The announced crowd of 15,983 is the second largest crowd in Penn State history (15,996 vs. Pitt on 12/8/13) and the third largest in NCAA history (behind that dual and Iowa's 42,287 held in Kinnick Stadium this year on 12/13/15). Penn State has now wrestled in front of 30 of 31 sell-outs at home, including three of four in the BJC (and 27 straight in Rec Hall).
The dual began at 125 where senior Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 4, met No. 1 Nathan Tomasello. The duo battled evenly for nearly seven minutes before Tomasello notched a last-second takedown to grab a 3-1 win. Senior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 133, tied the dual at 3-3 with a strong 8-4 win over No. 10 Johnni DiJulius, roaring back from a first period deficit to post the win.
Junior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 14 at 141, battled No. 4 Micah Jordan tough before dropping a close 6-3 decision, giving OSU a 6-3 lead. Sophomore Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, then made short work of Ohio State's Sal Marandino with a first period pin at the 2:31 mark to put the Lions up 9-6. Red-shirt freshman Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, then handled No. 11 Jake Ryan to the tune of a 19-6 major to give Penn State a 13-6 lead at intermission.
Junior Geno Morelli (DuBois, Pa.) got the call at 165 and nearly upset No. 2 Bo Jordan. Jordan used a third period takedown to grab a hard-fought 3-2 win and cut Penn State's lead to 13-9. Red-shirt freshman Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 174, used a dominating 10-point third period to roll to an 11-5 win over No. 14 Myles Martin, putting Penn State up 16-9.
Sophomore Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 184, controlled No. 13 Kenny Courts for seven minutes, shutting the Buckeye out 4-0 and using a full third period ride-out to total 2:03 in riding time. Senior Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 1 at 197, then put up eleven takedowns in a 24-9 tech fall over Josh Fox at the 7:00 mark. At 285, freshman Jan Johnson (Mohnton, Pa.) dropped a tough 24-9 tech fall to No. 2 Kyle Snyder. Penn State rolled to the 24-14 victory to remain unbeaten on the year.
The Nittany Lions are now 13-0, 9-0 in the Big Ten, while Ohio State falls to 9-3, 6-2 in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions dominated the dual's pace, totaling a 26-15 takedown edge. Penn State picked up bonus points off a pin (Retherford), a tech fall (McIntosh) and a major (Nolf). The Nittany Lions now own an 18-12 edge in the all-time series with Ohio State.
Penn State will visit Lehigh for a critical non-conference dual on Friday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. and then return home for a date with Michigan State in Rec Hall on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. With the remaining Rec Hall duals already at seated capacity, a limited number of Standing Room Only tickets (SROs) can be purchased for each. Rec Hall SROs may only be purchased by calling 1-800-NITTANY and are $15 per person.
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. The 2015-16 Penn State wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.
Results:
125: #1 Nathan Tomasello OSU dec. #4 Nico Megaludis PSU, 3-1 / 0-3
133: #5 Jordan Conaway PSU dec. #10 Johnni DiJulius OSU, 8-4 / 3-3
141: #4 Micah Jordan OSU dec. #14 Jimmy Gulibon PSU, 6-3 / 3-6
149: #1 Zain Retherford PSU pinned Sal Marandino OSU, WBF (2:31) / 9-6
157: #1 Jason Nolf PSU maj. dec. #11 Jake Ryan OSU, 19-6 / 13-6
165: #2 Bo Jordan OSU dec. Geno Morelli PSU, 3-2 / 13-9
174: #1 Bo Nickal PSU dec. #14 Myles Martin OSU, 11-5 / 16-9
184: #9 Matt McCutcheon PSU dec. #13 Kenny Courts OSU, 4-0 / 19-9
197: #1 Morgan McIntosh PSU tech fall Josh Fox OSU, 24-9 (TF; 7:00) / 24-9
285: #2 Kyle Snyder OSU tech fall Jan Johnson PSU, 24-9 (TF; 4:00) / 24-14
Attendance: 15,983 (second largest in Penn State history, third largest in NCAA history)
Records: Penn State 13-0, 8-0 B1G; Ohio State 9-3, 6-2 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: Friday, Feb. 12, at Lehigh, 7 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Senior Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 4 at 125, took on No. 1 Nathan Tomasello. The two All-Americans worked the middle of the mat for the first minute-plus with Megaludis working to connect on a couple quick singles. Tomasello answered with a quick shot of his own but neither man found an opening to finish. The bout moved into the second period scoreless. Tomasello chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Megaludis continued to press on offense, forcing Tomasello to the outside circle with his pace. Megaludis kept Tomasello on the outside of the mat for the entire period and trailed 1-0 after two. Megaludis chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. The Lion senior pressed the pace, shooting continually at the Buckeye's ankle and keeping Tomasello on defense. Megaludis shot low on Tomasello with :15 left and the Buckeye countered for a last second takedown to steal a 3-1 win.
133: Senior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 133, met No. 10 Johnni DiJulius. Conaway, like Megaludis, set the tempo early, looking to keep the pace of the bout up tempo. DiJulius worked his way into control on a single leg, notched a takedown and turned Conaway to his back for two near fall points to take an early 4-0 lead. DiJulius put together a strong ride, controlling the action for over a minute before Conaway escaped. The Lion senior then blazed through a high single as time expired to cut the lead to 4-3 as the period ended. Conaway chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-4 tie. The Lion senior then used a strong high double to work DiJulius to the mat for a takedown and a 6-4 lead. He then maintained control long enough to kill the time advantage while trying to turn the Buckeye for back points. Conaway picked up another point as the period ended on a second DiJulius stall to lead 7-4 after two. DiJulius chose down to start the third period and Conaway continued to dominate the action on top. Conaway worked for back points for over a minute, building up over a minute in riding time. DiJulius could not break free of Conaway's strong control and the Nittany Lion senior, with 1:44 in riding time, rolled to the 8-4 win.
141: Junior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 14 at 141, battled No. 4 Micah Jordan. Gulibon worked his way in on a low single early, nearly grabbing a takedown. But Jordan worked his way out of trouble and forced a stalemate at the 2:25 mark. Gulibon continued to set the tempo, forcing Jordan's head to the mat. Jordan countered late on a Gulibon shot and led 2-0 after the opening period. Jordan chose down to start the second period and Gulibon maintained control, fighting off one solid Jordan reversal attempt in the process. The Lion junior built his riding time edge up to well over a minute and turned Jordan for a one-count but could not get the two near fall points as the Buckeye rolled through the move. The full ride out had Gulibon down 2-0 but with 1:43 in riding time after two periods. Gulibon chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-1 deficit, still maintaining 1:34 in riding time. The duo traded scrambling shots for the next :30 but the score held. Gulibon took a quick shot that Jordan once again countered, notching his second counter takedown to up his lead to 4-1. Gulibon quickly escaped to a 4-2 deficit. Gulibon scrambled for a last second takedown to grab the win but Jordan notched a third counter takedown as the period ended to post the 6-3 win (Gulibon had 1:23 in time).
149: Sophomore Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, took on Sal Marandino. Retherford wasted no time taking the Buckeye down, working his way to an early 2-0 lead. Retherford worked for a chance to turn Marandino but the Buckeye escaped on the scramble and Retherford led 1-0 at the 2:00 mark. Retherford tacked on a quick second takedown, cut Marandino loose and led 4-2. He used a low single to take the Buckeye down a third time and then began trying to turn Marandino for back points. He got the four count and then, after working chest to chest, got the fall at the 2:31 mark.
157: Red-shirt freshman Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, met No. 11 Jake Ryan. Nolf came out fast, setting a quick tempo from the opening whistle. Forcing Ryan backwards from the onset, Nolf blew through a low double off a reset to take a 2-0 with just over 2:00 left and then went to work on top for a bit until cutting Ryan loose to a 2-1 score. He quickly connected on another low single and tacked on a second takedown with 1:00 left to wrestle. Another cut of Ryan had Nolf working the middle of the mat while the Buckeye was hit for a first stall warning with :10 left. Nolf's last second takedown attempt was cut short by the clock and he led 4-2 with :49 in time after one. Ryan chose down to start the second period and Nolf cut him loose to a 4-3 score with 1:12 on the clock. Nolf scored again off a reset to lead 6-3, cut Ryan loose and then rolled through another takedown to lead 8-4 with 2:03 in time after two. Nolf chose down to start the final period and quickly escaped to a 9-4 lead. He took a 10-4 lead on another stall and then a 12-5 lead with a cut and takedown. Nolf picked up a sixth takedown to lead 14-5 with riding time when Ryan took an injury timeout. Nolf cut Ryan loose after the reset and then picked up another point on a stall to lead 15-6 with :40 left. Looking for more than a major, Nolf chased Ryan, picking up another point on a stall to lead 16-6. He added a final takedown and 2:18 in time to post the 19-6 major.
165: Junior Geno Morelli (DuBois, Pa. battled No. 2 Bo Jordan at 165. Morelli and Jordan worked for upper body control in the middle of the mat for a minute-plus. The Lion junior stepped back from a slight Jordan shot with 1:15 on the clock and the duo continued work the center circle. Jordan worked Morelli's head down to the mat but the Lion worked his way back to his feet and killed the clock in the opening period with a late shot of his own. Jordan chose down to start the second period and Morelli maintained control for :41 before Jordan escaped off a reset to a 1-0 lead. Jordan began to press offensively and nearly scored on a swift low single. But Morelli deftly stepped back and slid out of trouble to keep action neutral. Trailing 1-0, Morelli chose down to start the third period. Morelli quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie and then fought off Jordan's attempt at shoulder control. With the bout tied 1-1 with just over 1:00 left, action resumed in the center circle with Morelli pushing back one Jordan shot but picking up a first stall warning. Jordan notched the bout's first takedown with :35 left to take a 3-1 lead with a scramble on the edge of the mat. Morelli escaped quickly to a 3-2 deficit and then turned into the Buckeye, looking for a late takedown to steal the win. The Lion junior could not break through Jordan's defense and dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision.
174: Red-shirt freshman Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 174, faced off against No. 14 Myles Martin. Nickal, like his teammates, set a fast tempo off the opening whistle. The freshman controlled the action in the middle of the mat and fought off two Martin counter shots in the process. Nickal and Martin traded shots during the middle period and the bout moved to the second stanza tied 0-0. Martin chose down to start the second period and quickly turned Martin for what appeared to be two near fall points. The official did not award the points but immediately called for a review on his own. After a review, the no call was confirmed and the bout continued on tied 0-0. Nickal slipped through a throw attempt and was reversed to fall behind 2-1 after a quick escape. Nickal continued to force the action appeared to have a takedown at the buzzer but none was awarded. Trailing 2-1, Nickal took down to start the third period. Martin quickly turned him for two back points. Nickal escaped quickly and then drove through a low double to tie the score at 4-4. Nickal maintained control long enough to build up 1:04 in time before Martin escaped to a 5-4 Buckeye lead. Nickal used shoulder control to work Martin to the ground to take a 6-5 lead. He then turned him for four back points as the period ended and, with 1:39 in time, posted the 11-5 win.
184: Sophomore Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 184, took on No. 13 Kenny Courts. The duo traded early jabs, working for control in the center of the mat as the opening period played out. McCutcheon, having missed the last Penn State dual with an injury, fought Courts evenly through the opening period and then turned a fast low double into a takedown as the period ended (nearly getting near fall points in the process). Leading 2-0, McCutcheon chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. McCutcheon continued to shoot low with his feet firmly on the Nittany Lion logo as Courts slid side-to-side. The Lion sophomore's offensive pressure kept Courts at arm's length and allowed him to carry a 3-0 lead into the third period. Courts chose down to start the third period but McCutcheon broke the Buckeye flat, building up over 1:00 in riding time while working for a chance to turn him. While Courts was able to fight off McCutcheon's tilts, the Lion's dominant work on top was too much. McCutcheon clinched the riding time point first, then continued his ride for the entire period. The ride out gave McCutcheon 2:02 in time and the 4-0 win.
197: Senior Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 1 at 285, met Josh Fox. McIntosh controlled the action early, looking for a chance to take the Buckeye down in the middle of the mat. Fox's defense was firm for the first two minutes but McIntosh's relentless pressure led to a takedown on a fast single leg with 1:00 on the clock. The Lion senior then rode Fox out to lead 2-0 with 1:00 in time. McIntosh chose down to start the second period and quickly reversed the Buckeye. Fox escaped but McIntosh countered with another takedown and led 6-1 with 1:40 on the clock. The Lion senior cut Fox loose and picked up third takedown of the match with a trip at the :55 mark to lead 9-2. McIntosh cut Fox at the :25 mark and then stormed through another high shot for a takedown and an 11-3 lead with 1:53 in time after two periods. Fox chose down to start the third period and McIntosh continued to build up his riding time advantage. He cut Fox loose to an 11-4 score, took him down and cut him again, then picked up another takedown with :55 on the clock to lead 15-5. McIntosh, working for a tech fall, picked up five takedowns in the final :40 to poste the 24-9 TF at the 7:00 mark.
285: True freshman Jan Johnson (Mohnton, Pa.) took on No. 2 Kyle Snyder at 285. Johnson took a quick shot off the whistle that Snyder stepped back from. The Buckeye then took Johnson down in the middle of the mat for an early 2-1 lead. Snyder added a second takedown to up his lead to 4-2 after Johnson escaped with 2:10 on the clock. Snyder continued to control the action, however and added five more takedowns and four near fall points to lead 18-6 after the opening period. Johnson chose down to start the second and Snyder allowed for a neutral start to make it 18-7. The Buckeye then tacked on three more takedowns to post the 24-9 technical fall at the 4:00 mark.
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