Three Lions get first dual meet wins in resounding victory
BINGHAMTON, N.Y – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 19 in the NWCA Coaches Poll, throttled Harvard 36-6 in its second dual of the morning at the 2009 Sprawl and Brawl Duals in Binghamton, N.Y. Penn State won eight of the ten bouts and had three young Lions get their first collegiate dual meet wins.
Junior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) got Penn State off to a hot start, pinning Harvard\’s Steven Keith at the 1:13 mark to give Penn State an early 6-0 lead. Sophomore Tyler Saltsman (Concord, N.H.) then added a technical fall at 133, picking up his first win of the year, to put Penn State up 11-0 after two bouts. Another first win, this from sophomore Colby Pisani (Ridgway, Pa.) at 141, put Penn State up 15-0. All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) stayed perfect on the year with a 6-2 decision at 149 and the Lions led 18-0, setting up the bout\’s marquee match-up.
All-American Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah) dropped a hard-fought 8-2 decision to two-time All-American J.P. O\’Connor of Harvard at 157. Sanderson was ranked No. 4, O\’Connor No. 3. The win gave Harvard its first points but another All-American, Penn State\’s Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), quickly answered with a pin at 165 to push Penn State out 24-3. Penn State went on to add a 5-0 win from freshman Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) at 184, a 4-0 win from sophomore Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.) at 197 and a pin from No. 19 Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) at heavyweight to walk away with a convincing 36-6 win.
Penn State dominated the dual from start to finish, winning the takedown battle 18-5 and posting 12 bonus points to none for Harvard. Three Nittany Lions picked up their first collegiate dual meet wins as well (Saltsman at 133, Pisani at 141 and Ortega at 184).
Penn State is now 3-1 on the year while Harvard falls to 0-1. Penn State will close out the Sprawl and Brawl duals with a 3 p.m. meeting vs. No. 15 Edinboro. 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 36, Harvard 6
Binghamton, N.Y. – Sprawl and Brawl Duals — November 22, 2009
125: #6 Brad Pataky PSU pinned Steven Keith HU, WBF (1:13) 6-0
133: Tyler Saltsman PSU tech. fall Fermin Mendez HU, 22-6 (5:39) 11-0
141: Colby Pisani PSU maj. dec. Paul Ligouri HU, 12-4 15-0
149: #8 Frank Molinaro PSU dec. Walter Peppelman HU, 6-2 18-0
157: #3 J.P. O\’Connor HU dec. #4 Cyler Sanderson PSU, 8-2 18-3
165: #9 Dan Vallimont PSU pinned Adam Hogue HU, WBF (2:25) 24-3
174: Bryan Panzano HU dec. Michael Lorenzo PSU, 1-0 24-6
184: Justin Ortega PSU dec. David Lalo HU, 5-0 27-6
197: Clay Steadman PSU dec. Sean Murphy HU, 4-0 30-6
HWT: #19 Cameron Wade PSU pinned Spencer DeSana HU, WBF (2:38) 36-6
Attendance: 500
Records: Penn State 3-1, Harvard 0-1
Up Next for Penn State: vs. No. 15 Edinboro, today 3 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Sixth-ranked Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) took on Harvard\’s Steven Keith at 125. Pataky wasted no time in opening up a lead, but Keith quickly reversed the Lion and added two near fall points to lead 4-3 after a Pataky escape. Pataky then quickly took Keith down and turned him to his back and got a fast pin, getting the fall at the 1:13 mark to put the Lions up 6-0 early.
133: Nittany Lion sophomore Tyler Saltsman (Concord, N.H.) met Fermin Mendez of Harvard in a match-up at 133. Saltsman got in on a single leg and turned it into a two-point lead with a takedown at the 1:53 mark. Saltsman added a second takedown after a Mendez escape and led 4-2 with 1:18 left in the opening period. The Lion sophomore used a high single for a third takedown with 1:00 left. He then began working Mendez on top, putting together a strong ride and looking for a chance to turn the Crimson grappler. The solid ride out gave Saltsman a 6-2 lead with 1:16 in riding time after three minutes of action. Mendez chose down to start the middle stanza and Saltsman cut him loose. He quickly used a high double for another takedown and added two near fall points to up his lead to 10-3 with 1:24 left. Saltsman cut Mendez loose again and quickly began working for another takedown. The Lion sophomore countered a Mendez shot, stepped behind the Crimson grappler and took him down again. Saltsman would dominated the period, adding two more takedowns and three near fall points to lead 19-6 with 2:27 in riding time after two periods. Saltsman chose top to start the third period, hoping to turn the Crimson grappler for bonus points. Another three-point near fall gave the Lion sophomore a 22-6 technical fall at the 5:39 mark. Penn State led 11-0 after two bouts.
141: Penn State sent sophomore Colby Pisani (Ridgway, Pa.) into action at 141 to face HU\’s Paul Ligouri. Pisani shot quickly, looking to turn a high single into an early score. But Ligouri fought off the move and kept the bout scoreless early. But Pisani used a very fast low double to take a 2-0 lead with 1:34 left in the period. A Ligouri escape led directly to a Harvard takedown and Ligouri led 3-2 with 1:00 on the clock. Pisani quickly worked his way around the Harvard grappler, getting a reversal and taking a 4-3 lead with :30 left. Pisani then lifted Ligouri off the mat and tossed him to his back, nearly pinning the Crimson freshman but picking up three near fall points anyway. Trailing 6-3, Ligouri chose down to start the second stanza but could not work his way free of a very strong Pisani ride. The Lion sophomore maintained control for the entire period and took a 6-3 lead with 2:05 in riding time into the final period. Pisani chose down to start the third stanza and quickly escaped to a 7-3 lead. Pisani then added another takedown, using a low ankle pick to work Ligouri to the mat for a 9-3 lead with just over a minute left in the bout. Ligouri escaped to cut Pisani\’s lead to 9-4, but Pisani had secured the riding time point. Needing one more takedown for a major, Pisani used another low single to notch the takedown and, with the bonus point, posted a resounding 12-4 major to put Penn State up 15-0.
149: Sophomore Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 8 at 149, met Crimson sophomore Walter Peppelman. Molinaro used a fast high single to get his first takedown, going up 2-0 at the :57 mark of the opening period. Molinaro then put together a strong ride, maintaining control just long enough to get out of the first period with a 2-0 lead and :57 in riding time. Peppelman chose down to start the second period but once again found himself the victim of a strong Molinaro ride. The Lion All-American maintained control long enough to build up a big riding time before turning Peppelman to his back for three near fall points and a 5-0 lead with :50 left in the period. The ride-out allowed the Lion to lead 5-0 with 2:57 in time heading into the last period. Molinaro chose neutral to begin the third period and began looking for another takedown, working for a major decision. Peppelman worked in on Molinaro\’s thigh and got his first takedown, cutting Molinaro\’s lead to 5-2 with :18 left. But Molinaro\’s big early lead allowed the Lion to walk away with a strong 6-2 win. Penn State led 18-0.
157: All-American Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah), ranked No. 4 at 157, took on All-American J.P. O\’Connor, ranked No. 3, in perhaps the day\’s most anticipated bout. Sanderson, who downed then No.2 ranked Matt Moley of Bloomsburg last weekend, was coming off a major decision victory against Rutgers. O\’Connor used a strong high double early in the first period to take a 2-0 lead at the 2:07 mark. Sanderson quickly escaped to cut the lead to 2-1 and immediately began looking for his own offense. The Lion senior shot low on O\’Connor, but the Crimson grappler moved quickly around Sanderson to get a second takedown and lead 4-1 lead. O\’Connor then maintained control of Sanderson long enough to wind out the clock. With a 4-1 lead and 1:42 in riding time, O\’Connor chose down to begin the middle stanza. A quick escape gave the Crimson All-American a 5-1 lead. Sanderson began working O\’Connor back towards the edge of the mat, looking for an opening in order to cut into O\’Connor\’s lead. Sanderson got in on a head-inside single but O\’Connor was able to step out of trouble and keep his 5-1 lead after two periods. Sanderson chose down to start the third period but could not break out of O\’Connor\’s control as the Crimson senior secured a riding time point. Sanderson continued to work to his feet and escaped to a 5-2 deficit with :18 left in the bout. O\’Connor added a late takedown and a riding time point to post an 8-2 win, cutting Penn State\’s lead to 18-3.
165: All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), ranked No. 9 at 165, met Harvard\’s Adam Hogue. Vallimont quickly opened up a 2-0 lead with a takedown less than ten seconds in. The Lion senior then built up a 1:12 riding time edge before cutting Hogue loose. He then picked up a second takedown to up his lead to 4-1. Vallimont completed a cradle, worked Hogue to his back and picked up a pin at the 2:25 mark. The six points gave the Lions a 24-3 lead.
174: Junior Michael Lorenzo (Bellefonte, Pa.) took to the mat at 174 for Penn State, taking on Crimson grappler Bryan Panzano. The duo traded early shots, Lorenzo going for high doubles and Panzano working the Lion\’s shoulders. Lorenzo looked to turn a high double into points with :35 left, but Panzano countered and nearly got his own takedown. But action moved out of bounds, forcing a reset, and sending the bout to the second period tied 0-0. Lorenzo chose down to start the second period and found himself fighting off a near fall attempt by Panzano. The Lion junior managed to fight off three tilts, not giving up any points. But Panzano was able to build up a 2:00 riding time edge with the ride out. Panzano chose down to start the third period, forcing Lorenzo work off a minute\’s worth of time at least and perhaps post his own ride-out. Lorenzo put together a very strong ride, working the clock down to under a minute. Action moved out of bounds, forcing a reset with :40 left, Lorenzo still in control but needing to ride-out Panzano out to keep the bout tied. A second reset at the :25 mark allowed Panzano to work his way to an escape with just :18 left. Lorenzo could not manage a final takedown and Panzano posted a hard-fought 1-0 win, cutting PSU\’s lead to 24-6.
184: Freshman Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) continued his tenure up a weight at 184, this time with a match-up against David Lalo of Harvard. Ortega took the first solid shot of the bout, working a low double. But Lalo managed to step backwards off the mat, forcing a reset with :45 left in the opening period. Ortega countered a Lalo shot, nearly turning it into two points with :12 left. But once again, Lalo managed to work out of bounds and the bout moved to the second period scoreless. Ortega chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Ortega kept his pressure up, forcing Lalo back and into a first stall warning midway through the period. Trailing 1-0, Lalo chose neutral to start the third period. Ortega continued to force the action, with Lalo backing away from numerous Ortega shots. Ortega countered a Lalo shot with 1:00 left and began working to pull the Crimson grappler into the circle to secure a takedown. But Lalo managed to step out of bounds with :30 left to stay close. Ortega continued to be the aggressor and with just seconds left, got a four point throw with the takedown and two near fall points to post the solid 5-0 win. Penn State moved out to a 27-6 lead.
197: Sophomore Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.) battled Sean Murphy at 197. Steadman, coming off a near win over the 16th-ranked grappler in the nation earlier in the morning, battled the Crimson sophomore to a 0-0 tie after the first period. Murphy chose down to start the second stanza, only to find himself the victim of a very strong Steadman ride. The Nittany Lion sophomore maintained control of Murphy and began looking for a chance to tilt the Crimson man. While not managing any back points, Steadman\’s strong ride allowed the Lion to keep the bout scoreless heading into the third period. Steadman\’s 2:00 time edge gave the Lion the advantage and he chose down to begin the final period. A quick escape gave Steadman a 1-0 lead and he quickly turned in to Murphy, looking for a takedown. Murphy shot high, trying to catch Steadman off a reset, but Steadman managed to counter the swift move and force a reset with 1:25 left to wrestle. The duo battled evenly until Steadman used a beautiful low double on the edge of the mat to notch a takedown and up his lead to 3-0 with :42 left (Steadman also had a riding time point in hand). Steadman maintained control for the rest of the bout and posted a solid 4-0 win, pushing Penn State out to a 30-6 lead.
HWT: Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 19 at HWT for Penn State, met Harvard\’s Spencer DeSana. Wade took the first shot of the match but was quickly countered by DeSana, who nearly notched his own takedown. But action moved out of bounds as Wade maintained position to force a reset with 1:50 left. Wade countered a low DeSana shot, worked his way around the Crimson grappler and took a 2-0 lead with 1:07 left in the period. Wade then worked himself into position to turn DeSana for back points. He turned him for the near fall and steadily worked DeSana flat for the pin at the 2:28 mark. The exclamation point gave Penn State a convincing 36-6 win.