Penn State got off to a fast start, winning the first two bouts. Junior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 12 at 125, posted a strong 8-4 win over Pitt's Dom Forys. Penn State moved out to a 7- 0 lead after sophomore Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 133, majored Pitt's Nick Zanetta 11-2. Pittsburgh got on the board at 141 with Edgar Bright posting a hard-fought 3-2 win over Nittany Lion freshman Kade Moss (South Jordan, Utah) at 141.
Lion sophomore Zack Beitz (Mifflintown, Pa.), ranked No. 15 at 149, was dominating with an impressive 11-5 win over No. 13 Mikey Racciato, giving Penn State a 10-3 lead. Lion freshman Cody Law (Windber, Pa.) nearly came back from an early 4-0 deficit but dropped a tough 6-4 decision to Pitt junior Ronnie Garbinsky at 157. The Panther win sent Penn State into the locker room with a 10-6 lead in the dual.
Red-shirt freshman Garett Hammond (Chambersburg, Pa.) suffered his first loss of the year at 165, dropping an 11-8 decision to Cody Wiercioch. The Panther victory cut Penn State's lead to 10-9. Two-time All-American Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 3 at 174, dominated Pitt's Troy Raeghard, posting a lop-sided 17-6 major with over 3:00 in riding time. The victory put Penn State up 14-9 heading into the final three bouts. At 184, Penn State red-shirt freshman Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.) took on his fourth top-five ranked wrestler of the young season and nearly picked up his second win against the lofty competition. McCutcheon dropped a tough 5-3 decision to No. 4 Max Thomusseit in a hotly contested bout.
Morgan McIntosh won by pin (Photo/PSU Sports Information)The Nittany Lions are now 2-0 on the year while Pittsburgh falls to 3-2. Penn State won six of ten bouts and owned a strong 6-0 margin in bonus points off a pin and three majors. The Nittany Lions posted a 22-7 takedown margin as well.
Penn State treks to Clarion tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 22, for a 7 p.m. dual in Tippin Gymnasium. The Nittany Lions next home dual is set for Friday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m., in Rec Hall. A limited number of SRO tickets are available for select Penn State Rec Hall dual meets, although the SROs for the Lehigh dual are sold out. For ticket inquiries, call 1-800-NITTANY. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstateWREST and on Penn State Wrestling's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2014-15 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Results:
125: #12 Jordan Conaway PSU dec. Dom Forys PITT, 8-4 -- 3-0
133: #5 Jimmy Gulibon PSU maj. dec. Nick Zanetta, 11-2 -- 7-0
141: Edgar Bright PITT dec. Kade Moss PSU, 3-2 -- 7-3
149: #15 Zack Beitz PSU dec. #13 Mike Racciato PITT, 11-5 -- 10-3
157: Ronnie Garbinsky PITT dec. Cody Law PSU, 6-4 -- 10-6
165: Cody Wiercioch PITT dec. Garett Hammond PSU, 11-8 -- 10-9
174: #3 Matt Brown PSU maj. dec. Troy Raeghard PITT, 17-6 -- 14-9
184: #4 Max Thomusseit PITT dec. #19 Matt McCutcheon PSU, 5-3 -- 14-12
197: #4 Morgan McIntosh PSU pinned #10 Nick Bonaccorsi PITT, WBF (4:05) -- 20-12
285: #7 Jon Gingrich PSU maj. dec. John Rizzo PITT, 9-1 -- 24-12
Attendance: 7,103
Records: Penn State 2-0, 0-0 B1G; Pittsburgh 3-2
Up Next for Penn State: at Clarion, Saturday, Nov. 22, 7 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Junior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 12 at 125, took on Pitt freshman Dom Forys. Conaway got in on a quick low single but Forys countered his way out of trouble and the bout moved on scoreless at the 2:00 mark. Forys looked to score on a high single and nearly scored at the 1:30 mark but Conaway countered his way out of trouble and began working for a takedown of his own. Forys was able to force a stalemate at the 1:00 mark. Forys blew through a low double to take a 2-0 lead before Conaway escaped to a 2-1 score with :15 on the clock. Forys chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 3-1 lead with 1:40 left in the middle stanza. Forys gained control of Conaway's right ankle and tried to score again but the Lion junior was able to get out of trouble (he was hit with a first stall at the :40 mark). Conaway turned a low single into a takedown with just :12 left and a short ride out sent the bout to the third tied 3-3. Conaway chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped. He then turned a quick high single into a takedown and a 6-4 lead after a Forys escape with 1:28 on the clock. Conaway fought off one more strong Forys shot, holding his lead with :45 left. Each wrestler worked for a late shot and Conaway connected on a high single with :20 left. The Lion was able to finish off the shot with just :02 left and grabbed a hard-fought 8-4 win.
133: Sophomore Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 5, met Panther Nick Zanetta. Gulibon set the tempo early, forcing Zanetta's shoulders down towards the mat and pushing the Panther towards the outside circle. Gulibon turned a solid head-inside single into a scoring opportunity but Zanetta was able to work his way out of bounds and keep the bout scoreless at the 1:10 mark. After forcing Zanetta into a first stall warning, Gulibon used his quickness to slide behind the Panther for a takedown and a 2-0 lead with :51 left. The Lion sophomore then rode Zanetta out and led by two after one period. Gulibon chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Gulibon continued to control action in the middle of the mat and once more quickly slid behind Zanetta for another takedown and a 5-1 lead after cutting Zanetta loose with :40 left. A beautiful ankle pic led to another Gulibon takedown and a 7-1 lead after two periods. Zanetta chose down to start the third period and Gulibon forced Zanetta into another stall and an 8-1 lead. Gulibon clinched the riding time point, then cut Zanetta loose and began working for another takedown to secure the riding time point. Gulibon notched the takedown with :35 left, clinching the bonus point. The Lion rode Zanetta out and walked off with a strong 11-2 major with 3:06 in riding time.
141: Red-shirt freshman Kade Moss (South Jordan, Utah) took on Pitt sophomore Edgar Bright. Bright, a strong sophomore, was making his Panther season dual debut. The Panther blew through a high double for a takedown and a 2-0 lead with just over 2:00 on the clock. Moss escaped to a 2-1 score with 1:12 on the clock and action resumed in the center circle. The rest of the first period was scoreless and Moss trailed 2-1 after one. Bright chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Moss fought off a quick bright shot and a stalemate forced a reset with 1:15 on the clock. Moss was called for stalling with :40 on the clock, trailing by two. Moss fought off another Bright shot as the period ended and trailed 3-1 after two. Moss chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 deficit, while keeping Bright's riding time at just :59. Moss shot low, shooting Bright off the mat and action was reset with 1:10 left in the close bout. Moss shot again, with :45 on the clock, and Bright was able to step back and maintain his one point lead. Moss continued to pressure the Panther but Bright was able to play defense and post a hard-fought 3-2 win.
149: In one of the dual's marquee match-ups, sophomore Zack Beitz (Mifflintown, Pa.) took on Pitt sophomore Mikey Racciato at 149. Beitz entered the dual ranked No. 15, Racciato, No. 13. Beitz scored quickly, rolling through a shot and taking Racciato down, but the Panther quickly reversed the Lion sophomore. Beitz then escaped just seconds later and the Lion led 3-2 less than :40 into the bout. Beitz continued to set the tempo and a low single led to another takedown and Beitz led 5-2 with :40 on the clock. Racciato escaped at the :18 mark and Beitz led 5-3 after the opening period. Beitz chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 6-3 lead. Beitz continued to pressure Racciato, forcing the Panther to the outside circle and maintaining his lead to the 1:00 mark. With Racciato continuing to back up, Beitz turned a quickly low double into a takedown on the edge of the mat. Racciato escaped and Beitz led 8-4 after two periods. Racciato chose down to start the third period and escaped to an 8-5 Beitz lead. Racciato connected on a high single, but Beitz countered beautifully, nearly getting back points in the process, and led 10-5 with the takedown. Beitz then rode Racciato out and, with 1:14 in time, posted the 11-5 win.
157: Red-shirt freshman Cody Law (Windber, Pa.) met Pittsburgh junior Ronnie Garbinsky at 157. Garbinsky came out firing, gaining control of Law's shoulders on the edge of the mat and bolted out to a 4-0 lead with a takedown and two back points. Law steadily worked his way to an escape and a 4-1 score, Garbinsky had :47 in riding time. The duo battled evenly for the next minute-plus with neither wrestler finding an opening to score. Trailing 4-1, Law chose down to start the second period. Garbinsky kept control of Law long enough to build up a 1:10 riding time edge before Law escaped to a 4-2 lead. Law then worked his way into a scoring chance with a low double. He picked up the takedown with :55 on the clock and tied the bout at 4-4. Garbinsky escaped to a 5-4 lead but Law worked away the Panther's riding time edge. Leading 5-4, Garbinsky chose down to start the third. Law let the Panther loose to a 6-4 score. Garbinsky tried to score on a single but Law fought off the move and action was reset with 1:30 left and the Panther leading 6-4. The duo traded quick shots at the 1:00 mark with no change in control. Law continued to pressure Garbinsky who backed off the mat for the next :30 but the Lion couldn't connect on a score. Garbinsky was able to play defense and wind out the clock, giving the Panther a 6-4 win.
165: Red-shirt freshman Garett Hammond (Chambersburg, Pa.) faced off against Cody Wiercioch. Wiercioch scored quickly, taking Hammond down for an early 2-0 lead. Hammond worked his way to an escape and a 2-1 score with 2:20 on the clock. The Panther continued to pressure Hammond, however, and used a high throw to take Hammond to his back for a four-point move off the takedown and two near fall points. Hammond escaped to a 6-2 score with 1:20 on the clock. Hammond locked Wiercioch around the neck, turning the Panther to his back quickly. But Wiercioch was able to roll through, counter the move and picked up another takedown to lead 8-3. Trailing by five, Hammond chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to an 8-4 score, with Wiercioch owning 1:04 in time. Hammond nearly scored on a single leg, lifting Wiercioch off the mat while looking for the takedown. Wiercioch was able to work his way out of trouble, Hammond adjusted and nearly turned another headlock into a takedown. But action moved out of bounds and Hammond trailed 8-4 with 1:10 on a reset. Leading by four, Wiercioch chose down to start the third period. Hammond worked off the Panther's riding time edge but Wiercioch was able to reversal and take a 10-4 lead with 1:25 on the clock. Hammond answered with his own reversal and cut the lead to 10-6 at the 1:01 mark. Hammond cut the Panther loose to an 11-6 score and then began looking for a chance to score again. Hammond scored with :10 left to cut the score to 11-8, but Wiercioch was able to kill the clock and post the 11-8 decision.
174: Senior Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 3 at 174, battled Pitt's Troy Reaghard. Brown was the aggressor from the start, forcing the Panther senior to the outside circle from the onset. He used a swift double-leg to an outside trip to take a 2-0 lead at the 1:10 mark. Brown dominated the action from the top, forcing Reaghard into a stall at the :05 mark. Trailing 2-0, Reaghard chose down to start the second period. The Panther escaped to a 2-1 Brown lead but the Lion had a solid 1:44 riding time advantage. Brown exploded through another high double leg for a 4-1 lead and then turned Reaghard to his back. The Lion did not get the call on the back points and led 4-2 after cutting him loose. Brown picked up a third takedown to lead 6-2 with :25 on the clock. Brown rode Raeghard out and led 6-2 with 2:52 in time. Brown chose down to start the third and deftly circled around the Panther for a takedown and a reversal. He added another takedown after a Pitt escape and led 10-3 with 1:24 on the clock. Brown cut Reaghard loose again and took the Panther down again. Brown added three more takedowns and rolled to the 17-6 major with 3:19 in riding time.
184: Red-shirt freshman Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 19 at 184, took on his fourth top-five ranked foe of the young season, facing off against No. 4 Max Thomusseit. Thomusseit scored quickly, using a low shot to take McCutcheon down. The Lion freshman worked his way to an escape and a 2-1 score with 1:35 on the clock. McCutcheon worked his way into control of Thomusseit's left ankle and nearly scored. But the Panther was able to counter and force a stalemate with :18 on the clock. Trailing 2-1, McCutcheon chose down to start the second period but Thomusseit was able to control the action. McCutcheon then worked his way to his feet and, trying to force the Panther over his shoulders, spent nearly a minute working his way out and behind the Panther for the reversal. A quick Thomusseit escape tied the bout at 3-3 with :36 on the clock, with the Panther owning a 2:07 time advantage. Tied at 3-3 with a big time edge, Thomusseit chose down to start the third and McCutcheon cut him loose to a 4-3 Panther lead. With 1:20 on the clock, McCutcheon got in on a low single but Thomusseit was able to force another stalemate with 1:11 on the clock. McCutcheon hit on a head-outside single leg with :30 left but the Panther was once again able to tie up McCutcheon and this time he killed the clock, posting the 5-3 win (with 2:12 in riding time).
197: Junior Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 4 at 197, met No. 10 Nick Bonaccorsi in another of the dual's top battles. McIntosh set the tempo early and his offensive pressure paid off with a low single to takedown on the edge of the mat with :56 on the clock. The Nittany Lion junior then put together a strong ride, working Bonaccorsi flat and building up a riding time edge. He then turned the Panther to his back for three near fall points as the period ended and led 5-0 after one period with :56 in time. Bonaccorsi chose down to start the second stanza and McIntosh took advantage to turn the Panther to his back once again. After picking up the three points, the Nittany Lion junior then adjusted, stepped over and pinned the tenth-ranked Panther at the 4:05 mark, clinching the dual for Penn State.
285: Junior Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) ranked No. 7 at 285, met Pitt's John Rizzo in the dual's heavyweight bout. Gingrich and Rizzo battled for the opening period as the Lion sent the tempo, forcing Rizzo to the back of the mat as the Panther worked the outside circle for the first three minutes, keeping the bout scoreless through the opening three minutes. Gingrich chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The Lion senior lined up a fast low double leg and blew through the shot for a takedown and a 3-0 lead with just over 1:00 left in the middle period. Gingrich then controlled Rizzo for the rest of the period and carried the 3-0 lead with :59 in time into the final period. Rizzo chose down to start the third period and Gingrich controlled the Panther from the top position. With 1:30 in riding time, Gingrich cut Rizzo loose, then turned into another low single that ended with a Gingrich takedown and a 5-1 Lion lead with 1:10 left to wrestle. Gingrich then turned Rizzo for three near fall points and clinched the riding time point. Leading 8-1, the Nittany Lion then rode Rizzo out and, with 2:43 in riding time, posted the 9-1 major.
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