Feb. 3, 2017
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- No. 1 Penn State (11-0, 7-0 B1G) crushed No. 3 Ohio State (8-2, 4-2 B1G) in a Big Ten road dual in Columbus, Ohio. In a match wrestled in front of over 15,000 fans in OSU's Value City Arena, Penn State won seven of ten bouts, keeping the Buckeye faithful in check, and rolled to a lop-sided 32-12 victory.
In a dual meet featuring 17 ranked wrestlers, Penn State opened up an early lead that Ohio State could not come back from. The Lions won seven of the first eight bouts and coasted to the victory to increase their dual match win streak to 28 straight dating back to the end of the 2014-15 season. Penn State sent seven underclassmen into the bout against the Buckeyes.
The dual began at 125 where Nittany Lion true freshman Nick Suriano (Paramus, N.J.) dominated No. 18 Jose Rodriguez. Suriano picked up six takedowns and built up 2:34 in riding time on his way to a 19-4 technical fall at the 7:00 mark. Ohio State answered at 133 where No. 1 Nathan Tomasello notched a 22-7 tech fall over Lion Sophomore George Carpenter (Chapel Hill, N.C.), tying the dual at 5-5. Senior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 11 at 141, posted a pivotal 5-3 win over No. 15 Luke Pletcher to give the Nittany Lions an 8-5 lead.
Junior Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, stayed unbeaten with a dominating 20-5 technical fall over No. 5 Micah Jordan. Retherford used four takedowns and two four-point turns to roll to the lopsided win over the fifth-ranked Buckeye. Sophomore Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.) gave Penn State a 19-5 lead at intermission with a fast fall over Ohio State's Anthony DeCarlo. Nolf got his 10th pin of the year at the 1:36 mark.
Red-shirt freshman Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 4 at 165, continued Penn State's dominance by majoring Cody Burcher 11-1, putting Penn State up 23-5 after six matches. True freshman Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 7 at 174, dominated Buckeye Justin Kresevic, working his way to a 13-3 lead before locking his shoulders and tossing him for a pin at the 5:21 mark. The fall, Hall's 10th of the year, gave Penn State an insurmountable 29-5 lead. Sophomore Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 2 at 184, dominated No. 10 Myles Martin from start to finish, picking up three takedowns and a reversal to roll to an 8-2 win.
Junior Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 197, lost a hard-fought 9-6 decision to No. 4 Kollin Moore at 197, cutting Penn State's lead to 32-8. Sophomore Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), ranked No. 3 at 285, took on defending NCAA Champion and top-ranked Kyle Snyder in the dual's final bout. Snyder posted a strong 19-9 major but Penn State posted the 32-12 victory.
Penn State posted a slim 26-24 edge in takedowns with Ohio State's Tomasello and Snyder accounting for 18 of OSU's 24 (nine each). The Nittany Lions continued to dominate their completion, staying unbeaten and winning each dual meet so far by 15 points (26-11 at Iowa) or more. Sanderson's squad picked up 11 bonus points off two pins (Nolf, Hall), two technical falls (Suriano, Retherford) and a major (Joseph).
Retherford is 16-0 with 11 pins, a forfeit, two techs and a major. Nolf is 16-0 with ten pins, a major and four techs. Nickal is 15-0 with 11 pins and two majors this season. The Nittany Lions are now 11-0, 7-0 in the Big Ten, and winners of 28 straight duals. Ohio State falls to 8-2, 4-2 in the Big Ten.
Penn State returns to Rec Hall for two home duals next weekend. Action begins with a meeting with Illinois on Friday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions then host Maryland on Sunday at 2 p.m. in their home finale, which will also serve as Senior Day. 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.
#1 Penn State 32, #3 Ohio State 12
February 3, 2017 -- Schottenstein Center -- Columbus, Ohio
125: #2 Nick Suriano PSU TF #18 Jose Rodriguez OSU, 19-4 (TF; 7:00) / 5-0
133: #1 Nathan Tomasello OSU TF George Carpenter PSU, 22-7 (TF; 6:01) / 5-5
141: #11 Jimmy Gulibon PSU dec. #15 Luke Pletcher OSU, 5-3 / 8-5
149: #1 Zain Retherford PSU TF #5 Micah Jordan OSU, 20-5 (TF; 7:00) / 13-5
157: #1 Jason Nolf PSU pinned Anthony DeCarlo OSU, WBF (1:36) / 19-5
165: #4 Vincenzo Joseph PSU maj. dec. Cody Burcher OSU, 11-1 / 23-5
174: #7 Mark Hall PSU pinned Justin Kresevic OSU, WBF (5:21) / 29-5
184: #2 Bo Nickal PSU dec. #10 Myles Martin OSU, 8-2 / 32-5
197: #54 Kollin Moore OSU dec. #9 Matt McCutcheon PSU, 9-6 / 32-8
285: #1 Kyle Snyder OSU maj. dec. #3 Nick Nevills PSU, 19-9 / 32-12
Attendance: 15,338
Records: Penn State 11-0, 7-0 B1G; Ohio State 8-2, 4-2 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: home vs. Illinois, Friday, Feb. 10, 7 p.m. in Rec Hall
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: True freshman Nick Suriano (Paramus, N.J.), ranked No. 2 at 125, took on No. 18 Jose Rodriguez. Suriano quickly got in on a single leg, wrapping up Rodriguez's right leg, lifting it off the ground and working the Buckeye to the mat for a takedown at the 2:13 mark. Rodriguez escaped with 1:45 on the clock and took a high shot that Suriano moved back from, leading 2-1 at the midway point of the opening period. Suriano forced Rodriguez's shoulders to the mat and worked his way around the Buckeye for a second takedown and a 4-1 lead at the :40 mark. Suriano controlled Rodriguez for the rest of the period and led 4-1 with :58 in riding time after one period. Suriano chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. Suriano broke Rodriguez's shoulders down on the mat once more, moved around for a third takedown and cut him loose to a 7-2 lead with :40 left in the period. Suriano blew through a fast low double for a takedown at the buzzer and led 9-2 with 1:02 in time after two periods. Rodriguez chose down to start the third period and the Lion freshman built his time edge up to 1:15 before cutting him loose. A quick Lion takedown gave Suriano an 11-3 lead. He then worked the Buckeye's shoulders to the mat for four back points and a 15-4 lead after cutting him loose at the :40 mark. Suriano picked up another point on a stall and then took Rodriquez down to up his lead to 18-4. The Lion freshman rode the Buckeye out and, with 2:34 in time, posted the 19-4 tech fall at the 7:00 mark.
133: Sophomore George Carpenter (Chapel Hill, N.C.) took on No. 1 Nathan Tomasello at 133. Tomasello worked his way to an early takedown and a 2-1 lead just :25 into the bout. The unbeaten Buckeye took Carpenter down once more at the 2:10 mark to open up an early 4-1 lead. This time, the Buckeye controlled the action with a solid ride, building up a :41 time advantage before cutting Carpenter loose on a reset. Tomasello picked up three more takedowns and two two-point near falls to lead 14-4 after one. Carpenter chose neutral to start the second period and Tomasello took him down again to up his lead to 16-5. The Buckeye picked up another takedown and rode Carpenter out to lead 18-5 with 2:40 in time after two. Tomasello chose top to start the third period, looking to turn Carpenter to end the match. The Lion sophomore fought off an early turn attempt and worked his way to an escaped with 1:20 on the clock. Tomasello picked up another takedown, cut Carpenter and then
141: Senior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 11 at 141, met No. 15 Luke Pletcher of Ohio State. Pletcher took a quick shot at the 2:30 mark that Gulibon stepped away from, slid to the side of and countered with a shot of his own. Gulibon worked his way into control of the Buckeye's left ankle. Pletcher was able to kill over a minute of time while Gulibon worked for a takedown and got out of bounds to keep the bout tied 0-0 with 1:25 left in the opening period. Pletcher used a quick move to work his way behind Gulibon for just a second, getting the takedown to lead 2-1 after a quick Gulibon escape. Pletcher chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. After a reset at the 1:20 mark, Gulibon notched his first takedown to tie the bout at 3-3 with a solid takedown in the middle of the mat. The Lion senior then controlled the action from the top position, building up a solid time edge while rolling Pletcher once but not maintaining for back points. Gulibon maintained control for the rest of the period and the bout moved to the third tied 3-3, Gulibon had 1:23 in time. Gulibon chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 4-3 lead while maintaining a 1:17 time advantage. The duo battled on their feet in the middle of the mat while the clock ticked below 1:00. Gulibon got hit with a stall call at the :20 mark and then fought off Pletcher's late flurry to post the 5-3 win with 1:17 in riding time.
149: Junior Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, met Buckeye Micah Jordan, ranked No. 5 nationally. Jordan worked his way in on a strong low single that Retherford fought off for :30 before the Buckeye picked up that takedown to take an early 2-0 lead. Jordan maintained control for :35 before Retherford escaped to a 2-1 score. Retherford nearly connected on a fast low shot at the 1:00 mark but Jordan skipped out of trouble to keep his one point lead as the first period clock wound down. Retherford turned a scrambling low single into a takedown at the buzzer to lead 3-2 after one period. Retherford chose down to start the second period and worked his way to an escape and a 4-2 lead with 1:38 on the clock. Retherford opened up a 10-2 lead with a six point move, taking Jordan down and turning him for four back points at the 1:05 mark. The Lion then controlled action from the top position, working to turn Jordan. Retherford rode Jordan out and led 10-2 after two. Jordan chose neutral and quickly took the Lion junior down for a takedown, cutting the lead to 11-4 after a quick Retherford escape. Retherford picked up a quick takedown to lead 13-5 at the :50 mark. He blew through a high double to up his lead to 15-5 with over 1:00 in time. Retherford then turned Jordan a final four points and, with 1:20 in time, picked up the 20-5 technical fall.
157: Sophomore Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, took on Ohio State's Anthony DeCarlo. DeCarlo got in on an early shot and Nolf countered to force a scramble in the center of the mat. Nolf worked his way into control of a cradle, getting the takedown at the 2:24 mark. He slipped on his turn attempt and DeCarlo reversed him. Nolf quickly escaped to a 3-2 lead and then countered another DeCarlo shot. He quickly turned DeCarlo's shoulders to the mat, and, after a brief reset, picked up the pin at the 1:36 mark.
165: Red-shirt freshman Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 4 at 165, met Buckeye Cody Burcher. Joseph quickly gained control of Burcher's left ankle but the Buckeye was able to force a stalemate at the 2:21 mark. Joseph notched his first takedown at the 1:37 mark, working a single into a 2-0 lead. He then turned Burcher for four back points and led 6-1 after cutting the Buckeye loose. Joseph forced Burcher into defense for the rest of the period and led 6-1 after one. Joseph chose down to start the second stanza. Burcher put together a solid ride, controlling Joseph for :50 before Joseph lifted the Buckeye off the ground while reversing him to take an 8-1 lead midway through the period. Joseph then rode Burcher out to lead 8-1 with :51 in time after two. Burcher chose top to start the third period. The Buckeye maintained control for :45 before Joseph escaped to a 9-1 lead. Joseph launched into a low single and finished off the takedown to lead 11-1 with :50 on the clock. Joseph spent the rest of the period dominating action from the top position and rode Burcher out to post the 11-1 major.
174: True freshman Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 7 at 174, battled Justin Kresevic. Hall quickly took the Buckeye down to open up an early 2-0 lead. He controlled the action from the top position before Kresevic escaped to a 2-1 score. Hall turned another high single into a takedown and a 4-1 lead with 1:20 left in the opening period. The Lion freshman built up over 1:00 in riding time, working for a chance to turn the Buckeye. Hall rode Kresevic out and led 4-1 with 1:50 in riding time after one. Hall chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. Hall picked up a quick third takedown and led 7-2 after a cut. He went on top pick up two more takedowns and a long ride out to lead 11-3 with 2:47 in time after two. Kresevic chose neutral to start the third period and Hall made him pay. Hall locked Kresevic's shoulders up, tossed him to his back and got the pin at the 5:21 mark. The pin was the 10th of the year for the Lion freshman.
184: Sophomore Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 2 at 184, met No. 10 Myles Martin. Nickal took an early shot that Martin countered and nearly connected on himself. Nickal fought off the counter and action continued in the middle of the mat tied 0-0. Nickal was the aggressor for the first period, forcing Martin back on his heels while the clocked dipped below 1:00. Nickal nearly got a takedown at the 1:00 mark but Martin was able to fight off the move as Nickal worked for a throw. The Lion's offense paid off with :06 left as he worked a low shot into a takedown and a 2-0 lead after one. Martin chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-1 score. Martin connected on a low single that forced a scramble in the middle of the mat. Nickal forced a reset with :52 left in the period. Martin took a late shot that Nickal easily countered, picking up a late takedown to lead 4-1 after two. Nickal chose down to start the third period. He gained control of Martin's leg and worked his way to a reversal and a 6-1 lead with 1:15 left. Martin escaped to a 6-2 score and Nickal once again worked his offense. The Lion sophomore worked his way to another takedown with :08 left and posted the dominating 8-2 win.
197: Junior Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 197, met No. 4 Kollin Moore of Ohio State. Moore connected on an early single but McCutcheon rolled his way to a stalemate and the bout moved on scoreless at the 2:35 mark. The duo battled evenly for the next minute-plus with McCutcheon stepping back from two solid Moore shots while trying to control action at the shoulders. McCutcheon took a fast low single at the 1:05 mark and took a 2-0 lead with a takedown. McCutcheon got hit for a stall, hanging on Moore's ankle before the Buckeye escaped to a 2-1 lead. Moore worked his way through a high double to take a 3-2 lead with :38 on the clock, picking up his first takedown. McCutcheon worked his way to an escape and the bout moved to the second period tied 3-3. McCutcheon chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-3 lead. McCutcheon turned a low shot into another takedown and a 6-4 lead after a quick Moore escape. Like the first period, Moore answered with a fast takedown to the bout at 6-6 with :45 on the clock. Moore was able to ride McCutcheon out and the bout moved to the third period tied 6-6. Moore chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-6 lead. McCutcheon spent the next minute-plus looking for an opening but Moore's defense kept the Lion at bay. McCutcheon took a late shot that Moore countered for a final takedown and a 9-6 win.
285: Sophomore Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), ranked No. 3 at 285, met unbeaten defending NCAA Champion Kyle Snyder, ranked No. 1. Snyder worked his way in on a low double off the opening whistle to take an early 2-0 lead. Nevills escaped to a 2-1 score and action resumed in the center circle with 2:30 on the clock. Snyder added a second takedown at the 1:32 mark to lead 4-2 lead after a Nevills escape. The Buckeye added two more takedowns to lead 8-3 with 1:11 in time after one. Nevills chose down to start the second period and escaped to an 8-4 score. But Snyder added a fifth takedown and led 10-4 with 1:10 left in the bout. Nevills escaped but Snyder quickly answered with another takedown and led 12-6. Snyder chose neutral to start the third period and took a quick shot that Snyder countered for a 14-6 lead. Nevills escaped to a 14-7 score with 1:20 on the clock. Snyder added two more takedowns and posted the 19-9 major with 2:42 in riding time.