March 20, 2015
NCAA Session III Roundup Feature | NCAA Session III Photo Gallery
ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, under the direction of head coach Cael Sanderson, welcomed its newest All-American and another three-time All-American as action continued at the 2015 NCAA Wrestling Championships. Sophomore Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.) and senior Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) both claimed wins in the national quarterfinals and will look to continue their marches to an NCAA title in the national semifinals. Tonight's action airs live on ESPN beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Penn State moves into tonight's fourth session with six wrestlers still alive, four of whom are just one win away from becoming All-Americans as tonight's semifinals also include the `round of 12'.
Gulibon, the No. 7 seed at 133, was Penn State's first national quarterfinalist of the day, taking on No. 2 Bradley Taylor of Wisconsin. Gulibon was the aggressor out of the gates, turning his third low single into a takedown and a 2-0 lead at the 1:19 mark. He turned Taylor for two near fall and led 4-0 after one. Taylor came on strong in the second with two quick takedowns to cut Gulibon's lead to 7-4. Leading by three, Gulibon chose neutral to start the third period. Staying on offense, the Lion sophomore continued to work and finished off the match with a late takedown for a 9-4 victory. The decision makes Gulibon an All-American for the first time and moves him into tonight's national semifinals.
Brown, the No. 2 seed at 174, faced off against No. 7 Matt Epperly of Virginia Tech in his quarterfinal match-up. After a scoreless first period, Brown took down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The Lion pressed the tempo, forcing Epperly backwards throughout the second period but could not connect for a takedown. Epperly chose down to start the third period and Brown made him pay for the decision. The Lion rode Epperly for all but :15 of the period and used the 1:45 riding time to post a 2-1 win. The victory moves Brown into tonight's national semifinals and makes him Penn State's 24th three-time All-American.
Freshman Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), the No. 14 seed at 184, took on Ohio State's Kenny Courts of Ohio State in the quarters. McCutcheon continued his wide open wrestling, taking the action to Courts from the start. A quick low single turned into a scramble and a McCutcheon takedown at the 1:13 mark. The Lion freshman then rode Courts out to lead 3-0 after one. McCutcheon escaped to a 3-0 lead to start the second but McCutcheon answered with a takedown to cut the lead to 3-2. McCutcheon worked free for an escape before his riding time edge dipped below 1:00 and led 4-2 with 1:04 in time after two. Courts escaped quickly to start the third and then took McCutcheon down to take a 5-4 lead at the 1:21 mark. The Lion freshman, trailing by one, escaped to a 5-5 tie but his riding time edge was gone. The bout moved to sudden victory tied 5-5 where Courts finished off the comeback with a takedown for the 7-5 win. McCutcheon's 7-5 (sv) loss, Penn State's third extra time loss of the tournament, moves the Lion freshman into tonight's consolation action.
Junior Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), the No. 2 seed at 197, met no. 10 Conner Hartmann of Duke in the quarterfinals. McIntosh nearly connected on a low single midway through the first period but Hartmann scrambled to a stalemate and the bout moved to the second stanza tied 0-0. McIntosh took a lead with a quick escape to start the second period and then worked his way in on a single. But Hartmann countered the move to open up a 2-1 lead with 1:20 on the clock and McIntosh tied the bout at 2-2 with an escape late in the second. Hartmann retook the lead with an escape at the 1:30 mark of the third period. McIntosh scrambled for a late takedown, appearing to complete the move in the final seconds, but the officials did not award the points and the Penn State corner challenged the call, sending it to video review. The no call stood, however, and McIntosh dropped the 3-2 decision. The loss moves the junior into tonight's round of 12.
Senior Jimmy Lawson (Toms River, N.J.), the No. 8 seed at 285, met No. 1 seed and defending National Champion Nick Gwiazdowski of North Carolina State in the quarters. The top-seeded Gwiazdowski took an early lead with a takedown midway through the first period and then turned Lawson for two back points to lead 4-0. Gwiazdowski added an escape and a takedown before Lawson got on the board with a reversal. But the defending NCAA Champion was able to control the action from that point on and went on to post an 11-3 major over Lawson. Lawson's loss drops him into the round of 12 tonight.
Junior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), the No. 11 seed at 125, met Lehigh's Scott Parker in his first consolation match Friday morning. Parker used a first period takedown to take an early lead that Conaway erased with a second period escape. With the bout tied 2-2 heading to the third, Parker chose down to begin the final stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-2 lead. Conaway forced Parker into a stall warning and then finished off a scramble in the middle of the mat for a takedown at the :55 mark to take a 4-3 lead. The Lion then held on for a ride out to post the 4-3 win and move into consolation round three.
In the next consolation round, Conaway took on Minnesota's Ethan Lizak. Conaway was the aggressor from the start, forcing Lizak back to the outside circle for the opening two minutes before finishing off a takedown for a 2-0 lead. The Lion junior then controlled the action from the top position, working up a 1:22 riding time edge with a ride out. The second started neutral and Conaway upped his lead to 4-0 with another takedown. Leading 4-1, Conaway chose down to start the third period and reversed Lizak to take a 6-1 lead. Lizak would add a last second reversal but Conaway rolled to a 7-3 win with 2:26 in riding time. The win moves the junior into tonight's `round of 12'.
Sophomore Zack Beitz (Mifflintown, Pa.), the No. 12 seed at 149, took on No. 6 Alec Pantaleo of Michigan in his first consolation match Friday morning. After a scoreless first period, Beitz took a 1-0 lead with a quick escape to start the second stanza. Pantaleo worked his way for a takedown to lead 2-1 with 1:15 left in the period and Beitz notched an escape to send the bout to the third tied 2-2. Pantaleo escaped to a 3-2 lead quickly in the third. Pantaleo countered a slight Beitz throw attempt for another takedown and a 5-3 lead. Beitz appeared to have a takedown with :06 left but the officials called the action out of bounds and instead gave Pantaleo another stall, cutting the lead to 5-4. Beitz was unable to connect in the last seconds and dropped a 5-4 decision. The loss ended the Lion sophomore's season at 19-11, having gone 1-2 with a major at his first NCAA Championships.
Penn State went 4-4 in session three and is 16-6 overall. The Nittany Lions have 6.5 bonus points off five majors and a tech fall. Gulibon earned Penn State's 190th All-American laurel with his quarterfinal win, the 27th All-America honor under Sanderson in just six years. Brown's quarterfinal win was the 191st for Penn State and the 28th under Sanderson. Brown becomes Penn State's 24th three-time All-American. Conaway, McCutcheon, McIntosh and Lawson each need one more win to secure All-America laurels. As of 2:20 p.m. Eastern, with Penn State concluded for the session but consolation action continuing, the Nittany Lions were in seventh place with 33.5 points.
Penn State continues its 2015 NCAA Championship run tonight during the national semifinals and session four, which begins at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central in the Scottrade Center. 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.
2015 NCAA Wrestling Championships - Team Score - Top Ten
Scores as of 2:20 p.m. Eastern - These WILL change
Penn State done wrestling in session, consolation action continuing
Friday, March 20, 2015 - Scottrade Center - St. Louis, Mo.
1: Ohio State - 64.5
2: Iowa - 46.5
3: Missouri - 45.0
4: Cornell - 40.0
5: Edinboro - 38.0
6: Oklahoma State - 35.5
7: PENN STATE - 33.5
8: Nebraska - 32.0
9: Minnesota - 28.5
10: Michigan - 25.5
The following is a weight-by-weight breakdown/agate of Penn State's tournament to date (rankings listed are SEEDS):
125: #11 Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), Jr. -- (26-7 overall)
1st Rd: Joaquin Martinez, The Citadel - W, 12-7 dec.
2nd Rd: #6 Thomas Gilman, Iowa - L, 1-3 (sv) dec.
Cn 2: Scott Parker, Lehigh - W, 4-3 dec.
Cn 3: Ethan Lizak, Minnesota - W, 7-3 dec.
Rd 12: Tonight
Junior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), the No. 11 seed at 125, began Penn State's day with a solid 12-7 win over Joaquin Martinez of the Citadel. The Lion junior used two reversals and a late four-point move in the second period to break away for the win.
Conaway took on No. 6 Thomas Gilman of Iowa in the second round. After a scoreless first period, Conaway notched an escape to start the second period and led 1-0 heading into the third. Gilman tied the score with an escape of his own to send the bout to sudden victory where the Hawkeye clinched the win with a takedown. The 3-1 (sv) loss, Penn State's first of the tournament, moved Conaway into consolation action.
For today's third round info, see story above agate...
133: #7 Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), So. -- (25-7 overall) - All-American
1st Rd: Scott Delvecchio, Rutgers - W, 11-3 maj. dec.
2nd Rd: Jade Rauser, Utah Valley - W, 8-4 dec.
Qtrs: #2 Bradley Taylor, Wisconsin - W, 9-4 dec.
Semis: #3 Cory Clark, Iowa - Tonight
Sophomore Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), the No. 7 seed at 133, dominated Rutgers' Scott Delvecchio, using a last second takedown to secure Penn State's first bonus points and rolling to an 11-3 major decision with nearly 2:00 of riding time.
Gulibon met Utah Valley's Jade Rauser in round two. Gulibon gave up a first period takedown and trailed 2-1 early. Rauser escaped to a 3-1 lead to start the second period but Gulibon quickly tied the match with a takedown. Rauser escaped to lead 4-3 after two and Gulibon quickly tied the match at 4-4 with an escape to start the third period. He then clinched the match with a takedown and two near fall points in the final :30 to post the 8-4 win and move into the quarterfinals.
For today's third round info, see story above agate...
149: #12 Zack Beitz (Mifflintown, Pa.), So. -- (19-11 overall)
1st Rd: Shawn Greevy, Chattanooga - W, 10-1 maj. dec.
2nd Rd: #5 Chris Villalonga, Cornell - L, 4-6 (sv) dec.
Cn 2: #6 Alec Pantaleo, Michigan - L, 4-5 dec.
Sophomore Zack Beitz (Mifflintown, Pa.), the No. 12 seed at 149, was equally dominant in his NCAA Championship debut, rolling to a 10-1 major over Shawn Greevy of Chattanooga. Beitz used multiple takedowns and a three point near fall in the second and added 3:35 riding time.
Beitz met No. 5 Chris Villalonga of Cornell in round two. Villalonga chose down to start the second period after a scoreless opening stanza and escaped to a 1-0 lead. Beitz answered quickly, however, using a fast low shot to take a 2-1 lead with a takedown on the edge of the mat. Another escape tied the bout at 2-2 after two periods. Beitz chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 lead. A Villalonga takedown and Beitz escape knotted the bout at 4-4 with :40 left to wrestle, sending the bout to sudden victory. Villalonga countered a Beitz shot in extra time for a takedown and a 6-4 (sv) win.
For today's third round info, see story above agate...
174: #2 Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) Sr. -- (27-3 overall) - All-American
1st Rd: Pete Renda, North Carolina State - W, 12-4 maj. dec.
2nd Rd: #15 Santiago Martinez, Lehigh - W, 10-2 maj. dec.
Qtrs: #7 Zach Epperly, Virginia Tech - W, 2-1 dec.
Semis: #3 Mike Evans, Iowa - Tonight
Senior Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), the No. 2 seed at 174, made it three straight majors for Penn State with a strong 12-4 major over Pete Renda of North Carolina State. Brown secured the bonus point with a late takedown and 2:55 riding time.
Brown met No. 15 Santiago Martinez of Lehigh in the second round. Brown dominated the action in the first period, connecting on one of numerous shots to lead 2-0 after the opening stanza. He added a quick escape to start the period and another takedown and ride out to lead 5-0 with over 1:00 in riding time after two. Martinez chose down to start the third period and Brown cut him loose to begin working towards a major. The Lion senior added two more takedowns and rolled to a 10-2 major with 2:57 in riding time. The win moved Brown into the quarterfinals.
For today's third round info, see story above agate...
184: #14 Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), Fr. -- (26-13 overall)
1st Rd: Nick Fiegener, Cal Poly - W, 20-5 (TF; 7:00)
2nd Rd: #3 Blake Stauffer, Arizona State - W, 3-1 (sv) dec.
Qtrs: Kenny Courts, Ohio State - L, 5-7 (sv) dec.
Rd 12: Tonight
Freshman Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), the No. 14 seed at 184, made it yet another bonus point win with a furious 20-5 technical fall over Cal Poly's Nick Fiegener. McCutcheon, in his NCAA Championship debut, tallied numerous takedowns and turns and picked up the tech fall off 1:41 in riding time at the 7:00 mark.
McCutcheon took on No. 3 Blake Stauffer of Arizona State in round two. McCutcheon worked in on two solid low singles but Stauffer was able to fight of the Lion's efforts and send the bout to the second period tied 0-0. Stauffer escaped to a 1-0 lead to start the middle stanza. McCutcheon, down by one after two periods, then took down to start the third period and worked his way to an escape and a 1-1 tie at the 1:05 mark with Stauffer owning :52 of riding time. The bout moved to sudden victory where each man traded early scoring chances. McCutcheon broke through with a scrambling takedown with just :23 left to post the thrilling 3-1 (sv) win over the third-seeded Sun Devil. The win moved the Lion freshman into the national quarterfinals.
For today's third round info, see story above agate...
197: #2 Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), Jr. -- (28-3 overall)
1st Rd: Zach Nye, Virginia - W, 3-0 dec.
2nd Rd: #15 Adam Studebaker, Nebraska - W, 14-5 maj. dec.
Qtrs: #10 Conner Hartmann, Duke - L, 2-3 dec.
Rd 12: Tonight
Junior Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), the No. 2 seed at 197, built up nearly 4:00 of riding time and used a second period reversal to roll to a first round win over Virginia's Zach Nye. McIntosh amassed 3:55 in time on his way to a 3-0 victory to move into the second round.
McIntosh met No. 15 Aaron Studebaker of Nebraska in the second round. McIntosh dominated the first period, notching two takedowns to lead 4-2 after the opening stanza. He took down to start the second, quickly escaped to a 5-2 lead, and blew through another high double to take a 7-2 lead. He added one more score in the middle period and led 9-3 after two. McIntosh would add two more takedowns, including one with just two seconds left, to secure important bonus points with a 14-5 major decision (with 1:44 in riding time). The victory moved McIntosh into the quarterfinals.
For today's third round info, see story above agate...
285: #8 Jimmy Lawson (Toms River, N.J.), Sr. -- (17-4 overall)
1st Rd: Jacob Aiken-Phillips, Cornell - W, 9-3 dec.
2nd Rd: #9 Michael Kroells, Minnesota - W, 5-2 dec.
Qtrs: #1 Nick Gwiazdowski, North Carolina St. - L, 3-11 maj. dec.
Rd 12: Tonight
Senior Jimmy Lawson (Toms River, N.J.), the No. 8 seed at 285, controlled Cornell's Jacob Aiken-Phillips from start to finish in his 9-3 first round win. Lawson rolled up three takedowns, a reversal and 3:43 in riding time to move into round two and cap off the perfect Penn State morning.
Lawson met No. 9 Michael Kroells of Minnesota in round two. The duo battled through a scoreless first three minutes. Kroells chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Trailing by one after two periods, Lawson chose down to start the third and escaped to a 1-1 tie. Maintaining contact, the Lion senior worked for control high, then slid low quickly for a takedown on the edge of the mat and a 3-1 lead. Kroells quickly escaped to a 3-2 score with 1:20 left in the match. Lawson continued to push the action and added one more takedown to post the 5-2 win. The victory moved Lawson into the quarterfinals.
For today's third round info, see story above agate...