Pataky and Wade post convincing wins as Lions rout Scots
BINGHAMTON, N.Y – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 19 in the NWCA Coaches Poll, hammered No. 15 Edinboro 22-9 in its final dual of the morning at the 2009 Sprawl and Brawl Duals in Binghamton, N.Y. Penn State won seven of ten bouts for the win, going 3-0 at the Duals.
Junior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.), ranked No. 6 at 125, opened up the dual with a solid 4-0 win over No. 8 Eric Morrill to give Penn State an early lead. Sophomore Tyler Saltsman (Concord, N.H.) followed with a 7-3 decision at 133 before Edinboro got a win at 141. All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) posted a convincing 8-4 win over EU\’s Torsten Gillespie to put Penn State up 9-3 and then All-American Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah) got a 16-5 major over Edinboro freshman Matt Laird at 157 to put Penn State up 13-3 at the midway point.
All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), ranked No. 9 at 165, took on defending national champion Jarrod King of Edinboro, ranked No. 2. Each wrestler managed a takedown in the first period, but King got his with just one second left in the opening stanza. The lateness of that takedown would be the difference as King posted a tough 4-3 win, cutting Penn State\’s lead to 13-6. Edinboro got a decision at 174 to cut the Lion lead to 13-9, setting up three critical bouts to close out the dual.
Senior David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) posted a convincing 6-4 win over two-time NCAA qualifier Pat Bradshaw of Edinboro, getting his second win of the day at 184 and putting Penn State up 16-9. Sophomore Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.) then clinched the dual win with a 2-0 victory over Edinboro\’s Tim Murphy, putting PSU up 19-9 with one bout remaining. Sophomore Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 19 at HWT, put a resounding capper on the win with a 9-2 win over No. 11 Chris Birchler of Edinboro, giving Penn State the 22-9 final victory.
The Nittany Lions won the battle of the takedowns, posting a 15-5 edge in that category. Penn State got the only bonus point of the dual with Sanderson\’s major at 157. Overall, Penn State won 20 of its 30 bouts in its 3-0 run in Binghamton.
Penn State is now 4-1, having won four straight, while Edinboro is now 2-1. The Nittany Lions return to action on Sunday, Dec. 6, when they will take part in the Nittany Lion Open at Rec Hall. The open tournament, which will feature many of Penn State\’s red-shirts, begins at 8:30 a.m. in Rec Hall and runs all day. Penn State\’s next home dual is set for Jan. 22 when it hosts Illinois at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. 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.
#19 Penn State 22, #15 Edinboro 9
Binghamton, N.Y. – Sprawl and Brawl Duals — November 22, 2009
125: #6 Brad Pataky PSU dec. #8 Eric Morrill EUP, 4-0 3-0
133: Tyler Saltsman PSU dec. Ashton Osterberg EUP, 7-3 6-0
141: Joel Webster EUP dec. Colby Pisani PSU, 2-0 6-3
149: #8 Frank Molinaro PSU dec. Torsten Gillespie EUP, 8-4 9-3
157: #4 Cyler Sanderson PSU maj. dec. Matt Laird EUP, 16-5 13-3
165: #2 Jarrod King EUP dec. #9 Dan Vallimont PSU, 4-3 13-6
174: Joe Loffredo EUP dec. Michael Lorenzo PSU, 6-1 13-9
184: David Erwin PSU dec. Pat Bradshaw EUP, 6-4 16-9
197: Clay Steadman PSU dec. Tim Murphy EUP, 2-0 19-9
HWT: #19 Cameron Wade PSU dec. #11 Chris Birchler EUP, 9-2 22-9
Attendance: 500
Records: Penn State 4-1, Edinboro 2-1
Up Next for Penn State: Nittany Lion Open, Sunday, Dec. 6, 8:30 a.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Penn State\’s Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.), carrying a No. 6 ranking at 125, took on No. 8 Eric Morrill of Edinboro in one of the day\’s most anticipated bouts. Pataky took an early shot, only to have Morrill counter and fight back to neutral. But the Lion junior then got in on Morrill\’s left leg and continued to work his way to a takedown and a 2-0 lead with 2:04 left in the opening period. Pataky then put together a strong ride, building up a solid riding time edge but getting hit for one stall warning in the process. Pataky\’s ride out led to a 2-0 lead (with 2:04 in time) after one period. Pataky chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Morrill gained control of Pataky and lifted him in the air, but Pataky forced a tie up and a reset with 1:31 left in the period. Pataky shot low at Morrill\’s left ankle again and began working his way towards another takedown. But Morrill managed to force a stalemate with :55 left. Pataky countered a Morrill shot and forced a furious scramble that nearly led to a takedown for each wrestler. But neither man got the takedown and Pataky held the 3-0 lead with 1:51 in time heading into the final stanza. Morrill chose down to start the third period but could not break free of another strong Pataky ride. The Lion junior secured the riding time point and then continued dominating the Scot grappler for remainder of the period. The strong third period led to a 4-0 win and put Penn State up 3-0.
133: Sophomore Tyler Saltsman (Concord, N.J.) faced off with `Boro grappler Ashton Osterberg at 133. Osterberg got in deep on Saltsman\’s right leg, but the Lion sophomore flipped underneath the Scot, countering the shot and working his way up and under for an early takedown and a 2-0 lead at the 1:41 mark. Osterberg escaped to cut into the lead and action returned to the center circle. Saltsman got in deep on Osterberg\’s ankles one more time and finished off a second takedown with just :08 left to lead 4-1 after one period of action. Osterberg chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-2 deficit. Saltsman got in on another low single, gaining control and looking to drive through for the score. But Osterberg worked off the mat and a reset was called with :26 left. Leading 4-2 with :36 in riding time, Saltsman chose down to start the final period. A quick escape gave the Lion sophomore a 5-2 lead :15 into the final period. Saltsman immediately turned into Osterberg and used a low single force the action again. This time, Osterberg stepped out of trouble and action resumed in the center circle at the 1:00 mark. Saltsman worked to ice the bout with a strong, driving double leg and upped his lead to 7-3 with another takedown and Osterberg escape. Saltsman\’s superb performance in a 7-3 decision put Penn State up 6-0.
141: Sophomore Colby Pisani (Ridgway, Pa.) met Edinboro senior Joel Webster at 141. Pisani gained control of Webster\’s right ankle and worked for an early score, but the Scot senior forced a stalemate at the 1:44 mark. Pisani countered a Webster shot with an outside trip but Webster backed out of bounds to keep things scoreless at the :40 mark. The match moved into the second period deadlocked in a scoreless tie. Pisani chose down to begin the second stanza, only to find himself fighting off a tilt. Webster nearly turned the Lion to his back, but Pisani rolled through the turn and maintained his position. Still, the strong ride by Webster allowed the Scot to build up a 2:00 riding time edge with the ride out. Tied 0-0, Webster chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead (with 1:51 in riding time). Needing takedowns, Pisani began forcing the action, looking for an opening. Pisani\’s offense forced Webster into a first stall warning with :40 left. The Lion sophomore could not get a takedown and Webster walked off with a hard-fought 2-0 win, cutting Penn State\’s lead to 6-3.
149: Penn State\’s Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 8 at 149, met Torsten Gillespie of Edinboro. Gillespie nearly got an early takedown, but Molinaro used his speed and strength to break free and keep things scoreless at the 2:15 mark. Molinaro quickly answered and took a 2-0 lead with 2:02 left, using a nice high double on the edge of the mat. The Penn State All-American then put together a very strong ride, looking for a turning combination while build up a sizeable riding time edge. Molinaro dominated the Scot sophomore for the rest of the period, taking a 2-0 lead with 2:02 in riding time into the second period. Molinaro chose down to begin the middle period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. He continued to pressure Gillespie, forcing the EU grappler back on his heels for the first half of the period. Molinaro shot quickly off a reset, upping his lead to 5-0 with a swift double leg at the :40 mark. A ride out gave Molinaro a 5-0 lead with 2:46 in riding time heading into the final period. Gillespie chose down to start the final period and Molinaro cut him loose to a 5-1 deficit. The Nittany Lion quickly added another takedown, cutting him loose and upping his lead to 7-2 (with a secured riding time point). Looking for a major decision, Molinaro continued to pressure the Fighting Scot, but Gillespie countered a Molinaro shot for his first takedown to cut the lead to 7-4 with :45 left. Molinaro could not break free of Gillespie, but still posted a convincing 8-4 win to put the Lions up 9-3.
157: Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah), ranked No. 4 at 157, met Edinboro freshman Matt Laird. Sanderson got an early takedown to take a 2-1 lead over the talented Edinboro true freshman. Another high double gave Sanderson a 4-2 lead after the Linesville native escaped. Sanderson kept pouring on the offense, getting a third takedown and cut to lead 6-3 with 1:10 left in the opening period. A low ankle pick led to a fourth takedown and an 8-4 lead for the PSU All-American. Sanderson countered a Laird shot, gained control of the Scot freshman and opened up a 13-4 lead after one period, getting the takedown and three near fall points. Sanderson nearly got the pin but Laird managed to fight off his back to stay alive. Laird chose down to begin the second period and was cut loose by Sanderson to a 13-5 deficit. Sanderson fought off some Laird offense in the second period and maintained his lead throughout the frame. Leading 13-5 with 1:13 in riding time, Sanderson chose down to begin the third period. Sanderson fought off a quick tilt effort by Laird but could not break free of the Scot\’s control. But Sanderson steadily worked his way free at the :40 mark after a reset, escaping to a 14-5 lead. He then added a final takedown with :18 left to notch another takedown and post a convincing 16-5 major over the Edinboro freshman. The major put Penn State up 13-3.
165: Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), ranked No. 9 at 165, met defending national champion and second ranked Jarrod King of Edinboro in a much-anticipated meeting at 165. King entered ranked No. 2. Vallimont used a fast low single, turning it into a 2-0 lead at the 2:39 mark. King escaped :31 later to a 2-1 deficit and action resumed in the center circle. King shot low on Vallimont at the 1:25 mark, but the Lion All-American countered and began working his way around for another takedown. But King forced a reset with 1:00 left with Vallimont still up by one. King used a low single to gain control of Vallimont, lifted him off the mat and got a late takedown to lead 3-2 after the first period. Vallimont chose down to start the second stanza and steadily worked his way free to a 3-3 tie at the 1:16 mark. Neither man would notch a takedown for the remainder of the period and action moved to the third period tied 3-3. King chose down to start the final period and quickly escaped to a 4-3 lead. Vallimont shot low, but King countered to gain control of Vallimont\’s shoulders and tried to work his way around for a takedown. But a stalemate was called and the match was reset with 1:10 left. Vallimont nearly scored with a single leg in front of the Penn State bench, but King managed to flee the mat and force a reset with :40 left. Vallimont was relentless, however, gaining control of King\’s right leg, but King tied up Vallimont again and forced a reset with :14 left. Vallimont kept shooting, King kept fleeing but time would run out and King escaped with a 4-3 decision. The `Boro win cut PSU\’s lead to 13-6.
174: Penn State sent Michael Lorenzo (Bellefonte, Pa.) into action at 174 to face off with Edinboro\’s Joe Loffredo. Loffredo opened up an early lead with a takedown in front of the Edinboro bench at the 2:00 mark. Lorenzo could not work out of Loffredo\’s control until getting an escape with :41 left to cut the lead to 2-1. Lorenzo fought off a Loffredo shot with :02 left to keep things close after one period. Up by one with 1:20 in riding time, Loffredo chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Lorenzo continued to look for an outside trip to tie the bout. But Loffredo was able to play defense for the rest of the period and led 3-1 after two periods (with 1:14 in riding time). Lorenzo chose down to start the third period but could not work his way out of Loffredo\’s control. The Scot freshman then turned Lorenzo for two near fall points off a reset to up his lead to 5-1 (with a guaranteed riding time point). Loffredo would ride Lorenzo out and post a convincing 6-1 win. The decision cut Penn State\’s once ten point lead to just four, 13-9, with three bouts remaining.
184: Senior David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) met Edinboro\’s Pat Bradshaw at 184. Bradshaw took the first shot of the bout, but Erwin countered and looked to work his way behind the two-time national qualifier for a takedown of his own. Erwin steadily gained control and got the takedown at the 1:57 mark to go up 2-0. Erwin then maintained control of Bradshaw for the remainder of the period, not letting Bradshaw free and building up a 1:57 riding time edge to go along with a 2-0 lead. Erwin chose down to start the second period. After working his way to his feet at the :40 mark, Erwin steadily shook Bradshaw off his shoulders and worked his way free for a critical reversal and a 4-1 lead with 1:27 left. Erwin came off a head butt by Bradshaw to use a beautiful high double, taking a 6-1 lead with 1:06 in riding time, at the buzzer. Bradshaw chose down to begin the final period and put together another solid ride until a Bradshaw escape with 1:23 left cut Erwin\’s lead to 6-2. Erwin was taken down by Bradshaw at the :58 mark, cutting the Lion\’s lead to 6-4. Bradshaw spent the rest of the period trying to turn Erwin for back points, but the Nittany Lion senior would have none of it and would fight his way to a superb 6-4 win. The victory upped PSU\’s lead to 16-9 with two bouts remaining.
197: Nittany Lion sophomore Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.) took on Edinboro freshman Tim Murphy at 197. Steadman, who went to high school at Edinboro\’s General McLane High School, battled Murphy evenly for the first period, with neither wrestler managing to find an opening to score. Tied at 0-0, Steadman chose down to begin the second stanza. A quick escape gave Steadman a 1-0 lead at the 1:40 mark. The Lion sophomore continued pressuring Murphy, looking for an opening to get the bout\’s first takedown. Forcing Murphy back towards the outside of the mat, Steadman kept his lead for the period. Trailing 1-0, Murphy chose down to begin the final period. Steadman quick broke the Scot down and began looking for a chance to tilt the Scot for back points. Murphy was able to belly out and stay parallel but Steadman was working his way towards a riding time edge. A reset was called at the 1:07 mark and Steadman once again maintained control of Murphy. Steadman moved his time edge over the 1:00 mark and then continued to work towards breaking Murphy down and a potential ride out. Steadman maintained control of Murphy\’s right leg and clinched the dual meet victory with a 2-0 decision. The victory put Penn State up 19-9.
HWT: In a key match-up of ranked grapplers, Penn State\’s Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) met Edinboro\’s Chris Birchler. Wade entered the bout ranked No. 19, Birchler No. 11. Birchler had an early chance to score but Wade forced a reset. The Lion sophomore then countered a Birchler shot, stepping behind the Scott grappler, to take a 2-0 lead with a takedown at the 1:34 mark. Wade put together a very strong ride, nearly tilting Birchler during the ride-out to lead 2-0 with a solid riding time edge after one period. Birchler chose down to start the second period and Wade began working for a quick near fall. But Birchler rolled through and gained control for a reversal of his own to tie the bout at 2-2. Birchler then put together a solid ride of his own, working away most of Wade\’s time edge before Wade escaped to a 3-2 lead with :40 left in the period. Birchler shot low on Wade, but Wade countered, gaining control of Birchler\’s head and working his way to a scramble that would end the period. Leading 3-2, Wade chose down to begin the third period. Wade turned a Birchler tilt effort into a reversal and a 5-3 lead with 1:22 left. Wade then nearly pinned Birchler and picked up three back points to up his lead to 8-2 with 1:00 left in the bout. Wade then dominated the ranked Scot grappler for the rest of the period, finishing on top and, with the riding time point, posted a convincing 9-2 win over the 11th-ranked `Boro grappler. The win gave Penn State a 22-9 final victory.