TODAY'S ACTION
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Jan. 16, 2019 -- No. 1 Penn State (6-0, 2-0 B1G) welcomes No. 7 Nebraska (7-2, 1-1 B1G) to sold out Rec Hall on Sunday, Jan. 20, for a 1 p.m. dual. The Cornhuskers are at Maryland on Friday night, Jan. 18, post-press. All rankings listed are InterMat Tournament Power Index (TPI) and individual.
The dual meet promises to be exciting with the potential of up to 17 ranked wrestlers competing. The dual could feature seven bouts that pit ranked wrestlers against each other as two of the nation's top ten teams meet for the first time in two years.
Penn State is coming off a 2-0 opening weekend in Big Ten dual meet action. The Nittany Lions won 33-8 at No. 11 Northwestern on Jan. 11 and then downed No. 19 Wisconsin 24-13 two days later (Jan. 13) in Rec Hall. The Lions rolled up 89 takedowns in the two duals (51 against Northwestern alone). The Lions are now 6-0 overall, 2-0 in Big Ten duals.
The Nittany Lions feature a talented line-up with nine ranked wrestlers. Sophomore Devin Schnupp sports a 5-8 record at 125 and leads Penn State in dual meet reversals with four. True freshman Roman Bravo-Young is ranked No. 13 at 133 and is 14-1 overall. Sophomore Nick Lee is 16-1 overall and ranked No. 6 at 141. Redshirt freshman Brady Berge is 13-2 overall and ranked No. 10 at 149. Senior Jason Nolf is 15-0 at 157 and ranked No. 1. Junior Vincenzo Joseph is 13-0 and ranked No. 1 at 165. Junior Mark Hall is 15-0 and ranked No. 1 at 174. Senior Shakur Rasheed is 14-0 and ranked No. 3 at 184. Senior Bo Nickal is 14-0 and ranked No. 1 at 197. Senior Anthony Cassar is ranked No. 4 at 285 and is 13-1 overall.
Nebraska, which is at Maryland on Friday, Jan. 18 (post-press), enters the week with a 7-2 record, 1-1 in Big Ten action. The Cornhuskers lost 22-21 to Wisconsin in a November Big Ten dual and downed Northwestern 26-14 in Lincoln. Nebraska has seven wrestlers ranked by InterMat. Senior Zeke Moisey is 7-5 and No. 13 at 125. Sophomore Chad Red is 11-6 and No. 19 at 141. Senior Tyler Berger is 15-1 and ranked No. 2 at 157. Junior Isaiah White is 10-3 overall and ranked No. 6. Freshman Mikey Labriola is 14-3 overall and ranked No. 9. Sophomore Taylor Venz is 12-3 and ranked No. 5 at 184. Sophomore Eric Shultz is 14-5 and No. 11 at 197. Junior David Jensen is 10-0 and No. 14 at 285. The dual meet could feature four bouts pitting top-ten foes against each other.
Penn State and Nebraska have split their all-time series 8-8-1 but the Nittany Lions have won the last four. Penn State won the last meeting, 27-14 at Nebraska on Jan. 8, 2017. The Lions also won the last battle in Rec Hall, a 24-10 victory back on Jan. 15, 2016.
Penn State hits the road for two Big Ten duals in the state of Indiana. The Nittany Lions are at Purdue on Friday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. and then take on Indiana in Bloomington on Sunday, Jan. 27, at 2 p.m.
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 (6-0, 2-0 B1G)
125 Devin Schnupp So. Lititz, Pa./Warwick 5-8
133 #13 Roman Bravo-Young Fr. Tucson, Ariz./Sunny Side 14-1
141 #6 Nick Lee So. Evansville, Ind./Homeschool 16-1
149 #10 Brady Berge Fr. Mantorville, Minn./Kasson-Mantorville 13-2
Jarod Verkleeren Fr. Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield 8-4
157 #1 Jason Nolf Sr. Yatesboro, Pa./Kittanning 15-0
165 #1 Vincenzo Joseph Jr. Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic 13-0
174 #1 Mark Hall Jr. Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley 15-0
184 #3 Shakur Rasheed Sr. Coram, N.Y./Longwood 14-0
197 #1 Bo Nickal Sr. Allen, Texas/Allen 14-0
285 #4 Anthony Cassar Sr. Rocky Hill, N.J./Montgomery 13-1
Nick Nevills Sr. Clovis, Calif./Clovis 8-2
#7 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (*7-2, 1-1 B1G)
125 #13 Zeke Moisey Sr. Northampton, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic 7-5
133 Jevon Parrish Fr. Olathe, Kan./Olathe North 12-5
141 #19 Chad Red Jr. So. Indianapolis, Ind./New Palestine 11-6
149 Collin Purinton Jr. Banks, Ore./Banks 8-6
157 #2 Tyler Berger Sr. Prineville, Ore./Crook County 15-1
165 #6 Isaiah White Jr. Chicago, Ill./Oak Park and River Forest 10-3
174 #9 Mikey Labriola Fr. Easton, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic 14-3
184 #5 Taylor Venz So. Farmington, Minn./Farmington 12-3
197 #11 Eric Schultz So. Tinley Park, Ill./Tinley Park 14-5
285 #14 David Jensen Jr. Modbridge, S.D./Modbridge-Pollock 10-0
Rankings listed are InterMat TPI/InterMat Individual as of 1/15/19
* Nebraska is at Maryland on 1/18, post-press
THIS WEEK
#1 Penn State (6-0, 2-0 B1G) welcomes #7 Nebraska (7-2, 1-1 B1G) to sold out Rec Hall on Sunday, Jan. 20, for a 1 p.m. dual. The Cornhuskers are at Maryland on Friday night, Jan. 18, post-press.
UP NEXT
Penn State hits the road for two Big Ten duals in the state of Indiana. The Nittany Lions are at Purdue on Friday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. and then take on Indiana in Bloomington on Sunday, Jan. 27, at 2 p.m.
ON THE AIR
TV - None
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Live Web Video - Lionvision (free)
NOTES:
THE MILESTONE WATCH LIST
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 104, Nolf 101
* Career Falls: Record WAS 53 (Retherford, Taylor, Moore) -- Nolf new holder w/ 54, Nickal 51
* Career Dual Meet Wins: 20th all-time is 48 (four individuals) -- Nickal 48, Nolf 45
* Big Ten Dual Wins: Cael Sanderson holds record with 67
CASSAR DOWNS #9 HILLGER AS LIONS TOP WISCONSIN
Heavyweight Anthony Cassar dominated #9 Trent Hillger 11-5 to lead the Penn State Nittany Lions to a 24-13 win over #19 Wisconsin in sold out Rec Hall on Jan. 13. Cassar's win was the highlight in a hard fought dual that included tech falls from Jason Nolf and Mark Hall.
NITTANY LIONS ROLL UP 51 TAKEDOWNS IN 33-8 WIN AT #11 NORTHWESTERN
The Penn State Nittany Lions put on an offensive show in their first Big Ten road dual of the season, collecting 51 takedowns in a 33-8 win at #11 Northwestern on Jan. 11. The Nittany Lions only gave up 7 takedowns in the big victory. Jason Nolf won his 100th career match with a dominating 19-7 major over #3 Ryan Deakin at 157. Nolf had eight takedowns, two stall points and a penalty point in the win, Deakin's only points were escapes. Anthony Cassar majored #19 Conan Jennings 12-3 at 285 as well.
NOLF DOMINATES #3 DEAKIN FOR 100TH CAREER VICTORY; EARNS B1G WRESTLER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Senior Jason Nolf won his 100th career bout in dominating fashion on Jan. 11, rolling to a 19-7 major decision over #3 Ryan Deakin in the Lions' dual at Northwestern. Nolf reeled off eight takedowns and forced Deakin into three stall warnings and a locked hands in the lopsided win. Deakin's only points came from escapes. Nolf, who won by tech fall two days later in a win over Wisconsin, was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for his efforts.
VERKLEEREN WINS HITCHCOCK MEMORIAL OPEN
Five members of the Penn State wrestling team competed at the Floyd 'Shorty' Hitchcock Memorial Classic at Millersville University on Saturday. Wrestlers competed both attached and unattached at the event. Redshirt freshman Jarod Verkleeren rolled through the field at 149, winning the title with a 4-0 mark. Verkleeren had two pins and a technical fall. Redshirt freshman Austin Hoopes went 2-2 at 184. Sophomore Justin Lopez competed 125 and picked up a victory as did true freshman Paul Feite at 157, whose win was a tech fall. Junior Aarif Asif competed at 165 as well for Penn State.
LIONS ROLL TO 8TH SOUTHERN SCUFFLE TITLE; 6 CHAMPS, NICKAL CLAIMS O.W. AND GORRIARAN
The Penn State Nittany Lions won their eighth Southern Scuffle title in their last eight visits on Jan. 1-2 in Chattanooga. Penn State crowned eight champs, had two runners-up and three third place finishes in a strong team showing. Twelve of Penn State's 18 competitors placed at the event. Nick Lee went 6-0 to win the 141-pound title, Jason Nolf went 5-0 with three pins to win at 157, Vincenzo Joseph went 5-0 with two pins to win at 165, Mark Hall went 5-0 with two tech falls to win at 174, Shakur Rasheed went 4-0 with a pin to win the crown at 184 and Bo Nickal went 5-0 with five pins to win at 197. Nickal was honored as the Outstanding Wrestler (his second such honor having won in 2016) and he won the Gorriaran Award with five pins in a total of 10:32 (Nickal wrestled only 10:32 of a potential 35:00 of total time). Marquee wins for Penn State's six champs included Vincenzo Joseph's 6-5 win over #3 Chance Marsteller of Lock Haven in the finals and Mark Hall's 5-1 win over Oklahoma State's Joe Smith in the finals.
LIONS PLACE 12 AT SOUTHERN SCUFFLE
In addition to Penn State's six champions at the 2019 Southern Scuffle on Jan. 1-2 in Chattanooga, Penn State had six other place winners at the event. Sophomore Bo Pipher lost in the finals to teammate Jason Nolf to finish second at 157 and Anthony Cassar dropped a 3-2 decision to #3 Derek White of Oklahoma State in the finals to place second at 285. Both Pipher and Cassar went 4-1 overall. True freshman Roman Bravo-Young went 5-1 to place third at 133 while redshirt freshman Brady Berge went 6-1 to finish third at 149. Senior Nick Nevills went 5-1 to finish third at 285. Redshirt freshman Mason Manville went 4-2 in placed seventh at 165.
NICKAL ECLIPSES 100-WIN MILESTONE AT SCUFFLE; GOES 5-0 WITH 5 PINS TO WIN B1G WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
Senior Bo Nickal became the 34th member of the 100-wins at Penn State club, eclipsing the mark during his 5-0 run to the Southern Scuffle title on Jan. 1-2 in Chattanooga. Nickal went 5-0 with five pins, with the fifth pin his 50th career fall. Nickal was named tournament OW and won the Gorriaran Award having five pins in just 10:32. He was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending Jan. 6, 2019, for his efforts.
NOLF BECOMES PENN STATE'S ALL-TIME FALLS LEADER
Senior Jason Nolf went 5-0 with three pins to win the Southern Scuffle title on Jan. 1-2. His third pin, on Jan. 2, was historic as it was his 54th career fall and moved him into first place alone on Penn State's all-time pins list. Nolf broke the record of 53 held by Lion greats Josh Moore, David Taylor and Zain Retherford.
PENN STATE COMPETES AT WILKES AND F&M OVER BREAK
A handful of Nittany Lions competed at the Wilkes Open in late December and the Franklin and Marshall Open in early January, wrestling both attached and unattached. Top performers included Brian Friery, placing fourth at Wilkes at 157 with a 3-2 mark and Scott Stossel going 3-2 at Franklin and Marshall to finish T-7th at 133.
HALL AND JOSEPH'S TOP-FIVE WINS LEAD LIONS TO BIG VICTORY OVER #9 ARIZONA STATE
Juniors Mark Hall and Vincenzo Joseph notched impressive top-five victories to spark Penn State to a dominating 41-3 win over #9 Arizona State in sold out Rec Hall on Dec. 14. Hall took down previously unbeaten and top-ranked Zahid Valencia at 174, posting a 4-0 shutout with 4:24 in riding time. Joseph majored No. 5 Josh Shields at 165, rolling to a convincing 11-2 major. Their two wins were two of Penn State's nine in the dual victory.
BRAVO-YOUNG, BERGE, NOLF WITH RANKED WINS IN DUAL VICTORY OVER ARIZONA STATE
With Hall and Joseph notching top-five wins, three other Nittany Lions posted victories over ranked wrestlers in Penn State's dual meet win over the Sun Devils. True freshman Roman Bravo-Young dominated seventh-ranked 125-pounder Ryan Millhof, who moved up to 133 in the dual. Bravo-Young was untouched, posting a 14-1 major over the returning All-American. Brady Berge made his Rec Hall dual debut and posted a solid 5-4 win over #11 Josh Maruca at 149. Senior Jason Nolf majored #16 Christian Pagdilao 18-3 at 157, giving the Nittany Lions a sweep of all five matches against a ranked Sun Devil.
HALL EARNS B1G AND USA WRESTLING WoW HONORS
Junior Mark Hall was named both Big Ten Wrestler of the Week and USA Wrestling National Wrestler of the Week for the week ending Dec. 16, 2018. Hall earned the honor after his impressive 4-0 shutout win, including 2:41 in riding time, over then No. 1 Zahid Valencia in Penn State's 41-3 dual victory over Arizona State on Dec. 14.
PENN STATE SHUTS OUT #10 LEHIGH IN SOLD OUT REC HALL
Penn State 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 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.
