Staying unbeaten on the year, Penn State picked up three pins and four majors in the dual meet victory, wrestled in front of over 3,000 fans in Binghamton. Penn State now has 10 pins in its 30 dual meet matches to start the year.
The dual began at 125, where Penn State redshirt freshman Devin Schnupp (Lititz, Pa.) dropped a hard-fought 7-4 match to Bearcat junior Joe Nelson. Senior Corey Keener (Schuylkill Haven, Pa.), ranked No. 15 at 133, rolled to a strong 10-4 win over BU's Jacob Nicholson to tie the dual at 3-3. Junior Jered Cortez (Carol Stream, Ill.) put Penn State up for good with a dominating 12-2 major decision over Joe Russ, giving the Nittany Lions a 7-3 lead.
Penn State opened up its lead with two straight pins. Senior Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, picked up a first period pin over BU's Frankie Garcia, getting the fall at the 2:37 mark. Junior Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, followed that up with his third pin of the year, getting the fall over Tristan Rifanburg (4:23) to put Penn State up 19-3 at the midway point.
Sophomore Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 165, kept Penn State rolling with a strong 13-2 major over BU's Vincent DePrez. Sophomore Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 2 at 174, picked up Penn State's third pin of the night, turning a second period reversal of Anthony Lombardo into a fall at the 3:14 mark. The win put Penn State up 33-2 after Binghamton was hit for an unsportsmanlike and lost a team point.
Junior Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 184, dominated No. 14 Steven Schneider in the dual's marquee match-up, rolling up six takedowns and nearly 4:00 of riding time in a 15-6 major. Sophomore Anthony Cassar (Rocky Hill, N.J.) put Penn State up 36-2 with a 10-4 win over BU's Mark Tracy. Junior Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), ranked No. 3 at 285, closed out the dual with yet another bonus point win, picking up a 12-3 major over Connor Calkins, giving Penn State the 40-2 victory.
The Nittany Lions rolled to a 26-3 edge in takedowns and picked up 13 bonus points off three pins and four major decisions. Penn State is 26-4 in its first three duals of the year, including 10 pins. Penn State is now 3-0 overall, 0-0 in the Big Ten. The dual was Binghamton's first of the year and the Bearcats are now 0-1.
Penn State continues a weekend road trip on Sunday at The Palestra. The Nittany Lions trek to Philadelphia for the Keystone Classic on Sunday, Nov. 19, at Penn. Penn State's next home dual is its Big Ten opener against Indiana on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 1 p.m. in Rec Hall. 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: Joe Nelson BU dec. Devin Schnupp PSU, 7-4 / 0-3
133: #15 Corey Keener PSU dec. Jacob Nicholson BU, 10-4 / 3-3
141: Jered Cortez PSU maj. dec. Joe Russ BU, 12-2 / 7-3
149: #1 Zain Retherford PSU pinned Frankie Garcia BU, WBF (2:37) / 13-3
157: #1 Jason Nolf PSU pinned Tristan Rifanburg BU, WBF (4:23) / 19-3
165: #1 Vincenzo Joseph PSU maj. dec. Vincent DePrez BU, 13-2 / 23-3
174: #2 Mark Hall PSU pinned Anthony Lombardo BU, WBF (3:14) / 29-3
184: #1 Bo Nickal PSU maj. dec. #14 Steven Schneider BU, 15-6 / 33-2*
197: Anthony Cassar PSU dec. Mark Tracy BU, 10-4 / 36-2
285: #3 Nick Nevills PSU maj. dec. Connor Calkins BU, 12-3 / 40-2
* BU penalized one team point, unsportsmanlike conduct.
Attendance: 3,019
Records: Penn State 3-0, Binghamton 0-1
Up Next for Penn State: at Keystone Classic, The Palestra, Philadelphia, Pa.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Redshirt freshman Devin Schnupp (Lititz, Pa.) took on Binghamton's Joe Nelson at 125. The duo battled evenly for a minute with neither man creating an advantage. Nelson used a low single to open up a 2-0 lead with a takedown at the 1:46 mark. Schnupp escaped shortly after and action resumed in the center circle with Schnupp down 2-1. Schnupp blew through a high double to a single leg at the :50 mark and worked to pull Nelson back onto the mat but the junior fought his way out of bounds, picking up a first stall. Nelson chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Schnupp connected on a high single but once again could not break through Nelson's defense and a reset was called at the 1:15 mark. Schnupp turned a quick scramble into a near takedown but Nelson countered for a stalemate at the :17 mark to hold his two point lead. Trailing 3-1, Schnupp chose down to start the third period. The Lion freshman steadily worked his way to his feet for an escaped, cutting the lead to 3-2 with 1:42 on the clock. Nelson finished off a fast single for a takedown and a 5-2 lead with 1:15 left. Schnupp reversed the Bearcat and cut him loose at the :20 mark and quickly turned in for a single leg. Nelson was able to hold off the flurry and, with 1:17 in riding time, post a hard-fought 7-4 win.
133: Senior Corey Keener (Schuylkill Haven, Pa.), ranked No. 15 at 133, met Bearcat senior Jacob Nicholson. Keener and Nicholson traded slight shots early in the bout before Nicholson tripped the Lion senior to the mat for a takedown and a 2-0 lead. Keener escaped after :20 and action resumed in the center circle with 1:10 on the clock. Keener seemingly had a takedown with :25 on the clock but no takedown was given and Keener trailed 2-1 after one period. Keener chose down to start the second period and steadily worked his way to a reversal and a 3-2 lead. The Lion senior then worked the action from the top position, building up :29 in riding time with the rideout. Nicholson chose down to start the second stanza and Keener broke the Bearcat down to maintain control on top. Keener's riding time moved over 1:00 with the Lion still looking to turn Nicholson for back points. Keener slipped after a reset and Nicholson took advantage for a reversal and a 4-3 lead. But the Lion senior countered with his own reversal and rolled the Bearcat over for two points plus four back points. The fast move, plus 1:27 in riding time, gave Keener a 10-4 win.
141: Junior Jered Cortez (Carol Stream, Ill.) tangled with junior Joe Russ at 141. Cortez scored quickly, turning a fast high single into a takedown and a 2-1 lead at the :30 mark. The Lion junior then blew through a high double leg and nearly picked up a two point near fall but Russ rolled through and escaped to a 4-2 Cortez lead with 1:45 on the clock. Cortez added a third takedown with :50 left to move out to a 6-2 lead. Cortez controlled the action from the top position, working the clock down to 0:00 with a rideout and led 6-2 after one. Cortez chose down to start the second period and deftly moved around the Bearcat for a reversal and an 8-2 lead. Russ was unable to break free of Cortez's strong ride and the Lion worked his time advantage up over 2:00. Cortez maintained control for the full two minutes and led 8-2 with 2:37 in time after two periods. Cortez chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 9-2 lead with 1:38 left to wrestle. With his riding time point clinched, Cortez added on a final takedown and rolled to a 12-2 major with 2:33 in riding time.
149: Senior Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, met sophomore Frankie Garcia. Retherford scored first, working Garcia's shoulders and moving behind the Bearcat for a takedown and a 2-0 lead with 2:05 on the clock. Garcia was able to scramble his way to a reversal and a 2-2 tie with 1:17 on the clock before Retherford escaped to a 3-2 lead. Retherford used a fast low ankle pick to up his lead to 5-2 with :40 left and then turned the Bearcat to his back for another first period pin, this one at the 2:37 mark.
157: Junior Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, battled Binghamton's Tristan Rifanburg. Nolf worked the middle of the mat, stepping away from a couple Rifanburg shots while looking for a chance to score on his own. The Lion notched his first takedown at the :40 mark and, after a reset, locked up a cradle and tacked on four back points to lead 6-0 after one period. Garcia chose down to start the second period and Nolf cut the Bearcat loose to a 6-1 lead. Nolf turned a low Garcia shot into a scramble and a takedown of his own, upping his lead to 8-1. He then locked up another cradle and this time finished off the pin at the 4:23 mark.
165: Sophomore Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 165, met Bearcat junior Vincent DePrez. Joseph came out fast offensively, turning a low single into a takedown and an early 2-0 lead. He cut DePrez loose and began looking to score again. Joseph nearly broke through on a high double but DePrez was able to step back and keep the bout close with 1:25 on the clock. The Lion continued to force the action, keeping DePrez backing away while forcing him into a first stall warning. Leading 2-1, Joseph chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Joseph worked in on another high single and DePrez fought the move off once again, keeping the bout close with defense. Joseph's offensive pressure paid off, however, rolling around the Bearcat for a second takedown and a 5-1 lead with 1:00 on the clock. Joseph rode the Bearcat out and led 5-1 with 1:02 in time after two periods. DePrez chose down to start the third period and Joseph cut him loose. He then blew through a double leg for a third takedown and a 7-3 lead. The Lion sophomore then worked DePrez's shoulders to the mat and spent the last minute turning the Bearcat, picking up four near fall points. A 2:55 riding time edge gave the Lion a 13-2 major decision.
174: Sophomore Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 2 at 174, faced off against Anthony Lombardo. Hall worked his way through a high single and, after a short scramble, took a 2-0 lead with the takedown. Hall was able to turn Lombardo but could not nab the back points as the Bearcat scrambled through Hall's early efforts for back points. Hall maintained control for the remainder of the period and led 2-0 with 2:15 in riding time after the opening stanza. Hall chose down to start the second period and quickly worked himself into control, going chest-to-chest on the reversal and finishing off the reversal-to-pin in just :14. Hall's fall came at the 3:14 mark.
184: Junior Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 1 at 184, tangled with No. 14 Steven Schneider of Binghamton in one of the dual's most anticipated match-ups. Nickal scored first, working body control into a takedown at the 1:09 mark (nearly turning Schneider in the process). The Bearcat was able to fight off back points and action resumed in the center circle after a reset. Schneider escaped briefly but Nickal slid down with just :05 left for a second takedown and a 4-1 lead as the clock expired. Nickal chose down to start the second period and quickly reversed the ranked Bearcat to open up a 6-1 lead. Nickal worked the top position, looking for an opening to turn Schneider for a pin. Nickal dominated the action and finished on top to lead 6-1 with 2:46 in riding time after two periods. Schneider chose down to start the third period and Nickal cut him loose. Nickal then quickly added three more takedowns to up his lead to 12-4 with :44 on the clock and a clinched riding time point. Nickal picked up his fourth takedown of the third period to up his lead to 15-4 and finished on top with 3:43 in time to post the 15-6 major. Binghamton lost a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct at the end of the bout as well.
197: Sophomore Anthony Cassar (Rocky Hill, N.J.) battled Binghamton junior Mark Tracy. Cassar came out fast, nothing an early takedown to open up a quick lead and then tacking on a second less than a minute into the bout to lead 4-2 early. Cassar was the aggressor for the rest of the opening period but Tracy was able to keep the match close. Trailing 4-2, Tracy chose down to start the second period and Cassar controlled the action from the top position, working his riding time up over 1:00 and nearly picking up back points with a quick turn. Tracy rolled through the turn and the bout continued with Cassar leading by two points at the 1:00 mark. Tracy escaped but Cassar roared through a high double to lead 6-3 with 2:28 in riding time after two periods. Cassar used a hard low double to open up a 9-4 lead after cutting Tracy loose at the :38 mark. Cassar nearly finished off the final takedown but Tracy was able to kill the clock. Cassar posted 2:27 in riding time and rolled to a 10-4 win.
285: Junior Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), ranked No. 3 at 285, took on Binghamton junior Connor Calkins. Nevills scored quickly, notching a takedown in front of the Penn State bench at the 2:33 mark to lead 2-0 early. Nevills worked the top position for two back points with 1:20 on the clock and then cut Calkins loose to a 4-1 score. Trailing 4-1, Calkins chose down to start the second period and Nevills went to work on top, looking for a turning combination. The Lion junior worked for arm control but Calkins was able to belly out and avoid the turn for over a minute. Nevills ended the period on top and led 4-1 with 3:23 in riding time after two periods. The Lion junior chose down to start the third period. He steadily worked his way to an escape and a 5-1 lead with riding time clinched. Nevills turned a low single into a takedown and cut with :28 left on the clock. The Lion added two late takedowns and, with 2:39 in time, posted the 12-3 major decision.
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