Feb. 15, 2015
| 18 | 21 |
| Gallagher-Iba Arena | Stillwater, Okla. | 4,691 | |
STILLWATER, Okla. - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 5 in the latest Intermat Tournament Power Index, dropped a thrilling and hard-fought 21-18 dual meet No. 8 Oklahoma State in marquee wrestling action in Stillwater, Okla. The dual came down to a tie-breaking heavyweight bout with Oklahoma State escaping with the home win.
The dual meet featuring 16 ranked wrestlers began at 125. Junior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 8 at 125, dropped a hard-fought 8-7 decision to No. 9 Eddie Klimara of Oklahoma State to open the dual, putting the Cowboys up 3-0 early. Fifth-ranked sophomore Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.) answered, however, turning a second period reversal into a quick pin of OSU's Gary Wayne Harding. The pin, at the 3:32 mark in the second period, put Penn State up 6-3.
At 141, red-shirt freshman Kade Moss (South Jordan, Utah) nearly upset No. 15 Dean Heil, but the Cowboy was able to escape with an 8-5 tie-breaker decision. Sophomore Zack Beitz (Mifflintown, Pa.), ranked no. 18 at 149, then stunned the Cowboy faithful. The Lion sophomore turned a second period starting reversal into a pin of No. 4 Josh Kindig. The fall at the 3:17 mark put Penn State up 12-6. Penn State senior Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 8 at 157, returned to the mat for the first time since Jan. 18 and but lost a 24-9 tech fall to No. 18 Anthony Collica. The Collica victory cut Penn State's lead to 12-11 at the midway point of the dual.
Top-ranked Alex Dieringer of Oklahoma State majored red-shirt freshman Garett Hammond (Chambersburg, Pa.), ranked No. 18 at 165, posting a 14-4 major and giving the Cowboys a 15-12 lead. Senior All-American Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 2 at 174, tied the dual at 15-15 with a hard-fought 9-7 sudden victory win.
Red-shirt freshman Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 19 at 184, dropped a 4-0 decision to No. 18 Nolan Boyd as Oklahoma State took an 18-15 lead in the back-and-forth dual meet with just two bouts remaining. Junior All-American Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 4 at 197, tied the dual meet at 18-18 with a solid 6-1 win over Luke Bean, setting up the dual deciding bout at 285. Senior Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) nearly pulled off the upset, using a second period reversal to take a lead over No. 5 Austin Marsden. Marsden used two escapes to send the bout to extra time. After a scoreless sudden victory period, Marsden reversed Gingrich in his :30 tie-breaker and clinched the dual meet with a 4-3 (TB) win. The victory gave Oklahoma State a thrilling 21-18 win.
Oklahoma State won six of ten bouts to grab the win and owned a 19-11 edge in takedowns. Penn State grabbed six bonus points off two pins (Gulibon and Beitz). Penn State is now 10-4 overall while Oklahoma State is 11-2.
Penn State will host Rider on Feb. 22 in Rec Hall in the home and dual finale for head coach Cael Sanderson's squad. Action begins at 2 p.m. and only a very limited number of Standing Room Only tickets are still available as of press time. Fans can call the Penn State ticket office at 1-800-NITTANY to purchase should they still be available. 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 18, #8 Oklahoma State 21
February 15, 2015 - Stillwater, Okla.
125: #9 Eddie Klimara OSU dec. #8 Jordan Conaway PSU, 8-7 / 0-3
133: #5 Jimmy Gulibon PSU pinned Gary Wayne Harding OSU, WBF (3:32) / 6-3
141: #15 Dean Heil OSU dec. (TB) Kade Moss PSU, 8-5 (TB) / 6-6
149: #18 Zack Beitz PSU pinned #4 Josh Kindig OSU, WBF (3:17) / 12-6
157: #18 Anthony Collica OSU tech fall #8 Dylan Alton PSU, 24-9 (TF; 7:00) / 12-11
165: #1 Alex Dieringer OSU maj. dec. #18 Garett Hammond PSU, 14-4 / 12-15
174: #2 Matt Brown PSU dec. (SV) #11 Kyle Crutchmer OSU, 9-7 (sv) / 15-15
184: #18 Nolan Boyd OSU dec. #19 Matt McCutcheon PSU, 4-0 / 15-18
197: #4 Morgan McIntosh PSU dec. Luke Bean OSU, 6-1 / 18-18
285: #5 Austin Marsden OSU dec. (TB) Jon Gingrich PSU, 4-3 (TB) / 18-21
Attendance: 4,691
Records: Penn State 10-4; Oklahoma State 11-2
Up Next for Penn State: hosts Rider, Feb. 22, 2 p.m. in Rec Hall
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Nittany Lion junior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 8 at 125, took to the mat against No. 9 Eddie Klimara. Klimara blew through a fast high double leg on the edge of the mat just :17 into the bout to take an early 2-0 lead. Conaway worked his way to an escape and action resumed in the center circle. Klimara worked Conaway's shoulders down to the mat for a second takedown and a 4-2 lead midway through the opening period. Conaway worked his way into a single leg and Klimara nearly countered for a takedown of his own. Conaway continued to work for control and finished off the takedown with :20 left in the period. A short ride out and action moved to the second stanza tied 4-4. Klimara chose down to start the second period and Conaway controlled the action from the top position for :45 before Klimara escaped to a 5-4 lead. Conaway rolled through a low single and took a 6-5 lead with a takedown at the :50 mark. Conaway broke Klimara down on a reset and controlled the action for a key ride out to lead 6-5 with 1:08 riding time after two. Conaway chose down to start the third period and immediately got turned for three back points and an 8-6 lead. Conaway was not able to break free for an escape until the 1:00 mark, cutting Klimara's lead to 8-7. Oklahoma State challenged the escape call, and the official took a review for himself, forcing a prolonged break in the action. The call stood and with a minute left, action resumed in the center circle. Conaway worked his way in on a single leg but a stalemate was called with :35 left. Conaway forced Klimara into a stall warning but time ran out and Klimara posted the 8-7 win.
133: Sophomore Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 133, met Gary Wayne Harding. Gulibon bolted out of the gates with a single leg to takedown and a 2-0 lead just seconds into the bout. Gulibon spent the next minute-plus working to turn the Cowboy for back points. Harding escaped to a 2-1 score at the 1:16 mark and action resumed in the center circle. Harding took a quick shot and Gulibon deftly stepped aside, countered and turned shoulder control into another takedown and a 4-1 lead. Gulibon appeared to have Harding tilted for back points but the call was not made and the Lion continued to lead by three as he worked his riding time over 2:00 and killed the clock. Leading 4-1 with 2:28 riding time, Gulibon chose down to start the second period. He steadily worked his way to a reversal and then worked his way into something of a cradle, turning Harding to his back and getting the quick pin at the 3:32 mark.
141: Red-shirt freshman Kade Moss (South Jordan, Utah) took on No. 15 Dean Heil at 141. The duo worked for upper body control early in the period, with each man trying to turn body locks into a takedown and an early lead. Action remained neutral until Heil got in on a single leg at the 1:50 mark, forcing a scramble in the middle of the mat. Heil worked Moss to the mat and a takedown to lead 2-1 after a quick Moss escape. With the clock moving below a minute, Moss began trying to connect on high singles but Heil maintained his one point lead into the second stanza. Trailing by one, Moss chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. Moss worked for control up high while Heil maintained a neutral position as the second period wound down to zeroes. Heil chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 lead. Moss was nearly able to throw Heil from a standing position but action moved out of bounds at the 1:20 mark. As the clock moved down below :30, Moss worked Heil to the mat with a throw, controlled the Cowboy for the takedown and a 4-3 lead with :20 left. With action reset in the center circle, Heil was able to escape at the :05 mark to send the bout into sudden victory tied 4-4. With each man trying to score from standing positions, Moss countered a Heil shot and nearly grabbed a win with a takedown late. But time ran out and the bout moved to a tie-breaker. Heil chose down to start the tie-breaker and reversed Moss to lead 6-4. Moss quickly escaped to a 6-5 deficit and then scrambled for a shot that Heil countered. The final takedown gave the Cowboy an exciting 8-5 win.
149: Sophomore Zack Beitz (Mifflintown, Pa.), ranked No. 18 at 149, met No. 4 Josh Kindig. Kindig tried to connect early, nearly scoring off the whistle, but Beitz was able to fight the move off and keep the bout scoreless with a reset at the 2:20 mark. Kindig took Beitz down, nearly taking him to his back, but Beitz fought through the turn attempt off and nearly reversed the Cowboy. The Penn State bench challenged the takedown call, forcing a review, and the takedown was overturned. Action resumed back at the 1:51 mark tied 0-0. Kindig shot in on Beitz low and the Lion sophomore nearly countered the move for a takedown of his own. But a stalemate was called at the :35 mark still scoreless. Beitz chose down to start the second period and stunned the Cowboy faithful by reversing Kindig to his back and a pin just :17 into the period. The quick move gave Beitz the fall at the 3:17 mark.
157: Penn State senior Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 8 at 157, returned to the mat for the first time since mid-January and tangled with No. 18 Anthony Collica. Alton scored quickly, turning a high single into a takedown and 2-1 lead a minute into the bout. Collica then gained control of Alton's ankle and worked for a takedown, but the Lion senior was able to work his way out of trouble and maintain his one point lead. Collica once again shot low and Alton worked his way to control of Collica's ankles for another stalemate at the :11 mark. Trailing 2-1, Collica chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. Alton got hit for a first stall warning just :23 into the period. Collica continued to pressure the Lion and took him down. Alton escaped but Collica quickly took him down once more to lead 6-4. Collica picked up another point on a stall, took Alton down and turned him to his back for three near fall points to lead 14-5. Collica added another takedown and led 15-5 after two periods. Alton chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 15-6 score. Collica added a takedown to up his lead to 17-7. Collica added three more takedowns and with a riding time point posted the 24-9 technical fall.
165: Red-shirt freshman Garett Hammond (Chambersburg, Pa.), ranked No. 18 at 165, faced off against unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Alex Dieringer. Dieringer scored quickly, taking Hammond down for an early 2-0 lead. Dieringer turned Hammond for two back points and the Lion nearly reversed the Cowboy. But he settled for an escaped and trailed 4-1. Dieringer quickly took the Lion down again to take a 6-1 lead. Hammond escaped at the :08 mark and trailed 6-2 after one period. Hammond chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 6-3 score. Hammond tried to connect on a high single but Dieringer was able to counter for his own takedown and an 8-3 lead at the 1:10 mark. Dieringer then controlled the action from the top position, turning Hammond for two more back points and a 10- 3 lead with a clinched riding time point. Dieringer chose down to start the third period and escaped to an 11-3 lead. Dieringer used a high double to take Hammond down once again and up his lead to 13-3 at the :45 mark. Hammond escaped to a 13-4 score and Dieringer picked up a point on riding time to post the 14-4 major.
174: Senior Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 2 at 174, took on No. 11 Kyle Crutchmer. The duo battled evenly for the first half of the opening period with neither man gaining a positional advantage. Brown began to pressure Crutchmer back, taking numerous shots in the final minute but not breaking through the Cowboy's defense. Crutchmer chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Brown worked Crutchmer's shoulders to the mat then worked his way around for a takedown and 2-1 lead at the 1:25 mark. Brown nearly took Crutchmer to his back but the Cowboy escaped and then, on the edge of the mat, worked his way to a takedown and a 4-2 lead of his own. Brown quickly escaped after a reset and began looking for a go-ahead takedown. The Lion senior nearly picked up the takedown at the :07 mark but action moved out of bounds. Brown nearly scored at the buzzer but did not get the call and trailed by one, 4-3, after two periods. Brown chose down to start the third and quickly escaped to a 4-4 tie. The Lion then roared through a double leg and got the takedown to lead 6-4 at the 1:00 mark. Brown worked his riding time edge over 1:00 with a strong ride and then began looking for a chance to turn the Cowboy for back points. Crutchmer escaped at the :30 mark to cut the lead to 6-5 but Brown had a clinched bonus point. Crutchmer stunned Brown with a late takedown and Brown's riding time point sent the bout to sudden victory time. After a mad scramble to start the extra time, Brown worked his way to a takedown and posted the thrilling 9-7 (sv) win.
184: Red-shirt freshman Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 19 at 184, met No. 18 Nolan Boyd. The duo battled evenly for the opening two minutes with neither man taking control early. As the clock moved below :30, the wrestlers battled in the center circle with McCutcheon countering Boyd shots with shoulder control to keep things neutral and scoreless through the opening three minutes. Boyd chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 1-0 lead. Boyd took a 3-0 lead with a high single to takedown with :55 on the clock. Boyd maintained control of the Lion freshman for the rest of the period to lead by three with :43 in riding time after two periods. McCutcheon chose down to start the third period but could not break free of a strong Boyd ride. The Cowboy maintained control deep into the period and clinched a riding time point. He then was able to break McCutcheon down and completed the ride out to roll to a 4-0 win.
197: Junior Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 4 at 197, tangled with Cowboy sophomore Luke Bean. McIntosh and Bean battled evenly for the bulk of the opening period with neither wrestler able to work his way to control for a first period takedown. McIntosh chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. McIntosh worked shoulder control into a low single and a takedown to lead 3-0 at the :42 mark. McIntosh then broke the Cowboy down and nearly turned Bean for back points. But the buzzer sounded and McIntosh led 3-0 after two periods. Bean chose neutral to start the third period and McIntosh answered quickly with a head inside single to a takedown to lead 5-0. McIntosh then began looking for a chance to turn Bean for a potential pin. Bean managed to stay off his back as McIntosh clinched the riding time point. Bean notched an escape as the period ended and 1:39 in riding time gave McIntosh a 6-1 win.
285: Senior Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) met No. 5 Austin Marsden with the dual meet on the line, tied 15-15. The duo battled evenly through first two minutes. After a reset at the 1:00 mark, action continued neutral with no takedowns and the bout moved to the second stanza in a scoreless tie. Gingrich chose down to start the second period and steadily worked his way to a reversal and a 2-0 lead after a full minute of scrambling. Marsden worked his way to an escape and Gingrich led 2-1 at the :40 mark. Trailing by one, Marsden chose down to start the third period. Gingrich was called for a stall warning at the 1:44 mark, just :16 into the period and Marsden escaped to a 2-2 tie shortly thereafter. As the clock moved down below 1:00, Gingrich began to pressure Marsden to the outer circle with the Cowboy backing out of bounds and forcing a reset. With no more scoring, the bout moved to sudden victory tied 2-2. Gingrich worked his way in on a single leg and Marsden fought off the move to keep the bout tied at 2-2 with :45 left. Gingrich shot once again and Marsden stepped out of trouble. Off a reset with :20 left Gingrich worked his way in on a single leg and Marsden countered, nearly taking the Lion down. Time ran out and the official moved to the replay to double check his call of no takedown. The call was confirmed and the bout moved into a tie breaker. Marsden chose down to start and was awarded a reversal while Gingrich appeared to still have control. Penn State challenged the call and the bout moved to review. The call was confirmed and the Lion trailed 4-2. Gingrich quickly escaped for his tie-breaker start and trailed 4-3. The Lion worked his way in on a single leg but could not finish off the move and Marsden posted the 4-3 (sv) win.