Dec. 11, 2014
| 38 | 3 |
| XFINITY Center | College Park, Md. | 2,779 | |
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 5 in the latest Intermat Tournament Power Index, won all but one bout to dominate Maryland 38-3 in the Big Ten dual meet opener for the Nittany Lions. Penn State, under the guidance of head coach Cael Sanderson, had two pins and five majors in Maryland's XFINITY Center to grab the victory in its Big Ten opener.
The dual began at 125 where Nittany Lion junior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 10 nationally, put Penn State on top early with a strong 15-2 major over Maryland's Michael Beck. In the dual's marquee match-up, Nittany Lion sophomore Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.) put on a third period show to beat Maryland's Geoffrey Alexander 9-2. Gulibon gave up an early first period takedown but was undaunted. The Lion rode Alexander out for the entire second period and then outscored the Terp 9-0 in the third, thanks to a takedown and two near fall turns (a three-pointer and a two-pointer. Gulibon entered the dual ranked No. 5 at 133 and Alexander was No. 11.
Junior Michael Waters (Advance, N.C.) made his Penn State dual meet debut at 141 but dropped a hard-fought 1-0 decision to Maryland's Shyheim Brown. The Maryland win cut Penn State's lead to 7-3. Sophomore Zack Beitz (Mifflintown, Pa.), ranked No. 13 at 149, dominated Maryland senior Ben Dorsay, posting a 9-0 major with 4:25 in riding time. At 157, red-shirt freshman Cody Law (Windber, Pa.) used a third period takedown to break, a 1-1 tie and posted a 3-2 win over Lou Mascola. The decision gave Penn State a 14-3 lead at intermission.
Red-shirt freshman Garett Hammond (Chambersburg, Pa.) l at 165, hammered Maryland's Tyler Manion, notching six takedowns on his way to a 15-4 major decision. Two-time All-American Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 2 at 174, made short work of Maryland's T.J. Guidice, getting the first period pin at the 1:12 mark. The fall, Brown's third of the year, is the 25th of his career, tying him for 16th all-time in Nittany Lion history. Red-shirt freshman Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 19 at 184, tallied six takedowns and rolled up 4:58 in riding time on his way to a 17-6 major decision over Maryland's Tony Gardner.
All-American Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 4 at 197, posted Penn State's second quick, first period fall of the night. The junior used a takedown and a quick cradle to pin Maryland's Rob Fitzgerald at the 0:51 mark, putting Penn State up 34-3. In the dual's final bout, Penn State senior Jimmy Lawson (Toms River, N.J.) returned to dual meet action for the first time this year and rolled to a 20-8 major over Terrapin Ryan Kail, tallying nine takedowns in the win.
The Nittany Lions are now 4-0 on the year, 1-0 in Big Ten, while Maryland is now 4-5, 0-3 Big Ten. Penn State won the takedown battle 31-1 and picked up 11 bonus points off two pins and five majors.
Penn State returns to action for a home dual, hosting No. 8 Virginia Tech on Friday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m., in Rec Hall. A limited number of SRO tickets are available for select Penn State Rec Hall dual meets, although the SROs for the Lehigh dual are sold out. For ticket inquiries, call 1-800-NITTANY. Penn State 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 2014-15 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
#5 Penn State 38, Maryland 3
December 11, 2014 - XFINITY Center - College Park, Md.
125: #10 Jordan Conaway PSU maj. dec. Michael Beck MD, 15-2 / 4-0
133: #5 Jimmy Gulibon PSU dec. #11 Geoffrey Alexander MD, 9-2 / 7-0
141: Shyheim Brown MD dec. Michael Waters PSU, 1-0 / 7-3
149: #13 Zack Beitz PSU maj. dec. Ben Dorsay MD, 9-0 / 11-3
157: Cody Law PSU dec. Lou Mascola MD, 3-2 / 14-3
165: Garett Hammond PSU maj. dec. Tyler Manion MD, 15-4 / 18-3
174: #2 Matt Brown PSU pinned T.J. Guidice MD, WBF (1:12) / 24-3
184: #19 Matt McCutcheon PSU maj. dec. Tony Gardner MD, 17-6 / 28-3
197: #4 Morgan McIntosh PSU pinned Rob Fitzgerald MD, WBF (0:51) / 34-3
285: Jimmy Lawson PSU maj. dec. Ryan Kail MD, 20-8 / 38-3
Attendance: 2,779
Records: Penn State 4-0, 1-0 B1G; Maryland 4-5, 0-2 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: Hosts #8 Virginia Tech, Friday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m., Rec Hall
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Junior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 125, took on Maryland's Michael Beck. Conaway set the tempo early, taking multiple shots that Beck was able to push back. The Lion took a 2-0 lead on a counter takedown at the 1:28 mark. He then put together a strong ride, building up well over 1:00 in riding time with a rideout. Leading 2-0 with 1:28 in riding time, Conaway chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. He then quickly shot low, notching another takedown and upping his lead to 5-0. Conaway forced Beck into a first stall warning and then turned Beck for two back points and a 7-0 lead. He added another two point turn and then cut Beck loose to a 9-1 lead. Trailing 9-1, Beck chose neutral to start the third period but Conaway continued his takedown clinic, using a single leg to up his lead to 11-1. Another quick two-point turn gave Conaway a 13-1 lead with 1:20 left in the bout. Conaway picked up a point on another Beck stall, cut him loose to a 14-2 lead with :30 left. Beck fought off Conaway's furious finish to keep the bout to a major with Conaway posting a dominating 15-2 win with 3:43 in riding time.
133: Lion sophomore Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 133, met No. 11 Geoffrey Alexander in the dual meet's marquee match-up. The ranked tandem worked for position early in the middle of the mat. Gulibon nearly scored at the 1:10 mark but Alexander fought off the move, reset himself and used a high double leg for the first takedown and a 2-0 lead. Gulibon was not able to break free of a strong Alexander ride and the Lion trailed 2-0 after one. Leading 2-0, Alexander chose down to start the second period. The Lion sophomore was strong on top, working off Alexander's riding time edge and breaking the Terrapin down for the period's first minute. Gulibon got hit with a first stall warning at the :57 mark but continued to ride Alexander. Gulibon worked the clock down to :30, looking for a chance to turn the Terrapin. Alexander was able to keep from giving up back points but Gulibon was able to ride him out. Trailing by two, Gulibon chose down to start the third period. Gulibon escaped to a 2-1 score with 1:31 left, nearly notching the reversal. Gulibon was steady, resetting himself and working a low single leg to a takedown with 1:20 left in the bout, taking a 3-2 lead. Gulibon worked Alexander over at the :30 mark, turning him for three back points. Gulibon then reset himself, turned Alexander one more time and tacked on two more back points. With 1:44 in riding time, the Lion sophomore posted a convincing 9-2 win over the 11th-ranked Terrapin.
141: Junior Michael Waters (Advance, N.C.) made his Penn State dual meet debut in the match against Maryland's Shyheim Brown at 141. The duo battled evenly for the bulk of the opening period. Waters fought off a Brown low single with :10 left and entered the second period in a 0-0 scoreless tie. Waters chose neutral to start the second period and began trying to set up a scoring opportunity. Waters stepped out of another fast Brown low shot to keep the bout tied at the 1:00 mark of the middle stanza. Tied 0-0, Brown chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Brown worked his in on a high single and Waters countered to a stalemate with :37 left in the bout. Brown fought off a late Waters flurry and posted the close 1-0 win.
149: Sophomore Zack Beitz (Mifflintown, Pa.), ranked No. 13 at 149, wrestled Terrapin senior Ben Dorsay. Beitz scored quickly, sliding down on a low shot for a 2-0 lead with 2:13 on the clock. Beitz then controlled the action from the top, working Dorsay down to the mat for over a minute while looking for an opening to turn him for back points. Beitz's strong ride gave the Lion sophomore a 2-0 lead with over 2:00 in riding time after the opening period. Beitz chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Beitz finished off a mid-mat flurry by hooking Dorsay's ankle and taking him down for a 5-0 lead with just over a minute on the clock. Beitz forced Dorsay into a stall warning at the :20 mark and continued on with his rideout to lead 5-0 with a clinched riding time point after two periods. Dorsay chose neutral to start the third period. Needing another takedown to move towards bonus points, Beitz used a swift ankle pick for another takedown to lead 7-0 with 1:02 on the clock. The Lion picked up a stall point with :20 left and then rode Dorsay out once more. With 4:25 in riding time, Beitz posted the 9-0 major decision.
157: Nittany Lion red-shirt freshman Cody Law (Windber, Pa.) faced off against Maryland junior Lou Mascola. Law came out of the gates fast, forcing Mascola back with a shot at the 2:40 mark. The Terp worked his way out of bounds and action resumed in the center circle. The Lion freshman continued to set the tempo, forcing Mascola into defense for the bulk of the period. Mascola was able to push off Law's shots and the bout entered the second period tied 0-0. Mascola chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Law continued to pressure the Terrapin junior but Mascola was able to back away for the bulk of the period and hold the slim 1-0 lead after two periods. Law chose down to start the final stanza and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie with 1:37 on the clock. Law's offense forced Mascola into a first stall warning with 1:00 left and then the Lion freshman worked a low single into a takedown and a 3-1 lead with just over :30 left in the bout. Mascola escaped with :02 left but Law's takedown was the difference as the Lion freshman picked up the 3-2 win.
165: Red-shirt freshman Garett Hammond (Chambersburg, Pa.) met Maryland's Tyler Manion at 165. Hammond fought off an early Manion shot, countering the single leg by working his way around the Terrapin into a scoring position, finishing off the takedown with 2:12 on the clock to take the early 2-0 lead. Hammond then began controlling the action from the top, building up a riding time edge while looking for a turning combination. Hammond continued his control deep into the first period. Hammond was not able to turn Manion in the opening period but the 2:12 rideout gave the Lion a 2-0 lead after one period. Hammond chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Manion called for injury time at the 1:19 mark, giving Hammond the choice on the reset. The Nittany Lion chose down and escaped to a 4-0 lead with 1:15 left in the middle stanza. Hammond continued to pressure Manion, forcing the Terrapin out of bounds with :40 left. He used a strong headlock to force Manion's head to the mat and worked his way around for another takedown and a 6-1 lead after a quick Manion escape. Hammond added one more takedown and led 8-1 after two. Manion chose down to start the final period and escaped to an 8-2 score. Hammond quickly added another takedown and led 10-3 with 1:30 on the clock after cutting Manion loose. With the riding time clinched, Hammond continued to work his offense, notching a fifth takedown to lead 12-4 after cutting Manion again. Hammond added a final takedown with :12 left and, with 2:53 in riding time, posted the 15-4 major.
174: Two-time All-American Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 2 at 174, took on T.J. Guidice. Brown wasted no time getting on the board, forcing Guidice's head to the mat and scoring just :11 into the bout. He then steadily worked his way into control of a nearside cradle, steadied himself and turned Guidice for the pin at the 1:12 mark. The fall was Brown's 25th at Penn State, tying him for 16th all-time at Penn State.
184: Red-shirt freshman Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 19 at 184, battled Maryland senior Tony Gardner. Like Brown, McCutcheon scored quickly, taking Gardner down on the edge of the mat for a 2-0 lead at the 2:38 mark of the opening period. Gardner managed an escaped :48 later, but the Lion freshman was relentless, sliding through a low single for another takedown and a 4-1 lead. McCutcheon controlled Gardner's right arm, keeping the Terrapin senior flat on the mat while trying to turn him for back points. Gardner was able to keep from giving up any near fall points but McCutcheon's strong ride gave the Lion a 2-0 lead with 2:32 in riding time after one period. McCutcheon chose down to start the second period and quickly reversed Gardner for a 6-1 lead. He cut the Terp loose and began working for another takedown in the center circle. McCutcheon drove Gardner's shoulders down once again and with :20 left in the period, upped his lead to 8-3 with just under a minute left (after a Gardner escape). McCutcheon added another quick score on a low single and clinched the riding time point with a short rideout. Down 10-3 with 3:24 in riding time against him, Gardner chose down to start the third period. McCutcheon continued to dominate the action from the top, forcing Gardner's back to the mat for two quick near fall points and a 12-3 lead. He cut Gardner loose with 1:02 left and, leading 12-4, added a quick takedown and cut for a 14-5 lead. One more takedown and the riding time point (4:58) gave the Lion a 17-6 major decision.
197: All-American Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 4 at 197, met Terrapin senior Rob Fitzgerald. McIntosh took Fitzgerald down quickly and immediately locked up a cradle. The Lion junior deftly worked himself into position and, after short work, picked up the first period pin at the :51 mark.
285: Senior Jimmy Lawson (Toms River, N.J.) met Maryland's Ryan Kail at 285. Lawson, making his first dual appearance of the year, took a 2-0 lead with 1:30 on the clock with a strong takedown. The Lion senior then controlled the action from the top for :35 before cutting Kail loose to a 2-1 score with 1:00 left in the opening period. Lawson used a strong high shot at Kail's waist to pick up a second takedown and lead 4-1 after the opening period. Lawson chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. The Lion senior's pressure forced Kail to work the edges of the mat. He took Kail down and cut him at the midway point of the second period to lead 7-2 and then countered a low Kail shot for another takedown and cut. Lawson added one more second period takedown and, with a rideout, led 11-3 with 1:09 in riding time after two periods. Kail chose down to start the third and Lawson cut him loose. The Lion added four more takedowns to roll to the 20-8 major decision.