TODAY'S ACTION
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Dec. 11, 2018 -- No. 1 Penn State (3-0, 0-0 B1G) closes out December by welcoming #9 Arizona State (1-2) to Rec Hall for the first time ever. The Nittany Lions and Sun Devils will meet in sold out Rec Hall on Friday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m. in a dual that will air live nationally on ESPN2. Arizona State has made a trip to Happy Valley, however, competing in the BJC in the National Duals. All rankings listed are InterMat/InterMat TPI as of Dec. 11.
Penn State is coming off a pair of dual victories two weekends ago. The Nittany Lions won nine of ten bouts in a 42-3 win at Bucknell on Nov. 30, the first-ever trip for Penn State at Lewisburg. The dual was wrestled in front of a Bucknell wrestling-record crowd of 4.279, the third-largest in Stojka Pavilion history. Two days later, the Nittany Lions shut-out No. 10 Lehigh 42-0, winning all ten bouts against the short-handed Mountain Hawks in front of yet another Rec Hall sellout crowd. Penn State got ranked wins from Mark Hall at 174, Bo Nickal at 197 and Anthony Cassar at 285.
The Nittany Lions sport a balanced and talented line-up: Sophomore Devin Schnupp is 4-3 at 125, having won his last two dual outings. True freshman Roman Bravo-Young is 6-0 at 133 and coming off an impressive win in the Lehigh dual. Sophomore Nick Lee sports an 8-0 mark at 141 and is ranked No. 4 by InterMat. Redshirt freshman Brady Berge is 5-0 at 149 and ranked No. 12 while classmate Jarod Verkleeren is 6-2 at that weight. Senior Jason Nolf is 7-0 and ranked No. 1 at 157 and junior Vincenzo Joseph is 7-0 and ranked No. 1 at 165. Junior Mark Hall is 7-0 and No. 2 at 174 while senior Shakur Rasheed is 7-0 and No. 4 at 184. Senior Bo Nickal is 6-0 at 197 and ranked No. 1 nationally and senior Anthony Cassar is 6-0 and No. 5 at 285. Nick Nevills sports a 3-1 mark at 285.
Arizona State enters the dual ranked No. 9 in the TPI with a 1-2 mark. The Sun Devils beat No. 16 South Dakota State 30-9 and lost close matches to No. 24 North Carolina (20-15) and No. 2 Ohio State (22-17). Arizona State features a talented line-up that includes No. 1 Zahid Valencia at 174, who is 9-0 on the year. Senior Ryan Millhof is 9-0 at 125 and ranked No. 7 while junior Josh Maruca is 7-3 and No. 11 at 149. Senior Christian Pagdilao is 8-2 at 157 and ranked No. 16 while junior Josh Shields is 8-1 and No. 5 at 165.
The teams have split the all-time series as it stands a 3-3-1. Penn State won the last meeting, 19-16, in a dual meet that took place during the 2001 National Duals, hosted by Penn State in the Bryce Jordan Center.
Penn State will look to win its eighth Southern Scuffle Championship in its last eight trips when it travels to Chattanooga, Tenn., for the two-day event. The 2019 Southern Scuffle takes place on Jan. 1-2, 2019, at UT-Chattanooga.
The 2018-19 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.
#1 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (3-0, 0-0 B1G)
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 Devin Schnupp So. Lititz, Pa./Warwick 4-3
133 Roman Bravo-Young Fr. Tucson, Ariz./Sunny Side 6-0
141 #4 Nick Lee So. Evansville, Ind./Homeschool 8-0
149 #12 Brady Berge Fr. Mantorville, Minn./Kasson-Mantorville 5-0
Jarod Verkleeren Fr. Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield 6-2
157 #1 Jason Nolf Sr. Yatesboro, Pa./Kittanning 7-0
165 #1 Vincenzo Joseph Jr. Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic 7-0
174 #2 Mark Hall Jr. Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley 7-0
184 #4 Shakur Rasheed Sr. Coram, N.Y./Longwood 7-0
197 #1 Bo Nickal Sr. Allen, Texas/Allen 6-0
285 #5 Anthony Cassar Sr. Rocky Hill, N.J./Montgomery 6-0
Nick Nevills Sr. Clovis, Calif./Clovis 3-1
#9 ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS (1-2)
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 #7 Ryan Millhof Sr. Suwanee, Ga./Collins Hill 9-0
OR Brandon Courtney Fr. Goodyear, Ariz./Desert Edge 2-2
133 Josiah Kline So. Tucson, Ariz./Ironwood Ridge 9-3
OR Josh Kramer Jr. Buckeye, Ariz./Desert Edge 5-3
141 Cory Crooks So. Anthem, Ariz./Boulder Creek 6-5
149 #11 Josh Maruca Jr. Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional 7-3
157 #16 Christian Pagdilao Sr. Redlands, Calif./Santiago 8-2
165 #5 Josh Shields Jr. Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional 8-1
174 #1 Zahid Valencia Jr. Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco 9-0
184 Kordell Norfleet So. Chicago, Ill./Marian Catholic 7-1
197 Austyn Harris Sr. Broomfield, Colo./Broomfield 5-5
285 Brady Daniel Fr. Olney, Md./Good Counsel 4-5
Rankings listed are InterMat TPI/InterMat Individual as of 12/11
THIS WEEK
#1 Penn State (3-0, 0-0 B1G) closes out December by welcoming #9 Arizona State (1-2) to Rec Hall for the first time ever. The Nittany Lions and Sun Devils will meet in sold out Rec Hall on Friday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m. in a dual that will air live nationally on ESPN2.
UP NEXT
Penn State heads to Chattanooga, Tenn., for the 2019 Southern Scuffle, hosted by UT-Chattanooga on Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 1-2.
ON THE AIR
TV - ESPN2
Radio - ESPN Radio 1450
Radio online - Free all year via Lionvision at GoPSUsports.com
Live Web Video - ESPN3
NOTES
THE MILESTONE WATCHLIST
A number of team and individual records and milestones are in play as the 2018-19 wrestling season begins to play itself out:
* Career Wins: 100 win threshold -- Nickal 96, Nolf 93
* Career Falls: Record is 53 (Retherford, Taylor, Moore) -- Nolf 51, Nickal 44
* Career Dual Meet Wins: 20th all-time is 48 (four individuals) -- Nickal 45, Nolf 42
* Coaching Dual Wins: Record is 191 (Speidel in 34 season) -- Lorenzo 2nd at 188, Sanderson 3rd at 129
* Big Ten Dual Wins: Cael Sanderson holds record with 65
PENN STATE SHUTS OUT #10 LEHIGH IN SOLD OUT REC HALL
The Penn State Nittany Lions won all ten bouts in a 42-0 shutout win over #10 Lehigh in sold out Rec Hall on Dec. 2. The win over the short-handed Mountain Hawks was highlighted by three ranked wins for the Lions and sophomore Devin Schnupp's first dual victory in Rec Hall. Mark Hall posted a 6-2 win over No. 7 Jordan Kutler at 174, Bo Nickal teched No. 15 Jake Jakobsen 25-10 at 197 and Anthony Cassar notched a 12-3 major over No. 6 Jordan Wood at 285. Schnupp downed Luke Resnick 6-1 at 125 for his first dual victory in Rec Hall.
PENN STATE AND BUCKNELL COMPETE IN HISTORIC DUAL MEET AT STOJKA PAVILION
The Penn State Nittany Lions and Bucknell Bison competed in an historic dual meet in Lewisburg, Pa., on Nov. 30. The dual, won by Penn State 42-3, was the first-ever trip for Penn State to Bucknell for a dual and was wrestled in BU's Stojka Pavilion. A sellout crowd of 4,279 witnessed the Lion win, a Bucknell wrestling record and the third highest in the building's history. Key wins for Penn State included sophomore Devin Schnupp getting his first dual victory at 125 and redshirt freshman Brady Berge making his Lion dual debut with a technical fall win at 149.
PENN STATE PINS ITS WAY TO KEYSTONE CLASSIC TITLE
Penn State won the 2018 Keystone Classic on Nov. 18, rolling up a lofty 192.0 points and crowning eight champions. This marks the third straight year that Penn State has claimed the crown, wrestled in the University of Pennsylvania's historic Palestra. A total of 18 Nittany Lion wrestlers competed at the event. At a weight where the Lions had more than one athlete competing, the top point scorer at that weight had his points tallied into the team score. The entire Penn State contingent tasted success at the event, with every Nittany Lion collecting at least one victory and 14 of the 18 Penn Staters competing placing. Penn State crowned eight champions at the event. All-in-all, Penn State had 14 place winners: eight champions, one runner-up, one third, one fourth, one fifth and two sixths. Penn State posted a gaudy 60-16 overall record, including 10 majors, 11 technical falls and 21 pins.
LIONS CROWN 8 CHAMPS AT KEYSTONE CLASSIC
Penn State had eight wrestlers win titles at the Keystone Classic on Nov. 18 in Philadelphia. Roman Bravo-Young went 3-0 with a pin and a technical fall to win at 133; Nick Lee went 5-0 with a pin, three techs and a major to win at 141; Jason Nolf went 4-0 with three pins and a major to win at 157; Vincenzo Joseph went 5-0 with four pins and a tech to win at 165, earning OW honors; Mark Hall went 4-0 with two pins to win at 174; Shakur Rasheed went 4-0 with three pins and a tech to win at 184; Bo Nickal went 3-0 with two pins and a major to win at 197; and Anthony Cassar went 3-0 with a pin and a major to win at 285.
BLUMER LEADS PENN STATE CONTINGENT AT MAT-TOWN
Six members of the Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team competed at the Mat-Town Open today at Lock Haven University. Three Nittany Lions placed at the event as wrestlers competed both attached and unattached. Redshirt freshman Joey Blumer led Penn State with a runner-up finish at 149. Blumer went 2-1, advancing to the finals before losing in the title bout. Sophomore Brian Friery picked up a win at 157, placing fourth. His victory was a major. Redshirt freshman Scott Obendorfer placed fourth at 141 as well, going 2-2.
LIONS USE SEVEN PINS TO DOMINATE #24 KENT STATE
Penn State opened up the 2018-19 season in stellar fashion, rolling to a 52-3 victory over #24 Kent State in sold out Rec Hall on Nov. 11. The Lions won nine of ten bouts, including seven pins and two technical falls. Penn State got pins from two freshmen in their collegiate debuts. True freshman Roman Bravo-Young got a pin at 133 and redshirt freshman Jarod Verkleeren got a fall at 149. Also picking up pins were Jason Nolf at 157, Vincenzo Joseph at 165, Mark Hall at 174, Shakur Rasheed at 184 and Bo Nickal at 197. Nick Lee (141) and Anthony Cassar (285) got the tech falls.
GARDNER AND MANVILLE PLACE AT BEARCAT OPEN
Seven members of the Penn State Nittany Lions competed at the 2018 Bearcat Open in Binghamton, N.Y., today. Two Nittany Lions came away as place-winners at the day-long event at Binghamton. Wrestlers competed both attached an unattached at the open tournament. Sophomore Luke Gardner and freshman Mason Manville led the Nittany Lions, each placing fourth at their respective weight classes. Gardner went 4-2 with a major and a pin to finish fourth at 149. Manville went 3-2 at 174, earning fourth place as well. Sophomore Bo Pipher went 2-2 with a pin at 157 as well.
5 LIONS BEGIN OPEN TOURNEY SEASON AT CLARION
Five members of head coach Cael Sanderson's Nittany Lion wrestling team competed at the Clarion Open today, officially opening up the 2018-19 open tournament season. Every Nittany Lion competing came away with at least one victory. Sophomore Alex Nicholas posted the most victories for Penn State, going 3-2 with a technical fall at 285. Sophomore Brian Friery went 2-2 with a tech fall at 157 as well. Sophomore Justin Lopez posted a 2-2 mark at 125 while red-shirt freshman Scott Obendorfer went 1-2 with a pin 141. Redshirt freshman Austin Hoopes went 1-2 at 184.
NATIONAL TV DATES SET FOR 2018-19 SEASON
The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, winner of seven of the last eight NCAA titles, will have a bevy of games air nationally on the Big Ten Network and ESPN2 this season. All times listed are Eastern. Please note that all dates and times are subject to change. Penn State's home dual with Lehigh on Sunday, Dec. 2, will air nationally on the BTN. The dual will take place in Rec Hall and starts at 1:30 p.m. Arizona State comes to Penn State for a dual in Rec Hall on Friday, Dec. 14, for a 6 p.m. dual that will air live nationally on ESPN2. The 2018 BJC Dual against Michigan on Friday, Feb. 1, will air on the BTN. The dual in the 16,000-seat venue begins at 7 p.m. The Nittany Lions trek to Columbus, Ohio, to take on Ohio State on Friday, Feb. 8, at 8:30 p.m. and the dual will also air on the BTN. In addition, the Big Ten Network will air the Big Ten Championships live on Sunday, March 10. The entire two-day tournament will also stream live on BTN2go/BTN-Plus. ESPN and its family of networks will once again air the entire three-day NCAA Championships on March 23-25 from Pittsburgh's PPG Paints Arena. ESPN will announce details of its ever-expanding coverage later. All eight of Penn State's duals will stream live online as well. Check the Penn State wrestling schedule at GoPSUsports.com for a complete listing. BTN2go/BTN-Plus ($) and Lionvision (free) will be available for seven of the dates. ESPN typically streams much of its live ESPN/2/U contents as well and streaming of the PSU/ASU dual in December will be confirmed later.
FORMER LION GREAT DAVID TAYLOR A WORLD CHAMP!
Former Penn State wrestling great David Taylor roared through the world's best to win the 2018 World Championship at 86 kg. The four-time All-American, four-time NCAA finalist and two-time NCAA Champion went 5-0 in a two-day run in Budapest, Hungary, to win his first world championship. Taylor began his title run by going 4-0 on day one of the event. The former Nittany Lion opened up one of the tournament's toughest draws by downing former World and Olympic Champion Hassan Yazdanicharti of Iran 11-6. He then rolled to a 10-0 technical fall over Hajy Rajabau of Belarus. Taylor posted an 8-0 decision over Cuba's Yurieski Torreblanca in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Taylor met Russia's Dauren Kuruglieve and, after taking a kick to the head in the first period, fell behind 5-1. But in typical Taylor fashion, the former Lion roared back in the second period, reeling off six straight unanswered points to post a 7-5 victory and advance to Sunday's World Championship bout. Taylor, the tournament's No. 2 seed, met No. 1 seed Fatih Erdin of Turkey in the championship match. Taylor left no doubt to his dominance by bolting out to a quick 4-0 lead and rolling to a 12-2 technical fall over his Turkish opponent.