WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.; January 25, 2019 – No. 1 Penn State (8-0, 4-0 B1G) continued its winning ways in a lopsided Big Ten road win at Purdue (5-6, 2-3 B1G) Friday night. The Nittany Lions won seven of ten bouts and picked up two pins on their way to the 30-10 victory over the Boilermakers.
The dual began at 125. Nittany Lion sophomore Devin Schnupp (Lititz, Pa.) dropped a tough 6-1 decision to Purdue's Devin Schroeder. True freshman Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 13 at 133, could not bounce back from an early takedown and injury timeout and lost a tough 7-3 decision to No. 18 Ben Thornton. Purdue led 6-0 after the opening two bouts. Sophomore Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 7 at 141, put the Lions on the scoreboard with a strong 17-6 major decision over Nate Limmex, including 2:34 in riding time.
Redshirt freshman Jarod Verkleeren (Greensburg, Pa.) got the nod at 149 for No. 11 Brady Berge (Mantorville, Minn.) and downed Parker Filius 8-3 to give the Nittany Lions a 7-6 lead in the dual. The win was Verkleeren's first Big Ten dual meet victory. Senior Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, closed out the first half with his 55th career pin. Nolf got the fast fall at the 0:42 mark over Purdue's Elijah Parker. The Nittany Lions owned a 13-6 lead at intermission.
Junior Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 165, added to Penn State's lead with his ninth pin of the year, getting the fall over Cole Wysocki at the 3:56 mark to give the Lions a 19-6 lead. Junior Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 1 at 174, then rolled over No. 14 Dylan Lydy with a 6-2 decision. Junior Francisco Bisono (Hauppauge, N.Y.) made his Penn State dual meet debut at 184, stepping in for No.3 Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.), and dropped a tough 12-4 major to Max Lyon in his Lion debut.
Senior Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 197, dominated No. 12 Christian Brunner. Nickal tallied seven takedowns in s thorough 17-6 major decision over the ranked Boilermaker. Senior Anthony Cassar (Rocky Hill, N.J.), ranked No. 4 at 285, closed out the dual with a strong 14-4 major over Purdue's Jacob Aven. The Nittany Lions won seven of ten bouts and rolled to the 30-10 victory.
Penn State owned the takedown game as well with 20-10 edge. The Nittany Lions grabbed nine bonus points off two pins (Nolf, Joseph) and three majors (Lee, Nickal, Cassar). Nolf's pin was his 55th, adding to his record as Penn State's all-time leader in falls.
The Nittany Lions have now won 53-straight dual meets dating back to the end of the 2014-15 season. Sanderson's Lions won their last dual of that campaign, went 16-0 in 2015-16, went 14-0 in 2016-17 and went 14-0 in 2017-18. Penn State is now 8-0, 4-0 in Big Ten duals, while Purdue falls to 5-6, 2-3 B1G. The Nittany Lions continue their weekend road trip at Indiana on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Bloomington, Ind.
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 30, Purdue 10
January 25, 2019 – West Lafayette, Ind.
125: Devin Schroeder PUR dec. Devin Schnupp PSU, 6-1 0-3
133: #18 Ben Thornton PUR dec. #13 Roman Bravo-Young PSU, 7-3 0-6
141: #7 Nick Lee PSU maj. dec. Nate Limmex PUR, 17-6 4-6
149: Jarod Verkleeren PSU dec. Parker Filius PUR, 8-3 7-6
157: #1 Jason Nolf PSU pinned Elijah Davis PUR, WBF (0:42) 13-6
165: #1 Vincenzo Joseph PSU pinned Cole Wysocki PUR, WBF (3:56) 19-6
174: #1 Mark Hall PSU dec. #14 Dylan Lydy PUR, 6-2 22-6
184: Max Lyon PUR maj. dec. Franciso Bisono PSU, 12-4 22-10
197: #1 Bo Nickal PSU maj. dec. #12 Christian Brunner PUR, 17-6 26-10
285: #4 Anthony Cassar PSU maj. dec. Jacob Aven PUR, 14-4 30-10
Attendance: 1,837
Records: Penn State (8-0, 4-0 B1G); Purdue (5-6, 2-3 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: at Indiana, Jan. 27, 1 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Sophomore Devin Schnupp (Lititz, Pa.) met Purdue freshman Devin Schroeder at 125. Schnupp and Schroeder battled evenly for the first minute in the middle of the mat. Schroeder shot low and Schnupp countered, forcing a scramble in the middle off the mat. Schroeder was able to force a stalemate and action resumed neutral at the 1:10 mark. Schnupp fought off two solid Schroeder shots as the clock moved below the :30 mark but the Boilermaker connected on a low double with :20 left. He added two back points to lead 4-0 after one. Schnupp chose down to start the second period and steadily escaped to a 4-1 score with 1:20 on the clock. Schroeder took a strong single with :45 on the clock and was able to trip Schnupp to the for another takedown and a 6-1 lead with :25 left in the period. Schroeder chose down to start the third period. Schnupp controlled the action from the top position for over a minute, looking for a turning position. Schroeder was able to keep from being turned but, with the big lead after two periods, was able to notch the 6-1 win over Schnupp.
133: True freshman Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 13 at 133, took on No. 18 Ben Thornton in one of the dual's marquee match-ups. Thornton got in quickly on a single leg and lifted it high in the air. Bravo-Young tried to roll out of the position but Thornton was able to maintain control and took the Lion down. Bravo-Young called for injury time and action continued with Thornton up 2-0 and on the bottom. Thornton escaped on the reset and Bravo-Young trailed 3-0 at the 2:15 mark. The duo battled evenly for the next minute before Bravo-Young took a flurry of shots in the final :30. Thornton was able to back out of trouble and led 3-0 after one period. Thornton chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead. Bravo-Young shot low and Thornton fought off the effort, countered and gained control of Bravo-Young's right knee again. Thornton spent the next minute working his way to a takedown and finished it off as the period ended to lead 6-0 after two. Bravo-Young chose down to start the final period as the Lion fought through the injury sustained in the opening period. Bravo-Young rolled to an escape with 1:15 on the clock, cutting the Thornton lead to 6-1. Bravo-Young notched a takedown with :25 left and cut Thornton loose but could not complete the comeback and dropped a 7-3 decision.
141: Sophomore Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 7 at 141, met Purdue's Nate Limmex. Limmex looked to connect on a quick shot but Lee fought it off and then set up his offense in the middle of the mat. The Lion sophomore forced Limmex's shoulders down, worked his way behind him and took a 2-1 lead with a takedown at the 1:30 mark. Lee picked up his second takedown, cut Limmex, loose and then grabbed a third with a high shot with :15 on the clock. Limmex chose down to start the second period and Lee went to work on top, looking for a turning combination. Lee worked Limmex's shoulders over for a four-count to up his lead to 10-2 at the :40 mark. Lee finished the period on top and led 10-2 with 2:38 in time. Lee chose down to start the third period and upped his lead to 11-2, then picked up another point on hands to the face. Lee then took Limmex down and led 14-3 at the 1:20 mark. With the riding time point assured, Lee turned a low single into a takedown with :15 on the clock. Limmex countered a late Lee shot for a final takedown but Lee rolled to the 17-6 major with 2:34 in riding time.
149: Redshirt freshman Jarod Verkleeren (Greensburg, Pa.) got the call at 149 for No. 11 Brady Berge (Mantorville, Minn.) and faced off against Parker Filius. Verkleeren, wrestling in his first Big Ten dual, took an early 2-1 lead with a fast shot in the opening seconds. He set the tempo for the next minute plus, forcing Filius towards the outside circle. Filius broke out of his defense and nearly took Verkleeren down but no takedown was awarded. Purdue challenged but the call stood and action resumed with Verkleeren leading 2-1 at the 1:15 mark. Verkleeren picked up his second takedown at the :50 mark to lead 4-2 after a Filius escape. Verkleeren chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-2 lead. Filius worked his way in on a low single but Verkleeren quickly countered, worked his way into control of Filius' feet, and forced a stalemate at the :34 mark. Filius chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-3 score. Verkleeren fought off a strong Filius shot on the edge of the mat, forcing a reset. Filius shot low on the reset but Verkleeren quickly countered low, working his way into control and a key takedown to up his lead to 7-3 at the :40 mark. Verkleeren finished the match on top and, with 1:00 in riding time, posted the 8-3 win.
157: Senior Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, battled Elijah Davis. Nolf countered a quick Davis shot, worked his way into a takedown and a 2-0 lead with 2:45 on the clock. Nolf then locked up a cradle and quickly ended the bout with a fast fall the 0:42 mark. The pin was the 55th career fall for the Lion senior, Penn State's all-time leader.
165: Senior Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 165, met Purdue's Cole Wysocki. Joseph fought off an early Wysocki shot and then took a 2-1 lead with a solid high shot at the 2:20 mark. Joseph spent the next minute working to break through Wysocki's defense and did so with a high single at the 1:00 mark, taking a 4-1 lead. He finished the period on top and led 4-1 with 1:03 in riding time after one. Joseph chose down to start the second period, quickly escaped and then took Wysocki down again to up his lead to 7-1. The Lion junior steadily worked his way into position to lock up a cradle and finished off the match with a pin at the 3:56 mark.
174: Junior Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 1 at 174, took on No. 14 Dylan Lydy. The ranked duo battled in the middle of the mat for the first minute-plus. Hall's pressure forced Lydy to back towards the outside circle as the Boilermaker was able to keep the Lion from breaking through on offense for over two minutes. Lydy was hit with his first stall at the 0:57 mark and Hall continued to press the tempo. Lydy was able to play defense for the opening period and the bout moved to the second stanza tied 0-0. Hall chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Hall connected on a high single at the 1:35 mark and finished off the takedown to lead 3-0. Hall controlled the action on top for :29 before he cut Lydy loose to a 3-1 lead. Trailing 3-1, Lydy chose bottom to start the third period. Hall broke the Boilermaker down, working his riding time edge up to 1:00 before Lydy escaped to a 3-2 score. Hall nearly connected on a high double but Lydy was able to roll through the move as action moved out of bounds with 1:10 on the clock. Hall iced the bout with a single leg and scramble for a takedown and a 5-2 lead with :25 on the clock. The Lion finished on top and, with 1:35 in riding time, rolled to the 6-2 win.
184: Francisco Bisono (Hauppauge, N.Y.) stepped in for No. 3 Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.) at 184 and made his Penn State dual meet debut against Max Lyon. Lyon took an early lead with a fast low single at the 2:35 mark. Bisono worked his way to an escape and a 2-1 score at the 1:55 mark and action resumed neutral in the middle of the mat. Lyon connected on a low single and took a 4-1 lead with 1:10 on the clock. Bisono worked his way to his feet and escaped to a 4-2 score with :20 on the clock. Trailing 4-2, Bisono chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 4-3 deficit. Lyon turned a high shot into a third takedown with 1:10 on the clock to open up a 6-3 lead. A Bisono escaped cut the Lyon lead to 6-4 with :40 on the clock and the Boilermaker added a fourth takedown before the period ended to lead 8-4 with 2:22 in time after two periods. Lyon chose down to start the final stanza and quickly escaped to a 9-4 lead. Lyon picked up a final takedown and, with 2:21 in time, posted a 12-4 major.
197: Senior Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 197, took on No. 12 Christian Brunner of Purdue. Nickal scored just :25 into the bout, using a low single to take Brunner down to a 2-0 lead. Nickal nearly locked up the Boiler's shoulders for a throw, but Brunner was able to stay on his feet and escaped to a 2-1 score. Nickal once again turned a low shot into a takedown and a 4-2 lead at the 1:40 mark. The Lion senior notched his third takedown of the opening period with :50 on the clock and led 6-2. Nickal took an 8-3 lead with a fourth takedown as the period ended. Trailing 8-3, Brunner chose down to start the second period. Nickal controlled the action until the 1:20 mark and led 8-4 with 1:31 in riding time to his favor. The Lion senior finished on top, tripping Brunner to the mat for a final takedown with :20 left in the period. A short rideout later and Nickal led 10-4 with 1:58 in riding time after two. Nickal chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to an 11-4 lead. Nickal countered a Brunner shot for a takedown and nearly took the Boilermaker to his back but a potentially dangerous call forced a reset. Nickal cut Brunner loose with :45 on the clock and quickly took him down again. Nickal picked up a penalty point for hands to the face and, with 2:15 in riding time, rolled to the 17-6 major.
285: Senior Anthony Cassar (Rocky Hill, N.J.), ranked No. 4 at 285, met senior Jacob Aven. The duo battled evenly for the first half of the opening period. Cassar nearly connected on a high single at the 1:15 mark but Aven was able to step back out of Cassar's reach and keep the bout scoreless. Cassar blew through a high shot off a reset with :36 left and took Aven down to lead 2-0. The Lion senior finished the period on top and led by two after the first period. Cassar chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. He then turned into Aven and forced his way through a high shot. The ensuing takedown gave the Nittany Lion a 5-0 lead with 1:20 left in the middle period. Aven escaped to a 5-1 score and Cassar took a 7-1 lead with a blast double at the :10 mark. Trailing 7-1, Aven chose down to start the third period and Cassar cut him loose to a 7-2 lead. Cassar upped his lead to 9-2 with 1:30 on the clock and then went to work on top, building his time up over 2:00 before cutting Aven loose to a 9-3 score. Cassar forced Aven into a stall warning and then bulled his way through a high double to lead 11-4. He added a final takedown and, with 2:33 in riding time, posted a 14-4 major.
