Penn State sent a line-up featuring six underclassmen, two sophomores and four red-shirt freshmen, into action. The dual was wrestled in front of 5,909 fans, only the second-ever sell-out in Stabler Arena (the last was in 2005) and a new Lehigh record.
The dual began at 125 where senior Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 4, handled No. 13 Darian Cruz with a 7-1 decision to give Penn State an early lead. Senior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 133, then took care of Mason Beckman, posting an 8-2 win to give the Nittany Lions a 6-0 lead. Junior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 14 at 141, dropped a 4-0 decision to No. 18 Randy Cruz with the Mountain Hawks picking up their first win. .
Sophomore Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, then posted a strong 8-0 major over Laike Gardner. Red-shirt freshman Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, then turned a first period takedown into quickly shoulder control and a fall over Lehigh's Ian Brown. Nolf's pin, at the 1:22 mark, was his 11th of the year and sent Penn State into intermission with a 16-3 lead.
Red-shirt freshman Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.), ranked No. 17 at 165, held off a late rally by Drew Longo to post a wild 10-8 win. Red-shirt freshman Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 174, then handled Gordon Wolf, posting a 14-6 major decision with 2:28 in riding time to put the Nittany Lions up 23-3.
Sophomore Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 6 at 184, dropped a tough 6-0 decision to No. 3 Nate Brown. Senior Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 1 at 197, rolled over No. 17 John Bolich, posting a 16-0 technical fall at the 4:17 mark. Red-shirt freshman Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.) stepped on to the mat in a Penn State singlet for the first time at 285 in the dual, making a return after what was thought to be a season-ending injury during the preseason. Nevills took an early lead on No. 14 Max Wessell but was hit with an illegal hold call while trying to turn the Hawk wrestler. Penn State immediately challenged the call but after a lengthy review it was upheld. The challenged call would be crucial as Wessell used the penalty point to post a 5-4 win. Seven Penn State wins, however, allowed the Lions to roll to a 28-9 victory and remain unbeaten on the year.
The Nittany Lions are now 14-0, 8-0 in the Big Ten, while Lehigh falls to 12-2. Penn State posted a lop-sided 17-8 takedown advantage as well. The Nittany Lions won seven of ten bouts, picking up seven bonus points off a pin (Nolf), a tech fall (McIntosh) and two majors (Retherford and Nickal).
Penn State will return home for a date with Michigan State in Rec Hall tomorrow night, Saturday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. The Lions have a chance claim a share of the Big Ten Regular Season Championship (sharing with Iowa) with a win over Michigan State. 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: #4 Nico Megaludis PSU dec. #13 Darian Cruz LEH, 7-1 / 3-0
133: #5 Jordan Conaway PSU dec. Mason Beckman LEH, 8-2 / 6-0
141: #18 Randy Cruz dec. #14 Jimmy Gulibon PSU, 4-0 / 6-3
149: #1 Zain Retherford PSU maj. dec. Laike Gardner LEH, 8-0 / 10-3
157: #1 Jason Nolf PSU pinned Ian Brown LEH, WBF (1:22) / 16-3
165: #17 Shakur Rasheed PSU dec. Drew Longo LEH, 10-8 / 19-3
174: #1 Bo Nickal PSU maj. dec. Gordon Wolf LEH, 14-6 / 23-3
184: #3 Nate Brown LEH dec. #6 Matt McCutcheon PSU, 6-0 / 23-6
197: #1 Morgan McIntosh PSU tech fall #17 John Bolich LEH, 16-0 (TF; 4:17) / 28-6
285: #14 Max Wessell LEH dec. Nick Nevills PSU, 5-4 / 28-9
Attendance: 5,909 (sold out, all-time Lehigh record)
Records: Penn State 14-0, 8-0 B1G; Lehigh 12-2
Up Next for Penn State: Saturday, Feb. 13, home vs. Michigan State, 7 p.m. in Rec Hall
BOUT-BY-BOUT
125: Senior Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 4 at 125, took on No. 13 Darian Cruz. Nico worked the first minute-plus, looking to get Cruz's head to the mat in order to work his way around for a takedown. The Mountain Hawk was able to keep Megaludis at arm's length for the period, stepping back towards the outside circle until Megaludis worked head control into a takedown at the :35 mark. The Lion senior controlled Cruz for a ride out and a 2-0 lead after one period. Megaludis chose down to start the second period, Cruz got hit for locked hands, and Megaludis escaped to a 4-0 lead right away. The Lion then worked his way into a low single, forcing a scramble on the outside circle. Megaludis was not able to finish off the move and a reset was called at the :40 mark. Trailing 4-0, Cruz chose down to start the third period but the Lion senior controlled the Mountain Hawk long enough to work his riding time edge over 1:00. Cruz escaped to a 4-1 score at the 1:15 mark but Megaludis continued to pressure him, forcing a first stall. He got a takedown at the :10 mark and, with 1:25 in riding time, posted the 7-1 win.
133: Senior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 133, faced Mason Beckman, a two-time All-American. The duo of returning All-Americans battled evenly until Conaway blew through a fast shot to take a 2-0 lead the 1:03 mark. Conaway was hit for stalling on the ride as a reset was called with :36. Beckman escaped to a 2-1 score with :20 on the clock. Leading 2-1, Conaway chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. The Lion senior then set up a head-outside single and opened up a 5-1 lead with another fast takedown. Conaway built up over 1:00 in riding time with offensive control, working the second period clock down to under :30. With Beckman working to his knees, Conaway broke the Mountain Hawk down one more time and rode him out for a 5-1 lead after two periods. Beckman chose down to start the third period and Conaway continued to control action from the top position. Conaway clinched the riding time point, controlling Beckman until the 1:12 mark. Leading 5-2 after the Beckman escape, Conaway worked for another takedown, setting up another takedown with a single leg at the :10 mark. With 3:00 in time, Conaway posted the 8-2 win.
141: Junior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 14 at 141, faced off against No. 18 Randy Cruz. Gulibon forced a scramble with a head-outside single, nearly taking Cruz down in the center of the mat before the official called a quick stalemate with 2:10 on the clock. Gulibon fought off one Cruz shot and the bout moved to the second period tied 0-0. Gulibon chose down to start the second period and quickly got to his feet. A stalemate was called quickly though with Cruz hanging on to Gulibon's head and neck. A repeat of the former happened off the reset and with 1:29 on the clock, Gulibon stood again, then tried to slide out of Cruz's control. The Mountain Hawk nearly turned Gulibon for back points but the Lion scrambled his way out of trouble. Still, Cruz was able to hang on to Gulibon without getting a stall warning and rode the Lion out. Tied 0-0 but with 2:00 in time to his favor, Cruz chose down to start the third period. Cruz escaped quickly to a 1-0 lead. Gulibon quickly took Cruz down, working for two. The takedown was not awarded and Cruz countered the shot for the bout's first takedown to open up a 3-0 lead. With the riding time point for Cruz clinched, the Mountain Hawk rode Gulibon out and posted the 4-0 win.
149: Sophomore Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, battled Laike Gardner. Retherford patiently waited for an opening and found it with a high double to lead 2-0 at the 1:39 mark. He then quickly gained control of Gardner's shoulders, setting up a chance to turn him. Gardner called for injury time but the official did not see it and called a stalemate instead. A reset ensued with Retherford still in control and the Lion rode Gardner out. Leading 2-0, Retherford chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Retherford forced Gardner into backing up for the next minute, then got in on a low single which he turned into another takedown and a 5-0 lead with :42 left in the period. Retherford maintained control for the rest of the period and carried that lead, with 2:19 in time, into the second period. Gardner chose neutral to start the third period and Retherford blew through a low double, forcing a wild scramble in front of the Lehigh bench that lasted nearly 1:00 but resulted in a stalemate with :46 on the clock. Retherford tripped Gardner to the mat with a low shot and picked up a final takedown to post an 8-0 major with 2:35 in riding time.
157: Red-shirt freshman Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, wrestled Ian Brown. Nolf scored quickly, taking Brown down and cutting him loose to lead 2-1 with 2:10 on the clock. Nolf fought off a high single from Brown and forced a stalemate. He then took Brown down quickly, began to cut him loose then quickly got control of the Mountain Hawk's shoulders, turning to the mat in just seconds and getting the pin at the 1:22 mark.
165: Red-shirt freshman Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.), ranked No. 17 at 165, faced off against Drew Longo. Shakur quickly shot low on Longo, turning a low double into a scramble that Long appeared to work his way out of. Rasheed continued to press, regaining control of both Longo ankles but the Mountain Hawk was able to force a stalemate. Rasheed was undaunted, however, getting the takedown with 1:22 on the clock for a 2-0 lead. Rasheed maintained offensive control for over a minute, then reset himself, breaking Longo down and picking up a point on a second Longo stall. Leading 3-0, Rasheed chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead. He quickly turned in on Longo, forcing another scramble and once again, Longo was able to work his way to a stalemate with 1:30 on the clock. Rasheed's offensive pressure forced Longo into another stall. He then worked his way into another low single that Longo fought off until a stalemate at the :08 mark. Trailing 5-0, Longo chose neutral to start the third period and quickly took the Lion down to cut the lead to 5-2. He cut Rasheed loose and took him down to a 6-4 score. Rasheed countered a Longo shot, forcing a scramble that ended in a takedown and a 7-6 Rasheed lead. Rasheed the reversed Longo to up his lead to 9-6, Longo reversed Rasheed and the Lion escaped to a 10-8 score with :15 left. Rasheed was able to hold off Longo down the stretch and post the 10-8 win.
174: Red-shirt freshman Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 174, met Gordon Wolf. Nickal quickly took Wolf down and cut him loose for an early lead. Wolf forced a scramble with a shot that Nickal nearly turned into a pin. The fall was not awarded and Nickal settle for a takedown and a 4-1 lead with 2:05 on the clock. Nickal worked to turn Wolf, but the Mountain Hawk was able to scramble his way to an escape. Trailing 4-2, Wolf chose down to start the second period. Nickal was strong on offense, however, building up over 1:00 in riding time and then settling in with an arm bar, working to turn Wolf. Wolf was able to belly out and stay off his back. After a Wolf escape, Nickal used an ankle pick to take Wolf down. He then worked his way into a near cradle, turning Wolf for two back points. Leading 8-3 with over 2:00 in riding time, Nickal chose down to start the third period. HE quickly escaped and then took Wolf down to lead 11-3 with 1:20 on the clock. He locked up a cradle for two near fall points and led 13-4 after a Wolf escape. Wolf took Nickal down late for a final score but 2:28 in riding time gave Nickal a 14-6 major.
184: Sophomore Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 6 at 184, took on No. 3 Nate Brown in one of the dual's most anticipated match-ups. The duo battled evenly for over 2:00 with neither wrestler breaking through on offense. The bout moved into the second stanza scoreless and Brown chose down. Brown worked his way to a quick escape and the Mountain Hawk led 1-0. Brown scored on a fast single leg and led 3-0 with 1:20 on the clock. McCutcheon was unable to break free of Brown's control for the remainder of the period and trailed 3-0 heading into the third period. McCutcheon chose neutral to start the third period. Brown took a high single that McCutcheon nearly countered, but Brown was able to finish off the move to up his lead to 5-0 with a clinched riding time point. Another Brown ride out and 2:38 in riding time gave the Mountain Hawk a 6-0 win.
197: Senior Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 1 at 197, met No. 17 John Bolich. McIntosh and Bolich worked in the center of the mat for over 2:00 before McIntosh turned a low single leg into a takedown and a 2-0 lead with :39 on the clock. McIntosh then used his bow and arrow to turn Bolich for four near fall points and a 6-0 lead. He reset and turned him one more time to lead 10-0 after one period. McIntosh chose down to start the second period and steadily worked his way to a reversal and a 12-0 lead. He maintained control of Bolich, then turned him for four more back points to end the match with a 16-0 technical fall at the 4:17 mark.
285: Red-shirt freshman Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.) stepped on to the mat in a Penn State singlet for the first time in the dual, making a return after what was thought to be a season-ending injury during the preseason. Nevills took on No. 14 Max Wessel at 285. Nevills quickly gained control of Wessell's left leg. He steadily worked Wessell to the mat and picked up the takedown to open up an early 2-0 lead. With control of Wessell's legs, Nevills spent the next minute working to turn the ranked Hawk for back points. Nevills was hit with an illegal hold at the 1:21 mark and Penn State asked for a video review on the call. The call stood and Nevills led 2-1. Wessell escaped off the reset to a 2-2 tie with 1:10 on the clock. Wessell chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 3-2 lead, but Nevills had 1:17 in riding time. Nevills stepped back from a Wessell shot, dove low for a single and nearly connected, but Wessell was able to slide away to keep his 3-2 lead. Trailing 3-2 but with 1:17 in time, Nevills chose down to start the third. Nevills got to his feet quickly and then escaped to a 3-3 tie with 1:07 in riding time to his advantage. Nevills fought off another Wessell shot and then began trying to work for a clinching takedown. Wessell forced Nevills back for a stall warning and the bout continued tied 3-3. Wessell turned a low single into a takedown and a 5-3 lead, cutting Nevills' riding time bonus below 1:00. Nevills rolled his way to an escaped and a 5-4 score with :18 left. He then shot low, gaining control of Wessell's ankle and nearly had the takedown as the bout ended. But the takedown was not awarded and Wessell escaped with a 5-4 win.
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