TEMPE, Ariz. – The Penn State Nittany Lions (1-1, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 1 nationally on InterMat's Tournament Power Index (TPI), lost a hard-fought dual at No. 6 Arizona State (5-0) in a top ten non-conference meeting in Tempe, Ariz. The two teams split bouts five each, but Arizona State won the bonus point battle and posted a 19-18 victory in front of an Arizona State record-setting crowd of 8,542.
The dual began at 125 where Lion freshman Brody Teske (Duncombe, Iowa) suffered a 19-7 major decision to No. 19 Brandon Courtney to give the Sun Devils an early 4-0 lead. Arizona native Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 3 at 133, took care of No. 16 Josh Kramer, posting a 7-6 win to get Penn State on the board. Junior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 3 at 141, put Penn State on top with a resounding 18-3 technical fall over Cory Crooks at the 4:28 mark in the second period.
Sophomore Jarod Verkleeren (Greensburg, Pa.) dropped a hard-fought 5-4 decision to ASU senior Josh Maruca at 149, and the Nittany Lion lead was cut to 8-7. With No. 5 Brady Berge held out of the dual, junior Bo Pipher (Paonia, Colo.) moved up to 157 once more and lost a tough 9-4 decision to Arizona State's Jacori Teemer. Teemer's win gave ASU a 10-8 lead at intermission.
Senior Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 165, rolled over No. 5 Josh Shields to begin the second half. Joseph notched the bout's only takedowns on his way to a 7-4 win. Senior Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 1 at 174, then put Penn State up 15-10 by dominating No. 8 Anthony Valencia. Hall posted the 11-3 major decision to put Penn State up 15-10. No. 2 Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.) did not compete and freshman Creighton Edsell (Wyalusing, Pa.) was not able to as well, giving No. 1 Zahid Valencia the forfeit victory at 184.
The six-point swing gave the Sun Devils a 16-15 lead. Graduate Kyle Conel (Ashtabula, Ohio), ranked No. 7 at 197, lost a tough 10-4 decision to Sun Devil Kordell Norfleet to give Arizona State a 19-15 lead. Senior Anthony Cassar (Rocky Hill, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 285, needed something big to grab the dual meet for the Nittany Lions and nearly turned the trick in the first period. Cassar turned No. 5 Tanner Hall to his back midway through the period and appeared to have a fall twice, but no pin was awarded and Cassar went on to post a dominant 9-5 win. The victory cut ASU's lead down to one but Arizona State posted the 19-18 upset victory.
Penn State won the takedown battle 19-16 but ASU had a 4-3 edge in bonus points, thanks in large part to a forfeit victory at 184. The loss snaps Penn State's 60-dual win streak that dated back to the end of the 2014-15 campaign.
Penn State is now 1-1 on the year, 0-0 B1G. Arizona State improves to 5-0. Penn State will visit Lehigh in its next action. The Nittany Lions are at Lehigh on Friday, Dec. 6, in a 7 p.m. dual that airs live on SE2 and the Patriot League Network. Two days later, Penn State hosts Penn in Rec Hall. The Lions and Quakers battle on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m.
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 18, #6 Arizona State 19
November 22, 2019 – Tempe, Ariz.
125: #19 Brandon Courtney ASU maj. dec. Brody Teske PSU, 19-7 0-4
133: #3 Roman Bravo-Young PSU dec. #16 Josh Kramer ASU, 7-6 3-4
141: #3 Nick Lee PSU tech fall Cory Crooks ASU, 18-3 (TF; 4:28) 8-4
149: Josh Maruca ASU dec. Jarod Verkleeren PSU, 5-4 8-7
157: Jacori Teemer ASU dec. Bo Pipher PSU, 9-4 8-10
165: #1 Vincenzo Joseph PSU dec. #5 Josh Shields ASU, 7-4 11-10
174: #1 Mark Hall PSU maj. dec. #8 Anthony Valencia ASU, 11-3 15-10
184: #1 Zahid Valencia ASU won by forfeit 15-16
197: Kordell Norfleet ASU dec. #7 Kyle Conel PSU, 10-4 15-19
285: #1 Anthony Cassar PSU dec. #5 Tanner Hall ASU, 9-5 18-19
Attendance: 8,542
Records: Penn State (1-1, 0-0 B1G); Arizona State (5-0)
Up Next for Penn State: at Lehigh, Friday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Nittany Lion freshman Brody Teske (Duncombe, Iowa) took on No. 19 Brandon Courtney at 125. Courtney turned an early single leg into a takedown and a 2-0 lead at the 2:32 mark. Teske escaped to a 2-1 score at the 2:00 mark and then quickly got in on a single leg, finishing off the takedown for a 3-2 lead. Courtney quickly escaped and the match moved on tied 3-3 at the 1:30 mark. Courtney countered a Teske shot, moved in on a shot and took a 5-3 lead with :50 on the clock. The Sun Devil turned Teske to his back for four near fall points and led 9-4 after a late Teske escape. Teske chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 9-5 score. Teske worked the middle of the mat, looking for an opening, but Courtney's defense held the Lion off. Courtney picked up four more points on a takedown and two near fall points and led 13-6 after two periods. Courtney chose down to start the third period, picked up a penalty point on an illegal hold and then escaped to a 15-6 lead. Teske took a number of quick shots that Courtney was able to step back from. The Sun Devil notched one final counter takedown and, with riding time, posted the 19-7 major.
133: Sophomore Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 3 at 133, met No. 16 Josh Kramer. Kramer scored the first points with a quick low double to lead 2-1 just :30 into the bout. The ranked duo then battled evenly for until Bravo-Young took a 3-2 lead with a fast takedown in the middle of the mat. Kramer escaped to a 3-3 tie with 1:00 left in the opening period. Bravo-Young took advantage of a late single-leg and finished off the period with a takedown to lead 5-3 after one period. Kramer chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-4 score. Bravo-Young controlled the offensive action for the bulk of the period and turned a single leg into a takedown to up his lead to 7-4 as the period wound down. The Lion finished on top and carried the 7-4 lead into the third period. Bravo-Young chose neutral to start the third period. He fought off a number of Kramer shots on the edge of the mat and gave up a stall point at the :20 mark. As Bravo-Young fought off another shot, another stall was called but Bravo-Young was able to notch the 7-6 victory.
141: Junior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 3 at 141, battled Cory Crooks. Lee turned a high single into an early 2-0 lead and then cut Crooks loose to a 2-1 lead at the 2:05 mark. The Lion junior worked Crooks' head to the mt and then stepped around for a second takedown and a 4-1 lead. Lee then worked control of Crooks' arm into a dominant ride while turning the Devil to his back for four near fall points. Lee finished the period on top and led 8-1 with 1:59 in riding time after the opening period. Crooks chose neutral to start the second period and Lee went to work on offense. The Lion picked up three takedowns in under a minute to open up a 14-3 lead. He then worked Crooks to his back for one more four-point turn and posted the dominating 18-3 technical fall at the 4:28 mark.
149: Sophomore Jarod Verkleeren (Greensburg, Pa.) faced off against Sun Devil senior Josh Maruca at 149. The duo battled through an even first minute. Verkleeren countered a slight Maruca shot and countered for a takedown of his own to open up a 2-0 lead at the midway point. The Sun Devil escaped to a 2-1 score and Verkleeren went back to work on offense. Maruca turned a low shot into a scramble that Verkleeren was able to fight off. With :40 on the clock, Maruca got in on another shot and Verkleeren appeared to fight off the move and keep his one-point lead. Arizona State called for a review on the call and the takedown was awarded, giving Maruca a 3-2 lead with :23 left. Verkleeren was unable to break free on the reset and trailed 3-2 after one period. Maruca chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-2 lead. The twosome battled evenly as the clock moved below the 1:00 mark. Maruca took a shot that Verkleeren backed away from and action moved out of bounds. Verkleeren turned a Maruca shot into a scramble that killed the period and the Lion trailed 4-2 after two. Verkleeren chose down to start the third period and nearly worked his way into a reversal. But Maruca was able to fight off the effort and force a reset with 1:10 on the clock. The Sun Devil then pushed his riding time well over 1:00 and continued to control the match from the top position. Verkleeren notched a late reversal to tie the bout but 1:43 in riding time gave Maruca the 5-4 win.
157: Junior Bo Pipher (Paonia, Colo.) moved up to 157 to battle Jacori Teemer. Pipher battled Teemer evenly for the opening minute before the Sun Devil blew through a high shot to take a 2-0 lead at the 1:43 mark. Pipher escaped quickly and cut the lead to 2-1. Pipher worked to control the action in the middle of the mat, trying to find an opening to score, but Teemer was able to defend the Nittany Lion's efforts and lead 2-1 after one. Teemer chose down to start the second period and worked his way to a reversal after :30 of Pipher controlling the action. Pipher was able to work his way to an escaped and a 4-2 deficit at the :25 mark. Trailing 4-2, Pipher chose down to start the third period. The Lion quickly escaped to a 4-3 deficit. Teemer quickly added another takedown and Pipher trailed 6-4 after another quick escape. With 1:01 on the clock, Pipher began to press on offense and gave up a late counter takedown to drop the 9-4 decision with riding time to Teemer.
165: Senior Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 165, met No. 5 Josh Shields of Arizona State. The highly-ranked duo battled in the middle of the mat for over a minute with neither wrestler finding an opening. As the clock moved below the 1:00 mark in the opening period, Joseph took a high shot that Shields was able to step away from and keep the bout scoreless. The first period ended in a scoreless tie. Shields chose down to start the second stanza and escaped to a 1-0 lead. Joseph countered a slight Shields shot and took a 2-1 lead with the bout's firs takedown at the 1:20 mark. Shields escaped to a 2-2 tie and action resumed in neutral. Joseph then blew through a high double to up his lead to 4-2. Shields escaped once more and Joseph carried the 4-3 lead into the third period. Joseph chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-3 lead. Joseph worked the center of the mat, turned a low shot into a takedown and a 7-3 lead with 1:10 left on the clock. Joseph cut Shields loose and got in on a high single that ended in a stalemate with :30 left to wrestle. Joseph was unable to break through Shields' late defense to pick up the major but still rolled with a 7-4 decision.
174: Senior Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 1 at 174, met No. 7 Anthony Valencia. Valencia notched the first takedown with a strong double leg on the edge of the mat to open up an early 2-0 lead. Hall escaped after a reset. Hall muscled away another strong Valencia shot and continued to work in the middle of the mat. Hall battled Valencia evenly for the remainder of the period and finished off the last seconds with a late takedown to lead 3-2 after the first three minutes. Hall chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-2 lead. Hall turned a high single into another takedown and led 6-2 with :45 left in the middle period. Hall spent the final seconds of the period in control trying to turn Valencia and led 6-2 after the second stanza. Valencia chose neutral to start the third period and Hall tacked on a third takedown at the 1:20 mark. The Lion worked his riding time up to near 1:00 before cutting the Sun Devil loose. He then turned a low double into another takedown and upped his lead to 10-3 with :45 on the clock. The Lion finished the bout on top and rolled to the dominating 11-3 major thanks to 1:44 in riding time.
184: Arizona State's top-ranked Zahid Valencia received a forfeit victory at 184.
197: Graduate Kyle Conel (Ashtabula, Ohio), ranked No. 7 at 197, met Kordell Norfleet. Norfleet notched the first takedown of the bout :30 into the period and Conel quickly escaped to a 2-1 deficit. The Lion then went to work in the middle of the mat, trying to turn a series of shots into an opening into score. Norfleet used a low double to take a 4-1 lead with :40 left to wrestle. Conel worked his way to a last second escaped and trailed 4-2 after one period. Norfleet chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-2 lead. Norfleet added another takedown and finished the period on top to lead 7-2 with 1:49 in riding time after two periods. Conel chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-3 score. Norfleet countered a Conel shot and took the Lion down again to up his lead to 9-3 at the 1:26 mark. Conel battled the Devil evenly for the final minute, not able to notch a takedown but not giving up a final one and keeping the bout to a 10-4 decision.
285: Senior Anthony Cassar (Rocky Hill, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 285, met No. 5 Tanner Hall in a battle of ranked big men. The duo battled evenly for the first minute before Cassar caught Hall and took him to his back. The Lion big man nearly pinned Hall at the 1:30 mark but the Sun Devil was able to fight off two efforts and Cassar settled for a 6-1 lead at the 1:00 mark. Hall was able to defend Cassar's press for the rest of the period and the Lion senior led 6-1 after one. Hall chose down to start the second period and Cassar cut him loose. The Lion gave up a takedown on the edge of the mat, briefly cutting his lead to 6-4. Cassar escaped to a 7-4 lead at the :45 mark and quickly went to work, looking for a chance to score. Needing a tech or pin to win the dual, Cassar chose neutral to start the third period. The Lion worked the middle of the mat, looking for a chance to force a scramble. Hall turned a Cassar shot at the 1:10 mark into a stalemate. Cassar took Hall down at the :45 mark and tried to turn the Sun Devil to his back. Hall escaped at the :20 mark but Cassar posted the 9-5 win nonetheless.
