UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; February 1, 2019 – No. 1 Penn State (10-0, 6-0 B1G) defeated No. 5 Michigan (9-1, 5-1 B1G) in front of nearly 16,000 fans in the sold out Bryce Jordan Center in a marquee Big Ten wrestling dual. The Nittany Lions won seven of ten bouts to roll to the 25-11 victory over the visiting Wolverines and remain unbeaten on the year. The loss was Michigan's first of the season.
The dual began at 125 where sophomore Devin Schnupp (Lititz, Pa.) battled No. 15 Drew Mattin tough before losing a close 6-0 decision. With No. 15 Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.) not wrestling, senior Scott Stossel (Pittsburgh, Pa.) got the nod at 133. Stossel, making his Penn State dual debut, took on No. 1 Stevan Micic and suffered a 20-5 tech fall loss (7:00). Michigan led 8-0 after two bouts.
Sophomore Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 7 at 141, put Penn State on the board with a dominating 10-4 win over No. 5 Kanen Storr, cutting the Michigan lead to 8-3. Redshirt freshman Jarod Verkleeren (Greensburg, Pa.) stepped in at 149 for No. 11 Brady Berge (Mantorville, Minn.) and lost a close, back-and-fourth bout to senior Malik Amine, 7-5. Michigan led 11-3 after four bouts. Penn State would not lose again. Senior Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, then dominated No. 5 Alec Pantaleo, bolting out to a 6-0 lead before posting the 9-2 win, including 1:39 in riding time. Nolf's impressive win cut the Michigan lead to 11-6 at halftime.
Junior Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 165, brought nearly 16,000 fans to their feet with a last second takedown to post a thrilling 4-2 (sv) win over No. 5 Logan Massa. Joseph's takedown came with just :01 left in sudden victory and cut Michigan's lead to 11-9. Junior Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 1 at 174, also came through with a late takedown to seal a thrilling win. Hall scored with under :30 left to wrestle to post an exciting 3-2 win over No. 3 Myles Amine to give Penn State its first lead of the dual, 12-11.
Senior Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.), ranked No. 2 at 184, returned to the line-up at 184 and walked away with a hard-fought 5-3 win over Michigan's Jelani Embree to put Penn State up 15-11. Senior Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 197, posted the dual's only fall, pinning Michigan's Jackson Striggow at the 5:50 mark to clinch the dual meet victory for Penn State. Senior Anthony Cassar (Rocky Hill, N.J.), ranked No. 4 at 285, dominated No. 8 Mason Parris in the dual's final bout, rolling to a convincing 19-8 major decision as nearly 16,000 fans roared their approval.
Penn State posted a convincing 21-13 advantage in takedowns in the dual. The Nittany Lions picked up four bonus points off one pin (Nickal) and one major (Cassar). Nickal's pin was his 12th of the year and the 53rd of his career. He is now tied for second all-time at Penn State in pins behind teammate Nolf's 56.
The sellout crowd of 15,703 is the sixth highest indoor attendance figure in NCAA wrestling and the fifth highest at Penn State. The Nittany Lions own the top four indoor figures in NCAA history, including the all-time record of 15,998 set last year against Iowa on Jan. 10, 2018. Penn State has wrestled in front of 51 sell-outs in its last 53 home outings, including 46 straight in Rec Hall and five of seven in the BJC.
The Nittany Lions have now won 55-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 10-0 overall, 6-0 in Big Ten action. Michigan, suffering its first loss of the year, falls to 9-1, 5-1 B1G. The Nittany Lions head to Columbus, Ohio, next Friday to take on No. 2 Ohio State on Friday, Jan. 8, at 8:30 p.m. The dual will air live on the Big Ten network.
The 2019 BJC dual is partnered with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Take A Path With Purpose. Be Part Of Something Bigger Than Yourself. For More information, go to NATIONALGUARD.COM/PA. The Pennsylvania Army National Guard - Always Ready, Always There." 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 25, #5 Michigan 11
February 1, 2019 – Bryce Jordan Center – University Park,
125: #15 Drew Mattin MICH dec. Devin Schnupp PSU, 6-0 0-3
133: #1 Stevan Micic MICH tech fall Scott Stossel PSU, 20-5 (TF; 7:00) 0-8
141: #7 Nick Lee PSU dec. #5 Kanen Storr MICH, 10-4 3-8
149: Malik Amine MICH dec. Jarod Verkleeren MICH, 7-5 3-11
157: #1 Jason Nolf PSU dec. #5 Alec Pantaleo MICH, 9-2 6-11
165: #1 Vincenzo Joseph PSU dec. #7 Logan Massa MICH, 4-2 (sv) 9-11
174: #1 Mark Hall PSU dec. #3 Myles Amine MICH, 3-2 12-11
184: #2 Shakur Rasheed PSU dec. Jelani Embree MICH, 5-3 15-11
197: #1 Bo Nickal PSU pinned Jackson Striggow MICH, WBF (5:50) 21-11
285: #4 Anthony Cassar PSU maj. dec. #8 Mason Parris MICH, 19-8 25-11
Attendance: 15,703
- (6th highest indoor figure in NCAA history (Penn State has the top four), fifth highest in PSU history, Penn State has wrestled in front of 51 sell-outs in its last 53 home events / 46 straight in Rec Hall and 5 of 7 in the BJC)
Records: Penn State (10-0, 6-0 B1G); Michigan (9-1, 5-1 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: at #2 Ohio State, Friday, February 8, 8:30 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Sophomore Devin Schnupp (Lititz, Pa.) took on No. 15 Drew Mattin at 125. Schnupp and Mattin worked the middle of the mat with each wrestler taking slight shots in the first minute. Mattin countered two Schnupp shots and on the second turned it into a high double and a 2-0 lead with a takedown. Mattin built up nearly two minutes in riding time with a rideout and led 2-0 after one period. Mattin chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 3-0 lead at the 1:24 mark. The duo battled evenly as the clock moved below 1:00. Schnupp nearly connected on a high double with :25 on the clock but Mattin was able to move action out of bounds and carried the 3-0 lead into the third period. Schnupp went on the offensive, forcing Mattin into defense for the first half of the third period. The Lion could not break through Mattin's defense and the clocked ticked down below the :40 mark. Mattin countered a Schnupp shot and finished off the bout with a takedown and, with 1:42 in riding time, posted the 6-0 decision.
133: With No. 15 Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.) not competing, senior Scott Stossel (Pittsburgh, Pa.) made his Penn State dual meet debut at 133 against No. 1 Stevan Micic. Stossel got in on an early low single and pulled the top-ranked Wolverine's foot up off the mat. Micic countered but Stossel stayed engaged and continued to fight for the takedown. Micic was able to fight off the effort long enough to force a reset with 1:36 on the clock. Micic took a 2-0 lead with a fast takedown seconds later. Micic cut Stossel loose and then added a second takedown to lead 4-2 with :50 left in the period. Micic tacked on a third takedown and led 6-2 after one. Micic chose bottom to start the second period and escaped to a 7-2 lead. Micic used a solid single at the 1:20 mark to take a 9-2 lead with 1:10 left and built his riding time up over 1:00. Micic worked Stossel over for four back points and a 13-2 lead as the period wound down. Trailing 13-2, Stossel chose down to start the third period and Micic cut the Lion loose to a 13-3 score. Micic tacked on another takedown to lead 15-4 at the 1:20 mark and added two more takedowns to end the bout. Micic had 2:44 in riding and, with the bonus point, rolled to the 20-5 tech fall.
141: Sophomore Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 7 at 141, took on No. 5 Kanen Storr in a much-anticipated match-up. Lee moved in after a high Storr shot at the 2:30 mark and turned a high single into a takedown and a 2-1 lead. Storr tried to score quickly after the escape but Lee once again turned the Wolverine's move into offense of his own, getting a counter takedown to lead 4-1 at the 1:35 mark. Lee then worked on top, building up over 1:00 in riding time. Lee forced Storr into a first stall as the period ended and led 4-1 with 2:05 in riding time after one. Storr chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-2 score. Lee's constant pressure allowed the Lion to connect on a fast single to up his lead to 6-3 after cutting the Wolverine loose. Lee appeared to move behind Storr for another takedown with :30 left in the period but no call was given. Penn State challenged the call but it was confirmed and Lee maintained his 6-3 lead. Leading by three with over 2:00 in time, Lee chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-3 lead. Action continued neutral in the middle off the mat for the next minute. Lee continued to press Storr, looking for another takedown. The Lion forced Storr back to the outside circle and then countered a Storr shot for a 9-3 lead with a takedown. He cut Storr loose and pressed for bonus points but Storr was able to play defense and kill the clock. Lee had 2:22 in riding time and rolled to the impressive 10-4 win.
149: Redshirt freshman Jarod Verkleeren (Greensburg, Pa.) got the call at 149 for No. 11 Brady Berge (Mantorville, Minn.) and battled Michigan senior Malik Amine. The duo battled through quite a scramble in the opening minute with each man nearly connecting for two and back points. Amine was able to finish control and took a 2-0 lead at the 2:30 mark with a takedown. Verkleeren steadily worked his way into a reversal to tie the bout at 2-2 with :35 on the clock. The Lion freshman controlled the Wolverine senior for the rest of the period and finished off the rideout tied 2-2. Verkleeren chose down to start the second period but Amine was able to keep control long enough to build up a 1:52 time edge before the Lion escaped to a 3-2 lead. The Lion freshman used a slick duck under move to up his lead to 5-3 with a takedown at the :45 mark. Amine worked in on a low single as the period ended but Verkleeren was able to tangle action and kill the clock. Amine chose down to start the third period and Verkleeren worked to kill his riding time edge. Amine was able to escape to a 5-4 Verkleeren lead at the 1:30 mark, while still holding 1:09 in time. The Wolverine senior finished off a takedown at the 1:08 mark and took a 6-5 lead. Amine controlled the action long enough to clinch the riding time point and then finished on top to post the 7-5 win with 2:19 in riding time.
157: Senior Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, took on No. 5 Alec Pantaleo. The top-five duo circled the middle of the mat for the opening minute before Pantaleo tried to take a shot. Nolf countered and, after a short scramble, finished off the takedown to lead 2-0 at the 1:50 mark. Nolf then dominated action on top, building up over 1:00 in riding time, keeping Pantaleo's stomach to the mat. Nolf adjusted on top at the :25 mark and turned the Wolverine over for four back points before the period ended and led 6-0 with 1:50 in time after one. Nolf chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-0 lead. Pantaleo nearly connected on a high double but Nolf steadied, worked his way out of trouble and kept action neutral with 1:03 on the clock. Nolf continued to work on offense, forcing Pantaleo into defense for the final minute of the period and led 7-0 with 1:44 in time after two. Pantaleo chose neutral to start the third period. Nolf forced Pantaleo into a stall at the 1:25 mark. Pantaleo used a high double to cut the lead to 8-2 with :45 on the clock after a Nolf escape. Nolf's 1:39 in riding time gave the Lion a dominant 9-2 win.
165: Junior Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 165, met No. 7 Logan Massa. Joseph worked for the middle of the mat for the opening minute but Massa was able to defend the Lion's efforts and keep the bout scoreless at the midway point of the opening period. The duo traded low shots at the 1:00 mark but neither man was able to find any opening and the bout moved to the second period tied 0-0. Massa chose down to start the second period and Joseph broke him down to the mat after one quick escape attempt. Massa got loose to a 1-0 lead on his third try and action resumed neutral with 1:30 on the clock. Massa got called for hands to the face and Joseph tied the bout at 1-1 with :50 left in the middle period. Tied 1-1, Joseph chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 2-1 lead. The duo battled in the middle of the mat and the Michigan bench threw the challenge brick, looking for a hands to the face call on Joseph. The penalty was awarded and the bout moved into the final 1:30 tied 2-2. The bout moved into the final :30 tied 2-2 and then through regulation. The bout moved to sudden victory where Joseph continued to shoot Massa to the outside circle. Joseph tried to connect on a high double with :18 left but Massa's defense held firm. Joseph's offense paid off, though, as the Lion moved behind the Wolverine with :10 left. He lifted Massa off the ground and finished off the winning takedown with just :01 left to post the thrilling 4-2 (sv) win.
174: Junior Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 1 at 174, faced off against No. 3 Myles Amine. Hall fought off a nice early shot by Amine, forcing a reset with 2:20 on the clock after a scramble in the middle of the mat. Hall then went to work on offense, taking numerous shots that forced Amine to play defense for the next two minutes. Hall and Amine battled neutral for the rest of the period. Tied 0-0, Hall chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The Lion junior then moved in on offense. With action in the center circle, Hall fought off an Amine shot with :55 on the clock, getting to his feet to maintain his 1-0 lead with :30 on the clock. Hall then worked his way into control of a low single that forced a scramble that nearly ended in a Hall takedown as the period ended. No takedown was given and Hall led 1-0 after two. Amine chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Hall almost scored again at the 1:05 mark, but Amine was able to step back from Hall's pressure to keep the bout tied. Hall clinched the match with :28 on the clock, rolling behind Amine for a takedown to lead 3-1. Amine escaped with :15 on the clock but Hall's takedown did the damage as the Lion junior posted the 3-2 win.
184: Senior Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.), ranked No. 2 at 184, returned to the line-up and battled Jelani Embree. Rasheed got in on an early single and fought for the next :30 before lifting Embree off the mat and notching the takedown to lead 2-0 at the 1:50 mark. Embree worked to an escaped to cut the lead to 2-1 and action resumed neutral in the middle of the mat. Rasheed countered a late Embree shot, moved down to a low single and took a 4-1 lead with :08 left in the first period. Embree chose down to start the second period and maintained control through a wild scramble in the opening :30. Rasheed built his riding time edge to 1:26 before Embree escaped to a 4-2 score. Rasheed got hit for hands to the face, cutting his lead to 4-3 with :45 on the clock. The duo battled evenly for the rest of the period and Rasheed led 4-3 after two with 1:26 in time. Rasheed chose down to start the third period and steadily worked his way to his feet and an escape with 1:28 on the clock. Rasheed led 5-3 and had :56 in time. Rasheed worked in the middle of the mat for the next minute, maintaining control in neutral as the clock hit 0:00. Rasheed posted a hard-fought 5-3 win.
197: Senior Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 197, met Michigan's Jackson Striggow. Nickal wasted no time taking a lead, taking Striggow down for an early 2-0 lead. Striggow worked his way to neutral but Nickal was relentless, using a low single for a second takedown and a 4-1 lead. Nickal went to work on top, building up over 1:00 in riding time as he looked for a chance to turn the Wolverine junior. Nickal forced Striggow into a first stall with :40 on the clock, then cut him loose to a 4-2 lead. Nickal used a swift low single for a third takedown and led 6-2 with over 2:00 in time after the opening stanza. Nickal chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. Striggow took a shot but Nickal deftly countered and led 9-3 after a fourth takedown. The Lion senior added a fifth takedown off a high single :55 on the clock. He then finished the period on top, picking up another point on a second Striggow stall, to lead 12-3 with 3:10 in riding time after two. Striggow chose down to start the final period and Nickal cut him loose to a 12-4 score. Nickal rolled through a scramble for a takedown, nearly picking up back points in the process. He then reset himself, locked up a cradle, and clinched the dual with a pin at the 5:50 mark.
285: Senior Anthony Cassar (Rocky Hill, N.J.), ranked No. 4 at 285, battled No. 8 Mason Parris. Cassar bulled through a high double, locked Parris up at the waist and threw him to his back just :15 into the bout. Cassar got the takedown and four near fall points before Parris worked his way out of bounds with an escape. Michigan challenged the four back points but the call stood and Cassar led 6-1 after a furious start. Cassar blew through a high single to double for a second takedown and led 8-2 after a Parris escape with 1:55 on the clock. Parris connected on a high single to cut Cassar's lead to 9-4 with 1:00 left in the opening period. The Lion senior answered, using a low single to take Parris down and up his lead to 11-4. The Lion finished the period on top and led 11-4 with :48 in riding time after the opening period. Parris chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to an 11-5 score. Cassar's quick offense led to another takedown off a high single with 1:00 left, giving the Lion a 13-5 lead. Parris escaped with :38 left in the period but Cassar's relentless offense led to another takedown and a 15-7 lead after two periods. Cassar chose down to start the final period and quickly escaped to a 16-7 lead. The twosome battled evenly for the next :45. Cassar almost connected on two more offensive moves but Parris was able to stay neutral. The Lion then used his quickness to slide behind the Wolverine for another takedown and an 18-8 lead. With 1:43 in riding time, Cassar posted the dominating 19-8 major decision.