Jan. 16, 2015
VIDEO: Highlights & Post-Match Interviewa
| 28 | 6 |
| The RAC | Piscataway, N.J. | 6,071 | |
Piscataway, N.J. - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 7 in the latest Intermat Tournament Power Index, dominated No. 25 Rutgers in The RAC Friday night. Cael Sanderson's Nittany Lions won eight of ten bouts to roll to a 28-6 win in front of a Rutgers wrestling record crowd. Over 6,000 fans (6,071) packed the venerable venue as the Nittany Lions rolled to victory.
Action began at 125 where Nittany Lion junior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 8 nationally, put Penn State on top early with a strong 10-2 major over Rutgers' Sean McCabe. Sophomore Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 7 at 133, matched that major with one of his own, dominating Scott DelVecchio on his way to a 12-2 major with nearly 4:00 in riding time. At 141, red-shirt freshman Kade Moss (South Jordan, Utah) nearly pulled off an early upset, taking No. 7 Anthony Ashnault to the wire. Ashnault came back from a late Moss lead with a takedown to post a 6-4 win, cutting Penn State's lead to 8-3.
Sophomore Zack Beitz (Mifflintown, Pa.), ranked No. 17 at 149, suffered a 5-2 upset loss to Rutgers junior Ken Theobold. Senior Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 7 at 157, stopped the Scarlet Knight's momentum with a dominating 11-3 major over Dylan Painton. Alton ended the bout with 5:24 in riding time and Penn State led 12-6 at intermission.
Red-shirt freshman Garett Hammond (Chambersburg, Pa.) widened Penn State's lead with the Lions' fourth win, and fourth major, of the dual. Hammond posted a 13-4 victory over Nick Visicaro to put Penn State up 16-6. Senior Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 4 at 174, then took care of No. 20 Phillip Bakuckas, posting a strong 7-1 win.
Nittany Lion red-shirt freshman Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 16 at 184, clinched the dual meet with a 10-4 victory over Anthony Pafumi. Junior Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 6 at 197, was very strong, downing Andrew Campollatano 8-2 to put Penn State up 25-6. In the dual's final bout, senior Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) closed out the dual in style with a sudden victory win over Billy Smith, who was ranked No. 13 at 285. Gingrich scored just seconds into extra time, using a fast ankle pick and control of Smith's other foot for the decisive move, posting the 5-3 (sv) win. The victory gave Penn State a 28-6 win.
Penn State won eight of ten bouts and picked up four bonus points off four straight majors. The Lions won the takedown battle 22-6 as well.
The Nittany Lions are now 7-1 overall, 3-1 in Big Ten duals, while Rutgers is 9-4, 0-4. Penn State will host Purdue on Sunday, Jan. 18, at 1 p.m. in its next dual meet. A very limited number of standing room only (SRO) tickets are available for some Penn State's Rec Hall duals. Fans can call the Penn State ticket office at 1-800-NITTANY to purchase. 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.
#7 Penn State 28, #25 Rutgers 6
January 16, 2015 - The RAC - Piscataway, N.J.
125: #8 Jordan Conaway PSU maj. dec. Sean McCabe RUT, 10-2 / 4-0
133: #7 Jimmy Gulibon PSU maj. dec. Scott DelVecchio RUT, 12-2 / 8-0
141: #7 Anthony Ashnault RUT dec. Kade Moss PSU, 6-4 / 8-3
149: Ken Theobold RUT dec. #17 Zack Beitz PSU, 5-2 / 8-6
157: #7 Dylan Alton PSU maj. dec. Dylan Painton RUT, 11-3 / 12-6
165: Garett Hammond PSU maj. dec. Nick Visicaro RUT, 13-4 / 16-6
174: #4 Matt Brown PSU dec. #20 Phillip Bakuckas RUT, 7-1 / 19-6
184: #16 Matt McCutcheon PSU dec. Anthony Pafumi RUT, 10-4 / 22-6
197: #6 Morgan McIntosh PSU dec. Andrew Campollatano RUT, 8-2 / 25-6
285: Jon Gingrich PSU dec. #13 Billy Smith RUT, 5-3 (sv) / 28-6
Attendance: 6,071
Records: Penn State 7-1, 3-1 B1G; Rutgers 9-4, 0-4 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: Hosts Purdue on Sunday, Jan. 18, at 1 p.m. in Rec Hall
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Junior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 8 at 125, took on Rutgers sophomore Sean McCabe. Conaway worked to score off the opening takedown but McCabe countered and opened up a 2-0 lead early in the match. Conaway escaped at the 2:10 mark to cut the lead to 2-1 and action resumed in the center circle. Conaway countered a slight McCabe shot and forced a scramble in the center of the mat. The Lion got the takedown at the :30 mark and then quickly turned McCabe for three back points to lead 6-2 after the first. McCabe chose down to start the second stanza but Conaway controlled the action on offense. Conaway forced McCabe's head to the mat, building up over 1:00 in riding time while looking for a chance to roll the Scarlet Knight over for back points. Conaway wasn't able to turn McCabe, but the ride out gave Conaway a 6-2 lead with 1:48 in riding time after two periods. Conaway chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. Sensing bonus points, Conaway used a swift under hook to blow through another takedown and up his lead to 9-2 with the clinched riding time point. Conaway rode McCabe out for the final :20 and picked up the 10-2 major with 2:23 in riding time.
133: Sophomore Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 7 at 133, met Scott DelVecchio. Gulibon shot off the opening whistle, working a high single into a takedown and a 2-0 lead. Gulibon was hit for stalling very quickly but maintained his ride for well over a minute. DelVecchio escaped with 1:20 on the clock but Gulibon quickly turned another high single into a takedown and a 4-1 lead with :30 left. A short Gulibon ride out gave the Lion sophomore a 4-1 lead with 1:48 in time after one. Gulibon chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. Looking to build on his lead, Gulibon turned shoulder control into a takedown in front of the scorer's table to up his lead to 7-1. With over 2:00 of riding time in his pocket, Gulibon rode DelVecchio out to carry that lead into the third period. DelVecchio chose neutral to start the third period but Gulibon was relentless on offense, notching another takedown to lead 9-1 with 1:20 left to wrestle. With the riding time point clinched, Gulibon cut DelVecchio loose and took him down one more time for an 11-2 lead with under a minute left in the bout. Another ride out gave Gulibon a 12-2 win with 3:53 in riding time.
141: Red-shirt freshman Kade Moss (South Jordan, Utah) took to the mat at 141 against No. 7 Anthony Ashnault. Ashnault notched the first takedown, taking a 2-1 lead early in the first period. Moss fought off two quick Ashnault shots after the escape and then looked for his own shots over the next minute. After a reset at the 1:20 mark, Moss nearly connected on a high single but Ashnault was able to fight off the attempt and hold his lead with :30 left in the opening period. Ashnault chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Moss was the aggressor after the escape, forcing Ashnault back to the outside circle. He nearly notched a counter takedown to tie the bout but Ashnault was able to work his way out of bounds with :50 on the clock. Moss gained control of Ashnault's ankle and after a brief scramble, worked his way into control of one ankle and his waist for a takedown to tie the bout at 3-3 with :06 on the clock. After a reset for blood, Moss rode Ashnault out to head to the third period tied 3-3. Moss chose down to start the third period but was not able to break free of a strong Ashnault ride. The Knight controlled Moss until the :54 mark, picking up a stall warning in the process. Ashnault built up over 1:00 in riding time before Moss escaped to a 4-3 lead. Ashnault then worked his way to a takedown and a 5-4 lead with :20 left and, with 1:35 in riding time, posted the 6-4 win.
149: Sophomore Zack Beitz (Mifflintown, Pa.), ranked No. 17 at 149, battled Rutgers junior Ken Theobold. Theobold drew first blood with a quick takedown at the :30 mark. Beitz was unable to work his way free of Theobold's control until working his way for a slick reversal at the 1:10 mark. Theobold escaped to a 3-2 lead and action resumed in the middle of the mat with :50 left in the period. Beitz nearly scored at the buzzer but Theobold fought off his ankle shot and led 3-2 after one. Beitz chose down to start the second period and Theobold once again was strong on top. Beitz could not break free and Theobold's ride out gave the Knight a 3-2 lead with 3:17 riding time after two. Theobold chose down to start the third period and Beitz cut him loose to a 4-2 deficit at the 1:30 mark. Theobold countered a Beitz shot, forcing a scramble that led to a stalemate at the :55 mark. Theobold was able to defend Beitz's last shots and posted the 5-2 win with 2:42 in riding time.
157: Lion senior Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 7 at 157, met Scarlet Knight Dylan Painton. Alton struck quickly, turning shoulder control into a takedown and an early 2-0 lead. The Lion senior then broke Painton down, forcing his stomach to the mat and building up over 1:00 in riding time. Painton escaped with 1:15 on the clock and Alton quickly gained control of his left ankle. But Painton was able to force a stalemate and a reset with :55 left in the opening period. Alton was undeterred, blowing through a fast high double for another takedown and a 4-1 lead. Painton chose down to start the second period but Alton controlled the action once again. Alton built up over 3:00 in riding time as Painton struggled to move on the bottom. The Loin senior spent the entire period working from the top position and led 4-1 with a clinched riding time point after two periods. Alton chose down to start the third period and scrambled his way to a quick reversal and a 6-1 lead. Alton cut Painton loose at the 1:33 mark, and then turned shoulder control into another takedown and an 8-2 lead. Alton cut Painton loose one more time and took him down once more. A short ride out and the Lion senior posted a strong 11-3 major with 5:24 in riding time.
165: Red-shirt freshman Garett Hammond (Chambersburg, Pa.) took on RU freshman Nick Visicaro. Hammond looked to score quickly off the opening whistle, diving through a low double and forcing a scramble that ended with a Hammond takedown at the 1:48 mark. Hammond nearly picked up back points after finally securing the takedown but Visicaro was able to roll out of trouble. Hammond maintained control of the Scarlet Knight and, after pulling his arm through, turned him for three back points and a 5-0 lead. Visicaro was able to escape at the buzzer and Hammond led 5-1 after one. Hammond chose down to start the middle stanza and quickly escaped to a 6-1 lead. Hammond fought through a Visicaro shot, countered and finished with a high shot through Visicaro's waste to take an 8-1 lead with another takedown. Hammond deftly turned the Knight for a three count as the period ended and led 11-1. Visicaro chose down to start the final period. Hammond clinched the riding time point and then Visicaro escaped to an 11-2 score. Visicaro notched his first takedown with 1:00 left to cut the lead to 11-4. Hammond escaped to a 12-4 score and then fought off a late Visicaro shot. 2:38 in riding time gave the Lion a 13-4 major.
174: Senior Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 4 at 174, took on No. 20 Phillip Bakuckas in another marquee bout. The ranked duo battled evenly for the opening two minutes with neither man finding an opening. Brown looked to score in the waning seconds, grabbing Bakuckas' ankle and working control of his other foot for a takedown and a 2-0 lead after one period. Bakuckas chose down to start the second period but Brown was strong on offense. The Lion All-American built up over 1:00 in riding time first, then broke the Knight down flat to the mat. Brown's ride out gave him a 2-0 lead with 2:10 in time after two periods. Brown chose down to start the final period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Brown nearly picked up a second takedown midway through the third but Bakuckas was able to slide out of bounds and force a reset. Brown picked up a point on a second Bakuckas stall warning and then took him down for takedown and a 6-0 lead. A Bakuckas escaped was not enough and, with 2:15 riding time, Brown posted the 7-1 win.
184: Red-shirt freshman Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 16 at 184, met Anthony Pafumi. McCutcheon wasted no time in opening up an early lead, taking Pafumi down quickly. He worked his way into a turning opportunity with 1:40 on the clock and picked up the three-point near fall. McCutcheon then dominated the action from the top position, turning Pafumi for three back points once again and appearing to have him pinned. But Pafumi adjusted as the official moved into position and action continued. Pafumi was able to work in a late reversal and McCutcheon led 8-2 after one. McCutcheon chose down to start the second period but Pafumi was strong on offense. McCutcheon did escape to a 9-2 lead with :20 on the clock and action moved into the third period with the Lion freshman holding that lead. Pafumi chose neutral to start the third period and quickly took McCutcheon down to a 10-4 score after the Lion escaped. The 10-4 McCutcheon lead would turn into a 10-4 McCutcheon decision.
197: Junior Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 6 at 197, faced off against talented Rutgers junior Andrew Campolattano. The junior duo traded solid early shots to no avail. With 1:30 on the clock, action slid to the center of the mat and McIntosh began to set up his offense. The Lion junior turned a high single into a takedown and a 2-0 lead with 1:04 left to wrestle in the first period. McIntosh then dominated the action from the top, breaking Campolattano down and building up a solid riding time edge with a ride out. McIntosh chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. McIntosh continued to set the tempo, looking for another opening. The Scarlet Knight was able to defend his way to the third period and McIntosh led 3-0 after two. Campollatano chose neutral to start the third period but McIntosh made him pay with another takedown and a 5-0 lead. McIntosh cut him loose and began looking for another takedown. McIntosh used a fast low single and cut to up his lead to 7-2 with :55 on the clock. Rutgers challenged the takedown call but the takedown was upheld. Needing one more takedown for bonus points, McIntosh worked his way into a high single but Campollatano was able to hold steady. With 1:11 in riding time, McIntosh posted the 8-2 victory.
285: Senior Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) got the call at 285 and took on Billy Smith, who was ranked No. 13. The duo battled evenly for the first period, with Gingrich having the best shot late in the period. Smith stepped back from the effort and action moved to the second stanza in a scoreless tie. Gingrich chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The bout continued in the middle of the mat for the next minute-plus, with Gingrich nearly connecting on a low double. But Smith's defense held firm and Gingrich led 1-0 after two periods. Smith chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Gingrich shot quickly afterwards, turning a low shot at Smith's right ankle into a takedown and a 3-1 lead. Smith worked his way to an escaped and was called for locked hands, giving Smith another point and a 3-3 tie. Penn State challenged the call but it stood and action resumed tied at 3-3 with 1:20 left. Gingrich took another shot at a high single but Smith fought it off, securing the tie with :30 left. Smith tried to slide behind the Lion for a takedown with :10 left but Gingrich was able to step out of trouble and the bout moved to extra time. Gingrich wasted no time grabbing the win, snapping into control of Smith's ankles for a quick takedown and a 5-3 (sv) win.