UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A number of former Penn State Nittany Lions competed at a freestyle event this past weekend on Saturday, Sept, 19, hosted by the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. The event, which featured no fans but was streamed live online, featured 13 freestyle bouts and some of Penn State's recent all-time greats.
The event featured wrestlers from the NLWC, the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club (CLWC), the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club (LVWC), the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center (PRTC), the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) and Wolfpack Regional Training Center (WRTC).
The event began with a 74 kg bout between Rick Durso (NLWC) and Malik Amine (CKWC). Durso rolled to a 10-0 technical superiority in 1:40. Nick Nevills (NLWC) took on Jordan Wood (LVWC) at 125 kg with Wood posting a come-from-behind 6-4 victory. In women's freestyle action at 62 kg, Jennifer Page (NLWC) overcame an early 6-0 deficit to post a thrilling 14-10 win over unattached Desiree Zavala.
At 196 pounds, Jaime Espinal (NLWC) dropped a hard-fought 7-2 decision to Domenic Abounader (CKWC). Former Nittany Lion national champion Zain Retherford (NLWC) bumped up a weight and took on Alec Pantaleo (CKWC) at 157 pounds. Retherford notched a late takedown to post a 3-2 win. Jason Nolf (NLWC), another former Lion three-time champion, rolled to a strong 5-2 win over David McFadden (PRTC) at 79 kg.
Two former Nittany Lion greats met at 77 kg. Former two-time NCAA Champion Vincenzo Joseph (NLWC) posted a 5-0 win over former Lion All-American Dan Vallimont (PRTC). In another 125 kg match-up, Lion Greg Kerkvliet (NLWC) posted a dominating 10-0 technical superiority over Youssif Hemida (CKWC). Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (NLWC) took on Logan Massa (CKWC) at 77 kg with Massa posting a close 4-3 win.
In a 62 kg women's freestyle meeting, Jane Valencia (NLWC) opened up an early lead and then used a late takedown to post a 6-6 (crit.) win over Julia Salata (NYAC). Former All-American Thomas Gilman (NLWC) rolled to a 14-4 technical superiority over former Lehigh national champion Darian Cruz (LVWC) in a 59 kg bout.
Former Olympic Gold Medalist and NCAA Champion Kyle Snyder (NLWC) took on another former NCAA Champion in Michael Macchiavello (WRTC) in a 99 kg meeting. Snyder dominated the action and rolled to a 12-0 technical superiority. In the event's final bout, former Lion three-time NCAA Champion Bo Nickal (NLWC) took on former Oklahoma State champion Alex Dieringer (CKWC) at 190 pounds. In a tightly contest bout, Nickal scored last in a 1-1 deadlock to post the 1-1 (crit.) victory.
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.
