January 25, 2010

Wrestling Wreport: PSU splits the weekend duals

The Penn State Wrestling team took on #19 Illinois in Rec Hall Friday night and then traveled to Columbus to take on #3 Ohio State Sunday afternoon. Penn State split the weekend beating Illinois 24-11 and losing to OSU 21-14. Brad Pataky, Cyler Sanderson, and Cameron Wade were the only wrestlers to win both matches as Penn State could not pull off any ranked upsets despite some close matches.

#13 Penn State 24 - #19 Illinois 11125: #12 Brad Pataky PSU dec. John Deneen UI, 7-3

133: Bryan Pearsall PSU dec. Daryl Thomas UI, 13-12

141: Adam Lynch PSU pinned #11 Ryan Prater UI, WBF (3:56)

149: #5 Frank Molinaro PSU dec. #20 Eric Terrazas UI, 5-1

157: #5 Cyler Sanderson PSU dec. Conrad Polz UI, 9-4

165: #8 Dan Vallimont PSU dec. Joe Barczak UI, 10-3

174: #14 Jordan Blanton UI tech. fall Justin Ortega PSU, 22-7 (6:26)

184: #2 John Dergo UI dec. (sv) #12 David Erwin PSU, 6-4 (sv)

197: #10 Patrick Bond UI dec. Clay Steadman PSU, 9-5

285: #11 Cameron Wade PSU dec. Marty Smith UI, 8-1

The story of Friday night was Adam Lynch pinning #11 Ryan Prater of Illinois. Things were already going Penn State's way with Bryan Pearsall beating Daryl Thomas in a wild 13-12 bout that saw six takedowns and two reversals. Prater shot in on Lynch who countered the initial shot and then to the delight of the crowd turned the ranked wrestler to his back for the pin. The upset victory sent the crowd into a frenzy and all but sealed the dual with the meat of Penn State's lineup yet to wrestle. Let's just say it was the "Lynchpin" of the Illinois dual. Ha… see what I did there!?!.... Ok, nevermind.

David Erwin had an outstanding match against the 2nd ranked wrestler in the nation going into overtime before giving up the bout-ending takedown. Two matches that really demonstrate the Sanderson philosophy were the Erwin and Molinaro matches. Erwin was the aggressor in overtime taking the initial shot which Dergo countered. You always want your wrestlers taking the initiative and Erwin certainly did, no one likes to see a loss but I'd much rather see Penn State wrestlers going down swinging. Molinaro was clinging to a 3-1 lead late in the 3rd period but instead of stalling the period away he shot in and got a strong double leg takedown to end the match 5-1. It's the kind of offense-first philosophy that Sanderson preaches and some of the wrestlers are starting to get it.

#13 Penn State 14, #3 Ohio State 21125: #12 Brad Pataky PSU dec. #19 Nikko Triggas OSU, 9-7

133: Ian Paddock OSU maj. dec. Bryan Pearsall PSU, 13-2

141: #3 Reece Humphrey OSU tech. fall. Adam Lynch PSU, 22-7 (7:00)

149: #3 Lance Palmer OSU dec. #5 Frank Molinaro PSU, 5-3

157: #5 Cyler Sanderson PSU maj. dec. Tony Jameson OSU, 10-2

165: #7 Colt Sponseller OSU dec. #8 Dan Vallimont PSU, 4-2

174: #12 Dave Rella OSU dec. Justin Ortega PSU, 12-5

184: #12 David Erwin PSU maj. dec. T.C. Pendleton OSU, 15-2

197: C.J. Magrum OSU dec. David Crowell PSU, 10-6; 11-21

285: #11 Cameron Wade PSU dec. #20 Corey Morrison OSU, 10-4

For Penn State to beat Ohio State all of Penn State's ranked wrestlers would have to win and they would need a couple upsets. Unfortunately that didn't happen as Molinaro and Vallimont each lost to wrestlers ranked slightly higher than them. Penn State won four bouts with Pataky and Wade beating lower ranked wrestlers. Pearsall and Lynch could not follow up their outstanding efforts against Illinois as both wrestlers gave up bonus points. We finally got a chance to see Pitt transfer David Crowell in a dual meet but it didn't help much as he lost 10-6. The holes in Penn State's lineup were very evident against Ohio State and it doesn't get any easier as the Nittany Lions travel to Iowa to take on the #1 team in the country. Penn State will need some help if they are going to upset the Hawkeyes.

MVW(Most Valuable Wrester)

Although he gave up a tech fall against OSU, Adam Lynch is Linebacker-U's most valuable wrestler for the week. The pin of the 11th ranked wrestler gave Penn State momentum as the Lions won the first six bouts and never looked back.

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