Jan. 31, 2016
VIDEO: Post-Match Highlights and Interviews
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- No. 1 Penn State (12-0, 7-0 B1G) dominated No. 10 Michigan (10-2, 5-1 B1G) in front of a sold out Rec Hall crowd on Sunday, rolling to a 35-7 victory. The Nittany Lions won eight of ten bouts in front of a White Out crowd of over 6,500, handing Michigan its first conference loss of the year.
The dual began at 125 where senior Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 4 nationally, dominated Conor Youtsey, rolling to a 10-4 win with 1:58 in riding time. Classmate Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 133, controlled No. 17 Rossi Bruno on his way to a 9-4 win with 2:27 in riding time to put Penn State up 6-0. Junior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 14 at 141, kept Penn State rolling with a strong 9-4 win over George Fisher, including 2:30 in riding time.
Sophomore Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, continued to excel against the nation's best. The Lion sophomore rolled up a big lead over No. 6 Alex Pantaleo before pinning the Wolverine at the 6:35 mark to put Penn State up 15-0. It was Retherford's ninth fall of the year and improved the Lion to 21-0. Red-shirt freshman Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, stayed perfect on the year as well (22-0), rolling to a lop-sided 22-6 win over No. 9 Brian Murphy. Penn State carried a 20-0 lead into the mid-dual intermission.
Red-shirt freshman Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.), ranked No. 17 at 165, posted a hard-fought 6-5 win over Garrett Sutton to keep Penn State's shut-out alive. Red-shirt freshman Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 174, took an early lead on No. 13 Davonte Mahomes before the Wolverine had to injury default, giving Penn State a 29-0 lead. With No. 9 Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.) held out with an injury, junior Brian Brill (Lock Haven, Pa.) stepped in at 184 and dropped a tough 9-2 decision to No. 8 Domenic Abounader.
Senior Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 1 at 197, received a forfeit victory at 197 to remain unbeaten on the year (20-0). True freshman Jan Johnson (Mohnton, Pa.) was game against No. 4 Adam Coon at 285, losing a tough 15-5 major to the Michigan All-American. The final bout sent Penn State home with a lop-sided 35-7 victory, remaining unbeaten on the year.
The Nittany Lions are now 12-0, 7-0 in the Big Ten, while Michigan falls to 10-2, 5-1 (suffering its first conference loss of the year). Penn State posted a 22-14 takedown advantage and picked up 11 bonus points off a pin (Retherford), a tech fall (Nolf) and two forfeits (Nickal inj. def.; McIntosh forfeit).
Penn State hosts No. 4 Ohio State on Friday, Feb. 5, at 6 p.m. in an already sold out Bryce Jordan Center. The dual will air live on the Big Ten Network. With the remaining Rec Hall duals already at seated capacity, a limited number of Standing Room Only tickets (SROs) can be purchased for each. Rec Hall SROs may only be purchased by calling 1-800-NITTANY and are $15 per person.
Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at @pennstateWREST, on Penn State Wrestling's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. The 2015-16 Penn State wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.
#1 Penn State 35, #10 Michigan 7
January 31, 2016 -- Rec Hall -- University Park, Pa.
125: #4 Nico Megaludis PSU dec. Conor Youtsey MICH, 10-4 / 3-0
133: #5 Jordan Conaway PSU dec. #17 Rossi Bruno MICH, 9-4 / 6-0
141: #14 Jimmy Gulibon PSU dec. George Fisher MICH, 9-4 / 9-0
149: #1 Zain Retherford PSU pinned #6 Alex Pantaleo MICH, WBF (6:35) / 15-0
157: #1 Jason Nolf PSU tech fall #9 Brian Murphy MICH, 22-6 (TF; 6:14) / 20-0
165: #17 Shakur Rasheed PSU dec. Garrett Sutton MICH, 6-5 / 23-0
174: #1 Bo Nickal PSU inj. def. #13 Davonte Mahomes MICH, Inj.Def (1:34) / 29-0
184: #8 Domenic Abounader MICH dec. Brian Brill PSU, 9-2 / 29-3
197: #1 Morgan McIntosh PSU win by forfeit / 35-3
285: #4 Adam Coon MICH maj. dec. Jan Johnson PSU, 15-5 / 35-7
Attendance: 6,557 (sold out)
Records: Penn State 12-0, 7-0 B1G; Michigan 10-2, 5-1 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: Friday, Feb. 5, 6 p.m. -- HOME vs. Ohio State, SOLD OUT BJC DUAL
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Senior Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 4 at 125, took on junior Conor Youtsey. Megaludis notched the first takedown early, grabbing a 2-0 lead at the 2:20 mark. He then built up :36 in riding time before cutting him loose on a reset. Youtsey worked his way into control of Megaludis' left ankle but the Lion senior forced a stalemate and action resumed in the center circle. Megaludis worked Youtsey's head to the mat and then slid behind him for a second takedown and a 4-1 lead with :52 left in the period. Youtsey escaped to a 4-2 score before the period ended. Leading 4-2, Megaludis chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-2 lead. He once again worked Youtsey's head to the mat and turned it into a takedown with :52 left in the period and led 7-2. A strong ride out allowed the Lion senior to carry that lead with 1:48 in riding time into the third period. Youtsey chose down to start the third, escaped, and was immediately taken down and cut loose by Megaludis. Leading 9-4 with a clinched riding time point, Megaludis forced Youtsey into a stall warning with :50 on the clock but could not break through the Wolverine's defense for the major. 1:58 in time gave Megaludis a 10-4 win.
133: Senior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 133, met No. 17 Rossi Bruno in a bout featuring two ranked foes. Conaway worked the middle of the mat of the bout's first minute-plus. Bruno forced a scramble in the middle of the mat, nearly taking Conaway down on a strong low single. But the Lion senior countered the move, steadily worked his way under and behind Bruno for the takedown. Bruno escaped quickly and Conaway picked up the pace. The Lion blew through a strong shot in the middle of the mat with under :30 left and then rode Bruno out to lead 4-1 after one. Bruno chose down to start the second period and Conaway controlled the Wolverine, nearly turning him for back points. Bruno rolled through the attempt and then escaped to a 4-2 score with 1:25 on the clock. Bruno gained control of Conaway's waist and notched his first takedown with :20 left but Conaway quickly escaped to lead 5-4 after two periods. Conaway chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 6-4 lead. The Lion All-American muscled his way through a high double to take an 8-4 lead with 1:40 left. He maintained control long enough to build up over 1:00 in time and them began working for a turning combination. Conaway's strong ride out allowed the senior to roll to the 9-4 win with 2:27 in riding time.
141: Junior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 14 at 141, took on George Fisher. Gulibon came out fast, looking to set the tempo from the start. Fisher gained control of Gulibon's leg on a low shot and turned it into a takedown and an early 2-0 lead over the Lion junior. Gulibon worked his way to an escaped and a 2-1 deficit with 1:15 left to wrestle. Gulibon quickly countered with a low single and a takedown to lead 3-2. He then controlled Fisher for the rest of the period and led 3-2 after one period. Gulibon chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-2 lead. He then used a swift low single to notch his second takedown and open up a 6-2 lead with 1:10 left to wrestle in the second period. Fisher escaped to a 6-3 Gulibon lead before the period ended. Fisher chose down to start the final stanza and Gulibon maintained control long enough to build up over 1:00 in riding time. Fisher rolled his way into a scramble that nearly ended in a reversal, but Gulibon was steady and forced a stalemate. Fisher escaped to a 6-4 score off a reset with 1:10 on the clock. Gulibon shot low and right for another takedown and an 8-4 lead with :40 left to wrestle. The Lion junior then rode Fisher out to roll to a strong 9-4 win with 2:30 in riding time.
149: Sophomore Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, took on No. 6 Alex Pantaleo in one of the dual's marquee match-ups. Retherford set the tempo early, staying in the center of the mat as Pantaleo worked side to side. The Penn State sophomore shot and Pantaleo numerous times, forcing the Wolverine backwards over the next minute-plus. Retherford's pressure paid off with a fast double leg takedown at the :54 mark to take a 2-0 lead. He maintained control of Pantaleo for the rest of the period, forcing him into one stall warning as well. Retherford chose down to start the second d period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Pantaleo used his own double leg shot to take Retherford down, but Retherford quickly escaped to a 4-2 lead with 1:00 left in the period. Retherford pulled Pantaleo's head down quickly and then dipped for a low double at the Wolverine's ankles to take a 6-w lead. He then turned the Wolverine for four back points as the period ended and led 10-2 after two periods. Pantaleo chose neutral to start the final period but Retherford was relentless. The Lion sophomore hammered a fast double leg to up his lead to 12-2. He cut Pantaleo loose to a 12-3 score and then quickly took him down again to up his lead to 14-3. After a stall point, Retherford turned the Wolverine to his back for a rousing pin at the 6:35 mark.
157: Red-shirt freshman Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, met No. 9 Brian Murphy. Nolf wasted no time taking the Michigan junior down, opening up an early 2-1 lead. Nolf kept up the offensive pressure working his way to another takedown at the 1:50 mark to lead 4-1. He then built up a 1:03 riding time edge before Murphy escaped to a 4-2 score. Nolf was undaunted, working his way into control of Murphy's leg on the edge of the mat. He got the takedown with :20 left and nearly pinned Murphy but the official stopped the action and Nolf led 6-2 with 1:28 in time after the opening period. Nolf chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. A quick shot at Murphy's left leg gave Nolf a 9-3 lead. Murphy countered a Nolf shot and took the Lion down to cut Nolf's lead to 10-5, but Nolf quickly answered the takedown with another of his own in front of the Michigan bench. Leading 12-5, Nolf steadily worked Murphy's shoulders to the mat for four near fall points to lead 16-5 after two. Murphy chose down to start the third period and Nolf cut him loose, looking for more offense. Nolf quickly took Murphy down again and then clinched the riding time point as he looked for a chance to turn the ranked Wolverine for the fall. He picked up four near fall points and posted the 22-6 technical fall at the 6:14 mark.
165: Red-shirt freshman Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.), ranked No. 17 at 165, took on Garrett Sutton. Rasheed came out looking to score early, setting a fast tempo in the middle of the mat with numerous shots low at Sutton's ankles. The Wolverine turned his first shot into a scramble and a takedown to lead 2-1 after a quick Rasheed escape. Sutton blew through a fast low double to open up a 4-2 lead after another quick Rasheed escape. The Lion freshman fought off Sutton as the period wound down and trailed 4-2 after one period. Rasheed chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-3 deficit. Sutton stepped away from a slight Rasheed shot but the Lion countered his next one for his first takedown. Leading 5-4, Rasheed was able to force a scramble from the top position that worked the clock down to just :05. Trailing 5-4, Sutton chose down to start the third period. The Lion freshman was able to keep control of the Wolverine, however, turning riding time to his favor. Rasheed worked Sutton flat and his riding time up over 1:00. He then continued his ride, working the clock down to :14 before getting hit with a stall warning. Sutton escaped to a 5-5 score off a reset but 1:39 in riding time gave Rasheed a hard-fought 6-5 win.
174: Red-shirt freshman Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 174, met No. 13 Davonte Mahomes. The duo began the bout trading jabs as they worked for shoulder control. Nickal shot high on Mahomes, working a single leg into control and a takedown on the edge of the mat. Mahomes was hurt on the takedown, forcing an injury timeout. Mahomes was unable to continue and Nickal was awarded the injury default at the 1:24 mark.
184: Junior Brian Brill (Lock Haven, Pa.) got the call at 184 for Penn State and took on No. 8 Domenic Abounader. Abounader took Brill down on the edge of the mat, locking up a brief cradle to open up the early 4-0 lead. . Brill escaped to a 4-1 score before the period ended, however, and Abounader chose down to start the second stanza. Abounader scrambled his way to a reversal and a 6-1 lead. Brill escaped again as the period ended and trailed 6-2 after two. With Abounader owning over 2:00 in time, Brill chose neutral to start the third period. The Lion junior took a solid shot at the 1:10 mark but Abounader countered, worked his way behind Brill, and picked up another takedown to up his lead to 8-2 with a clinched riding time point. Abounader worked for a turning combination in the hopes of picking up bonus points but Brill fought off each attempt and kept the bout to a regular decision, a hard-fought 9-2 loss to the ranked Wolverine.
197: Senior Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 1 at 197, received a forfeit victory as No. 6 Max Huntley did not weigh in.
285: True freshman Jan Johnson (Mohnton, Pa.) took on No. 4 Adam Coon at 285. Coon shot Johnson off the mat quickly for an early first stall. He then turned a low single into a takedown and a 2-0 lead with 2:09 on the clock. Coon controlled the action for :53 before cutting Johnson loose to a 2-1 score. The unbeaten Wolverine then used a strong shot at Johnson's waist to take the Lion freshman down again, upping his lead to 4-1 with :40 left to wrestle. Coon chose down to start the second period, quickly escaped and then took Johnson down to lead 7-2 after cutting the Lion loose. The Wolverine countered a Johnson shot to up his lead to 9-2 with 1:09 left in the period. Coon added another takedown and cut to lead 11-4. Johnson nearly connected on a high single, but the Wolverine stepped out bounds to force a reset with :20 on the clock. Johnson nearly scored at the buzzer but Coon was able to slide out of trouble to keep his 11-4 lead after two periods. Johnson chose down to start the third period. Coon cut him to an 11-5 score at the 1:10 mark with a clinched riding time point. Coon added a final takedown at the : 35 mark and, with 3:26 in time, posted the 15-5 major.