Jan. 20, 2017
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (8-0, 4-0 B1G) rolled to a 26-11 win at No. 3 Iowa (7-2, 3-1 B1G) in the year's biggest Big Ten dual meet to date. Head coach Cael Sanderson's squad won seven of ten bouts to remain unbeaten on the year.
The Nittany Lions increased their dual match win streak to 25 straight dating back to the end of the 2014-15 season. Penn State sent seven underclassmen into the bout against the senior-laden Hawkeyes.
The dual began at 125 with one of the year's most anticipated match-ups. Nittany Lion true freshman Nick Suriano (Paramus, N.J.), ranked No. 3 at 125, met senior Thomas Gilman of Iowa, ranked No. 1. Gilman used a first period takedown and good defense against a late Suriano flurry to post a hard-fought 3-2 win. Sophomore George Carpenter (Chapel Hill, N.C.) dropped a 19-4 technical fall at the 7:00 mark to No. 3 Cory Clark at 133, giving the Hawkeyes an early 8-0 lead. Senior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 12 at 141, stunned No. 18 Topher Carton with a furious third period. The Lion senior fell behind early and then roared back with four third period takedowns to walk away with an 8-6 win.
Junior Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, met No. 3 Brandon Sorensen in a rematch of last year's national title bout (won by Retherford with a major). Sorensen pushed the defending NCAA champion to the limit, but Retherford's strong ride in a second tie-breaker allowed Retherford to stay unbeaten with 9-8 (TB 2) decision. Sophomore Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, closed out the first half with a dominating 9-4 win over No. 3 Michael Kemerer. Nolf posted four takedowns to none for the Hawkeye. The decision put Penn State up 9-9 heading into the halftime break.
Red-shirt freshman Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 4 at 165, opened up the second half with a tough 7-4 win over Iowa's Joey Gunther, thanks to a three takedown first period. At 174, true freshman Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) made his Penn State dual meet debut against No. 13 Alex Meyer. The fifth-year Iowa senior and returning All-American used a late takedown to post a tough 7-5 win over Hall and cut Penn State's lead to 12-11
Sophomore Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 2 at 184, silenced the Hawkeye crowd by countering a shot and scramble by No. 5 Sammy Brooks and pinning the Hawkeye senior at the :38 mark. The fall put Penn State up 18-11 and stopped the Hawkeye momentum. Junior Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 197, held on for an 8-7 (TB 2; RT) win over Cash Wilcke to put Penn State up 21-11 and clinch the dual meet. Sophomore Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), ranked No. 5 at 285, closed out the victory with a dominating 21-6 technical fall over Steven Holloway, giving the Lions a 26-11 win.
Retherford has now won 48 straight matches dating back to the end of the 13-14 season. Retherford is now 13-0 with ten pins, a tech and a major. Nolf is 13-0 with seven pins, a major and four techs. Nickal is 12-0 with ten pins and a major this season. Nevills is 12-0 with four pins and three techs.
The Nittany Lions are now 8-0 on the year, 4-0 in the Big Ten, and have won 25 straight duals dating back to the end of the 2014-15 campaign. Iowa is 7-2, 3-1 B1G. Penn State has won in Iowa City in its last two trips to Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Penn State travels Wisconsin for another Big Ten road dual on Friday, Jan. 27, at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central. Two days later, Penn State returns to Rec Hall on Sunday, Jan. 29, for a 2 p.m. dual with the Northwestern Wildcats. All Rec Hall dual meets are sold out, but a very limited number of Standing Room Only tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-NITTANY. 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 2016-17 Penn State wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.
#2 Penn State 26, #3 Iowa 11
January 20, 2017 -- Carver Hawkeye Arena -- January 20, 2017
125: #1 Thomas Gilman IOWA dec. #3 Nick Suriano PSU, 3-2 / 0-3
133: #3 Cory Clark IOWA tech fall George Carpenter PSU, 19-4 (TF; 7:00) / 0-8
141: #12 Jimmy Gulibon PSU dec. #18 Topher Carton IOWA, 8-6 / 3-8
149: #1 Zain Retherford PSU dec. (TB2) #3 Brandon Sorensen IOWA, 9-8 / 6-8
157: #1 Jason Nolf PSU dec. #2 Michael Kemerer IOWA, 9-4 / 9-8
165: #4 Vincenzo Joseph PSU dec. Joey Gunther IOWA, 7-4 / 12-8
174: #13 Alex Meyer IOWA dec. Mark Hall PSU, 7-5 / 12-11
184: #2 Bo Nickal PSU pinned #5 Sammy Brooks IOWA, WBF (0:38) / 18-11
197: #10 Matt McCutcheon PSU dec. Cash Wilcke IOWA, 8-7 (TB2; RT) / 21-11
285: #5 Nick Nevills PSU tech fall Steven Holloway IOWA, 26-11 (TF; 7:00) / 26-11
Attendance: 14,311
Records: Penn State 8-0, 4-0 B1G; Iowa 7-2, 3-1 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: at Wisconsin, Friday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m. Eastern
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: True freshman Nick Suriano (Paramus, N.J.), ranked No. 3 at 125, took on No. 1 Thomas Gilman of Iowa, a senior, in one of the dual's marquee match-ups. The duo battled in the black center circle for the first minute, working for position. Gilman got in on a high single with 1:35 on the clock and finished off the bout's first takedown to lead 2-1 after a quick Suriano escape. Suriano took a slight low shot that Gilman defended, forcing a stalemate with :28 left in the opening period. Trailing 2-1, Suriano chose down to start the second period. The freshman battled his way to an escape and a 2-2 at the 1:20 mark, with Gilman owning :50 in riding time. Gilman stepped back from a high Suriano shot at the :30 mark and the bout moved to the third period tied 2-2. Gilman chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 lead. Suriano nearly connected on a nice under hook, but Gilman felt the pressure and moved out of trouble with 1:20 left to wrestle. The Lion freshman drove in on the senior again and Gilman stepped out of trouble. After a double stall call for locking hands, action resumed with :20 left. Suriano's last two shots were defended and Gilman posted a hard fought 3-2 win.
133: Sophomore George Carpenter (Chapel Hill, N.C.) took on third-ranked senior Cory Clark of Iowa. Clark notched an early takedown and led 2-1 after a Carpenter escape. The Hawkeye senior added a second takedown to up his lead to 4-1 with 1:30 on the clock. He turned the Lion sophomore for four back points to lead 8-1 after the opening period. Clark chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 9-1 lead. He picked up a quick takedown after the escape and built his riding time up over 2:30. Carpenter escaped to an 11-2 score. Clark added a final takedown and led 13-2 heading into the third period. Carpenter chose down to start the third period and gave up a point on a stall warning. He escaped to a 14-3 score, shot low, but Clark countered for another takedown and a 16-4 lead. Clark added another takedown and rode Carpenter out to pick up the 19-4 tech fall at the 7:00 mark, with 4:33 in riding time.
141: Senior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 12 at 141, met No. 18 Topher Carton. Carton came out trying to control action up high, but Gulibon fought off that move, then worked in on a solid single to gain control of Carton's left leg. Gulibon worked Carton to the ground, but the Hawkeye bounced behind him for a counter takedown and a 2-0 lead. After a reset, Carton was able to work Gulibon flat to the mat and build his riding time up over 1:00. The Lion senior was unable to work free for an escape and Carton led 2-0 after the opening period. Carton chose down to start the second period. Gulibon maintained control for over :30 but was hit with a first stall in the process. He then continued to control the action from the top position after a reset, working Carton's riding time down to just :48 before Carton escaped to a 3-0 lead. Gulibon worked in on a solid shot with :25 left but once again Carton was able to defend the move and force a stalemate with :08 left in the period. Trailing 3-0, Gulibon chose neutral to start the third period. Gulibon scored on a fast head inside single, picking up his first takedown with 1:40 on the clock. He cut Carton loose to a 4-2 score and began working for another takedown. The Lion senior picked up the takedown and cut Carton loose to a 5-4 Iowa lead with :50 on the clock. Gulibon worked a third takedown on the far side of the mat to up his lead to 6-5. He cut Carton loose one more time with just :30 left and then took the Hawkeye loose to take an 8-6 lead with :27 left on the clock. Gulibon then rode the Hawkeye out to win 8-6.
149: Junior Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, met No. 3 Brandon Sorensen in a rematch of last year's national title tilt (won 10-1 by Retherford in Madison Square Garden). Retherford picked up his first takedown at the 2:00 mark, opening up a 2-1 lead after a quick Sorensen escape. Sorensen took Retherford down with a nice low single to tie the bout at 3-3 after a Retherford escape with :45 on the clock. It was the first dual meet take down given up by Retherford this year. Tied 3-3, Retherford chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-3 lead. The Lion junior worked his offense in the middle of the mat, taking numerous shots that Sorensen was able to defend as the clock moved below 1:00. Retherford continued to shoot, taking high singles that kept Sorensen on defense, and the action moved to the third period tied 3-3. Sorensen chose down to start the third period and Retherford worked to maintain offensive control. Sorensen escaped to a 4-4 tie with 1:20 on the clock and Retherford had only :32 in riding time. Sorensen took a go ahead takedown at the :50 mark and Retherford quickly escaped to a 6-5 score. He quickly turned in and worked a single to a takedown with just :20 left. Sorensen managed a tying escape with just :07 left and the match moved to sudden victory. Neither man mounted a charge in the extra minute, sending the bout to a tiebreaker. Zain chose down for his tie breaker and quickly escaped to an 8-7 lead. Sorensen then chose down for his :30 slot and escaped with just :07 left. The action was 8-8 heading to a second sudden victory period. Each man had slight openings with just :30 left but neither wrestler finished and action moved to a second tiebreaker tied 8-8. Sorensen chose down for the first :30 and this time Retherford was able to break the Hawkeye down and rode him out. Now taking down, Zain was cut loose quickly by Sorensen and led 9-8. The Lion then battled down the clock and escaped with a hard fought 9-8 (TB 2) decision.
157: Sophomore Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, met No. 2 Michael Kemerer in another much-anticipated battle. Nolf got in on Kemerer's left leg quickly, working his way into a scramble that nearly ended in a takedown but was called for potentially dangerous action. Nolf continued to press on offense, working his way in on another high single. The move forced a long scramble that once again ended in a stalemate at the 1:31 mark. Nolf continued to shoot, and Kemerer continued to defend. This time, Nolf came up through Kemerer's legs, with action ending in another stalemate. Undaunted by the Hawkeye's defense, Nolf continued to press on offense, forcing Kemerer into a first stall warning with :40 left in the period. Nolf finished with another shot and Kemerer was able to kill the clock. Tied 0-0, Nolf chose down to start the second period and worked his way to an escape and a 1-0 lead at the 1:30 mark. Nolf used a fast low double to finally break through the Iowa defense for a takedown and a 3-1 lead after a quick Kemerer escape. Nolf connected on a low ankle pick, stepped over Kemerer and took a 5-1 lead with :10 on the clock. A short rideout gave the Lion a 5-1 lead after two periods. Kemerer chose down to start the second stanza and Nolf controlled the action from the top position. After a blood time break, Nolf cut Kemerer loose and began working for another takedown. Nolf connected on another high single, sitting in on Kemerer during a scramble and finishing off the takedown to lead 7-3 after another cut. Nolf cut the Hawkeye loose and took him down one more time, looking for the major. Nolf nearly picked up another takedown as the period ended but Kemerer was able to defend Nolf's final shot and keep the decision to a 9-4 Nolf win.
165: Red-shirt freshman Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 4 at 165, took on Iowa's Joey Gunther. Joseph wasted no time taking a 2-0 lead, working a low single to a takedown just :20 into the bout. He cut Gunther loose and them quickly worked his way to a second takedown on the edge of the mat for a 4-1 lead. The Lion freshman continued his offensive dominance, picking up a third takedown after a Gunther stall warning to up his lead to 6-2 with 1:00 on the clock. Gunther managed a third escape and Joseph led 6-3 after one period. Gunther chose down to start the second period and Joseph worked on top long enough to build his riding time edge up over 1:00. Gunther escaped to a 6-4 score at the 1:30 mark and Joseph continued to press on offense. Gunther was able to defend this shot and a stalemate was called with 1:01 on the clock. Joseph chose down to start the third period. He tried to roll out of control but Gunther was able to control the move and worked Joseph's time edge below 1:00. Joseph escaped to a 7-4 lead with 1:20 left to wrestle. Joseph got hit for a first stall warning with :50 on the clock and then defended a late Gunther flurry to walk away with a hard-fought 7-4 win.
174: True freshman Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) made his Penn State dual debut, taking on No. 13 Alex Meyer at 174. Hall wasted no time taking Meyer down, turning a low single into a takedown and a 2-0 lead. He then controlled the action on the top, breaking the Hawkeye down. Meyer escaped to a 2-1 Hall lead. The Lion worked his way towards what was initially ruled a takedown, but the move was waived off and the Lion maintained a 2-1 lead with :26 left on the clock. Leading 2-1, Hall chose down to start the second period. He quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead and turned into the Hawkeye once more. Hall pressed the action, connecting on a high single that Meyer was able to counter at the :30 mark to tie the score at 3-3. Hall was unable to escape and action moved to the third period tied 3-3. Meyer chose down to start the final period and quickly escaped to a 4-3 lead with 1:45 left to wrestle. Hall used a fast under hook for another takedown and the bout was tied 5-5 after a quick Meyer escape. Meyer countered a Hall shot and notched the takedown that won the match with just :10 left, posting a thrilling 7-5 win.
184: Sophomore Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 2 at 184, met No. 5 Sammy Brooks. Brooks got in on a low single, forcing a scramble in the middle of the mat. Nickal countered the move by locking up a spladle or cradle and flattening Brooks' shoulders for a stunning fall at the :38 mark.
197: Junior Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 197, faced off against Iowa freshman Cash Wilke. McCutcheon was steady early, working his offense and notching a takedown with 1:00 on the clock to take a 2-1 lead after a quick Wilke escape. The remainder of the first period was scoreless and the Lion junior carried that one point lead into the second period. Leading 2-1, McCutcheon chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. He then forced Wilcke into a first stall warning. Trailing 3-1, Wilke chose down to start the third period. McCutcheon stepped back from a slight Wilcke shot to maintain his one point lead. Wilcke took a 4-3 lead with a takedown and McCutcheon quickly escaped to a 4-4 tie to force the bout into a sudden victory period. The bout moved into a tie breaker and McCutcheon took a 6-4 lead with a quick reversal. Wilcke picked up a point on two McCutcheon stalls and McCutcheon led 6-5. Wilcke tied the bout at 6-6 with his escape and action moved into a second sudden victory period. Neither wrestler scored and action moved to a second tie breaker. Wilcke escaped quickly in his period and then McCutcheon had his turn on bottom. The Lion junior worked his way free for a 7-7 tie with McCutcheon owning :14 in riding time. The riding time edge gave McCutcheon an 8-7 (tb 2; rt) win.
285: Sophomore Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), ranked No. 5 at 285, met Steven Holloway. Nevills wasted no time in opening up 2-0 lead. The Lion worked up a riding time edge before Holloway escaped. The action continued in the middle of the mat before Holloway took a low shot that Nevills was able to counter. The Lion sophomore steadily worked his way to a counter takedown and 4-1 lead. He then rode Holloway out and carried that lead into the second period. Nevills chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped. He turned in on the Hawkeye and notched his third takedown to up his lead to 7-1. He picked up a point on a second Holloway stall and then rode the Hawkeye out to lead 8-1 after two periods with 2:25 in riding time. Holloway chose neutral to start the third period and Nevills piled on the offense. The sophomore tacked on four takedowns in the first 1:30 and then added three more down the stretch to roll to a 21-6 technical fall thanks to 3:12 riding time for the final point.