Nittany Lion Wrestlers Down Michigan for Big Ten Road Win

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team won four of the first five bouts and six of ten to down  Michigan for a Big Ten dual meet win. Head coach Cael Sanderson’s squad got big wins in the lower weights to post a 19-15 win in front of a sold out Cliff Keen Arena crowd in Ann Arbor.

The dual meet began at 125 where Lion junior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 8, put Penn State up early with a hard-fought 3-2 decision over Michigan’s Conor Youtsey. Penn State junior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 133, was dominant in a 9-3 win over No. 8 Rossi Bruno to give Penn State a 6-0 lead. Gulibon posted three takedowns in the bout. At 141, red-shirt freshman Kade Moss (South Jordan, Utah) notched his biggest win of the season today, using a reversal and two different two-point near falls to roll to a 6-3 victory over No. 17 George Fisher.

Sophomore Zack Beitz (Mifflintown, Pa.), ranked No. 18 at 149, kept Penn State rolling with a 6-4 win over No. 9 Alex Pantaleo. Beitz used a last second takedown to post the win and put the Nittany Lions up 12-0. Penn State juniorLuke Frey (Montoursville, Pa.) made his Nittany Lion dual meet debut at 157, taking on No. 13 Brian Murphy of Michigan. Frey battled Murphy tough through seven minutes before dropping a hard-fought 3-1 decision. With four wins in the opening five bouts, Penn State led 12-3 at intermission.

Michigan’s Taylor Massa cut Penn State’s lead to 12-6 with a 6-3 win over red-shirt freshman Garett Hammond (Chambersburg, Pa.) at 165. Lion senior Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 3 at 174, halted Michigan’s brief momentum with a convincing 12-2 major over Wolverine senior Jake Salazar. The win put Penn State up 16-6 and marked the dual’s first bonus point. Michigan got right back into the dual, however, with a pin at 184. No. 10 Domenic Abounader got a second period fall over red-shirt freshman Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 17. The pin came at the 3:52 mark and cut Penn State’s lead to 16-12.

Junior Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 5 at 197, clinched the dual meet with a big win in the next match. The Lion used a third period takedown to post a 3-2 decision over No. 8 Max Huntley to put Penn State up 19-12 and secure the Big Ten dual meet road victory. Michigan closed out the dual with a win at 285 as No. 7 Adam Coon downed Penn State senior Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) 5-2.

Penn State owned a slim 11-8 edge in takedowns in the closely contested dual and picked up its lone bonus point with Brown’s major at 174. Penn State is now 9-2, 5-2 in the Big Ten. Michigan stands at 5-4, 3-3 in the Big Ten.

The Nittany Lions will trek to East Lansing to face the Michigan State Spartans on Super Bowl Sunday. The dual begins at MSU at 2 p.m. Penn State will next return to Happy Valley for the 2015 version of the BJC Dual. The Nittany Lions will host Iowa in a Big Ten battle in the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday, Feb. 8, at 1 p.m. The dual meet is sold out. A very limited number of standing room only (SRO) tickets are available for some Penn State’s Rec Hall duals. Fans can call the Penn State ticket office at 1-800-NITTANY to purchase. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstateWREST and on Penn State Wrestling’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2014-15 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

Penn State 19,  Michigan 15
January 30, 2015 – Cliff Keen Arena – Ann Arbor, Mich.

125: #8 Jordan Conaway PSU dec. Conor Youtsey MICH, 3-2 / 3-0
133: #9 Jimmy Gulibon PSU dec. #8 Rossi Bruno MICH, 9-3 / 6-0
141: Kade Moss PSU dec. #17 George Fisher MICH, 6-3 / 9-0
149: #18 Zack Beitz PSU dec. #9 Alex Pantaleo MICH, 6-4 / 12-0
157: #13 Brian Murphy MICH dec. Luke Frey PSU, 3-1 / 12-3
165: Taylor Massa MICH dec. Garett Hammond PSU, 6-3 / 12-6
174: #3 Matt Brown PSU maj. dec. Jake Salazar MICH, 12-2 / 16-6
184: #10 Domenic Abounader pinned #17 Matt McCutcheon PSU, WBF (3:52) / 16-12
197: #5 Morgan McIntosh PSU dec. #8 Max Huntley MICH, 3-2 / 19-12
285: #7 Adam Coon MICH dec. Jon Gingrich PSU, 5-2 / 19-15
Attendance: 1,830 (sell out)
Records: Penn State 9-2, 5-2 B1G; Michigan 5-4, 3-3 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: at Michigan State, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2 p.m.

BOUT-BY-BOUT:

125: Junior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.), ranked No.8 at 125, took on Michigan sophomore Conor Youtsey. Conaway drew first blood with a takedown at the 2:06 mark and led 2-1 after a Youtsey escape :35 later. The duo battled evenly for the next minute plus with Youtsey looking to control Conaway’s shoulders and the Lion junior keeping things neutral on his feet. Trailing by one, Youtsey chose defense to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. Conaway worked the middle of the mat, working for an opening but not finding any space. With the bout tied 2-2, Conaway chose down to star the final period. The Nittany Lion junior steadily worked his way to an escape and a 3-2 lead with 1:42 on the clock. With riding time not a factor, both men began looking for a critical and, perhaps, bout clinching takedown. Youtsey worked his way into control of Conaway’s left leg, forcing a long scramble in the middle of the mat that ended in a stalemate with :27 on the clock. Conaway shot low at the :15 mark and but could not finish off a takedown before time ran out. Still, the move allowed the Lion to kill clock and post the 3-2 win.

133: Sophomore Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 133, met No. 8 Rossi Bruno. The first two minutes of the match were contested in the middle of the mat with each man working from their feet. Gulibon used shoulder control with :49 on the clock to force Bruno’s shoulders down and slid behind the Wolverine for a takedown and a 2-0 lead. Gulibon’s strong ride allowed him to keep control for the rest of the period and lead 2-0 after one. Bruno chose down to start the second period and Gulibon was once again strong on offense. The Lion sophomore maintained control for the entire period, maintaining control while looking for a chance to turn Bruno for near fall points. Gulibon’s strong ride sent him to the third period with a 2-0 lead and 2:49 in riding time. Gulibon chose down to start the third period and worked his way to an escape and a 3-0 lead at the 1:24 mark. As the clock worked its way to 1:00, Gulibon had the riding time point clinched. Gulibon tacked on one more takedown and cut Bruno loose at the :15 mark, gave up a quick takedown but quickly escaped and picked up a final takedown to roll to a 9-3 win (with 2:18 in riding time).

141: Red-shirt freshman Kade Moss (South Jordan, Utah) battled George Fisher, ranked No. 17 at 141. Moss was the aggressor out of the gate, looking to score on a couple early flurries. But Fisher was quick on defense and then began to mount his own charge in the late part of the opening period. Moss finished off the period in on a single leg, but Fisher fought the effort off and the bout moved to the second stanza scoreless. Fisher chose down to start the second period and Moss made the Wolverine pay with a standing throw for two near fall points. Fisher escaped at the 1:10 mark and Moss led 2-1. Fisher took the lead quickly with a strong takedown with :35 left in the period. Moss was unable to escape as the period ended and trailed 3-2 heading into the final period. Trailing by one, Moss chose down to start the third period. He steadily worked his way to a reversal and then tacked on two more back points to open up a 6-3 lead with just 1:10 left in the bout. Moss then dominated the action from the top position, winding out the clock with a strong ride to bring the clock to zeroes and post the 6-3 win.

149: Sophomore Zack Beitz (Mifflintown, Pa.), ranked No. 18 at 149, faced off against No. 9 Alex Pantaleo. The duo battled evenly early on with Pantaleo taking a 2-1 lead with a fast takedown at the 1:40 mark. Beitz had his next two shots stifled by Pantaleo, who was able to push back the Lion sophomore’s efforts and hold onto the one point lead after one period. Beitz chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. Beitz then shot low, using an ankle pick for a takedown and a 4-2 lead at the 1:10 mark. Pantaleo quickly escaped and Beitz led 4-3 with under a minute to wrestle in the period. Beitz nearly connected on another low single but Pantaleo was able to step out of trouble. Down 4-3, Pantaleo chose down to start the third period. He quickly escaped to a 4-4 tie with 1:42 left and action resumed in the center circle. After a reset at the :43 mark, Beitz shot low and Pantaleo countered. Beitz readjusted, countered around behind the Wolverine and notched the winning takedown at the buzzer. The final takedown gave the Lion the 6-4 win.

157: Penn State junior Luke Frey (Montoursville, Pa.) wrestled No. 13 Brian Murphy at 157. Frey was equal to the task early on, fighting off Murphy’s early efforts while looking for an opening of his own. After two scoreless minutes, Murphy got in on a single leg, forcing a scramble that lasted nearly a minute. The Wolverine was able to finish off the takedown to lead 2-0 at the :13 mark. Leading 2-0, Murphy chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Murphy gained control of Frey’s leg on a high single, forcing another protracted scramble. This one ended in a stalemate with :26 left on the clock. Trailing 3-0, Frey chose down to start the final period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 deficit. Frey upped the tempo in the middle of the mat, trying to force the ranked Wolverine’s shoulders to the mat. But Murphy was able to stay on his feet and worked his way in on another shot, forcing another long scramble that ended in a stalemate with just :27 left to wrestle. Murphy shot low, Frey countered and had the Wolverine turned to his back. But no control was called and not takedown given as the buzzer sounded. The Penn State bench asked for an official review but the call stood as no takedown and Frey dropped the 3-1 decision.

165: Red-shirt freshman Garett Hammond (Chambersburg, Pa.) battled Michigan sophomore Taylor Massa at 165. Massa scored quickly, using a low double to open up a 2-0 lead. The Wolverine built up a :59 riding time edge before Hammond escaped to a 2-1 score. Massa quickly picked up another takedown and opened up a 4-1 lead. Hammond escaped to a 4-2 score with :25 left and action resumed in the middle of the mat. Trailing by two, Hammond chose down to start the second period. Massa controlled the action, however, building up over 3:00 in riding time before Hammond escaped with just :10 left in the period. Massa, with a 4-3 lead and a clinched riding time point, chose down to start the third period. Hammond worked form the top for 1:30 trying to turn the Wolverine but eventually cut him loose to a 5-3 score. With 1:59 in riding time, Massa posted the 6-3 win.

174: Senior Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 3 at 174, met Michigan’s Jake Salazar. The Lion senior was steady from the outset, slowly working his way into position and taking a 2-0 lead with a takedown at the 1:46 mark. Brown then controlled the action from the top position for :50 before Salazar escaped. Brown countered a quick Salazar shot, working his way behind his opponent for another takedown and a 4-1 lead. Brown built up a 1:33 riding time edge with a ride out and led 2-0 after the opening period. Salazar chose down to start the second period and Brown spent the period trying to turn Salazar to his back. The Wolverine was able to fight off the near fall effort by Brown but the Lion’s ride out gave him a 4-1 lead with a clinched riding time point (3:32) after two periods. Brown chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. He then picked up a quick takedown on a low single, picked up another point on a Salazar stall and then cut the Wolverine loose. He quickly added another takedown and led 10-2 with :30 left. A final stall and 4:37 in riding time allowed Brown to post the convincing 12-2 major decision.

184: Red-shirt freshman Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 17 at 184, took on No. 10 Domenic Abounader. The duo battled evenly out of the gates, with McCutcheon owning the inside position as Abounader worked the margins of the mat. Abounader used a quick shot in the center of the mat to take a 2-0 lead with :44 left on the clock. A ride out gave the Wolverine and McCutcheon trailed 2-0 after one period. The Nittany Lion freshman took down to start the second stanza and Abounader took advantage. The Wolverine steadily turned McCutcheon to his back with arm control and got the pin at the 3:52 mark.

197: Junior Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 5 at 197, faced off against No. 8 Max Huntley. McIntosh and Huntley battled evenly for the opening three minutes with each wrestler trying to control the other from their feet. The bout moved to the second stanza in a scoreless tie and McIntosh chose down to begin the second period. A quick escape gave the Nittany Lion junior a 1-0 lead and action resumed in the center circle with 1:32 left in the second period. Huntley tried to connect on a high single with :40 on the clock, but McIntosh stepped out of trouble to keep his one point lead. Huntley chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. McIntosh notched the bout’s first takedown, turning a low single into a takedown and a 3-1 lead. Huntley escaped to a 3-2 deficit with :53 left and action was stopped for blood. With riding time not a factor, the wrestlers battled in the middle of the remainder of the period with McIntosh fighting off Huntley’s shots to post the 3-2 win and clinch the dual meet.

285: Penn State senior Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.), took to the mat against No. 7 Adam Coon of Michigan at 285. Each wrestler worked for control in the middle of the mat with neither wrestler breaking through for any offense. Gingrich was hit with an early stall warning at the 1:15 mark, however. Coon tried to connect on a high single that Gingrich was able to step away from and the bout ended the opening period in a scoreless tie. Coon chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Coon continued to pressure Gingrich and picked up a point on a second Gingrich stall to lead 2-0 with :38 on the clock. Trailing 2-0, Gingrich chose down to start the third period. Gingrich escaped to a 2-1 deficit with 1:10 left and riding time not a factor. The Lion senior dove low at Coon’s feet and did not connect, allowing Coon to counter the shot and post a takedown to lead 4-1 with :35 on the clock. Gingrich managed a late escape but Coon, with 1:18 in riding time, was able to post the 5-2 win.