Senior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) completed an undefeated weekend with a strong 8-2 win over Michigan's Sean Boyle at 125, giving Penn State an early 3-0 lead. All-American Andrew Long (Creston, Iowa) majored No. 18 Zac Stevens 12-3 at 133 to give the Lions a 7-0 lead after two bouts. In the dual's premier match-up, top-ranked Kellen Russell of Michigan notched another one point win over Penn State's seventh-ranked Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), 2-1, at 141. No. 7 Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) then dominated Eric Grajales 6-2 at 149, including 2:50 in riding time before freshman David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 3 at 157, put on a clinic on his way to a 19-4 technical fall over Aaron Hynes.
With Penn State up 15-3, Michigan's Dan Yates posted a tough 8-2 win over Nittany Lion freshman James Vollrath (Richboro, Pa.), but that win was answered by Nittany Lion Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.). Ruth, ranked No. 2 at 174, pinned Michigan's Jonathan Beck at the 1:06 mark to put Penn State on top 21-6. Michigan's Hunter Collins then posted a 9-4 win over Lion sophomore Nick Fischer (Unionville, Pa.) at 184. Fischer had moved up a couple weight to take on the Wolverine. No. 15 Anthony Biondo of Michigan then downed Penn State's Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) 9-4 at 197, cutting Penn State's lead to 21-11. Nittany Lion junior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 7 at heavyweight, beat No. 9 Ben Apland 3-0 in the final bout to give the Lions the 24-12 final margin.
Penn State moves to l1-0 on the year, it's best since going 12-0 in 1971-72 (no losses or ties). Taylor was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler for his performance at 157 as well. Penn State won the takedown battle 19-8 and notched a 6-0 edge in bonus points. The title is Penn State's first at the event since winning the crown in 1991 and the Nittany Lions now own a 25-24 edge in the all-time series with the Wolverines. The two teams will meet again in Ann Arbor on Feb. 6 in the conference dual (this dual does not count as one of Penn State's eight Big Ten duals).
Penn State returns to action in a nationally televised home match-up with No. 21 Pittsburgh on Jan. 21. Action in the Big Ten Network live event begins at 6 p.m. in Rec Hall. Fans wishing to purchase single dual meet tickets for the 2010-11 Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling season can place their orders by calling 814-865-5555 or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office. The box office is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ticket pricing is $8 for adults and $5 for youth, and there will be a limit of eight tickets per order. Group sales are also available. The 2010-11 Penn State wrestling season is presented by the Family Clothesline. All Penn State events will once again air live on Forever Broadcasting's WRSC (1390 AM) and WSQV (92.1 FM). All radio broadcasts are streamed live at GoPSUsports.com as part of the All-Access package. The 2010-11 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Results:
125: Brad Pataky PSU dec. Sean Boyle UM, 8-2 3-0
133: #6 Andrew Long PSU maj. dec. #18 Zac Stevens UM, 12-3 7-0
141: #1 Kellen Russell UM dec. #7 Andrew Alton PSU, 2-1 7-3
149: #7 Frank Molinaro PSU dec. Eric Grajales UM, 6-2 10-3
157: #3 David Taylor PSU tech fall Aaron Hynes UM, 19-4 (TF; 4:53) 15-3
165: Dan Yates UM dec. James Vollrath PSU, 8-2 15-6
174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU pinned Jonathan Beck UM, WBF (1:06) 21-6
184: Hunter Collins UM dec. Nick Fischer PSU, 9-4 21-9
197: #15 Anthony Biondo UM dec. Justin Ortega PSU, 9-4 21-12
285: #7 Cameron Wade PSU dec. #8 Ben Apland UM, 3-0 24-12
Attendance: 2,600
Records: Penn State 11-0 (1-0 Big Ten), Michigan 4-2 (0-0 Big Ten)
Up Next for Penn State: Home vs. #20 Pittsburgh, Friday, Jan. 21, 6 p.m. in Rec Hall
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Senior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) took on Michigan's Sean Boyle in a rematch of their meeting at the Southern Scuffle last week (won by Boyle 11-3). Pataky came out hot, shooting swiftly three times but not breaking through Boyle's defense. But on Pataky's fourth effort, the Lion senior got the takedown to take an early 2-0 lead. Pataky then turned Boyle for three back points and a 5-0 lead. Pataky spent the next minute trying to turn Boyle again. Boyle fought off Pataky's efforts for back points but the Pataky ride out allowed the Lion to carry a 5-0 lead with 2:11 into the second period. Pataky chose down to start the middle stanza and used a shoulder roll to escape at the 1:22 mark. Boyle shot low and took Pataky down and in the process, Pataky took a long injury time out before the Lion senior was able to continue, still leading 6-2. Boyle then cut Pataky loose to a 7-2 Penn State lead, looking for another takedown. Pataky fought off a Boyle shot and carried the 7-2 lead with 1:13 in riding time into the third period. Boyle chose neutral to start the third period. Pataky got in low on Boyle's right leg, working long for another takedown, but Boyle was able to force a stalemate at the 1:14 mark. Pataky got in again on Boyle's right leg but another stalemate forced a reset with :17 left. Pataky's strong performance allowed the Nittany Lion senior to avenge the loss in the scuffle to win 8-2 and put Penn State up 3-0 early.
133: No. 6 Andrew Long (Creston, Iowa) took on Michigan's Zac Stevens, ranked No. 18, at 133. Long gained control of Stevens' arm, pulled him down to the mat and reached around the Wolverine for a takedown at the 1:59 mark. Stevens scrambled to an escape after a short Long ride. Long continued to pressure the ranked Wolverine, looking for an opening to pick up a second takedown. The Lion sophomore gained control of Stevens' left leg but the Michigan grappler was able to scoot off the mat to force a reset at the :23 mark. Long used a beautiful double leg to drive through Stevens at the :10 mark and, with the ride out, led 4-1 after the opening stanza. Long chose down to start the middle period and worked his way to an escape and a 5-1 lead with 1:20 on the clock. Long spent the next minute shooting Stevens off the mat, forcing the Wolverine into a stall warning with :50 on the clock. Long turned a double leg into a takedown with a nice side step on the edge of the mat to move out to a 7-1 lead and then added another ride out to carry that lead into the final period. Stevens chose down to start the final period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 deficit. Long caught Stevens with a shoulder throw, nearly turning him to his back. The takedown and a cut by Long gave him a 9-3 lead with 1:31 left. Long countered a low Stevens shot and added another takedown to lead 11-3 at the :50 mark. Long then rode the ranked Wolverine for the rest of the period and, with the bonus point, notched a convincing 12-3 major.
141: In one of the marquee battles of the tournament, Nittany Lion freshman Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 7 at 141, met top-ranked Kellen Russell of Michigan. The bout was a rematch of the Southern Scuffle semifinal from last week, won by Russell 4-3. Alton and Russell exchanged heated shots during the first :30, with neither man picking up a go-ahead takedown. The early flurry was followed by hand fighting in the center circle. After a scoreless first period, Russell chose down to start the second. Russell escaped at the 1:50 mark to lead 1-0. Russell began leaning on his collar ties to force Alton into a mistake, but the Penn State true freshman was able to keep Russell at bay. Down 1-0, Alton chose down to start the third period. Russell was able to gain control of Alton's arm, breaking the lion freshman down and building up over a minute's worth of riding time. Alton continued to work hard on the bottom, trying to escape to tie the bout, but Russell clinched the riding time point. Alton escaped with :05 left but Russell's 1:47 in riding time gave the top-ranked Wolverine the 2-1 win (his second one-point win over Alton), cutting Penn State's lead to 7-3.
149: No. 7 Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) battled Michigan's Eric Grajales at 149. The two-time All-American used a high double to take Grajales down and open up an early 2-0 lead with 1:56 left in the first period. Grajales escaped after a :40 ride, cutting the Lion's lead to 2-1. Neither man found an opening for the remainder of the period and action moved to the second period with Molinaro up by one. The Lion junior chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Molinaro turned a scramble in the middle of the mat into a second takedown and a 5-1 lead with 1:10 left in the period. Molinaro's strong ride forced Grajales into a first stall warning at the :18 mark. The ride-out allowed Molinaro to lead 5-1 with 1:44 in riding time heading into the final period. Grajales chose down to start the final period but Molinaro continued to punish the Wolverine, dominating action and clinching the riding time point. Molinaro cut Grajales loose at the :55 mark, looking for a possible major. But Grajales was able to fight off Molinaro's efforts and keep the damage to a minimum. Molinaro's 6-2 win put Penn State up 10-3.
157: Undefeated freshman David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 3 at 157, met Wolverine Aaron Hynes. Taylor used a low single leg to notch his first takedown :30 into the bout and then began looking for a chance to turn Hynes for back points. Taylor got two back points and then cut Hynes loose with 1:00 on the clock. Taylor then used a quick duck-under for another takedown and a 6-3 lead after letting Hynes loose again. Taylor added another takedown and two more back points to lead 10-2 with 2:08 in time after the first period. Hynes chose neutral to start the second, but Taylor used an ankle pick to take Hynes down again and cut him loose to lead 12-3. Another Taylor takedown and three more back points upped his lead to 17-3. He cut Hynes loose with :20 left and picked up one final takedown at the 4:53 mark for the 19-4 technical fall.
165: Freshman James Vollrath (Richboro, Pa.) took to the mat at 165 for Penn State to meet Michigan's Dan Yates. Vollrath got in early on Yates' left leg and worked himself into an early takedown to lead 2-1 after a quick Yates escape with 2:25 left in the opening period. Yates tried to shoulder throw Vollrath a couple times but the Lion freshman was able to roll through each attempt and keep his slim lead. Yates nearly took the lead with a strong single leg on the edge of the mat but action moved out of bounds with :18 on the clock, forcing a reset. Leading by one, Vollrath chose down to start the second period. He tried to roll out of trouble but Yates was able to catch him and nearly pick up a stunning pin at the 1:35 mark. Yates' three back points allowed the Wolverine to take a 4-2 lead but Vollrath's effort to avoid the pin kept the bout alive. Yates was able to control the action from the top for the remainder of the period and led 4-2 with 1:54 in riding time heading into the final period. Yates chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-2 lead. Yates used a knee pick to take Vollrath down one more time and up his lead to 7-2 with a clinched riding time point a the :55 mark. The ride out gave Yates an 8-2 win and cut Penn State's lead to 15-6.
174: No. 2 Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) faced off against Michigan's Jonathan Beck at 174. Ruth quickly took Beck down and nearly pinned him with a far side cradle. The three back points and a Beck escape gave Ruth a 5-1 lead. Ruth notched another takedown and cut Beck loose, took him down and this time completed the cradle to get a quick pin at the 1:06 mark.
184: With All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) still recovering from injury, 165-pounder Nick Fischer (Unionville, Pa.) jumped up two weights to 184 to take on Michigan's Hunter Collins. Fischer worked his way into early control of Collins' leg, but the Wolverine countered and scrambled his way to a takedown and a 2-0 lead at the 2:21 mark. Fischer escaped and action resumed in the center circle with 1:56 left in the opening period. Collins added another takedown with 1:10 on the clock. Collins then rode Fischer out to carry the 4-1 lead with nearly 2:00 in riding time into the second period. Fischer chose down but Collins was able to control the action from the top again. Fischer escaped at the :15 mark to cut the lead to 4-2, but Collins had already clinched the riding time point. Collins chose down to start the third period and reversed the Lion sophomore to up his lead to 6-2. Fischer escaped, but Collins was able to take him down quickly again to lead 8-4 after cutting the Lion loose. Collins went on to post the 9-4 win and cut Penn State's lead to 21-9.
197: Sophomore Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) got met No. 15 Anthony Biondo of Michigan at 197. Biondo scored quickly, taking a 2-0 lead and then put together a strong ride, trying to turn Ortega for back points. But Ortega was able to fight off the turning opportunities until he escaped at the :48 mark. Leading 2-1 with 2:04 in riding time, Biondo chose down to start the second period and quickly reversed Ortega to up his lead to 4-1. Biondo rode Ortega out again and led 4-1 with a clinched riding time point heading into the third period. Ortega chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped, but Biondo answered with a takedown to up his lead to 6-2 with 1:14 on the clock. Biondo cut Ortega loose and took him down again to open up an 8-3 lead. Biondo worked to turn Ortega but the Lion was able to keep off his back until he was cut loose by Biondo at the :22 mark. Biondo went on to notch the strong 8-4 win with 4:33 in riding time to cut Penn State's lead to 21-11.
285: In a battle of ranked heavyweights, No. 7 Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) looked to bounce back from an upset loss against Kent State against No. 8 Ben Apland of Michigan. The bout was a rematch of the Southern Scuffle title bout, won by Wade 4-2 with a late two-point tilt. The duo spent the first half of the opening period trading barbs in the center circle. Wade countered a loose Apland shot at the :31 mark, taking a 2-0 lead in front of the Michigan bench. Wade then rode Apland out to carry that 2-0 lead into the middle period. Apland chose neutral to start the second period and the duo spent the middle period looking for openings. Neither man could score and action moved to the third period with Wade leading 3-0. Wade chose down to start the third and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. The bout would end with that same score as Wade posted the hard-fought 3-0 win and give the Nittany Lions a 24-12 win and the Virginia Duals title.
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