PSU's Zain Retherford celebrates after pinning Iowa's Brandon Sorensen (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)ST. LOUIS -- Penn State had the luck of the Irish on St. Patrick's Day, as the Nittany Lions built an impressive lead in the team title race and advanced all five semifinalists into the finals on Day 2 of the 2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Scottrade Center in St. Louis on Friday.
The five Nittany Lions who will be wrestling for individual titles on Saturday night: Zain Retherford at 149 pounds, Jason Nolf at 157, Vincenzo Joseph at 165, Mark Hall at 174, and Bo Nickal at 184.
By any measure, Penn State had an incredible second day at the NCAAs. In addition to going 5-0 in the semifinals, the team from Happy Valley was 7-2 on Friday, and 29-5 over the past two days to help put the Lions in first place in the team standings, with 121 points.
Helping to propel the Lions into first place in the team title race: PSU wrestlers racked up 28 bonus points with four major decisions, eight technical falls, and six pins ... all despite having Nick Suriano scratched from the competition at 125 pounds because of injury.
"We're going to come in here and do the best we can, regardless," said Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson at the conclusion of Friday night's action. "Yeah, we know we have to wrestle great to win. We talked about that before. Every team is in the same boat. But I don't know if there's doubt. We believe in our kids, and we see the potential. We see the positives, and we've got to go with that."
Ohio State's Bo Jordan won in dramatic fashion over Cornell's Brian Realbuto (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Ohio State, 2017 Big Ten champs and 2015 NCAA team title winner, is in second place with 89.5 points. Two Buckeyes made it into the finals: Bo Jordan at 174, and defending heavyweight champ -- and 2016 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle -- Kyle Snyder.
Oklahoma State, 2017 Big 12 champs, find themselves in third in the team point race, with 86 points. The Cowboys have Dean Heil in the 141 finals.
MIssouri's Joey Lavallee celebrates after winning in the semifinals (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)Missouri, 2017 Mid-American Conference titlewinners, is in fourth place as of Friday night, with three Tigers vying for individual titles: Lavion Mayes at 149, Joey LaVallee at 157, and at 197, defending champ and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist J'den Cox.
Seth Gross hugs his coach Chris Bono after winning in the semifinals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)The 2017 NCAA finals may be one of redemption for two individual wrestlers, and an entire program. In the 133-pound title match, Seth Gross -- the first South Dakota State wrestler to earn NCAA Division I All-American honors and make it to the finals -- once wrestled at University of Iowa until being arrested after being accused of theft and fleeing police two years ago.
"I made some mistakes when I was at Iowa," said Gross. "I screwed up. I made some bad choices. I was lucky enough Coach Bono took me on and brought me right in like family and really just helped me get things back together."
Now he will meet a wrestler from his former school, Iowa's Cory Clark, who will be making his third appearance in the NCAA finals.
Minnesota's Ethan Lizak gets his hand raised after winning in the semifinals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)And, at 125, Ethan Lizak was one of the University of Minnesota wrestlers suspended from the program in the Xanax scandal which led to the firing of long-time head coach J Robinson in September 2016. However, with associate head coach Brandon Eggum promoted to the helm, the Gophers overcame the turmoil, placing two wrestlers in the finals (in addition to Lizak, Brett Pfarr at 197).
"It was really sad what happened this past year," said Lizak. "I knew I had to make up for it big time."
Oklahoma State's Dean Heil topped Anthony Ashnault of Rutgers (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)Of the ten wrestlers who started Saturday with perfect records, seven enter the finals with those flawless seasons still intact: Oklahoma State's Dean Heil (141), Penn State's Zain Retherford (149) and Jason Nolf (157), Illinois' Isaiah Martinez (165), Cornell's Gabe Dean (184), Missouri's J'den Cox (197) and Ohio State's Kyle Snyder (285). All but Nolf are defending NCAA champs.
Attendance for Friday morning's Session 3 was 18,186 ... while Friday night's Session 4 had 18,314 fans in the stands at Scottrade Center.
Team Standings (Top 25):
1. Penn State 121.0
2. Ohio State 89.5
3. Oklahoma State 86.0
4. Missouri 81.5
5. Iowa 74.0
6. Minnesota 60.0
7. Cornell 57.5
8. Virginia Tech 53.5
9. Nebraska 50.0
10. Illinois 41.5
11. Lehigh 36.0
11. Wisconsin 36.0
13. Michigan 33.0
14. Arizona State 30.0
15. Virginia 29.5
16. South Dakota State 28.5
17. Northern Iowa 23.5
18. Rutgers 21.5
19. Central Michigan 19.5
19. Edinboro 19.5
19. NC State 19.5
22. Rider 18.0
23. Wyoming 16.5
24. Princeton 14.5
25. Appalachian State 13.5
25. Old Dominion 13.5
Finals Matchups:
125: No. 4 Darian Cruz (Lehigh) vs. No. 6 Ethan Lizak (Minnesota)
133: No. 2 Seth Gross (South Dakota State) vs. No. 4 Cory Clark (Iowa)
141: No. 1 Dean Heil (Oklahoma State) vs. No. 6 George DiCamillo (Virginia)
149: No. 1 Zain Retherford (Penn State) vs. No. 3 Lavion Mayes (Missouri)
157: No. 1 Jason Nolf (Penn State) vs. No. 3 Joey Lavallee (Missouri)
165: No. 1 Isaiah Martinez (Illinois) vs. No. 3 Vincenzo Joseph (Penn State)
174: No. 3 Bo Jordan (Ohio State) vs. No. 5 Mark Hall (Penn State)
184: No. 1 Gabe Dean (Cornell) vs. No. 2 Bo Nickal (Penn State)
197: No. 1 J'den Cox (Missouri) vs. No. 2 Brett Pfarr (Minnesota)
285: No. 1 Kyle Snyder (Ohio State) vs. No. 2 Connor Medbery (Wisconsin)
Here's a weight-by-weight recap of semifinals action.
125
No. 4 Darian Cruz (Lehigh) dec. No. 1 Thomas Gilman (Iowa), 4-2 SV
No. 4 Darian Cruz (Lehigh) stunned No. 1 Thomas Gilman (Iowa) 4-2 in sudden victory in the semifinals. The match was scoreless after the first period. Gilman rode out Cruz the entire second period, and accumulated two minutes of riding time. With the score 0-0 and Gilman holding the advantage on riding time, Cruz scored a takedown in the final five seconds, but an immediate escape by Gilman made the score 2-2 and sent the match to sudden victory. In the sudden victory period, Cruz was able to score the winning takedown on the edge of the mat and stun the No. 1-seeded Gilman.
No. 6 Ethan Lizak (Minnesota) dec. No. 10 Jack Mueller (Virginia), 7-0
No. 6 Ethan Lizak (Minnesota) became the first NCAA finalist this year. In a rematch of the Southern Scuffle finals,the Gopher sophomore shut out true freshman Jack Mueller (Virginia) 7-0 in the semifinals at 125 pounds. Lizak scored a takedown and was given choice after Mueller took an injury timeout. Lizak then picked up a reversal to take a 4-0 lead. He added another takedown in the second period. Lizak chose the top position in the third period and rode out Mueller the entire period. He took the match 7-0 with the additional riding time point.
133
No. 4 Cory Clark (Iowa) dec. No. 1 Nathan Tomasello (Ohio State), 7-4
No. 4 Cory Clark (Iowa) advanced to his third straight NCAA finals by topping No. 1 Nathan Tomasello (Ohio State) 7-4. The Buckeye struck first, scoring a takedown. Clark would get an escape and the first period ended 2-1 in favor of Tomasello. Tomasello picked up an escape in the second period and extended his lead to 3-1. Clark would battle back in the third period, picking up an escape and then takedown with just over a minute left to take a 4-3 lead. Tomasello would escape to make it 4-4. With just under 20 seconds left Tomasello scored a takedown to go up 6-4. He rode out for the victory, and added an additional point for riding time.
No. 2 Seth Gross (South Dakota State) dec. No. 3 Kaid Brock (Oklahoma State), 12-3
No. 2 Seth Gross (South Dakota State), who earlier became South Dakota State's first NCAA Division I All-American, became the program's first finalist. He earned a 12-3 major decision over Kaid Brock (Oklahoma State). He raced out to a 6-0 lead in the first period after a takedown and four nearfall points. He picked up two points off stalling calls in the second period to take an 8-0 lead. Brock would get on the scoreboard in the third period with an escape and takedown, but Gross would respond with an escape and takedown of his own to secure the major decision. It was Gross' third victory over Brock this season.
141
No. 1 Dean Heil (Oklahoma State) dec. No. 5 Anthony Ashnault (Rutgers), 4-2
No. 1 Dean Heil (Oklahoma State) is returning to the NCAA finals after defeating No. 5 Anthony Ashnault (Rutgers) 4-2 in the semifinals. Heil scored a takedown in the first period and led 2-0 heading into the second period. He added a point off an escape in the second period to go up 3-0. In the third period Ashnault cut the deficit to 3-2 with a takedown. A Heil escape made it 4-2. The Cowboy would then fend off Ashnault's attacks and hold on for the two-point victory.
No. 6 George DiCamillo (Virginia) dec. No. 10 Bryce Meredith (Wyoming), 10-7
No. 6 George DiCamillo (Virginia) punched his ticket to the finals by beating No. 10 Bryce Meredith (Wyoming) 10-7 in an action-filled match. The two wrestlers traded points in the period, and Meredith led 5-4. Meredith picked up an escape in the second period, but DiCamillo scored a takedown to knot the match at 6-6 after two periods. In the third period, DiCamillo earned an escape and takedown to take a 9-6 lead. Meredith would escape to cut the deficit to 9-7. But DiCamillo held on and added an additional point for riding time.
149
No. 1 Zain Retherford (Penn State) pinned No. 5 Brandon Sorensen (Iowa), 2:36
Returning NCAA champion Zain Retherford (Penn State) advanced to his second straight NCAA finals at 149 pounds with a first-period pin over No. 5 Brandon Sorensen (Iowa). Retherford scored a takedown just under two minutes into the match, and then drove Sorensen to his back and picked up the pin at 2:36. It was a rematch of last year's NCAA finals match.
No. 3 Lavion Mayes (Missouri) dec. No. 7 Max Thomsen (Northern Iowa), 4-2
No. 3 Lavion Mayes (Missouri) scored a takedown in the final five seconds to edge MAC rival No. 7 Max Thomsen (Northern Iowa) 4-2. The match was scoreless after the first period. Mayes escaped in the second period to take a 1-0 lead. Thomsen grabbed a short-lived lead in the third period after a reversal with just over a minute remaining. Mayes quickly escaped, making the score 2-2. With just under 10 seconds left, Mayes shot in and converted the takedown in the final five seconds for a dramatic victory.
157
No. 1 Jason Nolf (Penn State) maj. dec. No. 4 Tyler Berger (Nebraska), 13-5
No. 1 Jason Nolf (Penn State) is back in the finals at 157 pounds after picking up a 13-5 major decision over No. 4 Tyler Berger (Nebraska). The Nittany Lion junior scored a first-period takedown to go up 2-0 after one. He broke open the match in the second period with two takedowns and led 7-1 heading into the final period. Berger would get a takedown in the third period, but Nolf kept the pressure and continued scoring on his way to the major decision.
No. 3 Joey Lavallee (Missour) dec. No. 7 Dylan Palacio (Cornell), 8-5
No. 3 Joey Lavallee (Missouri) reached the finals by defeating No. 7 Dylan Palacio (Cornell) in dramatic fashion. Lavallee struck first with a takedown. Palacio would grab the 3-2 lead after an escape and takedown off a scramble. Palacio escaped in the second period to take a 4-2 lead. Lavallee battled back in the third period with a takedown, which knotted the score at 4-4. Palacio escaped to go up by one. Then in the final 30 seconds Lavalle scored the go-ahead takedown and picked up two nearfall points to take the victory.
165
No. 1 Isaiah Martinez (Illinois) dec. No. 4 Isaac Jordan (Wisconsin), 2-1
No. 1 Isaiah Martinez (Illinois) made his third NCAA finals appearance in as many seasons. He edged No. 4 Isaac Jordan (Wisconsin) 2-1 in the semifinals, with the difference being a riding time point. The match was scoreless after the opening period. Martinez escaped in the second period to take a 1-0 lead. Jordan chose the bottom position in the third period, and Martinez was able to ride Jordan for much of the period and secure a riding time point. Jordan escaped with 25 seconds left, but was unable to take down Martinez.
No. 3 Vincenzo Joseph (Penn State) dec. No. 2 Logan Massa (Michigan), 5-4
No. 3 Vincenzo Joseph (Penn State) gave Penn State its third straight NCAA finalist. He edged No. 2 Logan Massa (Michigan) 5-4 in a battle of freshmen. After a scoreless first period, Massa escaped in the second before Joseph picked up the match's first takedown to grab a 2-1 lead. Massa escaped to knot the match at 2-2, which how the second period would end. Joseph escaped in the third period to take a 3-2 lead. Joseph was hit for stalling before scoring another takedown to take a 5-3 lead. Massa would get a late escape, but Joseph held on for the one-point victory.
174
No. 5 Mark Hall (Penn State) dec. No. 1 Zahid Valencia (Arizona State), 4-3
No. 5 Mark Hall (Penn State) won a close, hard-fought battle, 4-3, over No. 1 Zahid Valencia (Arizona State) in the semifinals, giving Penn State its fourth straight NCAA finalist. The match was scoreless after one. Hall escaped in the second period to go up 1-0. Valencia knotted the score at 1-1 after an escape in the third period. With 30 seconds left, it appeared Valencia had the go-ahead takedown, but Penn State challenged that there was a technical violation for pulling on the headgear. The call was confirmed and Valencia's takedown was waved off. Hall led 2-1 and then scored a takedown with 30 seconds left to go up 4-1. Valencia escaped and picked up a point off stalling a short time later, but Hall hung on for the 4-3 victory.
No. 3 Bo Jordan (Ohio State) dec. No. 2 Brian Realbuto (Cornell), 11-7
No. 3 Bo Jordan (Ohio State) came from behind to defeat No. 2 Brian Realbuto (Cornell) 11-7 in a wild, action-filled match. Realbuto appeared to be cruising to a victory after building a 7-2 lead. But Jordan battled back, making the score 7-5. With 40 seconds left, Jordan used a counter to score a takedown and pick up four nearfall points to go up 11-7, which is how the match would end.
184
No. 1 Gabe Dean (Cornell) dec. No. 4 Nolan Boyd (Oklahoma State), 9-3
Top-ranked Gabe Dean (Cornell) advanced to the NCAA finals for his third straight year. He rolled to a 9-3 victory over No. 4 Nolan Boyd (Oklahoma State) in the semifinals. He used to takedowns in the first period to go up 4-1 after the first period. He used a reversal in the second period to extend his lead. The Big Red senior added a takedown in the final 30 seconds of the match, and added an additional point for riding time.
No. 2 Bo Nickal (Penn State) pinned No. 3 Sammy Brooks (Iowa), 1:01
Bo Nickal (Penn State) made it five-for-five for the defending NCAA champion Nittany Lions in the semifinals. He used a thrown to pin No. 3 Sammy Brooks (Iowa) in just over a minute.
197
No. 1 J'den Cox (Missouri) dec. No. 4 Jared Haught (Virginia Tech), 6-2
J'den Cox (Missouri), an Olympic bronze medalist and two-time NCAA champion, was never in danger in picking up a 6-2 win over No. 4 Jared Haught (Virginia Tech) to advance to the finals. Cox scored takedowns in the first and third periods. Haught's lone score came from a reversal in the closing seconds.
No. 2 Brett Pfarr (Minnesota) dec. No. 3 Kollin Moore (Ohio State), 13-9
No. 2 Brett Pfarr (Minnesota) defeated No. 3 Kollin Moore (Ohio State) for the third time in four matches this season to advance to the NCAA finals. Moore, though, had won the previous meeting, 15-11, two weeks ago in the Big Ten finals. The wrestlers traded escapes and takedowns in the first period. Moore grabbed the lead in the second period after a reversal. Pfarr escaped and picked up a takedown to go up 6-5. Moore would get an escape, and the second period ended 6-6. The two wrestlers went back-and-forth in the final period, trading escapes and takedowns. Pfarr led 10-9 late and put the match away with a takedown in the final 20 seconds. He would add an additional point for riding time to win by four.
285
No. 1 Kyle Snyder (Ohio State) maj. dec. No. 4 Jacob Kasper (Duke), 19-6
Olympic champion Kyle Snyder (Ohio State) was dominant in picking up a 19-6 major decision over No. 4 Jacob Kasper (Duke). Snyder scored two takedowns in the first period. He kept the pressure on in the second period, building an 8-4 lead before getting a fifth takedown with two nearfall points to go up 14-4 after two periods. He would add two more takedowns in the final period to win by 13.
No. 2 Connor Medbery (Wisconsin) dec. No. 3 Ty Walz (Virginia Tech), 4-3
No. 2 Connor Medbery (Wisconsin) held on for a 4-3 victory over No. 3 Ty Walz (Virginia Tech) in the semifinals at 285 pounds. After a scoreless first period, Walz escaped in the second period before Medbery picked up the first takedown of the match with 20 seconds left in the period to go up 2-1. Medbery escaped in the third period to go up 3-1. Walz, though, stayed aggressive, and picked up a takedown with 1:15 left to tie the match at 3-3. Medbery would get an escape to go up 4-3, which would be the difference in the match.
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