Over 4,000 fans poured in to Michigan's Crisler Arena for the Big Ten Network live national telecast and were treated to a dual featuring six match-ups between top-ten ranked wrestlers. Penn State won five of those six bouts to run its dual meet win streak to 37.
The dual began at 125 where Lion freshman Devin Schnupp (Lititz, Pa.) dropped an 8-0 major to No. 15 Drew Mattin of Michigan. Lion senior Corey Keener (Schuylkill Haven, Pa.) lost a 10-1 major to No. 6 Steven Micic of Michigan at 133 and Penn State found itself down 8-0 after two bouts. True freshman Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.) made his Nittany Lion dual debut at 141 and took care of Michigan's Sal Profaci, riding three first period takedowns to a big lead and posting a strong 9-5 win.
Senior Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, dominated Michigan's Malik Amine, rolling up a 16-2 lead before getting his 12th fall of the year (and the 48th of his career) at the 6:29 mark to give Penn State a 9-8 lead. Junior Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, took care of No. 5 Alec Pantaleo, posting a 6-4 decision to give the Nittany Lions a 12-8 lead at intermission.
Sophomore Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 165, took No. 5 Logan Massa in a rematch of last year's NCAA semifinal bout (won 5-4 by Joseph). Joseph opened up an early lead with two first period takedowns and then roared through the third period, using a throw and four back points to post a dominating 12-3 major decision. Sophomore Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 2 at 174, continued Penn State's win streak with a 6-5 decision over No. 6 Myles Amine. Hall's victory gave the Nittany Lions a 19-8 lead with three bouts to wrestle.
Junior Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 184, fought off a late rally from No. 5 Domenic Abounader to notch a hard-fought 5-2 win. The victory put Penn State up 22-8, clinching the dual for the Nittany Lions. Junior Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.), ranked No. 10 at 197, dominated No. 11 Kevin Beazley 7-1, amassing 2:20 in riding time in the process to give the Lions a 25-8 lead. Junior Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), ranked No. 8 at 285, dropped a tough 8-0 major decision to No. 2 Adam Coon to close out the dual and the Nittany Lions walked away with a dominating 25-12 road win.
The Nittany Lions owned a slim 14-10 takedown edge and picked up four bonus points off a pin (Retherford) and a major (Joseph). Penn State improves to 6-0 on the year, 2-0 in Big Ten duals. Penn State ran its dual meet win streak to 37 straight dating back to the end of the 2014-15 season. Retherford and Nolf's win keep the Nittany Lion duo unbeaten all-time in Big Ten dual meets. Retherford is now 28-0 all-time in B1G duals and Nolf is 20-0.
Penn State will roll on to East Lansing on Sunday, Jan. 14, for a Big Ten battle at Michigan State. The action is set for 1 p.m. The Nittany Lions' next home dual is a Big Ten battle against Purdue in Rec Hall on Friday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m. With all home dual meets sold out, a limited number of Standing Room Only (SRO) tickets are available to select Rec Hall duals based on availability. Call 1-800-NITTANY for information or to purchase tickets.
The 2017-18 Penn State wrestling season is sponsored by The Family Clothesline. 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.
Results:
125: #15 Drew Mattin UM maj. dec. Devin Schnupp PSU, 8-0 / 0-4
133: #6 Steve Micic UM maj. dec. Corey Keener PSU, 10-1 / 0-8
141: Nick Lee PSU dec. Sal Profaci UM, 9-5 / 3-8
149: #1 Zain Retherford PSU pinned Malik Amine UM, WBF (6:29) / 9-8
157: #1 Jason Nolf PSU dec. #5 Alec Pantaleo UM, 6-4 / 12-8
165: #1 Vincenzo Joseph PSU maj. dec. #5 Logan Massa UM, 12-3 / 16-8
174: #2 Mark Hall PSU dec. #6 Myles Amine UM, 6-5 / 19-8
184: #1 Bo Nickal PSU dec. #5 Domenic Abounader UM, 5-2 / 22-8
197: #10 Shakur Rasheed PSU dec. #11 Kevin Beazley UM, 7-1 / 25-8
285: #2 Adam Coon UM maj. dec. #8 Nick Nevills PSU, 8-0 / 25-12
Attendance: 4,009
Records: Penn State 6-0, 2-0 B1G; Michigan 5-2, 2-1 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: at Michigan State, Sunday, Jan. 14, 1 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Redshirt freshman Devin Schnupp (Lititz, Pa.) took to the mat against No. 15 Drew Mattin of Michigan at 125. Schnupp opened up with two solid shots that Mattin was able to fight off and then the Wolverine took a 2-0 lead with a takedown ad the 2:00 mark. Mattin controlled Schnupp from the top position for the rest of the period and carried that 2-0 lead into the second stanza. Mattin chose down to start the second period. Schnupp controlled the action for over :30 before Mattin escaped to a 3-0 lead. Schnupp locked Mattin's leg up and tried to score over the last :30 but Mattin was able to defend the move and the Wolverine led 3-0 after two periods. Schnupp chose down to start the third period and Mattin quickly turned him for four back points and a 7-0 lead. The Lion freshman worked to break free, trying to avoid bonus points but Mattin was able to maintain control for the entire period and, with over 3:00 in riding time, post the 8-0 major decision.
133: Senior Corey Keener (Schuylkill Haven, Pa.) met No. 6 Steven Micic of Michigan at 133. Keener Micic caught Keener's left ankle for a takedown at the 2:02 mark to open up an early 2-0 lead. Keener escaped to a 2-1 score with 1:04 on the clock and action resumed in the center of the mat. Micic used a high single for a second takedown and a 4-1 lead as the period wound down and finished the opening stanza on top to lead 4-1 with 1:34 in riding time heading into the second period. Micic chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. Keener worked his way in on a single leg at the 1:00 mark but a stalemate ended the action. Micic picked up his third takedown of the match with :30 left and finished on top for a 7-1 lead with 1:57 in time after two. Keener chose neutral to start the third period. The Lion senior nearly scored on a fast shot but Micic countered for a takedown and a 9-1 lead at the 1:25 mark. Keener was unable to break free of Micic's ride and the Wolverine ended the bout with 3:31 in riding time and a 10-1 major.
141: True freshman Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.) made his official Penn State dual meet debut at 141, taking on Wolverine Sal Profaci. Lee, coming off a trip to the Southern Scuffle finals as an unattached wrestler, wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in a blue and white singlet. Lee took Profaci down at the 2:20 mark and cut him loose to lead 2-1 early. Lee quickly added a second takedown to up his lead to 4-1 and then went to work on top, looking to turn the Wolverine for back points. He appeared to have Profaci turned once but did not get the call so he cut him loose to a 4-2 lead. Lee countered a slight Profaci shot for a third takedown at the :30 mark and finished the period on top to lead 6-2 with 1:14 in riding time after one. Profaci chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 6-3 Lee lead. Profaci worked his way into a high single but Lee was solid on defense, forcing a stalemate to keep the score at 6-3 with :47 on the clock. Lee worked his way in on a single leg but Profaci fought off the move long enough to kill the clock. Leading 6-3, Lee chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-3 lead. Profaci shot low at the 1:30 mark and forced a scramble in the middle of the mat. The Wolverine finished doff the takedown to cut the lead to 7-5 at the 1:00 mark. Lee steadily worked his way to a reversal to end the match on a high note and claim the 9-5 victory.
149: Senior Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, met Malik Amine. Amine began the dual with a solid shot that Retherford fought off, forcing a reset. Retherford scrambled his way to a takedown on a low double at the 1:58 mark to lead 2-0. Retherford cut Amine loose and then quickly took the Wolverine down on the edge of the mat to lead 4-2 at the 1:25 mark. Amine got hit for a penalty point, then another, and Retherford led 6-2. The Lion senior then bulled through a low single but the Wolverine forced a stalemate with :17 left in the period. Amine then called for an injury timeout. Retherford chose down on the reset with :17 left and quickly escaped to lead 7-2 after one. Amine chose neutral to start the second stanza and Retherford's relentless offense led to a third takedown and a 9-2 lead. Retherford then steadily worked Amine's shoulders to the mat for a four-count and upped his lead to 13-2 with 1:00 left in the period. He resettled on top and finished with a rideout to lead 13-2 with 2:00 in time. Retherford chose top to start the third period, and Amine was hit for a two-point unsportsmanlike and gave up another point for calling for a second injury timeout. Leading 16-2, Retherford continued to control the action on top, looking for a pin. Retherford steadily worked Amine to his back and picked up the fall, his 12th of the year, at the 6:29 mark.
157: Junior Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, took on No. 5 Alec Pantaleo. The duo battled evenly for the first minute-plus with neither wrestler breaking into the scoring column. Nolf used his quickness to counter a good Pantaleo shot and opened up a 2-0 lead at the :37 mark. Nolf then finished on top to lead 2-0 after one. Nolf chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Pantaleo got on the board with a takedown shortly thereafter and Nolf led 4-2 after an escape. The Lion junior forced Pantaleo into a first stall and then the Wolverine tied the bout with a takedown on the edge of the mat with :38 left in the period. Nolf escaped to a 5-4 lead off the reset. Trailing 5-4 heading into the third period, Pantaleo chose down to start the final stanza. Nolf controlled the Wolverine long enough to work his riding time over 1:00 and then broke Pantaleo down flat at the 1:00 mark. Nolf finished the bout with a full period rideout and, with 2:09 in riding time, posted a hard-fought 6-4 win.
165: Sophomore Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 165, battled No. 5 Logan Massa in a rematch of last year's NCAA semifinal match (won by Joseph 5-4). The duo battled evenly for the first minute plus before Joseph connected on a fast single leg to take a 2-0 lead midway through the opening period. Joseph controlled at the action from the top position for :40 before Massa escaped to a 2-1 score. Joseph notched a second takedown with a slick low single at the :20 mark and led 4-2 after one period. Joseph chose down to start the second stanza and escaped to a 5-2 lead. Joseph fought off a flurry of Massa shots late in the period and carried a 5-2 lead with :38 in riding time into the third period. Massa chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-3 Joseph lead. The Lion sophomore nearly connected on a single at the 1;00 mark but Massa was able to fight it off. Joseph then locked the Wolverine at the waist and threw him to the mat for a takedown and four near fall points. He then finished on top and, with 1:11 in riding time, posted a dominating 12-3 major.
174: Sophomore Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 2 at 174, met No. 6 Myles Amine. Hall nearly ended the bout early with a headlock and throw for a takedown, but Amine quickly rolled through the move and only gave up a takedown. Leading 2-0, Hall controlled the action on top and worked his riding time up over 2:00 with a strong ride. With the rideout complete, Hall led 2-0 after one period with 2:36 in time and Amine chose down to start the second period. Hall continued to work on offense but Amine countered with a slick reversal to tie the bout at 2-2 with 1:10 on the clock. Hall escaped to a 3-2 lead and over 3:00 in riding time with :48 left to wrestle in the second period. With a 3-2 lead and the riding time point clinched, Hall chose down to start the third period. Hall scrambled his way to a reversal and a 5-2 lead with 1:14 on the clock. Amine escaped to a 5-3 score with 1:05 on the clock and action resumed in the middle of the mat. Hall fought off a high Amine single leg late, but Amine connected on the shot to briefly tie the score. But Hall's 2:33 in riding time gave the Lion sophomore a 6-5 win.
184: Junior Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 184, faced off against No. 5 Domenic Abounader. Nickal worked his way out of early trouble as Abounader nearly connected on a quick shot in the opening minute. The Lion junior then took a 2-1 lead with a takedown at the 1:40 mark. Action resumed in the middle of the mat after an Abounader escape. Nickal nearly scored at the :48 mark but official review took the takedown away. The Lion led 2-1 after one period and chose down to start the second stanza. Nickal quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Abounader nearly scored on a solid shot but Nickal countered, coming over top, and almost notched a counter takedown. Abounader was able to slip away and action resumed neutral with Nickal lead 3-1 at the :40 mark. Trailing 3-1, Abounader chose down to start the third period. A quick Michigan escape cut Nickal's lead to 3-2. Nickal worked his way out of trouble again as Abounader forced a scramble a t the :40 mark. The Wolverine got in on another solid shot and Nickal continued to scramble out of trouble, finally finishing off the counter for a takedown with :15 left. Nickal finished on top and posted a hard-fought 5-2 win.
197: Junior Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.), ranked No. 10 nationally, took on Michigan senior Kevin Beazley, ranked No. 11 at 197. Rasheed scored quickly, turning a low single into a takedown and a 2-0 lead less than :30 into the bout. Beazley escaped to a 2-1 score and Rasheed continued to press offense in the middle of the mat. The first period ended in neutral with the Lion junior lead 2-1. Beazley chose down to start the second period and Rasheed made the Wolverine pay. The Lion steadily tied up a cradle and turned Beazley for four back points and a 6-1 lead. Rasheed completed the full period rideout and led 6-1 with 2:20 in riding time after two periods. Leading by five, Rasheed chose neutral to start the third period. Rasheed worked his way into control of Beazley's left leg, forcing a scramble that ended in a stalemate at the :45 mark. Beazley took a high shot that Rasheed fought off at the :20 mark and, with 2:20 in riding time, Rasheed rolled to a 7-1 win.
285: Junior Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), ranked No. 8 at 285, met No. 2 Adam Coon. The All-American pair battled evenly for the first half of the opening period with neither finding an opening to score. Coon drew first blood, taking Nevills down and turning him for two back points in the process to lead 4-0 at the :25 mark. The Wolverine finished out the period on top and carried that lead into the second stanza. Nevills chose down to start the second period and Coon worked his riding time up over 1:00. Coon chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped, while also picking up a point on a second Nevills stall. Coon's lead stood at 6-0 at the 1:35 mark. Nevills gave up another stall point to trail 7-0. Coon picked up a point on 2:22 in riding time and posted the 8-0 major decision.
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