th-seed) -- W, 22-4 tech fall (TF; 7:00)
Semis: #13 Jackson Morse, Illinois (5th-seed) - WBF (0:40)
Finals: Tomorrow vs. #4 Nick Moore, Iowa (2nd-seed)
Senior David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), the No. 1 seed at 165, had a first round bye and then hammered eighth seed Austin Wilson of Nebraska, rolling to a 22-4 technical fall at the 7:00 mark. Taylor's win moved him into the semifinals and secured his trip to the NCAA Championships later this month.
Taylor then made short work of fifth-seed Jackson Morse of Illinois in the semifinals, gaining control of the Illini's shoulders, stepping over his chest and turning his shoulders flat to the mat for a pin in just 0:40. The pin was Taylor's 13th of the year and the 50th of his career, leaving him three shy of the Penn State record of 53.
174: #5 Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), Jr. - #2 seed - 26-4 overall NCAA QUALIFIER
1st Rd: Kevin Bialka, Northwestern -- W, inj. def. (0:02)
Qtrs: Scott Liegel, Wisconsin (7th-seed) -- W, 12-3 major dec.
Semis: #6 Mike Evans, Iowa (3rd-seed) - L, 2-3 dec.
Conso Semis: Tomorrow
Junior Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), the No. 2 seed at 174, took on Northwestern's Kevin Bialka in the first round and received an injury default at the 0:02 mark, pushing Brown into the quarterfinals and keeping Bialka alive in consolation action. He then majored Wisconsin's Scott Liegel 12-3 in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals as well as NCAAs. In his semifinal match, Brown suffered a 3-2 upset at the hands of Iowa's Mike Evans, giving up a first period takedown that would prove to be the difference.
184: #2 Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), Sr. - #1 seed - 28-1 overall NCAA QUALIFIER
1st Rd: Tanner Lynde, Purdue -- W, 9-1 major dec.
Qtrs: Nikko Reyes, Illinois -- W, 4-1 dec.
Semis: Dom Abounader, Michigan (5th-seed) W, 9-1 maj. dec.
Finals: #4 Ethan Lofthouse, Iowa (3rd-seed) Tomorrow
Senior Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), the No. 1 seed at 184, put up almost six minutes of riding time (5:55 to be exact) in a 9-1 major over Purdue's Tanner Lynde in the opening round. He followed that up with a 4-1 win over Illinois' Nikko Reyes, moving into the semifinals and earning a trip to nationals as well. In the semifinals, Ruth took care of Michigan's Dom Abounader in the semifinals, rolling to a 9-1 major decision with over 3:00 in riding time (3:05).
197: #3 Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), So. - #1 seed - 27-2 overall NCAA QUALIFIER
1st Rd: Bye
Qtrs: Timmy McCall, Wisconsin (8th-seed) -- W, 7-4 dec.
Semis: #13 Nathan Burak, Iowa (5th-seed) - W, 3-2 (tb) dec.
Finals: #5 Nick Heflin, Ohio State (2nd-seed) -- Tomorrow
Sophomore Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), the No. 1 seed at 197, received Penn State's third first round bye at 197 and then posted a workmanlike 7-4 win over Wisconsin's Timmy McCall in the quarterfinals. The win moved McIntosh into the semifinals and earned him a trip to his second NCAA Championship. In the semifinals, McIntosh used a late reversal in the tie breaker period to grab a 3-2 (tb) win over Iowa's Nathan Burak, the fifth-seed. Each wrestler had an escape in regulation and wrestled a minute of scoreless action in the sudden victory period. McIntosh rode Burak for all but a second of the opening tie-breaker stanza but the Hawkeye's late escape gave him a 2-1 lead. McIntosh was steady on bottom, however, deftly working his way into control of Burak with :07 left for a reversal. A short ride out gave the Lion sophomore the 3-2 (tb) win and moved him into the finals.
285: #14 Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.), Jr. - #8 seed - 22-6 overall NCAA QUALIFIER
1st Rd: Collin Jensen, Nebraska (9th-seed) -- W, 12-3 major dec.
Qtrs: #1 Adam Coon, Michigan (1st-seed) -- W, 3-1 (sv)
Semis: #6 Tony Nelson, Minnesota (5th-seed) - LBF (1:58)
Junior Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.), the No. 8 seed at 285, wrapped up a perfect first round for Penn State with a 12-3 major over ninth-seed Collin Jensen of Nebraska. Gingrich's major gave Penn seven first round wins, all for bonus points. In the quarters, Gingrich notched the upset of the early session, using a textbook low single early in sudden victory to take out No. 1 Adam Coon of Michigan, 3-1 (sv). The win moved the Lion junior into the semifinals and earned him his first trip to the NCAA Championships. Gingrich could not follow up his upset of the tournament's top seed by defeating the defending NCAA Champion. Tony Nelson of Minnesota was able to pin Gingrich at the 1:58 mark and send the Lion junior into the consolation semifinals tomorrow morning.