Vallimont downs Galante in marquee match-up at 165
BETHLEHEM – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 15 in the initial NWCA Coaches Poll, dropped a hard-fought 23-14 dual meet at No. 17 Lehigh in the first dual meet for new head coach Cael Sanderson. Penn State won four of the ten bouts in the dual, including senior All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), who downed No. 12 Mike Galante at 165.
With a line-up featuring three wrestlers making their collegiate dual meet debuts, the Nittany Lions opened up an early lead, fell behind but fought back to take a lead at intermission. But the Mountainhawks, returning eight starters from a team that went 22-1 in duals last year, won the final four bouts to pull away for the victory.
Penn State got out to an early 4-0 lead as Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) used six takedowns to notch a 14-4 major at 125. But Lehigh followed with a major at 133 and a pin at 141 and three bouts in, Penn State found itself down 10-4. But two All-Americans helped propel Penn State to an 11-10 lead heading into intermission as Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) got a 12-3 major off five takedowns at 149 and senior Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah) made his Penn State debut with a 5-2 decision at 157.
Senior All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) got an impressive 5-2 decision over No. 12 Mike Galante of Lehigh to put Penn State up 14-10. But an upset victory at 174 pulled Lehigh even as red-shirt freshman Robert Hamlin downed Penn State senior David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) 17-8 to tie the bout at 14-14. Lehigh\’s fifth year senior, No. 12 David Craig, had all he could handle from Penn State freshman Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) in a 3-1 win at 184 that put the Mountainhawks up 17-14. Sophomore Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.) gave Lehigh\’s Joe Kennedy all he could handle as well, but Kennedy escaped with a 4-2 win that put Lehigh up 20-14. No. 6 Zach Rey then posted a hard-fought 5-2 win over No. 20 Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) to give Lehigh the 23-14 victory.
Penn State is now 0-1 on the year while Lehigh moves to 2-0. The Nittany Lions will open up their home schedule on Sunday with a dual on Sunday against Bloomsburg. Penn State will entertain the Huskies at 12 p.m. in Rec Hall. Penn State Wrestling season tickets for the 2009-10 season are on sale now. The five-event package (which does not include the Nittany Lion Open) costs $30 for adults ($6 per event) and $25 for youth ($5 per event). Single event tickets will cost $8 for adults and $6 for youth. Group sales are available once again for groups of 15 people or more. Group prices are $5 in advance and $6 walk-up. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 1.800.NITTANY between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. All Penn State events will once again air live on Forever Broadcasting\’s WRSC?(1390 AM) or 3WZ (95.3 FM) and on www.GoPSUsports.com as well. The 2009-10 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
#15 Penn State 14, #17 Lehigh 23
Bethlehem, Pa. – Stabler Arena – November 13, 2009
125: #8 Brad Pataky PSU maj. dec. John McDonald LU, 14-4 4-0
133: #12 Matt Fisk LU maj. dec. Tyler Saltsman PSU, 14-1 4-4
141: #18 Seth Ciauslli LU pinned Adam Lynch PSU, WBF (2:42) 4-10
149: #6 Frank Molinaro PSU maj. dec. Brian Tanen LU, 12-3 8-10
157: #5 Cyler Sanderson PSU dec. Sean Bilodeau LU, 5-2 11-10
165: #9 Dan Vallimont PSU dec. #12 Mike Galante LU, 5-2 14-10
174: Robert Hamlin LU maj. dec. David Erwin PSU, 17-8 14-14
184: #12 David Craig LU dec. Justin Ortega PSU, 3-1 14-17
197: Joe Kennedy LU dec. Clay Steadman PSU, 4-2 14-20
HWT: #6 Zach Rey LU dec. #20 Cameron Wade PSU, 5-2 14-23
Attendance: 5,254
Records: Penn State 0-1, Lehigh 2-0
Up Next for Penn State: Hosts Bloomsburg, Sunday, 12 p.m. – Rec Hall
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Nittany Lion junior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.), ranked No. 8 at 125, took on Lehigh\’s John McDonald at 125. Pataky quickly took McDonald down just :15 into the bout to open up an early 2-0 lead. He put together a solid ride, maintaining control of the Mountainhawk grappler for 1:26 before cutting him loose at the 1:28 mark. Pataky then gained control of McDonald\’s right leg and worked the LU grappler to the ground for a 4-1 lead at the :32 mark. He then rode McDonald out to lead 4-1 with 2:06 in riding time after the opening stanza. Pataky chose down to start the second period and quickly rolled his way out of control to up his lead to 5-1. Pataky then used a swift high double leg, driving McDonald to the mat to lead 7-1 with just under a minute left in the period. Pataky cut McDonald loose after a reset and immediately began pushing for another takedown. Another double leg gave the Nittany Lion junior a 9-2 lead as the period ended. McDonald chose down to start the third period. Pataky cut the Mountainhawk loose and immediately scored on another double leg, upping his lead to 11-4 after cutting McDonald loose again. With the riding time point secured, Pataky once again shot in on McDonald and turned a single leg shot into a low double and his sixth takedown. A ride out and riding time point gave Pataky a 14-4 major and put Penn State up 4-0 after one bout.
133: Penn State sent sophomore Tyler Saltsman (Concord, N.H.) to the mat to meet No. 12 Matt Fisk of Lehigh. Saltsman was making his collegiate dual meet debut. Saltsman fought off an early Fisk shot but then was taken down at the 1:30 mark as the ranked Mountainhawk scrambled his way to a 2-0 lead midway through the opening period. Fisk rode Saltsman for the remainder of the period to lead 2-0 with 1:30 in riding time after the opening period. Fisk chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Fisk gained control of Saltsman and looked to throw him to his back, but the Lion sophomore was able to roll out of trouble and work his way out of bounds to force a reset with no damage done. Fisk fought his way to another takedown and turned Saltsman to his back for three near fall points before a reset was called at the :35 mark. The quick five-point move put Fisk up 8-0, a lead he would carry into the third period. Saltsman chose neutral to start the third period, looking for a first takedown to cut into Fisk\’s lead. Saltsman took a quick shot but was countered by Fisk, who worked his way around the Nittany Lion for a third takedown and a 10-0 lead. Fisk worked his way into completing a cradle and turned Saltsman to his back, nearly pinning the Nittany Lion. But Saltsman was able to keep his shoulders off the mat and roll out of danger again. Fisk opened up a 13-0 lead with the move with :29 left to wrestle (he had a secured riding time point as well). Fisk cut Saltsman loose to a 13-1 lead, looking for one more takedown to notch a technical fall. But it was Saltsman who nearly notched the takedown as time expired. While the Lion did not get the takedown, the last :20 of good offense allowed him to keep the damage to a 14-1 major, tying the bout at 4-4.
141: Senior Adam Lynch (Mifflinburg, Pa.) took to the mat at 141 for the Nittany Lions, facing Lehigh\’s Seth Ciasulli, ranked No. 18. Lynch got in on a single leg early and spent the next minute working for an opening takedown. But Ciasulli was able to fight off the move and force a stalemate at the 1:47 mark. Ciasulli worked into a high single after the reset and steadily worked his way to a 2-0 lead with a takedown on the edge of the mat with 1:14 left in the opening period. Ciasulli then used the reset to work his way into control of Lynch\’s shoulders and after :30 of work, turned the Nittany Lion to his back for a pin at the 2:42 mark, giving LU a 10-4 lead.
149: All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 6 at 141, met Lehigh\’s Brian Tanen at 149. Tanen took the first solid shot of the bout, gaining control of Molinaro\’s thigh. But the Lion sophomore forced a reset and action returned to the center circle. Molinaro shot quickly off the reset, turning a fast high double into a takedown at the 1:24 mark to lead 2-0. The Nittany Lion sophomore put together a very strong ride, looking for an opening to turn Tanen to his back. While not turning Tanen, he managed to ride the LU grappler out. Down 2-0, Tanen chose down to start the middle period and was cut loose by Molinaro to a 2-1 score. Molinaro shot quick again off the reset, gaining control of Tannen\’s right leg and pulling the Mountainhawk down to the mat for another takedown and a 4-1 lead. Molinaro cut Tanen loose after a reset and began looking for another takedown. Leading 4-2 with :45 left in the middle period, Molinaro continued to force the offense. Grabbing Tanen at the waste and lifting him off the ground, Molinaro drove the Mountainhawk into the mat for a 6-2 lead after two periods. Molinaro chose down to start the third period. The Lion All-American steadily worked his way out to a 7-2 lead at the 1:36 mark and immediately turned into Tanen, looking for more offense. Molinaro used a quick underhook for his fourth takedown and, after cutting Tanen loose, led 9-3 with 1:02 left (and a clinched riding time point). Needing one more takedown for a major, Molinaro continued to pressure the Tanen and got that fifth takedown with :30 left. Molinaro then rode Tanen out and, with the bonus point, notched an impressive 12-3 major decision to cut into the LU lead, 10-8.
157: All-American Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah), ranked No. 5 at 157, made his Penn State dual meet debut against Sean Bilodeau. Sanderson was the aggressor early on, forcing Bilodeau to the edge of the mat for the first part of the period. He then used a quick low double to notch his first Nittany Lion takedown and lead 2-0 at the 1:29 mark. Bilodeau quickly escaped to cut the lead to 2-1, but Sanderson continued to pressure the Mountainhawk, making the Lehigh wrestler play defense while looking for a chance to score. Bilodeau managed to keep Sanderson at bay for the remainder of the period. Leading 2-1, Sanderson chose down to start the second period and steadily worked his way out of Bilodeau\’s grasp to lead 3-1. Sanderson forced Bilodeau into a stall warning as the period ended. Bilodeau, trailing 3-1, chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 3-2 deficit. The Lion senior continued to do the shooting while Bilodeau continued to back up towards the edge of the mat. Sanderson\’s offensive pressure finally paid off as the Lion worked his way to a takedown at the :03 mark that cinched the 5-2 decision and put Penn State up 11-10 heading into halftime.
165: All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), ranked No. 9 at 165, met No. 12 Mike Galente of Lehigh in a match-up of ranked grapplers. Vallimont shot low early, using a high outside single to work his way into control of Galante\’s ankle. But the Mountainhawk forced a stalemate at the 2:10 mark with the bout scoreless. Vallimont scrambled through a Galante shot, countering the Hawk to take a 2-0 lead with 1:20 left in the period. Galante quickly escaped and action returned to the center circle with 1:00 left in the opening period. Leading 2-1, Vallimont chose down to begin the second period. After :30 of work, Vallimont escaped to a 3-1 lead. Vallimont got in on a solid high single at the :25 mark and used his strength to get the takedown with just :02 left to lead 5-1 heading into the third period. Galante chose down to begin the final stanza and worked out to a 5-2 deficit with the escape. Vallimont did not let up, pressuring Galante towards the edge of the mat and not allowing the Mountainhawk to mount any kind of comeback. The Nittany Lion All-American walked away with a very strong 5-2 win, putting Penn State up 14-10.
174: Senior David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) stepped up for Penn State at 174 to face Mountainhawk Robert Hamlin. Erwin gained control of Hamlin\’s ankle and got a takedown on the edge of the mat at the 2:15 mark to take a 2-1 lead after a Hamlin escape. Erwin quickly shot on the Mountainhawk and nearly got the takedown, but Hamlin countered and got the takedown himself to briefly lead 3-2. But Erwin wasted no time in reversing Hamlin to take a 4-3 lead. Hamlin then escaped and took Erwin down in a flurry on the edge of the mat to lead 6-4. The Lehigh freshman then added three near fall points to take a commanding 9-5 lead after Erwin escaped with just :04 left. Trailing by four, Erwin chose down to start the middle period but could not work free of Hamlin until the 1:00 mark. Escaping to a 9-6 deficit, Erwin turned into the Mountainhawk and began looking for his own offense. Erwin shot low on Hamlin as the period ended, but the Hawk grappler stepped over Erwin and got another takedown as the period ended to open up an 11-6 lead heading into the third period. Hamlin chose down to start the third period, escaped and quickly took Erwin down again to up his lead to 14-6. Erwin was cut loose to a 14-7 deficit. Erwin had three straight scoring chances slip out of his grasp as Hamlin continued to counter ever shot. On the third, Hamlin got his fifth takedown and took a 16-8 lead after Erwin escaped. The bonus point made the final score 17-8 and the major decision tied the bout at 14-14.
184: Penn State moved freshman Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) up to 184 to meet Lehigh\’s David Craig, ranked No. 12 in the country. Craig got the bout\’s first takedown with a nice move, faking low and working his way to the side off Ortega for an early 2-0 lead. Craig rode Ortega out to lead 2-0 with 1:00 in riding time heading into the middle period. Kennedy chose down to begin the period and escaped just :30 in to lead 3-0. Ortega did not back down from Kennedy, continuing to look for openings to score and keeping action in the middle of the mat. Still, a scoreless second period allowed the ranked Mountainhawk to lead 3-0 with two minutes to wrestle. Ortega chose down to start the second stanza and escaped at the 1:31 mark to trail 3-1. Ortega nearly tied the bout, countering a Craig shot with 1:00 to go. But Craig was able to back out of the circle to keep his lead and action resumed in the center circle with 1:00 left. Ortega\’s offense forced Craig into a stall warning with :20 left. The Nittany Lion worked hard over the final seconds but could not break through Craig\’s defense. The 3-1 win put Lehigh up 17-14.
197: Sophomore Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.) took on Lehigh\’s Joe Kennedy at 197. Kennedy gained control of Steadman\’s right ankle at the 1:30 mark and spent :45 trying to take the Lion sophomore down. But Steadman held fast and worked his way free to keep the bout scoreless with :20 left in the opening period. Scoreless after one period, Kennedy chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Steadman battled the talented Hawk even for much of the second period but was hit for a first stall warning in the process. Steadman shot quickly off a reset, but Kennedy was able to counter the move, step to the side of the Lion and notched the bout\’s first takedown with :10 left to lead 3-0. But Steadman was able to escape as the period ended and trailed only 3-1 heading into the final period. Steadman chose down to start the final period. Steadman looked to escape but could not break out of Kennedy\’s control until the 1:00 mark. Steadman trailed 3-2 but Kennedy had 1:09 in riding time. Steadman furiously looked for an opening and with a reset at the :20 mark, got in deep on Kennedy\’s right ankle. But the Nittany Lion could not finish off the move as time expired. The bonus point gave Kennedy a 4-2 win and put Lehigh up 20-1. Steadman looked to escape but could not break out of Kennedy\’s control until the 1:00 mark. Steadman trailed 3-2 but Kennedy had 1:09 in riding time. Steadman furiously looked for an opening and with a reset at the :20 mark, got in deep on Kennedy\’s right ankle. But the Nittany Lion could not finish off the move as time expired. The bonus point gave Kennedy a 4-2 win and put Lehigh up 20-14.
HWT: Nittany Lion sophomore Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Pa.), ranked No. 20 at HWT, met No. 6 Zach Rey of Lehigh in another battle or ranked foes. The two ranked big men battled evenly for the first three minutes with neither wrestler finding a true chance to score. Tied 0-0, Rey chose down to start the second period and quickly reversed the Nittany Lion sophomore to take a 2-0 lead. Wade steadily worked his way to an escape at the :53 mark to cut the lead to 2-1 and turned into the sixth-ranked wrestler, looking for his own chance to score. But Rey was able to fight off Wade and hold the 2-1 lead (with :44 in riding time) after two periods. Wade chose down to start the third period and gets his escape at the 1:40 mark, tying the bout at 2-2. But Rey owned a 1:06 time advantage. Wade worked hard to break through Rey\’s defense, but the Mountainhawk was able to keep way at arm\’s length long enough to counter a final Wade shot and post a 5-2 win. The victory gave the Hawks a 23-14 dual meet win.