Coming off a 38-3 dismantling of Northwestern in Evanston two days ago, Penn State continued its dominating road wrestling. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrsyville, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 125, once again gave Penn State a bolt of energy out of the gates, pinning Wisconsin's Austin Hietpas at the 6:05 mark. Sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) followed that up with a 14-6 major decision over Shane McQuade at 133 and junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) downed UW's Thomas Glenn 4-2 at 141, giving Penn State an early 13-0 lead.
All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, had no trouble with No. 9 Cole Schmitt of Wisconsin, posting a 12-0 major decision. The shutout was Molinaro's second of the weekend and his tenth of the year. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 157, closed out the first half with a solid 11-4 win over Shawn Perry, giving Penn State a 20-0 lead at intermission.
All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, opened up the second half with a quick pin of Wisconsin's Alex Yde. Taylor got the fall at the 2:28 mark in the first period. Fellow All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, followed that pin up with a 17-2 technical fall over Scott Liegel, getting the TF at 5:37. Defending National Champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184, then pinned UW's Timmy McCall, getting the fall at the 6:05 mark.
True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 12 at 197, was then dominant in a 7-3 decision over UW's Jackson Hein. Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at heavyweight, closed out the dual and secured the shut out with a 6-4 win over Cole Tobin, giving the Nittany Lions the 43-0 victory.
The Nittany Lions move to 7-1 on the year, 3-1 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin is now 5-5, 0-3 in the league. Penn State dominated the dual from start to finish, amassing a 31-2 takedown advantage and picking up 13 bonus points off three pins, one technical fall and two majors. The shut out of Wisconsin was the first for the Badgers since Iowa turned the trick 30-0 in 1958. It was Penn State's second shutout of the year and marks the first time Penn State notched a shutout in a Big Ten dual.
Penn State's next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of `standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.
The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (670 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Results:
125: #10 Nico Megaludis PSU pinned Austin Hietpas UW, WBF (6:05) 6-0
133: Frank Martellotti PSU maj. dec. Shane McQuade UW, 14-6 10-0
141: Bryan Pearsall PSU dec. Thomas Glenn UW, 4-2 13-0
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU maj. dec. #9 Cole Schmitt UW, 12-0 17-0
157: #9 Dylan Alton PSU dec. Shawn Perry UW, 11-4 20-0
165: #1 David Taylor PSU pinned Alex Yde UW, WBF (2:28) 26-0
174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU tech fall Scott Liegel UW, 17-2 (TF; 5:37) 31-0
184: #2 Quentin Wright PSU pinned Timmy McCall UW, WBF (6:05) 37-0
197: #12 Morgan McIntosh PSU dec. Jackson Hein UW, 7-3 40-0
285: #6 Cameron Wade PSU dec. Cole Tobin UW, 6-4 43-0
Attendance: 701
Records: #3 Penn State (7-1, 3-1 B1G), Wisconsin (5-5, 0-3 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: vs. Iowa, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2 p.m., Rec Hall
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Nittany Lion freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 125, faced off against Wisconsin's Austin Hietpas. Megaludis set the tempo of the bout from the start, forcing Hietpas into defense for the bulk of the opening period. The Nittany Lion freshman took a 2-1 lead with a takedown at the 1:40 mark and then used another quick low single to a scramble and takedown to lead 4-2 with :45 on the clock. Megaludis added two more takedowns before a rideout allowed him to lead 8-3 after one period. Megaludis chose neutral to start the second period and quickly took Hietpas down. Megaludis would pile on the takedowns and lead 19-7 with nearly 2:00 riding time after two. Hietpas chose down to start the third and Megaludis worked his way to a pin at the 6:05 mark.
133: Sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) met Badger junior Shane McQuade at 133. Martellotti got the bout's first takedown with a strong body lock for a 2-0 lead just :16 into action. The Lion sophomore then put together a strong ride before cutting the Badger junior loose at the 1:45 mark. McQuade caught Martellotti with a takedown and two near fall points, almost pinning the Lion sophomore. But Martellotti rolled through, quickly reversed him and then tacked on two near fall points of his own to lead 6-5 after one period. Martellotti chose down to start the second period and quickly worked his way into a position to notch a reversal. After a brief scramble, Martellotti got the two points and lead 8-5. Martellotti then maintained control of McQuade for the rest of the period, picking up a stall point during a ride out. McQuade chose neutral to start the third period turning a swift single into a takedown and an 11-5 lead at the 1:28 mark. The Lion then cut the Badger loose, looking for one more takedown to notch a major. Martellotti snared McQuade's foot on the edge of the mat, pulled him back into the circle and got the takedown at the :20 mark to take a 13-6 lead with a clinched riding time point. Needing a ride out without stalling to get the major, Martellotti was strong over the final :20 and posted the 14-6 major.
141: Penn State junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) battled UW's Tommy Glenn at 141. Pearsall took a quick 2-0 lead with a takedown at the 2:43 mark. He then put together a dominating ride, building up a minute-plus in riding time while looking for a chance to turn Glenn. Pearsall got called for locked hands and led 2-1 at the 1:30 mark. He turned Glenn quickly at the reset but the Badger was able to roll through and stave off any back points. Pearsall led 2-1 after one period but had two cautions and a stall warning, while totaling 2:46 in riding time. Glenn chose neutral to start the second stanza and the duo battled evenly through the period with neither man scoring. Pearsall chose down to start the third and escaped to a 3-1 lead. With the riding time point clinched, Pearsall fought off a brief Glenn flurry and walked away with a 4-2 win.
149: In a marquee match-up at 149, top-ranked All-American Lion Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) met No. 9 Cole Schmitt of Wisconsin. Molinaro notched the first takedown at the 1:48 mark, taking Schmitt down in front of the Penn State bench. The Lion senior then built up a solid riding time edge with a ride out and led 2-0 after one. Molinaro chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Molinaro turned a single leg into a scoring opportunity at the edge of the mat but Schmitt was able to move the action out of bounds and the Lion led 3-0 after two periods with 1:45 riding time. Schmitt chose down to start the third and Molinaro quickly turned the Badger to his back for two near fall points and a 5-0 lead. Another three point near fall and the Lion was quickly up 8-0 with :45 on the clock. Molinaro added another three point near fall and, with the riding time point, posted the convincing 12-0 major.
157: Nittany Lion Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 157, faced off against Shawn Perry. Alton wasted no time taking Perry down and led 2-1 at the 2:44 mark. The Lion freshman continued to set the pace, taking low singles and forcing Perry back on his heels. Alton's offensive pressure led to a second takedown at the 1:32 mark. Alton caught Perry on a reset, nearly pinning the Badger before he could roll out of trouble. Perry escaped at the :55 mark and Alton led 7-2. Leading by five, Alton chose down to start the second period and escaped to an 8-2 lead in seconds. The Lion freshman carried that six point lead into the third period where Perry chose down to begin the final stanza. Perry escaped to an 8-3 deficit and action resumed in the center circle with 1:45 on the clock. Alton dove through a low double for another takedown to lead 10-4 after cutting Perry loose at the :20 mark. Needing one more takedown, Alton scrambled for the final score but the clock ran out, giving the Nittany Lion an 11-4 decision.
165: All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, met Wisconsin's Alex Yde. Yde was making his Wisconsin dual meet debut and Taylor quickly scored on a series of takedowns and cuts, taking an early 6-3 lead a minute into the bout. Taylor added a fourth takedown and turned Yde to his back for three back points and an 11-4 lead. One more takedown later and Taylor was able to plant Yde to his back for a quick first period pin at the 2:28 mark.
174: All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, battled Badger Scott Liegel. Ruth started with a similar flurry, taking Liegel down twice in thirty seconds to lead 4-2 early on. Liegel was able to hold off Ruth for a bit, but the Lion added a third takedown with 1:27 on the clock to lead 6-2. Ruth continued to control Liegel for the rest of the period and led 6-2 with 1:40 in riding time after the opening period. Ruth chose down and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. Ruth then picked up a stall point and added another takedown to lead 10-2 at the 1:25 mark. Ruth turned Liegel to his back for two near fall points to up the margin to 12-2. Another two point turn gave Ruth a 14-2 lead heading into the third period. Liegel chose down to start the third period and Ruth first clinched the riding time point and then turned McCall to his back for three near fall points and the technical fall. The 17-2 TF came at the 5:37 mark.
184: All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184, met UW's Timmy McCall. Wright quickly threw McCall to his back, getting a fast takedown and nearly pinning him out of the gates. But McCall was able to roll out of trouble without giving up any back points and the Lion led 2-0. Wright put together a strong ride, looking for a chance to turn the Badger to his back. McCall was able to hold off Wright's efforts but the Nittany Lion's ride out gave him a 2-0 lead with 2:30 in riding time after one period. Wright chose down to start the second stanza and quickly rolled his way to a reversal and a 4-0 lead. He then maintained control of McCall for the remainder of the period and led 4-0 with 4:02 in riding time after two periods. McCall chose neutral to start the final period and Wright made him pay for the decision, catching him in a headlock and turning him to his back for a pin at the 6:05 mark.
197: Penn State's Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 12 at 197, took on Jackson Hein of Wisconsin. McIntosh got in on an early low single, turning it into a scramble that led to a takedown and a 3-1 lead as McIntosh picked up a penalty point for a locked hands call on Hein before the Badger escaped. McIntosh looked to score more in the first period but Hein was able to keep the bout close, 3-1, after one. The Lion freshman chose down to start the second and quickly escaped to a 4-1 lead. McIntosh forced Hein into a stall warning and then used a low single to finish off a takedown to lead 6-2 after a Hein escape with just :15 left. McIntosh led 6-2 after two periods, Hein chose down to start the third and quickly escaped and the Lion led 6-3. McIntosh continued to pressure Hein back, forcing the Badger towards the outside circle continuously. McIntosh used another single leg to nearly take Hein down again but did pick up a point off another Hein technical violation. The Lion freshman rolled to a 7-3 decision.
285: Veteran heavyweight Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6, met UW sophomore Cole Tobin. Wade set the tempo early, controlling the action high while looking for an opening to score with a single leg. Wade's pressure paid off as the Lion senior gained control of Tobin's leg, slid down for a low double for the takedown and a 2-0 lead at the :40 mark. A short rideout gave the Lion a 2-0 lead heading into the second period. Tobin chose neutral to start the second stanza and tied the bout with a takedown :30 into the middle period. Wade worked his way to an escaped and a 3-2 lead at the :25 mark. He then chose down to start the third period and quickly reversed the Badger for a 5-2 lead with 1:32 on the clock. Wade then maintained control until the :20 mark when Tobin reversed him to cut the lead to 6-4 after a Wade escape. Wade fought off a late Tobin shot and escaped with a 6-4 win.
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