All-American Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 157, then notched a hard-fought 4-3 win over No. 19 Josh Demas to cut into the Buckeye lead. Defending National Champion Taylor, ranked No. 2 at 165, then nearly erased the lead with a pin of Mark Martin with just :05 left in the opening period. The fall (2:55) cut Ohio State's lead to 15-13. Ohio State picked up another upset win at 174 with No. 7 Nick Heflin using a last second takedown to grab a 3-2 win over No. 5 Matt Brown.
Defending National Champion Ruth, ranked No. 1 at 184, then gave Penn State the lead with a quick cradle. Ruth got the pin early in the first period, getting the fall at the 1:51 mark and putting Penn State up 19-18. Three-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 3 at 197, then majored OSU's Kenny Courts 9-1. The win put the Lions up 23-18. Sophomore Jimmy Lawson (Tom's River, N.J.) then put the capper on the dual with a strong showing against No. 12 Peter Capone at 285. Lawson used a takedown, two back points and reversal after choice to roll up a 6-0 lead before Capone took an injury forfeit. The six-point victory gave Penn State the 29-18 win.
The Nittany Lions won the takedown battle 10-4 but dominated the bonus point war, picking up 11 while winning six of ten bouts. Penn State had two pins, two majors and the forfeit win at 285 (with Lawson already leading 6-0 at the time). Taylor and Ruth each recorded their 32nd career pins, moving them into a tie for fifth all-time at Penn State. Wright currently sits in second with 35. Ruth and Wright remain unbeaten on the season, with Ruth checking in at 23-0 and Wright at 22-0. Taylor is 21-1. Penn State moves to 11-1 on the year, 7-1 in this, its final Big Ten dual. The Buckeye home loss sends OSU to 11-3, 5-3 in Big Ten duals.
Penn State will close out the home portion of its schedule on Sunday, Feb. 17, when Rider visits Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. meeting. The dual is sold out but a limited number of SRO tickets may be available. For availability, fans can call 1-800-NITTANY or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office windows from 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstateWREST and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2012-13 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Results:
125: #2 Nico Megaludis PSU maj. dec. #12 Nikko Triggas OSU, 9-1 4-0
133: #1 Logan Stieber OSU pinned Jordan Conaway PSU, WBF (1:59) 4-6
141: #2 Hunter Stieber OSU pinned Derek Reber PSU, WBF (1:25) 4-12
149: #19 Cam Tessari OSU dec. #7 Andrew Alton PSU, 3-1 4-15
157: #5 Dylan Alton PSU dec. #19 Josh Demas OSU, 4-3 7-15
165: #2 David Taylor PSU pinned Mark Martin OSU, WBF (2:55) 13-15
174: #7 Nick Heflin OSU dec. #5 Matt Brown PSU, 3-2 13-18
184: #1 Ed Ruth PSU pinned C.J. Magrum OSU, WBF (1:51) 19-18
197: #3 Quentin Wright PSU maj. dec. #16 Kenny Courts OSU, 9-1 23-18
285: Jimmy Lawson PSU inj. frf #12 Peter Capone OSU, Lawson up 6-0 at time 29-18
Attendance: 6,061
Records: Penn State 11-1, 7-1 Big Ten; Ohio State 11-3, 5-3 Big Ten
Up Next for Penn State: Home vs. Rider, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2 p.m. - Rec Hall
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: In one of many bouts pitting ranked wrestlers against each other, Nittany Lion Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) faced off against Ohio State's Nikko Triggas. Megaludis entered the dual ranked No. 2 while Triggas was No. 12. Triggas tried an early throw that Megaludis quickly rolled through for a takedown of his own and a 2-1 lead after a quick Triggas escape. The duo then battled through an even minute with Megaludis holding on to the one point lead through the 1:00 mark. With no more scoring, Megaludis led by one after the opening stanza and chose down to start the second. A quick escape gave the Lion a 3-1 lead at the 1:35 mark and action continued in the center circle with Megaludis fighting off a quick Triggas shot. Megaludis looked to get in on a single leg with :10 left on the clock but could not finish off the move and led by two after two periods. Triggas chose top to start the third period and Megaludis quickly escaped. He was then able to gain control of Triggas' ankle and work his way to a takedown and a 5-1 lead. The sophomore then turned the senior for two near fall points and with a ride out and a bonus point, rolled to a 9-1 major decision.
133: Red-shirt freshman Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) took to the mat against the nation's top-ranked 133-pounder, Ohio State's Logan Stieber. Stieber got the first takedown early, gaining control of Conaway's leg and rolling to a 2-0 lead under a minute into the bout. The top-ranked Buckeye then put together a strong ride, turning Conaway for three near fall points and a 5-0 lead at the 1:03 mark. He was able to readjust and work Conaway's shoulders to the mat for a first period pin at the 1:59 mark.
141: Senior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) was held out of action once again, giving senior Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) a shot at No. 2 Hunter Stieber at 141. Stieber scored quickly, taking Reber down for an early 2-0 lead. The second-ranked Buckeye then put together a strong ride and was able to turn Reber to his back for a quick pin, getting the fall at the 1:25 mark.
149: Sophomore Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 7 at 149, met No. 19 Cam Tessari for Ohio State. Alton came out quick, looking for an early throw and nearly getting it. But Tessari was able to roll out of trouble and force a scramble that ended in a stalemate at the 1:50 mark. Alton and Tessari then battle through and even two minutes and the bout moved to the second tied 0-0. Tessari chose down to start the second period and quickly worked his way to a reversal and a 2-0 lead at the 1:32 mark. Tessari controlled the action from the top position, building up a 1:13 riding time edge with a ride out. Trailing 2-0, Alton chose down to start the third period but could not break free of Tessari's ride once again. Tessari clinched the riding time point and maintained control until an Alton escape at the3 :25 mark. Alton scrambled for a takedown but Tessari was able to work the clock down to zeros and, with the riding time point, post the 3-1 win.
157: Sophomore Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 157, tangled with Buckeye Josh Demas, ranked No. 19. The tandem battled through scoreless action deep into the first period with Alton connecting on a high double at the :40 mark and rolling to a takedown and a 2-0 lead. Alton maintained control for the rest of the period and, with a ride-out, carried a 2-0 lead into the second. Alton chose down to start the second and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Alton kept up the offensive pressure, setting the tempo in the middle of the mat with quick low single leg shots. The Lion sophomore fought off a late Demas flurry and held the 3-0 lead after two periods. Demas chose down to start the third and quickly escaped to a 3-1 deficit. He then stepped back from an Alton shot and notched his own takedown. Alton quickly escaped to a 4-3 lead with 1:30 on the clock. Alton got called for a first stall warning at the :45 mark. He dove in at Demas' feet after a reset and was nearly countered for a takedown. Alton then fought off a late Demas shot, with time running out and Alton escaping with a 4-3 win. The victory cut Ohio State's lead to 15-7.
165: Junior David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 2 nationally at 165, met freshman Mark Martin. Martin scored early, taking Taylor down for a 2-0 lead at the 2:11 mark. Taylor then worked his way to an escape and action resumed in the center of the mat. Taylor took the lead with a low single and then cut Martin loose to a 3-3 tie. Taylor rolled through a single leg for a takedown. The two-time All-American then turned Martin to his back, spending the final :20 of the period working for a fall and getting the pin with just :05 left on the clock. The fall at the 2:55 mark cut the Buckeye lead to 15-13.
174: Sophomore Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 5 at 174, took on No. 7 Nick Heflin of Ohio State in one of the dual's most anticipated match-ups. The highly ranked duo battled evenly for two-plus minutes, with each wrestler looking for control up high. Neither wrestler was able to score and the bout moved to the second stanza tied 0-0. Brown chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Brown looked to score on a high double at the 1:00 mark but Heflin was able to step out of bounds. Brown's pressure forced Heflin into a first stall warning. Trailing by one, Heflin chose down to start the third period. Heflin escaped and Brown immediately turned into the Buckeye, forcing him backwards towards the edge of the mat. Brown continued to try and connect on high singles with Heflin's defense holding firm. Brown continued to scramble for a score but Heflin was able to counter a shot with just :05 on the clock and get a takedown to steal the win. The 3-2 victory put Ohio State up 18-13.
184: Junior Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 1 in the country at 184, faced off against C.J. Magrum. Ruth quickly took the Buckeye down and began looking for way to complete a cradle. With Magrum working to his base, Ruth worked into a cradle and ended the bout early, sending Magrum's shoulders flat at the 1:51 mark and giving the Nittany Lions a slim 19-18 lead.
197: Senior Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 3 at 197, met Kenny Courts for Ohio State. Courts was ranked No. 16 at 184. Wright looked to scramble to another first period pin, nearly turning Courts to his back at the 1:33 mark. But a stalemate was called and action resumed with the bout scoreless. Wright's steady offense led to a go-ahead takedown with :25 on the clock and, with the ride out, the Lion senior led 2-0 after one period. Wright chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Wright countered a solid Courts shot, rolling underneath the Buckeye and gaining control for a takedown and a 5-0 lead with 1:20 on the clock. Wright then put together a strong ride and led 5-0 with over 1:00 in time after two. Courts took top to start the final stanza and Wright quickly escaped to a 6-0 lead. Wright rolled around a slight Courts shot, moving quickly behind the Buckeye for another takedown and an 8-0 lead with :45 on the clock. Courts escaped to an 8-1 score with :25 left but Wright had clinched the riding time point. The bonus point gave Wright an impressive 9-1 major and Penn State a 23-18 lead.
285: Sophomore Jimmy Lawson (Tom's River, N.J.) took to the mat for Penn State against No. 12 Peter Capone at 285. The duo battled evenly in the center of the mat for the entire period with neither wrestler finding an opening to score until the :30 mark. Lawson then countered a Capone shot and rolled through a takedown and two near fall points before Capone called for an injury timeout with :20 on the clock. Lawson then chose down after the injury time and quickly reversed the ranked Buckeye with :10 on the clock. With Lawson leading 6-0, Capone could not continue and the injury forfeit gave the Lions a 29-18 win.
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