Feb. 3, 2018
PSU Photo Gallery I VIDEO: Penn State Completes Comeback for B1G Dual Title
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.-- The Penn State Nittany Lions (12-0, 8-0 B1G), wrestling without top-ranked Jason Nolf at 157, took care of business in a key Big Ten dual meet by beating visiting Ohio State (12-1, 7-1) in sold out Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions roared back from a ten point halftime deficit to post a thrilling 19-18 win, clinching at least a share of the 2018 Big Ten Dual Meet Championship.
The Lions won four of five bouts in the second half, highlighted by sophomore Anthony Cassar (Rocky Hill, N.J.) taking care of No. 1 Kollin Moore at 197. Penn State's victory keeps it dual meet win streak alive at 43 and clinches a share of its fifth Big Ten dual crown under head coach Cael Sanderson. A win over Iowa in the sold out Bryce Jordan Center next Saturday would give Penn State the crown outright.
The dual began at 125 where senior Carson Kuhn (Sandy, Utah) made his Penn State debut against No. 4 Nathan Tomasello of Ohio State. The Boise State transfer thrilled the crowd with early takedowns and led into the second period but Tomasello rallied to post a 21-12 major. . Senior Corey Keener (Schuylkill Valley, Pa.) nearly upset No. 2 Luke Pletcher but the Buckeye was able to defend his way to a close 5-4 decision, giving Ohio State an early 7-0 lead.
True freshman Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 6 at 141, suffered a 7-6 upset loss to no. 11 Joey McKenna, dropping the bout on 1:32 riding time for the Buckeye. Senior Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, got Penn State on the board by dominating No. 7 Ke-Shawn Hayes. Retherford posted a 20-4 technical fall with 3:19 in riding time. With No. 1 Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.) out at 157, redshirt freshman Bo Pipher (Paonia, Colo.) stepped up and took on No. 5 Micah Jordan. Jordan posted a 24-9 technical fall at the 6:06 mark to send Penn State into the halftime break trailing 15-5.
Trailing by ten at the half, the Nittany Lions embarked on an epic comeback to keep their win streak alive. Sophomore Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 165, dominated No. 14 Te-Shan Campbell, controlling the bout from start to finish on his way to a 12-3 major with 1:59 in riding time. Joseph's win cut the Buckeye lead to 15-9. Sophomore Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 2 at 174, took care of No 3 Bo Jordan with a 6-4 victory. Hall used a third period takedown and a rideout to roll to the victory with 1:40 in riding time. His win pulled Penn State to within three, 15-12.
Junior Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 184, dominated No. 2 Myles Martin, controlling the bout from start to finish as he rolled to a 10-2 major decision with 2:07 in riding time. Nickal's bonus point win gave Penn State its first lead of the dual, 16-15. Cassar got the nod at 197 and took on No. 1 Kollin Moore. The New Jersey native lifted the roof of yet another Rec Hall sellout by controlling the top-ranked Buckeye over the final two periods and rolling to a 6-3 victory. Cassar's triumph gave Penn State a 19-15 lead heading into the final bout of the evening. Junior Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), ranked No. 6 at 285, took on defending NCAA Champion and No. 1-ranked Kyle Snyder in the final match-up. The Nittany Lion battled Snyder tough but lost a close 15-10 decision. The final Buckeye win was not enough and Penn State posted the thrilling, come from behind 19-18 victory.
The victory moves Penn State's dual meet win streak to 43, dating back to the 2014-15 season. It is also Penn State's 24th straight Big Ten dual meet victory. Retherford now has 116 career wins, 14th all-time at Penn State. The crowd of 6,699 was the highest this season and is the 40th straight sellout in Rec Hall. Penn State is now 12-0, 8-0 in the Big Ten. Ohio State is 12-1, 7-1 B1G.
Penn State will now prep for the 2018 BJC Dual, hosting Iowa on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 8 p.m. The dual meet in the near-16,000 seat venue, is sold out. A limited number of Standing Room Only (SRO) tickets may be available for the Buffalo dual on Feb. 18. Call 1-800-NITTANY for information or to purchase tickets.
The 2017-18 Penn State wrestling season is sponsored by The Family Clothesline. 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. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.
#2 Penn State 19, #1 Ohio State 18
February 3, 2018 -- Rec Hall -- University Park, Pa.
125: #4 Nathan Tomasello OSU maj. dec. Carson Kuhn PSU, 21-12 / 0-4
133: #2 Luke Pletcher OSU dec. Corey Keener PSU, 5-4 / 0-7
141: #11 Joey McKenna OSU dec. #6 Nick Lee PSU, 7-6 / 0-10
149: #1 Zain Retherford PSU tech fall #7 Ke-Shawn Hayes OSU, 20-4 (TF; 7:00) / 5-10
157: #5 Micah Jordan OSU tech fall Bo Pipher PSU, 24-9 (TF; 6:06) / 5-15
165: #1 Vincenzo Joseph PSU maj. dec. #14 Te-Shan Campbell OSU, 12-3 / 9-15
174: #2 Mark Hall PSU dec. #3 Bo Jordan OSU, 6-4 / 12-15
184: #1 Bo Nickal PSU maj. dec. #2 Myles Martin OSU, 10-2 / 16-15
197: Anthony Cassar PSU dec. No. 1 Kollin Moore OSU, 6-3 / 19-15
285: #1 Kyle Snyder OSU dec. #6 Nick Nevills PSU, 15-10 / 19-18
Attendance: 6,699 (40th straight Rec Hall sellout, 43rd of 45 including 3 of 5 in BJC)
Records: Penn State 12-0, 8-0 B1G; Ohio State 12-1, 7-1 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: home vs. Iowa, Bryce Jordan Center, Saturday, Feb. 10, 8 p.m. (BTN)
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Senior Carson Kuhn (Sandy, Utah) made his Penn State debut in front of a sold out Rec Hall crowd, taking on No. 4 Nathan Tomasello. Tomasello came out quick, taking Kuhn down for an early 2-1 lead. The Lion senior, a transfer from Boise State, then countered a Tomasello shot for a takedown and a 3-2 lead with 2:10 on the clock. Tomasello quickly escaped and Kuhn caught him in a shoulder throw for a second takedown and a 5-3 lead with 1:15 on the clock. The senior maintained control of the Buckeye All-American until the 1:38 mark when an escape cut Kuhn's lead to 5-4. Tomasello then took the Buckeye down for a takedown and, after a Kuhn escape, the bout was tied 6-6. Kuhn continued to press on offense, taking Tomasello down at the :55 mark for an 8-6 lead. He then worked action on top long enough to build up a :32 time edge before Tomasello escaped to an 8-7 Kuhn lead. Tomasello chose down to start the second period and Kuhn controlled the action until an escape at the 1:40 mark tied the bout at 8-8. Tomasello turned a solid how single into a takedown and a 10-8 lead with 1:00 left. The Buckeye turned Kuhn for four near fall points and led 14-8 at the :30 mark. Trailing 14-8, Kuhn chose down to start the third period. The Lion escaped to a 14-9 score and action resumed in the center circle. Tomasello quickly added another takedown and led 16-10. Tomasello countered a Kuhn shot for another score to lead 18-10 and the Buckeye worked his riding time up over 1:00. Kuhn escaped to an 18-11 score but Tomasello countered another shot for a takedown. Kuhn added an escape, Tomasello a riding time point, and the Buckeye notched the hard-fought 21-12 major.
133: Senior Corey Keener (Schuylkill Haven, Pa.) met No. 2 Luke Pletcher at 133. Pletcher drew first blood with a takedown on the edge of the mat to lead 2-0 at the 2:06 mark. Keener quickly escaped to a 2-1 score at 1:40 and action resumed in the center circle. Pletcher added a second takedown with 1:00 on the clock and Keener nearly reversed him with :30 left. But action moved out of bounds and the Lion settled for an escape to trail 4-2 after one period. Kuhn chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-3 deficit. The Lion senior worked low shots in the center circle but Pletcher was able to defend each effort. The duo battled evenly for the remainder of the middle stanza and Keener trailed 4-3 after two. Pletcher chose down to start the third period. Keener broke the Buckeye down on the edge of the mat and worked his riding time disadvantage down below 1:00. Pletcher escaped to a 5-3 lead at the 1:30 mark. Keener worked offense in the middle of the mat but Pletcher was able to defend the clock down below :40. The Lion senior was unable to break through Pletcher's defense. Keener picked up a point on two Pletcher stalls and the Buckeye held on for a 5-4 win.
141: True freshman Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 6 at 141, met No. 11 Joey McKenna. McKenna scored at the 2:20 mark on a fast low single to take a 2-0 lead. The Lion freshman escaped to a 2-1 score at the 1:18 mark with McKenna holding 1:05 in riding time. The Lion freshman then pressed in on offense, turning a low single into a brief scramble and a takedown to lead 3-2 at the :35 mark. He then controlled the Buckeye for the remainder of the period to carry that lead into the second period. Lee chose down to start the second period. He fought off a quick McKenna turn attempt but could not break free for an escape as the Buckeye controlled the action for over 1:00. Lee got the escape to lead 4-2 with :40 on the clock but McKenna had 1:45 in riding time. McKenna scrambled for a late takedown and the bout was tied 4-4 after two. McKenna chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-4 lead with 1:37 in time. Lee began to press on offense and McKenna played defense to work the clock down to 1:38. Lee notched a takedown to lead 6-5 and cut McKenna loose to a 6-6 tie with 1:10 on the clock. McKenna's defense worked the clock down to :42. Lee shot, McKenna countered, and the ensuing scramble worked the clock down to just :10. Lee was unable to break through as McKenna backed away to kill the clock. The Buckeye's 1:32 in riding time gave him a 7-6 win.
149: Senior Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, battled No. 7 Ke-Shawn Hayes. Retherford pressed the offense for the first two minutes and finally forced the Buckeye into a stall waring. The Buckeye then notched a takedown that Retherford quickly escaped from. Hayes slid down to a fast double leg on the edge of the mat for a second takedown and led 4-1. After a reset, Retherford quickly reversed the Buckeye and added two back points to lead 5-4, a lead he carried into the second stanza. Retherford chose neutral to start the second period and took the Buckeye down to lead 7-4. He tried to turn Hayes for back points and got the turn at the ;20 mark.. He picked up four near fall points and led 11-4 after two periods. Hayes chose down to start the third period and Retherford quickly turned him for two more back points to lead 13-4. Retherford picked up another point on a stall at the 1:00 mark and another at the :20 mark. He then turned him for four more back points and, with 3:19 in riding time, notched a decisive 20-4 technical fall at the 7:00 mark.
157: With No. 1 Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), defending NCAA Champion at 157, out with an injury, red-shirt freshman Bo Pipher (Paonia, Colo.) made his Rec Hall dual debut at 157 for Penn State. Pipher took on No. 5 Micah Jordan of Ohio State. Pipher stepped away from two early Jordan shots but the Buckeye connected on the third for a 2-1 lead at the 1:55 mark. Jordan scored again at the 1:30 mark and opened up a 4-2 lead. The Buckeye added a third takedown and led 6-3. Jordan tacked on a fourth takedown to lead 8-3 with 1:16 in riding time after one period. Jordan chose neutral to start the second period and quickly took the Lion freshman down to lead 10-3. Pipher escaped to a 10-4 score but Jordan's offense was too much and the Lion trailed 12-5 at the 1:05 mark. Pipher escaped to a 14-6 score with :30 on the clock but Jordan added a late takedown to lead 16-6 with 2:05 in time after two. Pipher chose down to start the third period and Jordan quickly reversed him. He went on to pick up two more takedowns to lead 22-8 at the 1:08 mark. A final takedown gave the Buckeye a 24-9 tech fall at the 6:06 mark.
165: Sophomore Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 165, met No. 14 Te-Shan Campbell. The duo battled on their free in the center of the mat for the first minute-plus before Joseph connected on a low single to open up a 2-0 lead with 1:39 on the clock. The Lion sophomore then controlled the action long enough to build up over 1:00 in riding time. With the clock down below :40, Campbell escaped to a 2-1 score. Joseph nearly scored again as the period ended but Campbell fought off the effort. Leading 2-1 with 1:09 in riding time, Joseph chose down to start the second stanza and escaped to a 3-1 lead with 1:00 in riding time. Joseph picked up another point on a Campbell penalty and led 4-1 with 1:20 on the clock. Joseph continued to chase Campbell around the mat and picked up another takedown at the :12 mark to up his lead to 6-1. Trailing 6-1, Campbell chose down to start the third period and Joseph cut him loose to a 6-2 lead. Joseph continued to press the Buckeye, picking up a stall warning and then taking him down for an 8-2 lead with :55 left. Needing bonus points, Joseph cut the Buckeye loose to an 8-3 score. The Lion picked up another point on a stall and led 9-3, then took the Buckeye down at the :10 mark. With 1:59 in riding time, Joseph rolled to a 12-3 major decision.
174: Sophomore Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 2 at 174, met No. 3 Bo Jordan of Ohio State. The duo battled evenly for the first :45 before Hall got in deep on a high single. Jordan countered the shot and the duo scrambled to a point where Jordan was awarded a takedown to lead 2-0. Hall steadily worked his way to a reversal and the bout was tied 2-2 at the 1:14 mark. Jordan escaped to a 3-2 lead with 1:10 left and action resumed in the middle of the mat. Neither man broke through for any offense over the final seconds and Hall trailed 3-2 after one. Jordan chose down to start the second period and Hall controlled the action from the top position. The Lion sophomore worked the clock down to 1:11, still in control, when a reset was called. Jordan escaped quickly off the whistle and led 4-2 with 1:05 on the clock. Trailing by two, Hall chose down to start the third period. He quickly escaped to a 4-3 deficit with 1:50 left in the bout. Hall countered a slight Jordan move, stepped behind the Buckeye and took him down to lead 5-4 with 1:14 left. Hall then worked top control long enough to work his riding time edge up over 1:00. He continued to control Jordan for the final :30 and, with 1:40 in riding time, posted a strong 6-4 win.
184: Junior Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 184, faced off against No. 2 Myles Martin. Nickal shot early, forcing Martin into defense over the first minute. The duo battled on their feet on the Nittany Lion logo for over a minute. Nickal fought off a Martin counter attempt in front of the press table and countered the move for a takedown and a 2-0 lead at :29. The Ohio State bench called for an official review on the scramble. The call stood and, after a reset, Martin escaped to a 2-1 score. Leading 2-1, Nickal chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Martin got in deep on a low single and Nickal forced a scramble in the middle of the mat, working for a counter takedown. He nearly got the takedown but a stalemate reset things at the :40 mark. Nickal blew through a late high shot to open up a 5-1 lead as the second period ended. Martin chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 5-2 score. Nickal continued to flurry, working his way for a takedown and upping his lead to 7-2 with 1:20 left to wrestle. Nickal spent the last minute plus looking for a cradle and with just :02 left, got two near fall points. An additional point with 2:07 in riding time allowed Nickal to post the dominating 10-2 major decision.
197: Sophomore Anthony Cassar (Rocky Hill, N.J.) got the nod at 197 and took on No. 1 Kollin Moore. The duo battled evenly for the first half of the opening stanza with neither wrestler finding an opening to score. Cassar nearly connected on a low single but Moore was able to bounce out of trouble with :35 on the clock. Cassar also got hit for a first stall in the scramble. With the bout tied 0-0, Moore chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The Lion sophomore turned a high single into a takedown and a 2-1 lead at the 1:10 mark before Moore escaped to tie the bout at 2-2 with :50 on the clock. Cassar stepped away from a fast Moore shot and reset action in the middle of the mat with :40 left in the middle period. Tied at 2-2, Cassar chose down to start the third period and Moore cut him loose to a 3-2 Cassar lead. Cassar fought off a solid Moore shot with 1:10 left and then countered his way to a takedown and a 5-2 lead with :50 on the clock. The Lion then maintained control long enough to work the clock down to :25 before a reset was called. The Lion sophomore gave up stall point during a rideout and, with 1:16 in riding time, posted the thrilling 6-3 win.
285: Junior Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), ranked No. 6 at 285, took on defending NCAA Champion and top-ranked Kyle Snyder of Ohio State. Nevills came out on fire, taking Snyder down early for a 2-0 lead at the 2:23 mark. The Buckeye quickly escaped and Nevills led 2-1 at the 2:07 mark. Snyder answered with his own takedown and took a 3-2 lead with :50 on the cock. Nevills escaped to a 3-3 tie and action resumed neutral. Nevills fought off a Snyder takedown but then was taken down twice quickly. Penn State's bench challenged the second takedown. The call stood and Nevills trailed 7-5 after one period. The Lion chose down to start the second period, escaped, and was taken down to trail 9-7 at the 1:36 mark. Nevills used a solid single to take the Buckeye down and tie the bout at 9-9. Snyder escaped to a 10-9 lead and then tacked on one more takedown to lead 12-9 after two periods. Leading by three, Snyder chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 13-9 lead. Nevills continued to press on offense as the clock moved down below 1:00. Snyder worked his way to a takedown at the :20 mark and took a 15-10 lead with :15 on the clock. He fought off one final shot and dropped a hard-fought 15-10 decision to the defending NCAA Champion.