Feb. 13, 2016
VIDEO: Match Highlights & Interviews
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- No. 1 Penn State (15-0, 9-0 B1G) claimed a share of the 2016 Big Ten Regular Season (dual meet) title with a 41-3 win over Michigan State (1-14, 1-8 B1G) on Saturday night. Head coach Cael Sanderson's team earned a share of the crown with Iowa, which ended its B1G dual season with a 9-0 mark as well.
The dual was wrestled in front of 6,419 fans, the 28th straight Rec Hall sell-out and the 31st of 32 including the Bryce Jordan Center.
The dual began at 125 where senior Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 4, dominated Mitch Rogaliner and rolled to a 17-5 major. Senior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 133, then thrilled the Senior Night crowd with a pin at the 5:59 mark to put Penn State up 10-0. Junior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 14 at 141, suffered a 6-2 upset loss to Javier Gasca, cutting Penn State's lead to 10-3.
Sophomore Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, dominated Kaelan Richards, rolling up a 24-9 technical fall at the 6:49 mark. Red-shirt freshman Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, then picked up his second first period pin in as many nights, getting a fall at the 2:02 mark over MSU's Mark Bozzo. Nolf's pin, his 12th of the year, sent Penn State into intermission with a 21-3 lead.
Junior Geno Morelli (DuBois, Pa.) got the call at 165 and posted a strong 8-2 win over Dean Vettese. Red-shirt freshman Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 174, matched Retherford's tech fall, posting a 24-9 tech at the 3:09 mark to put Penn State up 29-3. Sophomore Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 6 at 184, notched a 3-0 win over Shawn Shadaia as well.
Senior Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 1 at 197, thrilled the capacity Rec Hall crowd, pinning Spartan Jacob Cooper at the 4:22 mark. Red-shirt freshman Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), fresh off his Penn State debut last night in Lehigh, made his Rec Hall debut at 285 and picked up his first Nittany Lion win, a 5-2 decision over Dimitrus Renfroe. Nevills' decision gave Penn State the 41-3 victory.
The Nittany Lions are now 15-0, 9-0 in the Big Ten, while Michigan State falls to 1-14, 1-8 B1G. Penn State dominated the dual from start to finish. The Lions accumulated a gaudy 47-2 takedown advantage and tallied 14 bonus points off three pins (Conaway, Nolf, McIntosh), two tech falls (Retherford, Nickal) and a major (Megaludis).
The 41-3 victory gives this year's team the all-time best Big Ten dual meet record in school history. The 2015-16 Penn State squad went 9-0 in conference duals, only the second-ever Penn State team to run through the conference schedule unblemished. Penn State went 6-0 in 1997-98 and 5-0-1 in 1992-93. The nine dual victories is also a school record for Big Ten dual wins in a single season.
The dual meet served as Senior Night for Penn State with Conaway, McIntosh, Megaludis, Zack Beitz (Mifflintown, Pa.) and Dylan Dailey (Danville, Pa.) were all honored as well as senior managers Sarah Graber, Claudia Bogdan and Rachel Sackett.
Penn State will now await word of its opponent in the 2016 NWCA Dual Meet Championship match-up. Penn State has secured a spot in the 1 vs. 1 battle which will determine the 2016 NWCA National Dual Meet Champion. The Nittany Lions will host the top-ranked non-Big Ten team, to be announced Sunday night. The dual meet will take place in sold out Rec Hall at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21, in a dual meet that will air live on the Big Ten Network.
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 41, #14 Michigan State 3
February 13, 2016 -- Rec Hall -- University Park, Pa.
125: #4 Nico Megaludis PSU maj. dec. Mitch Rogaliner MSU, 17-5 / 4-0
133: #5 Jordan Conaway PSU pinned Garth Yenter MSU, WBF (5:59) / 10-0
141: Javier Gasca MSU dec. #14 Jimmy Gulibon PSU, 6-2 / 10-3
149: #1 Zain Retherford PSU tech fall Kaelan Richards MSU, 24-9 (TF; 6:49) / 15-3
157: #1 Jason Nolf PSU pinned Mark Bozzo MSU, WBF (2:02) / 21-3
165: Geno Morelli PSU dec. Dean Vettese MSU, 8-2 / 24-3
174: #1 Bo Nickal PSU tech fall Travis Curley MSU, 24-9 (TF; 6:19) / 29-3
184: #6 Matt McCutcheon PSU dec. Shane Shadaia MSU, 3-0 / 32-3
197: #1 Morgan McIntosh PSU pinned Jacob Cooper MSU, WBF (4:22) / 38-3
285: Nick Nevills PSU dec. Dimitrus Renfroe MSU, 5-2 / 41-3
Attendance: 6,419 (sold out -- 28 straight sell outs in Rec Hall, 31 of 32 including BJC)
Records: Penn State 15-0, 9-0 B1G (clinches share of B1G reg. season title); Michigan St. 1-14, 1-8 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: vs. TBA, NWCA Dual Meet Championship, 5 p.m., Rec Hall
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Senior Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 4 at 125, took on Mitch Rogaliner. Megaludis set the tempo from the get go, taking numerous shots while Rogaliner played defense for over two minutes. Megaludis broke onto the scoreboard with a takedown at the 1:05 mark. He cut Rogaliner loose, forced him into a stall and then took him down once more to open up a 4-1 lead. Trailing 4-1, Rogaliner chose down to start the second period. Megaludis controlled the Spartan until his riding time edge topped 1:00 and then he cut him loose to a 4-2 score. The Lion senior worked Rogaliner's head to the mat again and worked his way behind him for another takedown and cut to lead 6-3 at the :56 mark. Megaludis added one more takedown and a ride out to lead 8-3 with 1:49 in riding time after two. Megaludis chose down to start the final period and quickly escaped to a 9-3 lead. Megaludis quickly took the Spartan down to up his lead to 11-4 with a cut. Megaludis picked up another point on a second Rogaliner stall and then took him down and cut him to a 14-5 lead. Megaludis quickly took Rogaliner down one more time to up his lead to 16-5. Another ride out and 2:36 in riding time allowed Megaludis to post a 17-5 major.
133: Senior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 133, faced Garth Yenter. Conaway exploded out of the gates, turning a low single into a takedown and an early 2-1 lead. The Lion senior spent the next minute plus working the middle of the mat, trying to break through Yenter's defense. His pressure paid off with a second takedown ad the :35 mark and a short ride out gave Conaway a 4-1 lead with :45 in riding time after one period. Conaway chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. Conaway cut Yenter loose and then paced his way to a swift low single and another takedown to lead 7-1 with :55 on the clock. The Lion then rode Yenter out to lead 7-1 with nearly 2:00 riding time. Yenter chose down to start the third period and Conaway cut him loose immediately. He then blew through a high single and quickly turned Yenter to his back. With the four point fall secured, Conaway then went to work for the pin. The senior thrilled the sell-out Rec Hall crowd by getting the fall at the 5:59 mark, his second pin of the year.
141: Junior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 14 at 141, met Javier Gasca. Gulibon and Gasca battled evenly for the first half of the opening period with one flurry on the edge of the mat ending with both men on their feet. Gulibon controlled the pace for the period, forcing Gasca to back towards the outside circle but could not work his way in for a score and the match entered the second period tied 0-0. Gasca chose down to start the second period and Gulibon went to work on offense. The Lion junior controlled Gasca for :30 before the Spartan escaped to a 1-0 lead. Gulibon continued to force Gasca into defense until the Spartan took his first shot, connecting on a high single and working Gulibon to the mat for a takedown and a 3-0 lead with :28 left in the period. Gasca then rode Gulibon out and led 3-0 after two periods. Gulibon chose down to start the third period but could not break free of Gasca's ride until the 1:25 mark. Gasca shot low quickly after the Lion escaped and tacked on another takedown to up his lead to 5-1 with :40 on the clock. Gulibon escaped to a 5-2 score but 1:04 in time gave Gasca a 6-2 win.
149: Sophomore Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, battled Kaelan Richards. With Retherford quickly took Richards down on the edge of the mat to lead 2-1 after a quick Spartan escape. Retherford fought off a near takedown for Richards, scrambled his way behind the Sparta and steadily worked way to a takedown and a 4-1 lead. He spent the next minute-plus trying to turn Richards but settled for a ride out and a 4-1 lead with 1:30 in riding time after one period. Retherford chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. He immediately turned in on Richards and blew through a high double for a takedown to lead 7-2 after cutting him loose. A fast low double on the edge of the mat gave Retherford a 9-2 lead. Retherford cut him loose and then added three more takedowns to lead 15-5 with 2:25 in time after two. Richards chose down to start the third period and Retherford cut him loose, took him down quickly and cut him loose again. Leading 17-7, Retherford added three more takedowns before nearly turning Richards for the pin. He settled for a 24-9 technical fall at the 6:49 mark when Richards was hit for stalling to end the match.
157: Red-shirt freshman Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, wrestled Mark Bozzo. Bozzo got in on a quick high single, looking to take Nolf down early. But Nolf was steady, forcing a scramble and then a stalemate with 2:11 on the clock to keep action neutral. Nolf then began snapping Bozzo's head down, working his opponent in the center of the mat before taking a 2-0 lead on a throw and takedown. Nolf quickly added four more takedowns before locking up Bozzo's shoulders, quickly turning him to his back and getting his second first period pin in as many days. The fall came at the 2:02 mark and was Nolf's 12th of the year.
165: Junior Geno Morelli (DuBois, Pa.) stepped forth at 165 and faced Dean Vettese. Morelli connected on a high single at the 2:10 mark and worked Vettese to the mat on the Nittany Lion logo. But Vettese was able to force a stalemate and keep the bout scoreless. Morelli continued to work his offense, taking numerous shots while Vettese blocked. Vettese was hit for stalling and then got in on a slow single. Morelli forced a scramble that nearly had the Lion pinned, but he rolled out of trouble and killed the clock. Michigan State challenged the no takedown call and the call stood. Vettese chose down to start the second period and Morelli put together a strong ride to build up :45 in riding time before the escape. Vettese got hit for a second stall and Morelli tied the bout at 1-1. The Lion junior then tried to connect on a high single but Vettese was able to force a stalemate with :25 to wrestle. Tied 1-1, Morelli chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 2-1 lead. Morelli picked up the bout's first takedown early in the third period and then controlled action from the top position. With a riding time point in hand, Morelli forced Vettese into another stall before he escaped. Morelli tacked on a final takedown at the buzzer and 2:02 in riding time to post the 8-2 win.
174: Red-shirt freshman Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 174, met Travis Curley. Nickal took an early 2-1 lead with a fast takedown to start the bout. He cut Curley loose and quickly took him down again to open up a 4-1 lead. Working offensive control, Nickal nearly turned Curley for back points but the Spartan rolled out to an escape. Nickal was undaunted, blowing through a low double to up his lead to 6-2 at the first period's midway point. The Lion freshman tacked on two more takedowns and locked up a cradle momentarily on the second. Curley broke the hold and Nickal settled for a 10-4 lead with 2::03 in riding time after one period. Nickal chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to an 11-4 lead. He worked his way into control of Curley's shoulders and broke the Spartan down for another takedown and a 13-4 lead with 1:10 on the clock. Nickal cut Curley loose to a 13-5 score, picked up another point on a stall and then took him down again for a 16-5 lead after two periods. Curley chose down to start the third period and Nickal cut him loose only to quickly take him down again. The Lion added three more takedowns to post the 24-9 tech fall at the 6:19 mark.
184: Sophomore Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 6 at 184, took on Shawn Shadaia. The duo battled evenly for the first half of the period before Shadaia nearly connected on a low single in front of the Penn State bench. McCutcheon broke out of the hold in time to move out of bounds and keep the bout scoreless with 1:30 on the clock. McCutcheon tried twice to break through with shots, but Shadaia was able to step back and sent the bout into the second period tied 0-0. McCutcheon chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The Lion sophomore then picked up the offensive tempo, working his way into control on a high single to take Shadaia down and lead 3-0 with :58 on the clock. McCutcheon forced Shadaia into a stall warning with a ride out and led 3-0 after two periods. Shadaia chose neutral to start the third period. McCutcheon tried to connect on a low single, forcing Shadaia to scramble to his feet as a stalemate was called with :25 on the clock. The score held and McCutcheon posted the 3-0 decision.
197: Senior Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 1 at 197, met Jacob Cooper. McIntosh scored quickly, taking a 2-1 lead on a low single and cut. The Lion senior turned another ankle pick into control and a 4-2 lead. The Lion senior's offense kept Cooper backing up for the next minute-plus and he connected on a third ankle pick to lead 6-2 with 1:07 on the clock. McIntosh steadily worked Cooper's shoulders to the mat, picking up four near fall points to lead 10-2 with 1:23 in riding time after one period. McIntosh chose neutral to start the second period. He blew through a low double to up his lead to 12-2 and then began trying to turn the Spartan for more near fall points or a pin. He deftly locked up a cradle and turned Cooper for the pin at the 4:22 mark.
285: Red-shirt freshman Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), fresh off his Penn State debut last night in Lehigh, made his Rec Hall debut at 285 and took on Dimitrus Renfroe. Nevills set the tone early, connecting on a single leg for an early 2-0 lead. He then worked to break Renfroe down and build up riding time. The Lion freshman kept the Spartan on the mat for :46 before Renfroe escaped to a 2-1 score. The Nevills takedown was the first period's lone offense and he led 2-1 after one. Renfroe chose down to start the second period and Nevills maintained control. He built up over 1:00 in time before Renfroe escaped to a 2-2 tie. Nevills shot low at the 1:00 mark but Renfroe stepped back and kept the bout tied as action continued on the Nittany Lion logo. Tied 2-2 after two periods, Nevills chose down to start the third period. He steadily worked his way to his feet and got the escape at the 1:22 mark to lead 3-2. Nevills countered a Renfroe shot, working his way around for another takedown and a 5-2 win as time expired, his first win as a Nittany Lion.