UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; February 15, 2019 – No. 1 Penn State (12-0, 8-0 B1G) took care of visiting Michigan State (9-7, 3-5 B1G) in front of yet another sold out Rec Hall crowd. Head coach Cael Sanderson's crew won seven of 10 bouts, all for bonus points, to post the 37-10 win as over 6,600 fans looked on.
The dual began at 125 where sophomore Devin Schnupp (Lititz, Pa.) battled No. 7 Rayvon Foley tough before dropping a 14-5 major decision. Senior Scott Stossel (Pittsburgh, Pa.) stepped in at 133 for true freshman Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 11 at 133, who returned to Tucson for a funeral. Stossel fought Spartan Senior Anthony Tutolo for seven minutes but Tutolo walked away with a hard-fought 4-1 win to put Michigan State up 7-0 after two bouts.
Sophomore Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 2 at 141, put Penn State on the board with a dominating 19-7 major decision over Spartan senior Austin Eicher. Lee's win cut MSU's early lead to 7-4. Redshirt freshman Jarod Verkleeren (Greensburg, Pa.) was impressive at 149, rolling to a 12-3 major over Jaden Enriquez with over 3:00 in riding time to give Penn State an 8-7 lead. Senior Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, dominated Michigan State's Jake Tucker. After building up a big lead, Nolf turned Tucker's shoulders to the mat for his 12th pin of the year at the 3:50 mark. Nolf's big win gave Penn State a 14-7 lead at intermission.
Junior Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 165, thrilled the Rec Hall faithful with a rousing performance over MSU's Austin Hiles. Joseph turned a big first period lead into a takedown, cradle and pin at the 3:48 mark to push Penn State out to a 20-7 lead. Junior Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 1 at 174, controlled the action from start to finish against Drew Hughes, building up a 14-1 lead before winning by disqualification after Hughes took his fifth stall warning trying to stay on top during the third period.
Redshirt freshman Mason Manville (Lorton, Va.) once again moved up from 165 to 184 for No. 2 Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.) and nearly pulled off a huge upset. Manville fought No. 15 Cameron Caffey to the end before dropping a close 6-4 decision. Senior Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 197, then stepped on to the mat and quickly took care of Brad Wilton. Nickal notched a takedown, turned it into a cradle and got the fast fall at the 0:35 mark to put Penn State up 32-10. Senior Anthony Cassar (Rocky Hill, N.J.), ranked No. 3 at 285, capped off the dual with a 21-6 tech fall over Spartan Chase Beard. Cassar's tech at the 6:46 mark finished off Penn State's 37-10 victory.
Penn State amassed a lopsided 35-8 advantage in takedowns. All seven of Penn State's wins were for bonus. The Nittany Lions collected 16 bonus points off three pins (Nolf, Joseph, Nickal), one DQ (Hall), one tech fall (Cassar) and two majors (Lee, Verkleeren). Nolf's fall was his 12th of the year and upped his all-time PSU career record mark to 57. Nickal's pin was his 14th of the year. He is second all-time at Penn State with 55, trailing Nolf by two. Joseph's fall was his 11th of the year. The sellout crowd of 6,643 is the tenth largest Rec Hall crowd of the Sanderson era at Penn State.
The Nittany Lions have now won 57-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 12-0 overall, 8-0 in Big Ten action. Michigan State falls to 9-7, 3-5 B1G). The Nittany Lions will immediately hit the road, travelling Saturday for a Sunday dual at No. 19 Illinois. The dual with the Illini is set for 2 p.m. Eastern / 1 p.m. Central (local).
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 37, Michigan State 10
February 15, 2019 – Rec Hall – University Park, Pa.
125: #7 Rayvon Foley MSU maj. dec. Devin Schnupp PSU, 14-5 0-4
133: Anthony Tutolo MSU dec. Scott Stossel PSU, 4-1 0-7
141: #2 Nick Lee PSU maj. dec. Austin Eicher MSU, 19-7 4-7
149: Jarod Verkleeren PSU maj. dec. Jaden Enriquez MSU, 12-3 8-7
157: #1 Jason Nolf PSU pinned Jake Tucker MSU, WBF (3:50) 14-7
165: #1 Vincenzo Joseph PSU pinned Austin Hiles MSU, WBF (3:48) 20-7
174: #1 Mark Hal PSU win by DQ over Drew Hughes MSU, DQ (5 stalls) 26-7
184: #15 Cameron Caffey MSU dec. Mason Manville PSU, 6-4 26-10
197: #1 Bo Nickal PSU pinned Brad Wilton MSU, WBF (0:35) 32-10
285: #3 Anthony Cassar PSU tech fall Chase Beard, 21-6 (TF; 6:06) 37-10
Attendance: 6,643 (47th straight Rec Hall sellout, 52 of 54 including 5 of 7 in BJC)
Records: Penn State (12-0, 8-0 B1G), Michigan State (9-7, 3-5 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: at #19 Illinois, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2 p.m. Eastern / 1 p.m. Central (local)
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Sophomore Devin Schnupp (Lititz, Pa.) met No. 7 Rayvon Foley. The duo battled in the middle of the mat for the first :45 before Foley notched the first takedown to open up a 2-0 lead. The Spartan maintained control of Schnupp for well over a minute while trying to turn the Lion and forced Schnupp into a stall warning at the :40 mark. Schnupp was unable to break free of Foley's strong ride and Schnupp trailed 2-0 after the opening period. Foley chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Schnupp worked his way in on a low single at the 1:45 mark and steadily brought Foley's right leg up to his shoulder. The Lion finished off the takedown with a trip and trailed 4-2 after a Foley escape. Foley connected on a fast shot to up his lead to 6-3 with :30 on the clock. Schnupp took a low single but Foley countered for another takedown late in the period and led 8-3 with 2:33 in riding time after two periods. Schnupp chose down to start the third and Foley cut him to an 8-4 score. Foley countered another Schnupp shot and led 10-5 with 1:20 on the clock and then added another takedown to lead 12-5 with 1:00 left in the match. Foley finished the match on top and, with 3:46 in riding time and a stall point, posted the 14-5 major decision.
133: Senior Scott Stossel (Pittsburgh, Pa.) stepped in at 133 for No. 11 Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), who returned to Tucson for a funeral. Stossel met Spartan senior Anthony Tutolo. Stossel and Tutolo battled evenly for the first minute-plus before Stossel worked his way in on a low single at the 1:50 mark. Tutolo forced a scramble as he tried to counter the move but the action ended in a stalemate with 1:19 on the clock. Tutolo took a slight shot and Stossel stepped back from the move to keep action neutral as the clock moved below the :50 mark. Tied 0-0, Tutolo chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Stossel continued to keep action in the middle of the mat. Tutolo worked his way in on a solid single but Stossel worked his way into a scramble, trying to counter the move for a takedown of his own. But Tutolo was strong enough to break Stossel's grip on his ankle and got the takedown with :25 left in the period. Trailing 3-0, Stossel chose down to start the third period but Tutolo was able to keep control and break the Lion senior down in the middle of the mat. Tutolo's riding time edge moved over the 1:00 mark as the final period hit its midway point. Stossel worked his way to an escape with :10 left but Tutolo, with 2:07 in time, posted the 4-1 win.
141: Sophomore Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 2 at 141, met senior Austin Eicher. Lee wasted no time working his offense, turning a quick shot into a takedown and an early 2-1 lead. Lee bulled his way through a low shot at the 2:20 mark to open up a 4-1 lead and then went to work on top, looking for a chance to turn Eicher. Eicher was able to fight off two Lee turn efforts before Lee cut him loose to a 4-2 score. Lee had 1:15 in riding time at the 1:15 mark of the period. Lee slid behind Eicher for a third takedown and a 6-2 lead with :45 on the clock and then finished the period on top to lead 6-2 with over 2:00 in riding time after one period. Lee chose down to start the second period and steadily worked his way to an escape and a 7-2 lead. The Lion sophomore forced Eicher into a stall warning and then he finished off a takedown to lead 9-2 with 1:10 on the clock. Eicher escaped as Lee tried to lock up a cradle, cutting the Lee lead to 9-3 with :45 left in the period. Lee continued to press on offense and picked up another takedown with :18 left in the period to lead 11-3 with 2:36 in time after two. Eicher chose down to start the third period and gave up a stall point before Lee cut him to a 12-4 score. Lee quickly tacked on two more takedowns to lead 16-5 with 1:05 on the clock. Lee cut Eicher to a 16-6 score and bulled his way through a takedown with :25 left to lead 18-7. Lee piled up 3:45 in riding time and posted the 19-7 major.
149: Redshirt freshman Jarod Verkleeren (Greensburg, Pa.) took on MSU's Jaden Enriquez at 149. Verkleeren came out hot, rushing through a fast shot to lead 2-1 early. He quickly lifted Enriquez off the mat and took him down for a second takedown to lead 4-1 before a minute had passed. The Lion freshman maintained control for the next minute, building up a sizeable riding time advantage while trying to turn Enriquez. Verkleeren cut Enriquez loose with :40 on the clock and immediately turned in on a low shot, finishing off the move on the edge of the mat to lead 6-2 with :35 left in the period. Verkleeren finished the period on top and led 6-2 with 2:27 in time after one. Verkleeren chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. The duo worked the middle of the mat with neither wrestler breaking through for over a minute. Verkleeren worked his way into control of a low single and finished off the takedown with :15 on the clock to lead 9-2 with 2:34 in time after two. Enriquez chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 9-3 score. Verkleeren continued to work on his feet, needing one more takedown to secure bonus points. Verkleeren continued to pressure Enriquez and the action paid off with a low shot for a takedown and an 11-3 lead with :38 on the clock. With the riding time point secured, Verkleeren finished on top and posted the strong 12-3 major with 3:14 in riding time.
157: Senior Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, met Jake Tucker. Nolf wasted no time taking a lead, working a fast double leg for a takedown and a 2-0 lead just seconds into the bout. Nolf then went to work on top, looking for a turning combination but Tucker slid out from underneath the Lion and scored a reversal to tie the bout at 2-2 with 2:15 on the clock. Nolf was nonplussed, however, and answered Tucker's reversal with a reversal of his own to lead 4-2 with 1:50 left in a fast paced first period. Nolf cut Tucker loose to a 4-3 score and then quickly took the Spartan down to lead 6-4. Nolf added a third quick takedown, then another, and with :45 on the clock led 10-5 with over 1:00 in time. Nolf finished the period on top and led 10-5 with 1:45 in riding time after the opening stanza. Tucker chose down to start the second period and was hit for a first stall right away. Nolf then worked Tucker's shoulder over and settled in for a few seconds. After a brief bit of work, Nolf picked up the pin at the 3:50 mark.
165: Junior Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 165, took on Spartan Austin Hiles. Joseph set a fast pace to start the match and connected on his second shot with 2:28 on the clock. The Lion cut Hiles loose and then quickly notched a second takedown to lead 4-1 with 1:40 left to wrestle in the opening period. Joseph picked up a third takedown with a fast high double and led 6-2 as the clock moved below the 1:00 mark. Joseph forced Hiles into a stall warning and built up a large time edge before turning the Spartan over for four back points to lead 10-2 with 2:10 in riding time after the opening period. Joseph chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to an 11-2 lead. He then gained control of Hiles' shoulders and rolled him over for another takedown. After resetting for a moment, Joseph wrapped up a cradle and quickly pinned Hiles at the 3:48 mark.
174: Junior Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 1 at 174, met Drew Hughes. Hall set a high pace in the first period, forcing Hughes backwards as he looked for a chance to score. Hall connected on a takedown and used his back to force Hughes' back to the mat for four back points and a 6-0 led with 1:05 ono the clock. Michigan State called for a review of the scoring flurry but the call on the mat was confirmed. Hall then went to work on top, finishing with a rideout to lead 6-0 with 1:31 in riding time after one period. Hall chose neutral to start the second period and worked the middle of the mat. He quickly slid behind Hughes for a takedown and an 8-0 lead with 1:18 on the clock. Hall cut Hughes loose at the 1:00 mark and moved in again, pushing the Spartan over backwards for another takedown and a 10-1 lead with :40 on the clock. Hughes got hit for first stall during Hall's ride and the Lion finished on top to lead 10-1 with 2:44 in time after two. Hughes chose top to start the third period, gave up two points on two stalls to give Hall a 12-1 lead. After a brief reset, Hughes got hit for his fourth stall, then a fifth and Hughes stalled out, getting disqualified on the fifth stall and giving Hall the six point win (Hall was leading 14-1 at the time).
184: Redshirt freshman Mason Manville (Lorton, Va.) moved up from 165 for No. 2 Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.) and battled No. 15 Cameron Caffey. Caffey worked his way in on a low single at the 1:55 mark, trying to take Manville down in front of the Spartan bench. But Manville was able to defend the shot and force a stalemate with 1:24 on the clock. Manville used a fast low shot to force a scramble in the middle of the mat that nearly ended in a Lion takedown. But Caffey was able to work the action to a stalemate and Manville and Caffey continued neutral as the period ended. Tied 0-0, Caffey chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Manville continued to pressure Caffey and turned a low shot into a takedown and a 2-1 lead at the 1:35 mark. But the officials opted to review the move on their own and reversed the call. Manville trailed 1-0 on the reset with 1:35 on the clock. Caffey turned a low shot into the bout's first takedown and Manville quickly escaped to a 3-1 MSU lead with 1:10 on the clock. Manville shot low on Caffey but the Spartan countered the move and notched another takedown to up his lead to 5-1 with a rideout. Trailing 5-1, Manville chose down to start the third period. He worked his way to an escaped, cutting the lead to 5-2 and spent the next minute-plus working for a takedown to eat into the Spartan lead. Caffey was able to fend off numerous Manville shots until the Lion finally connected and cut the lead to 5-4. Manville cut Caffey to a 6-4 score with :25 left and the Lion's furious final efforts were held off as Caffey held on for a hard-fought 6-4 win.
197: Senior Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 197, faced off against Brad Wilton. Nickal wasted no time thrilling the Rec Hall faithful, taking Wilton down in the opening seconds, wrapping up a cradle and getting the fast fall at the 0:35 mark.
285: Senior Anthony Cassar (Rocky Hill, N.J.), ranked No. 3 at 285, took on Chase Beard. Cassar fought off an early Beard shot and the, after a reset, took an early 2-1 lead with a fast takedown in the middle of the mat. Cassar bulled through a low shot to open up a 4-2 lead seconds later after cutting beard loose. Leading 4-2, Cassar notched his third takedown and then finished on top to lead 6-2 with 2:04 in time. Beard chose down to start the second period and Cassar cut him loose to a 6-3 score. Cassar blew through a high shot, taking Beard straight to his back for a six point move, nearly getting the pin in the process, to take a 12-3 lead. The Lion senior cut Beard loose and took him down again to lead 14-4 late in the period and carried that lead with over 3:00 in riding time into the final period. With the riding time point clinched, Cassar chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 15-4 lead. Cassar added another takedown to lead 17-4, cut Beard loose, took him down to a 19-5 lead, cut him again and finished the match with a final takedown to post the 21-6 technical fall at the 6:06 mark.
