Penn State put the dual away early, bolting out a 24-0 halftime lead before cruising to the win. With the dual beginning at 149, Penn State got pins in three of the first half's five bouts and had the dual capped off with senior Jimmy Gulibon's (Latrobe, Pa.) strong victory at 141.
Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, pinned Carson Brolsma at the 2:28 mark of the first period. Sophomore Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, followed that up by pinning No. 9 Jake Short in the second period (3:44). Red-shirt freshman Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 165, put Penn State up 15-0 with a strong 7-4 victory over No. 14 Nick Wanzek.
Senior Geno Morelli (DuBois, Pa.) got the nod at 174 and dominated Gopher Chris Pfarr, posting a strong 5-2 decision. Sophomore Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 2 at 184, closed out the first half by pinning Gopher Bobby Stevenson at the 2:36 mark of the first period.
Junior Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 11 at 197, took on No. 2 Brett Pfarr in one of the dual's marquee match-ups to start the second half. McCutcheon nearly notched the upset with a late takedown attempt, but Pfarr was able to defend long enough to kill the clock and post the hard-fought 3-2 win over the Lion junior. Sophomore Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), ranked No. 5 at 285, dominated No. 8 Michael Kroells, rolling to a 4-0 win with 2:28 in riding time, including a third period ride out. Nevills' win clinched the dual for the Nittany Lions.
True freshman Nick Suriano (Paramus, N.J.), ranked No. 3 at 125, took on No. 6 Ethan Lizak in a much anticipated match-up. Suriano's offense stole the show as the Lion freshman remained unbeaten with an 8-6 victory, thanks to four takedowns (including three in the first period). With No. 13 Jered Cortez (Carol Stream, Ill.) held out for one more dual, sophomore George Carpenter (Chapel Hill, N.C.) stepped in at 133 and nearly pulled off a major upset, falling to No. 16 Mitch McKee 2-1. Senior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 12 at 141, posted perhaps the dual's most impressive win, dominating No. 9 Tommy Thorn on his way to a strong 6-3 victory. The Gulibon win gave Penn State a final 33-6 margin in the dual.
Penn State dominated the dual from start to finish, winning eight of ten bouts. Penn State posted a 22-5 takedown margin and picked up nine bonus points off its three early pins. Retherford has now won 45 straight matches dating back to the end of the 13-14 season. He is 10-0 with nine pins and a tech. Retherford now tied for 15th on Penn State's all-time pins list with 28. Nolf is 10-0 with seven pins and three techs and has 22 career falls. Nickal is 9-0 with eight pins and a major this season and has 16 career falls. Nevills and Suriano both remain unbeaten with 9-0 records as well.
The Nittany Lions are now 5-0 on the year, 1-0 in the Big Ten, and have won 22 straight duals dating back to the end of the 2014-15 campaign. Minnesota falls to 3-2, 2-1 B1G. The win broke a string of three straight losses for Penn State as the two teams tied 18-18 here in Minnesota back on Feb. 13, 2011 (the victory was Penn State's first over the Gophers in 14 meetings).
Penn State will visit No. 6 Nebraska in its second Big Ten road dual of the weekend on Sunday, Jan. 8. Action in Lincoln, Neb., begins at 3 p.m. Eastern. Penn State's next home dual is set for Friday, Jan. 13, when Rutgers invades Rec Hall for a 7 p.m. Big Ten dual. All Rec Hall dual meets are sold out, but a very limited number of Standing Room Only tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-NITTANY. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at @pennstateWREST, on Penn State Wrestling's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. The 2016-17 Penn State wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.
Results:
149: #1 Zain Retherford PSU pinned Carson Brolsma MINN, WBF (2:28) / 6-0
157: #1 Jason Nolf PSU pinned #9 Jake Short MINN, WBF (3:44) / 12-0
165: #5 Vincenzo Joseph PSU dec. #14 Nick Wanzek MINN, 7-4 / 15-0
174: Geno Morelli PSU dec. Chris Pfarr MINN, 5-2 / 18-0
184: #2 Bo Nickal PSU pinned Bobby Stevenson MINN, WBF (2:36) / 24-0
197: #2 Brett Pfarr MINN dec. #11 Matt McCutcheon PSU, 3-2 / 24-3
285: #5 Nick Nevills PSU dec. #8 Michael Kroells MINN, 4-0 / 27-3
125: #3 Nick Suriano PSU dec. #6 Ethan Lizak MINN, 8-6 / 30-3
133: #16 Mitch McKee MINN dec. George Carpenter PSU, 2-1 / 30-6
141: #12 Jimmy Gulibon PSU dec. #9 Tommy Thorn MINN, 6-3 / 33-6
Attendance: 2,831
Records: Penn State 5-0, 1-0 B1G; Minnesota (3-2, 2-1 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: at #6 Nebraska, Sunday, Jan. 8, 3 p.m. Eastern / 2 p.m. Central
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
149: Junior Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, faced off against Minnesota freshman Carson Brolsma. Retherford scored quickly, taking Brolsma down and cutting him twice to an early 4-2 lead. Retherford totaled four takedowns before turning the Gopher's shoulders to the mat for a quick first period pin. Retherford's fall came at the 2:28 mark and was his ninth of the year (in ten bouts).
157: Sophomore Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, met Minnesota junior Jake Short, ranked No. 9. Nolf was furious off the opening whistle, taking Short down three times in the first minute to open up a sizeable 6-3 lead. The Lion sophomore bulled through a high double for a fourth takedown and nearly pinned the ranked Gopher with a toss and four near fall points at the buzzer. Trailing 14-4, Short chose down to start the second period. Nolf made him pay by quickly turning Short to his back, adjusting on top once and getting the pin at the 3:44 mark. The pin was Nolf's seventh in ten bouts this year.
165: Red-shirt freshman Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 165, met Gopher junior Nick Wanzek, ranked No. 14. The duo battled evenly until Joseph got in on a solid single. Wanzek called for an injury timeout, giving Joseph the chance to choose position on the reset. He chose down and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The Lion freshman then turned another low single into a takedown and a 3-1 lead with :30 left (after a Wanzek escape). Joseph chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-1 lead. Joseph worked offense for the entire period but Wanzek was able to play defense on the edge of the mat for the full two minutes. Trailing 4-1, Wanzek chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 4-2 score. Wanzek worked a high single into a takedown and Joseph led 5-4 with :55 on the clock after a quick escape. Joseph then bulled through a high double to up his lead to 7-4. He then controlled the action from the top position, killing the clock with a strong ride and posting a solid 7-4 win.
174: Senior Geno Morelli (DuBois, Pa.) took to the mat at 174 to face Chris Pfarr. Morelli took a couple solid high doubles but Pfarr was able to defend each shot in the first period's opening minute. Morelli then switch to a high single and finished off the takedown to open up a 2-0 lead at the 1:22 mark. Morelli then built up a :49 riding time edge before Pfarr escaped to a 2-1 score. Morelli chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Morelli and Pfarr battled evenly for the next minute plus, with the Lion senior taking numerous shots that Pfarr was able to step back from. Morelli slipped around Pfarr for a late takedown and led 5-1 after two periods. Pfarr chose down to start the third period and cut the Morelli lead to 5-2. Morelli nearly scored on another solid single but Pfarr was able to defend the shot. Morelli's offensive pressure kept Pfarr from mounting any offense and the Lion posted the 5-2 win.
184: Sophomore Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 2 at 184, met Gopher Bobby Stevenson. Nickal wrapped Stevenson up at the chest and took him down at the 1:00 mark to open up an early 2-0 lead. Nickal controlled the action from the top position, building up over 1:00 in riding time before Stevenson escaped to a 2-1 Nickal lead. A fast low double by Nickal put the Lion up 4-2. He then took Stevenson down again, locked up the cradle, and got the fall at the 2:36 mark. The pin was Nickal's eighth in nine matches this year.
197: Junior Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 11 at 197, took on No. 2 Brett Pfarr. The duo battled evenly for over a minute with McCutcheon taking fast shots that Pfarr was able to move away from. The Lion junior then got in on a low single, forcing a scramble on the edge of the mat with 1:20 on the clock. Pfarr forced a scramble that lasted for :20 before action slid out of bounds with :44 left in the period. Action moved to the second period tied 0-0 and Pfarr chose down to start the second stanza. A quick escape gave the Gopher a 1-0 lead. Pfarr gained control of a low single that McCutcheon fought off for a bit before the Gopher got the takedown to up his lead to 3-0. McCutcheon worked his way to an escape and a 3-1 score with :40 left in the period. McCutcheon gained control of another low single that Pfarr scrambled long enough to kill the clock. Trailing 3-1, McCutcheon chose down to start the third period and steadily worked his way to an escape and a 3-2 score. The Lion junior worked low on another single and Pfarr once again scrambled his way to a stalemate with :45 on the clock. McCutcheon worked his way into a final low single and once again Pfarr's defense was able to kill the clock. Pfarr walked away with a hard-fought 3-2 win.
285: Sophomore Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), ranked No. 5 at 285, faced off against Minnesota senior Michael Kroells, ranked No. 8. The duo battled through two-plus minutes of scoreless action with neither wrestler mounting a serious scoring threat. Kroells took a quick shot with :40 left that Nevills was able to step back from and action moved to the second period tied 0-0. Nevills chose down to start the second period worked his way to an escape and a 1-0 lead after :30. Nevills connected on a high single at the 1:00 mark and then went to work on top. Nevills controlled the action for the rest of the period and led 3-0 with :28 in time after two. Kroells chose down to start the third period and Nevills once again dominated action from the top. The Lion sophomore built up over 1:00 in riding time while trying to turn the Gopher senior for back points. Nevills spent the entire period in the top position working for turns. And while not getting any back points, the Lion rode Kroells out and posted a dominant 4-0 win with 2:28 in riding time.
125: True freshman Nick Suriano (Paramus, N.J.), ranked No. 3 at 125, battled Minnesota sophomore Ethan Lizak, ranked No. 6. Suriano took Lizak down quickly, opening up a 2-1 lead after a strong double leg and cut to an escape. Suriano added a second takedown at the 1:40 mark and led 4-2. Suriano added a third takedown with another high shot and then spent time building up a riding time edge. The Lion freshman nearly turned Lizak but the Gopher rolled through trouble. Suriano rode the Gopher out and led 6-2 with 1:35 riding time after one. Suriano chose down to start the second period, testing himself against Lizak's strong ride. After a reset with 1:30 on the clock, Suriano rolled himself into a standing position and nearly reversed the Gopher. Lizak was able to maintain control, however, and a stalemate was called with :45 left in the period. Lizak was able to stay on top for the entire period. With Suriano leading 6-2, Lizak chose neutral to start the third period, only to be taken down yet again by a quick Suriano shot. Lizak escaped to an 8-3 score. Suriano looked to score again, but Lizak countered and notched a counter takedown with :45 on the clock. He picked up another point on a Suriano stall. Suriano's dominant offense led the freshman to an 8-6 win.
133: Sophomore George Carpenter (Chapel Hill, N.C.) stepped in for No. 14 Jered Cortez at 133 and took on No. 16 Mitch McKee. McKee took Carpenter down early in the first period to open up a 2-0 lead. The ranked Gopher controlled the action from the top position for the remainder of the period and led 2-0 with over 2:300 in riding time after the opening three minutes. Leading 2-0, McKee chose down to start the second stanza. Carpenter was strong on top, maintaining control for over 1:00 while trying to turn McKee for back points. McKee was able to fight off Carpenter's turn efforts but Carpenter rode McKee out. Trailing 2-0 but sensing an opportunity to turn McKee, Carpenter chose top to start the third period. The Lion sophomore once again controlled, dominating from the top position. With :30 left, Carpenter gained control of McKee's arm and worked for one last chance to turn the Gopher for the win. But McKee was able to fight off Carpenter's efforts. Carpenter did pick up a point on 1:26 in riding time as he spent the entire second and third periods in the top position. But McKee's first period takedown gave the ranked Gopher the hard-fought 2-1 win.
141: Senior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 12 at 141, met Tommy Thorn, ranked No. 9. Thorn drew first blood , sliding behind Gulibon and finishing off a low double to lead 2-0 midway through the opening period. Gulibon escaped to a 2-1 lead with 1:05 left in the period and then connected on a high single for a takedown and a 3-2 lead. Gulibon then rode Thorn out and carried that slim lead into the second period. Gulibon chose down to start the second period. Thorn controlled the action for the first minute-plus before Gulibon escaped to a 4-2 lead (Thorn had a 1:41 riding time edge). Thorn chose down to start the third period and it was Gulibon' s turn to work from the top position. Gulibon maintained control until the 1:26 mark before Thorn escaped to a 4-3 Gulibon lead (Thorn maintained 1:08 in riding time). With 1:00 on the clock, Gulibon worked a swift low single into another takedown and a 6-3 lead at the :46 mark. Gulibon worked Thorn's riding time edge below 1:00 and then spent the rest of the period in control on top. Gulibon's strong offense gave the Lion a 6-3 win.
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