March 17, 2018
PSU Photo Gallery I VIDEO: A Team Unlike Any Other
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Penn State Nittany Lions (14-0, 9-0 B1G) rode a superb performance in the 2018 NCAA Wrestling Championships national finals to claim yet another NCAA title. Head coach Cael Sanderson's team was nearly perfect in the finals and clinched its seventh NCAA title in the last eight years on a pin from junior Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas).
The Nittany Lions went 4-1 in the finals, coming back from a six point deficit heading into the final round to clinch the title on Nickal's pin in Penn State's final match of the night. Penn State won the team title with 141.5 points while Ohio State was in second with 134.5. Iowa took third with 97.0. Sanderson now has 22 national champions as a head coach, 20 here at Penn State, and seven NCAA team titles.
Senior Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), the No. 1 seed at 149, took on No. 15 Ronnie Perry of Lock Haven in the first of five straight Penn State finals bouts. Retherford took Perry down a minute into the bout and then controlled the action for :48 before Perry escaped to a 2-1 score. He picked up a second takedown with :30 on the clock and then rode the Bald Eagle out to carry that lead into the second period. Retherford chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. He carried that lead into the third period. Perry chose down to start the third period and Retherford built up 1:45 in riding time before Perry escaped to a 5-2 score. The Lion senior controlled the rest of the match from neutral and, with 1:45 in riding time, posted the decisive 6-2 win to earn this third straight national title.
Retherford ends his season with a 31-0 mark and a 126-3 career record. He finishes his Penn State career riding a 94 match win streak dating back to his true freshman year. His 19 career NCAA tournament wins is alone in second on Penn State's all-time list (Ed Ruth had 21). He is a four-time All-American and Penn State's second three-time NCAA Champion (joining Ruth).
Junior Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), the No. 3 seed at 157, met No. 1 Hayden Hidlay of North Carolina State in the finals at 157. Nolf fought off an early Hidlay shot and then took a 2-0 lead with a takedown at the 1:21 mark. Hidlay escaped to a 2-1 score and action resumed neutral in the middle of the mat. Nolf added a second takedown and led 4-1 with :55 in riding time after a rideout. Nolf chose down to start the second and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. The Lion junior carried that lead and :49 riding time into the third period. Hidlay chose down to start the third period and Nolf controlled the action long enough to build his riding time up over 1:00. Hidlay escaped to a 5-2 score with 1:15 left in the bout and Nolf cruised through the last minute. Nolf, with 1:31 in riding time, rolled to a 6-2 win for his second straight NCAA title
Nolf ends his season with a 26-1 mark and has an 86-3 career record heading into next season. His only loss this year was an injury default decision on Jan. 28 in a bout he was winning at the time. He is a three-time All-American, a two-time NCAA Champion and a three-time finalist.
Sophomore Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), the No. 3 seed at 165, took on No. 1 Isaiah Martinez of Illinois in a rematch of last year's NCAA final at 165 (won in thrilling fashion by Joseph with a pin in St. Louis). The duo battled through the opening minutes wrestling from neutral in the middle. Joseph found an opening with :15 left and threw Martinez to the mat for a takedown. On the reset, Joseph turned the Illini for two back points and led 4-0 after one. Martinez chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 4-1 score. Joseph picked up another point on a Martinez unnecessary roughness call and action resumed with 1:00 on the clock. Leading 5-2, Joseph chose down to start the third period. Joseph escaped to a 6-1 lead with 1:39 on the clock. Joseph was strong on his feet for the rest of the bout and roared to a 6-1 victory to become a two-time national champion.
Joseph ends his season with a 25-2 mark and heads into next year with a 47-6 career record. He is a two-time All-American and a two-time National Champion.
Sophomore Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Utah), the No. 2 seed at 174, met No. 1 Zahid Valencia of Arizona State in the 174-pound title tilt. The duo battled through a scoreless opening minute before Valencia connected on a takedown with 1:22 on the clock. Hall nearly connected on a reversal but settled for an escape and trailed by one after the opening period. Hall chose down to start the second stanza and escaped to a 2-2 tie but Valencia had 1:05 in riding time. The Sun Devil added one more takedown and led 4-2 with 1:30 in riding time after two periods. Valencia escaped to start the third period and led 5-2 and added a last second counter takedown on a Hall throw attempt. A riding time point gave the Sun Devil a hard-fought 8-2 win, Hall's first loss of the year. Hall ends his sophomore year as national runner-up.
Hall ends his season with a 32-1 mark and heads into next year with a 63-4 career record. He is a two-time All-American, winning the title last year, and a two-time finalist.
Junior Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), the No. 1 seed at 184, met No. 2 Myles Martin in Penn State's final championship bout of the night. Nickal fought off an early Martin burst and settled in at the center of the mat :30 into the bout. The duo worked on their feet as the period wound down and Martin attempted a throw. Nickal made him pay for the decision, rolling through the effort, locking Martin's shoulders tight and flat to the mat and getting the fall at the 2:29 mark. Nickal's pin not only won him his second straight NCAA title, but it clinched the team title for Penn State.
Nickal ends his season with a 31-0 record and heads into next year with a 90-3 career record. He is a three-time All-American, a two-time National Champion and a three-time finalist.
True freshman Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), the No. 8 seed at 141, went 1-1 earlier today and took fifth place as the eighth seed. Lee posted a 6-2 mark here in Cleveland in his first NCAA tournament with a major and became a freshman All-American. He went 32-7 overall this season. Junior Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.) took seventh in his first trip to NCAAs, becoming an All-American for the first time. Rasheed went 4-2 overall, with three of those wins coming via major for big bonus points. He closes out his season with a 24-5 record. Junior Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.) became a two-time All-American with a seventh place finish at 285. Nevills went 4-2 with a pin and closes out his season with a 30-7 record. . Senior Corey Keener (Schuylkill Haven, Pa.), unseeded at 133, bowed out of the tournament during session three with a 1-2 record, ending his Penn State season with a 17-10 record and as a four-time NCAA qualifier.
Penn State went 4-1 in the finals, grabbing two final bonus points off Nickal's clinching pin. The Nittany Lions went 39-9 overall with 26.5 bonus points off eight majors, five techs and four pins. Retherford is the school's 10th four-time All-American. Nolf and Nickal became Penn State's 27th and 28th three-time All-Americans on Friday. Nevills became a two-time All-American Friday and both Lee and Rasheed earned their first All-America honors. Penn State's haul of eight total All-Americans (tying a school record for All-Americans in a year) moves the school's all-time All-American total to 214, 51 in Sanderson's eight years.
Retherford was honored as the NCAA Most Dominant Wrestler of the Year for the third straight season, Nickal was named 2018 NCAA Championship Tournament Outstanding Wrestler and Sanderson was named NWCA Tournament Coach of the Year.
A total of 29 different Nittany Lions have won 41 total individual titles. Retherford becomes only the second three-time NCAA Champion in Penn State, joining former Lion great Ed Ruth. Nolf and Nickal join a club of nine two-time champions in school history (which includes Retherford).
The Nittany Lions 141.5 points is the second highest in school history behind last year's 146.5. Penn State has now won seven team national titles in the last eight years and eight overall. The Nittany Lions eight total titles is tied for third all-time in NCAA history with Iowa State. The crown is Sanderson's seventh as a head coach in his nine years as Penn State's mentor.
Penn State heads into next year returning seven of its school-record tying eight All-Americans this year, including a combined seven national championships between Nolf, Joseph, Hall and Nickal. The Nittany Lions have won 45 straight dual meets dating back to the 2014-15 season.
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.
2018 NCAA Championships -- Team Standings after Session 6 / FINAL (top ten):
March 17, 2018 -- Quicken Loans Arena -- Cleveland, Ohio
1: PENN STATE -- 141.5
2: Ohio State -- 134.5
3: Iowa -- 97.0
4T: Michigan -- 80.0
4T: North Carolina State -- 80.0
Weight-by-weight agate (rankings listed indicate official tournament seed)
133: Corey Keener, Sr. -- unseeded -- DNP
Rd. 1: #11 Dom Forys, Pittsburgh -- LBF (4:57)
Cn. 1: Cam Sykora, North Dakota State -- W, 9-7 dec.
Cn. 2: Rico Montoya, Northern Colorado -- LBF (4:27)
Keener, unseeded at 133, took on No. 11 Dom Forys of Pittsburgh in Penn State's first bout of the tournament. The Lion senior, now a four-time NCAA qualifier, took an early 2-0 lead with a takedown but Forys answered with an escape and a takedown to take a 3-2 lead. Keener tied the bout in the second period and was trying to work a cradle when Forys countered and picked up the fall on his own at the 4:57 mark.
He then took on North Dakota State's Cam Sykora in the first round of consolation action. Keener opened up a 9-5 lead after a wild first period that ended with the Lion nearly getting the fall but having time run out on his effort. He carried that lead into the third period and rolled to a 9-7 decision.
Keener took on Rico Montoya of Northern Colorado in the second round of consolations, Penn State's first bout of the session. Keener threw Montoya in the opening seconds to take an early 2-0 lead. He built up 1:27 in riding time before Montoya escaped and led 2-1 after one. Keener had over 1:30 riding time in a 2-2 tie in the second period when Montoya caught him in a throw and ended the bout with pin at the 4:27 mark. The loss ends Keener's tournament run at 1-2. He ends his collegiate career as a four-time NCAA qualifier with a 17-10 record this season.
141: Nick Lee, Fr. -- #8 seed -- All-American (5th Place)
Rd. 1: Ryan Diehl, Maryland -- LBF (2:12)
Cn. 1: #9 Josh Alber, Northern Iowa -- W, 7-3 dec.
Cn. 2: #10 Mason Smith, Central Michigan -- W, 5-0 dec.
Cn. 3: #16 Cole Weaver, Indiana -- W, 13-5 maj. dec.
Rd. 12: #12 Tyler Smith, Bucknell -- W, 13-6 dec.
Cn. Q: SaDarien Perry, Eastern Michigan -- W, 12-4 maj. dec.
Cn. Semi: #2 Jaydin Eirman, Missouri -- L, 4-12 maj. dec.
5th Place: #5 Kevin Jack, North Carolina State -- W, 9-7 (SV) dec.
Lee, the No. 8 seed at 141, faced off against Ryan Diehl of Maryland in the opening round of his first NCAA tournament. Lee opened up an early lead with two quick takedowns but Diehl answered with a takedown and quickly turned the Lion freshman to his back, picking up the fall at the 2:12 mark.
He then battled No. 9 seed Josh Alber of Northern Iowa in the first round of consolations. Lee scored right out of the gates to open up an early 2-1 lead that he pushed to 4-2 midway through the second period. The Lion freshman then escaped to a 5-3 lead midway through the third period and iced the bout with a third takedown to post a strong 7-3 win.
Lee took on No. 10 Mason Smith of Central Michigan in the second round of consolations. Lee opened up a 2-0 lead with over 1:30 in riding time after the first period. He added a reversal and an escape to post a dominating 5-0 win. In consolation round three, Lee took on No. 16 Cole Weaver of Indiana. Lee scored early in the first period, notching two takedowns to lead 4-1 with under a minute to go. He carried that lead with 1:32 in riding time into the second period, then quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead to start the middle stanza. He upped that lead to 7-1 with another late takedown and went on to notch a 13-5 major decision, picking up important bonus points with 1:51 in riding time.
He took on No. 12 Tyler Smith of Bucknell in the round of 12, one win away from becoming a freshman All-American. Lee bolted out to a 6-1 lead with two takedowns and two near fall points. The Lion worked riding time in the second stanza and led 8-5 with 2:59 in riding time after two periods. Lee extended his lead in the third period and walked away with a dominating 13-6 decision with over 3:00 in riding time. The win makes Lee an All-American. He then took on SaDarian Perry of Eastern Michigan in the consolation quarterfinals. He worked his way through a furious first period to lead 5-3 as the duo traded offense. Lee chose down to start the second period and, after a bit of work, reversed Perry to up his lead to 7-3 with 1:00 on the clock. Lee carried that lead into the third period and went on to roll to a 12-4 major with 2:49 riding time.
Lee took on No. 2 Jaydin Eierman of Missouri in the consolation semifinals. Eirman notched two takedowns to Lee's one to lead 5-3 after one period. Lee chose neutral to start the second period but Eirman scored on another counter takedown to up his lead to 7-3. Eirman chose down to start the second period and immediately reversed Lee to up his lead to 9-3. The Tiger tacked on another takedown and a riding time point and posted a 12-4 major, sending Lee to the fifth place match-up. Lee met No. 5 Kevin Jack of North Carolina State for fifth place.
The true freshman All-American took an early lead with two takedowns in the opening period to lead 4-1 with :41 riding time after one period. He chose neutral to start the second period and was solid on his feet for the period, taking the same lead into the third stanza. Jack chose down to start the third period, Lee gave up a locked hands point and an escape. Lee took Jack down and then got reversed to lead 7-4 with :40 left in the bout with just under 1:00 in riding time. Lee escaped and then gave up a late takedown and the bout moved into sudden victory. Lee forced a scramble with :30 left and iced the win with a takedown for the 9-7 (SV) victory. Lee took fifth place as the No. 8 seed in his first appearance at the NCAA Championships. He went 6-2 with a major and ends the year with a 32-7 record and a true freshman All-American as a fifth place finisher.
149: Zain Retherford, Sr. -- #1 seed -- 4X All-American -- CHAMPION
Rd. 1: Kyle Springer, Eastern Michigan -- W, 16-1 TF (7:00)
Rd. 2: #16 Alfred Bannister, Maryland -- WBF (2:29)
Qtrs: #8 Boo Lewallen, Oklahoma State -- W, 20-2 TF (5:00)
Semis: #4 Troy Heilmann, North Carolina -- W, 10-4 dec.
Finals: #15 Ronnie Perry, Lock Haven -- W, 6-2 dec.
Retherford, the No. 1 seed at 149, began his quest for a third straight NCAA individual title against Kyle Springer of Eastern Michigan. After watching two teammates see early leads turned into losses by fall, Retherford turned a 2-1 first period lead into a 5-1 edge after two periods. Retherford poured on the offense in the final stanza and walked away with a 16-1 technical fall with 4:05 in riding time.
He then took on No. 16 Alfred Bannister in Penn State's first bout of the session, opening up round two for the Nittany Lions. Retherford, two-time defending NCAA Champion, opened up a 4-0 lead in the first period and then turned Bannister to his back late in the period. Retherford adjusted once and got the fall at the 2:29 mark. The fall was Retherford's 53rd for his career, tying the all-time Penn State record.
Retherford met No. 8 Boo Lewallen of Oklahoma State in the first of seven straight quarterfinal match-ups for the Nittany Lions. Retherford scored quickly, taking Lewallen down off the opening whistle and opening up a 2-0 lead. He then went to work on top, looking for a chance to turn the Cowboy for back points. Retherford quickly got the four-point call and led 6-0 at the 1:00 mark. He turned Lewallen again for four and then gave up a scrambling reversal to lead 10-2 with 2:09 in riding time after one. He took Lewallen down to start the second period, picked up four more back points to up his lead to 16-2 and then finished off the technical fall with a final turn, posting a 20-2 tech fall at the 5:00 mark. Retherford's win makes him Penn State's 10th four-time All-American.
He faced off against No. 4 Troy Heilmann of North Carolina the first of five Penn State semifinal bouts. Retherford took Heilmann down off the opening whistle, cut him loose and quickly took him down again to lead 4-1 midway through the opening period. He added one more takedown and led 6-2 with 1:37 in riding time after one. Retherford escaped to a 7-2 lead to start the second period and gave up a penalty point on his way to a 7-3 lead with 1:33 in riding time after two. The Lion senior tacked on a riding time point and moved his way into the national finals with 10-4 win.
For tonight's action see recap above.
157: Jason Nolf, Jr. -- #3 seed -- 3X All-American -- CHAMPION
Rd. 1: Colin Heffernan, Central Michigan -- W, 22-7 TF (7:00)
Rd. 2: #14 Andrew Crone, Wisconsin -- W, 6-1 dec.
Qtrs: #6 Michael Kemerer, Iowa -- W, 6-2 dec.
Semis: #7 Micah Jordan, Ohio State -- W, 16-0 TF (4:28)
Finals: #1 Hayden Hidlay, North Carolina State -- W, 6-2 dec.
Nolf, the No. 3 seed at 157 and seeking a second straight NCAA individual crown, took on Central Michigan's Colin Heffernan in the opening round. Nolf led 4-1 after one period and extended that lead to 12-3 within the first minute of the second period. The Lion junior led 14-5 after two and rolled to a 22-7 technical fall on the riding time point.
He then took on No. 14 Andrew Crone of Wisconsin in the second round. The defending NCAA Champion opened an early 2-1 lead in the first period and extended it to a 5-1 lead after two periods. The Lion tacked on a riding time point and rolled to a 6-1 win.
Nolf took on No. 6 Michael Kemerer of Iowa in the quarters. Nolf drew first blood with a scrambling takedown less than a minute into the bout. Kemerer escaped quickly to a 2-1 score that held into the second period. Nolf escaped to start the second stanza and led 3-1 after an uneventful middle period. Kemerer chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 Nolf lead. Nolf added a takedown at the 1:00 mark and rode Kemerer out. With 1:19 in riding time, Nolf posted the 6-2 win to become a three time All-American.
He met No. 7 Micah Jordan of Ohio State in his semifinal match-up. The Loin junior notched the first takedown a minute into the bout and then proceeded to turn Jordan to his back twice for two four-point near fall turns. The offensive flurry gave the Lion a 10-0 lead after one period. Nolf quickly took Jordan down in the second period and turned him to his back one more time. The final four-point near fall gave the Lion junior a 16-0 technical fall at the 4:28 mark.
For tonight's action see recap above.
165: Vincenzo Joseph, So. -- #3 seed -- 2X All-American -- CHAMPION
Rd. 1: Jonathan Schleifer, Princeton -- W, 15-4 maj. dec.
Rd. 2: #14 Branson Ashworth, Wyoming -- W, 3-1 dec.
Qtrs: #11 Isaiah White, Nebraska -- W, 4-2 (SV2)
Semis: #2 David McFadden, Virginia Tech -- W, 3-1 dec.
Finals: #1 Isaiah Martinez, Illinois -- W, 6-1 dec.
Joseph, the No. 3 seed at 165, began his battle for a second NCAA individual title against Jonathan Schleifer of Princeton. Joseph opened up 4-1 lead after one, improved it to 9-2 after two periods and closed out a strong performance with a 15-4 major decision with 3:21 in riding time.
He then faced off against No. 14 Branson Ashworth of Wyoming in the second round. The defending NCAA Champion took an early 2-0 lead and led by that score after one. He chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Joseph held on for a hard-fought 3-1 victory.
Joseph met No. 11 Isaiah White of Nebraska in the quarterfinals. He battled White through a scoreless first period with neither wrestler finding an opening to score. Joseph chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. He upped the tempo in the second period, forcing White to the outside circle but could not break through for a takedown. White escaped to start the third period, tying the bout at 1-1. Joseph nearly had a takedown on the edge of the mat at the 1:00 mark, but White was able to work his way to his feet and keep the bout tied at 1-1. In sudden victory, Joseph appeared to have a takedown with :23 left in the bout, but none was given. The Penn State bench challenged the call to no avail. Tied 1-1, the bout moved to a tie-breaker. Joseph chose down for the first :30 and quickly escaped to a 2-1 lead. White chose down for the second :30 and escaped to a 2-2 tie at the :13 mark. The bout moved to a second sudden victory period and Joseph quickly ended the bout with a fast takedown to post the 4-2 (SV2) win and become a two-time All-American.
He took on No. 2 David McFadden of Virginia Tech in the semifinals. The duo battled through a scoreless first period. Joseph chose down to start the second stanza, quickly escaped and nearly scored on a scramble out of bounds. Up 1-0 with :06 left in the period, Joseph deftly took McFadden down to lead 3-0 after two periods. After McFadden escaped to start the third period and Joseph controlled the rest of the period on his feet, keeping the Hokie from scoring. Joseph posted the 3-1 win.
For tonight's action see recap above.
174: Mark Hall, So. -- #2 seed -- 2X All-American -- National Runner-Up
Rd. 1: Austin Rose, Drexel -- W, 12-2 maj. dec.
Rd. 2: #15 Dylan Lydy, Purdue -- W, 21-3 (TF; 6:54)
Qtrs: #7 Taylor Lujan, Northern Iowa -- W, 6-2 dec.
Semis: #3 Daniel Lewis, Missouri -- WBF (6:22)
Finals: #1 Zahid Valencia, Arizona State -- L, 2-8 dec.
Hall, the No. 2 seed at 174 and looking for a second straight NCAA individual title, faced off against Austin Rose of Drexel in the first round. Hall used a first period takedown to lead 2-0 after one stanza and improved it to 7-0 in the second period. The Lion sophomore quickly tacked on a flurry of third period takedowns and rolled to a 12-2 major with 3:38 in riding time.
He then took on No. 15 Dylan Lydy of Purdue in the second round. Hall came out blazing with a takedown and four quick back points to open up a 6-0 lead early. He led 6-1 after one and increased his lead to 9-1 early in the second period. Another turn and Hall led 13-1 after three periods. The defending NCAA Champion took Lydy down and turned him twice in the third period to roll to a 21-3 technical fall at the 6:54 mark.
Hall faced off against No. 7 Taylor Lujan of Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals. Hall wasted no time taking an early 2-0 lead with a fast duck under for a takedown. He turned Lujan to his back for two near fall points and carried a 4-1 lead with 1:20 in riding time into the second period. Hall chose down to start the second stanza and escaped to a 5-1 lead that he pushed into the third period. Lujan chose down to start the third period and Hall controlled the action long enough to build up 2:50 in riding time before Lujan escaped. Hall posted the 6-2 win to become a two-time All-American.
He faced off against No. 3 Daniel Lewis of Missouri in another Nittany Lion semifinal bout. Hall fought off a solid early scoring effort by Lewis and then worked his way around the Tiger grappler, taking him down at the 1:03 mark to lead 2-1 in the first period. The Lion sophomore led 2-1 with :32 in riding time after one. Hall exploded in the second period, taking Lewis down and turning him to his back for two near fall points to lead 6-2 with over 1:00 in riding time heading into the final period. Hall chose neutral to start the third period and ended it early, taking Lewis down and pinning in at the 6:22 mark.
184: Bo Nickal, Jr. -- #1 seed -- 3X All-American -- CHAMPION
Rd. 1: Martin Mueller, South Dakota State -- W, 16-4 maj. dec.
Rd. 2: #16 Jordan Ellingwood, Central Michigan -- W, 10-4 dec.
Qtrs: #9 Max Dean, Cornell -- W, 13-7 dec.
Semis: #5 Domenic Abounader, Michigan -- W, 6-3 dec.
Finals: #2 Myles Martin, Ohio State -- WBF (2:29)
Nickal, the No. 1 seed at 184, began his quest for a second straight NCAA individual crown against South Dakota State's Martin Mueller. Nickal opened up a 6-0 lead with a takedown and four-point turn in the first period. He dominated the second stanza as well, leading 10-2 after two. Nickal rolled to a 16-4 major decision with 4:34 in riding time.
He then took on No. 16 Jordan Ellingwood of Central Michigan in round two. The defending NCAA Champion scored the first takedown less than a minute into the bout to take an early lead. He tacked on another late in the period to lead 4-1 after one. Nickal upped his lead to 6-3 after two and posted a strong 10-4 decision with 2:24 in riding time.
Nickal met No. 9 Max Dean of Cornell in the national quarterfinals. Nickal took a 2-0 lead with a takedown at the 2:00 mark and upped his lead to 4-2 after one period. Dean chose down to start the second period and Nickal turned him for two quick back points before the Big Red wrestler escaped to a 6-3 Nickal lead. But an illegal cut back was called on Nickal, negating the back points, giving Dean a point and restarting things with Nickal leading 4-3 and on top. Dean escaped to a 4-4 tie at the 1:15 mark but Nickal had 1:40 in riding time. He added two more takedowns in the second and led 8-5 with 2:30 in riding time after two periods. Nickal chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 9-5 lead. Dean took Nickal down and the Lion escaped to a 10-7 lead with clinched riding time. He added two more back points to up his lead to 12-7 and, with 2:23 in riding time, rolled to a 13-7 win to become a three-time All-American.
He met No. 5 Domenic Abounader of Michigan in the last of five straight Penn State semifinals. Nickal was dominant on offense to start the match, controlling action from his feet and taking Abounader down twice in the opening period. Leading 4-2 with over 1:00 in riding time, Nickal chose down to start the second and quickly escaped to a 5-2 lead. He carried that margin into the third period. Abounader managed an escape but not before Nickal had built up well over 1:00 in riding time. Nickal's 1:41 in time added a point and the Lion junior posted the 6-3 win, moving to his third straight national title bout.
For tonight's action see recap above.
197: Shakur Rasheed, Jr. -- #5 seed -- All-American (7th Place)
Rd. 1: Sawyer Root, The Citadel -- W, 13-5 maj. dec.
Rd. 2: Daniel Chaid, North Carolina -- W, 14-3 maj. dec.
Qtrs: #4 Michael Macchiavello, North Carolina State -- L, 4-5 dec.
Rd. 12: #7 Frank Mattiace, Penn -- W, 6-5 dec.
Cn. Q: #1 Kollin Moore, Ohio State -- L, 4-7 dec.
7th Place: #6 Willie Miklus, Missouri -- W, 11-3 maj. dec.
Rasheed, the No. 5 seed at 197, took on The Citadel's Sawyer Root in the first round of his first NCAA Championship tournament. Rasheed led 4-1 after the opening period thanks to two takedowns. Root rebounded to tie the bout 4-4 after two periods but Rasheed rebounded with a reversal and then a cradle for four back points and a 10-4 lead. He stretched his lead to 12-5 with another takedown and rode Root out. A 2:15 riding time edge gave Rasheed a 13-5 major and his first victory in the NCAA tournament.
He then met North Carolina's Daniel Chaid in the second round. Rasheed struck quickly, taking the Tar Heel down and to his back for four quick back points and led 6-0 after one. The Lion junior led 9-0 after two and upped his lead to 12-3 midway through the third period. Rasheed dominated the bout, posting a 14-3 major decision with 3:36 in riding time.
Rasheed faced off against No. 4 Michael Macchiavello of North Carolina State in the quarters, with a chance to become a first time All-American on the line. Rasheed notched a quick takedown on a solid single leg to lead 2-1, building up 1:01 in riding time in the process. Rasheed chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead with :57 in riding time. He carried that lead into the third period. Macchiavello chose down to start the third period and reversed Rasheed to tie the bout at 3-3. Rasheed escaped to a 4-3 lead with :35 on the clock, but Macchiavello was able to notch a last second takedown to steal a 5-4 win.
He met No. 7 Frank Mattiace of Penn in the round of 12, looking to become a first time All-American. Rasheed controlled the action in the first period, notching two takedowns to lead 4-2 with :46 in riding time after one. Mattiace picked up a quick escape in the second period but Rasheed countered with a takedown in the period's final second. Leading 6-3, he took down to start the third period. Mattiace picked up two near fall points in the period but Rasheed's early offense was enough for the Lion junior to post a 6-5 win and earn his first All-America honor. In the consolation quarterfinals, Rasheed met No. 1 Kollin Moore. Moore notched two quick takedowns to lead 4-2 early in the bout. Moore extended that lead to 6-4 in the second and held off Rasheed's late offensive pressure. With 1:19 in riding time, Moore downed Rasheed 7-4.
Rasheed met No. 6 Willie Miklus of Missouri in the seventh place bout. Rasheed came out fast, notching two takedowns in the first :30 to open up an early 4-1 lead. He then reeled off two straight two point near falls and led 8-1 with 2:31 in riding time after a furious opening period. Miklus chose neutral to start the second period and Rasheed made him pay with another takedown and a 10-1 lead with 1:10 left in the middle stanza. Rasheed, leading 10-2 with 2:56 in time, chose neutral to start the third period. The Lion would tally 2:56 in riding time and post a huge 11-3 major decision, picking up important bonus points and taking seventh place in his first trip to NCAAs. Rasheed ends his tournament run with a 4-2 record, including three majors for huge team bonus points. Rasheed went 24-5 this year.
285: Nick Nevills, Jr. -- #3 seed -- All-American (7th Place)
Rd. 1: Stephen Suglio, Kent State -- WBF (5:24)
Rd. 2: #14 Michael Boykin, North Carolina State -- W, 5-4 (TB2)
Qtrs: #6 Amar Dhesi, Oregon State -- L, 2-4 dec.
Rd. 12: Jere Heino, Campbell -- W, 6-1 dec.
Cn. Q: #5 Sam Stoll, Iowa -- L, 1-3 (SV)
7th Place: #12 Youssif Hemida, Maryland -- W, 7-5 dec.
Nevills, the No. 3 seed at 285, opened up his second NCAA Championship tournament with a first round match-up against Kent State's Stephen Suglio. Nevills opened up a 2-0 lead with a late first period takedown and then upped it to 8-0 after two with another takedown and four back points. Nevills ended the bout early in the third, turning Suglio to his back for Penn State's first pin at the 5:24 mark.
He then battled No. 14 Michael Boykin of North Carolina State in the second round Thursday night. Nevills and Boykin battled through a scoreless first period. Boykin took a 1-0 lead with a quick escape in the second and held the lead after two. Nevills countered with his own escape to start the third and the bout was tied 1-1. The duo moved through a sudden victory scoreless. Each wrestler escaped in the first tiebreaker and then wrestled through a second scoreless sudden victory. With the score tied 2-2, Nevills chose down to start the second tie breaker and quickly escaped to a 3-2 lead. But Boykin countered with a takedown and led 4-3. Nevills managed an escape before the period ended and the bout was tied 4-4 with Boykin taking down. Needing a rideout to secure a win, Nevills turned the trick and won 5-4 on :16 of riding time.
Nevills battled No. 6 Amar Dhesi of Oregon State in Penn State's final quarterfinals match-up. The duo battled through a scoreless opening period with neither grappler working his way into a scoring position. Nevills chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The Lion fought off a long Dhesi scoring effort and worked his way out of trouble to keep the 1-0 lead. Dhesi chose down to start the second stanza and Nevills got called for a locked hands that tied the bout at 1-1. Dhesi escaped and then added a second locked hands call and a takedown to post the 4-2 upset win.
He faced off against Jere Heino of Campbell in the blood round, looking to become a two-time All-American with a win. Nevills controlled the action from start to finish, notching early takedowns and a near fall to up lead 6-1 early. The Lion carried that lead deep into the third period made his early offensive flurry stand, posting the 6-1 decision and becoming a two-time All-American. He took on No. 5 Sam Stoll of Iowa in the consolation quarterfinals. Nevills came out looking to score early, but Stoll fought off every Nevills shot. With the bout tied 0-0, Stoll chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Nevills returned the favor to start the third period and the bout moved into the final minute tied 1-1. The bout moved to a sudden victory overtime period and Stoll ended it with a quick takedown to post the 3-1 victory.
Nevills met No. 12 Youssif Hemida of Maryland in the seventh place bout. The Lion quickly took Hemida down and rode the Terrapin for over two minutes before Hemida escaped during a Nevills turn attempt. Leading 2-1, Nevills chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. The duo battled evenly for the next minute plus and Nevills gave up a stall point for going out of bounds. Hemida chose neutral to start the third period with Nevills owning 2:16 in riding time. The duo scrambled through a flurry as the clock hit 1:00 but a stalemate stopped action. Hemida took Nevills down to take a brief lead, but the Lion escaped and then countered a late Hemida shot for another takedown and walked away with a thrilling 7-5 win. Nevills' victory, notching huge team points to close out the session, gave him seventh place as a two-time All-American. Nevills went 4-2 with a pin and closes out his season with a 30-7 record.