The Nittany Lions increased their dual match win streak to 26 straight dating back to the end of the 2014-15 season. Penn State sent seven underclassmen into the bout against the Badgers and posted a gaudy 25-2 takedown advantage.
The dual began at 157 where Nittany Lion sophomore Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, bolted out to a 12-3 lead before pinning Jared Scharenbrock at the 3:48 mark in the second period to put Penn State up 6-0 early. The pin was Nolf's eighth of the year. Penn State red-shirt freshman Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 4 at 165, met No. 3 Isaac Jordan in one of the dual's most anticipated match-ups. Joseph used a late takedown to take a 4-2 lead but with just :03 left, Jordan reversed the Lion to tie the match at 4-4. The Badger senior countered a Joseph shot early in extra time to post a thrilling 6-4 (sv) win.
True freshman Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 7 at 174, picked up his first Penn State dual meet win in dominating fashion, rolling up six takedowns and 2:20 in riding time in a 17-4 major decision over UW's Ryan Christensen. Sophomore Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 2 at 184, continued his torrid pin parade, locking up a cradle late in the first period and pinning Hunter Ritter at the 2:35 mark. The fall was the 11th in 13 wins for unbeaten Nickal. Junior Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 197, then downed No. 12 Ricky Robertson, using a second period escape and a third period ride-out to post a strong 2-0 decision with 1:50 in riding time. McCutcheon's victory put Penn State up 19-3 at intermission.
The second half began with another of the dual's most anticipated match-ups as sophomore Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.) ranked No. 4 at 285, took on senior Connor Medbery, ranked No. 2. Nevills led 3-2 late in the bout when Medbery notched a last second takedown to post a hard-fought 4-3 win. The loss to the second-ranked Badger senior was the first of the year for the Lion sophomore. True freshman Nick Suriano (Paramus, N.J.), ranked No. 3 at 125, put Penn State up 23-6 with a dominating 15-4 win over Jens Lantz at 125.
Red-shirt freshman Triston Law (Windber, Pa.) made his season and Penn State dual debut at 133 and dropped a tough 17-2 tech fall to Wisconsin's Eli Stickley. Senior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 12 at 141, continued Penn State's dominance with a rousing 15-3 major over No. 15 Cole Martin. Gulibon rolled off five takedowns in the impressive win. Junior Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, closed out the dual with an exclamation point, pinning Andrew Crone at the 4:30 mark. The fall was Retherford's 11th in his 14 wins this year.
Penn State, which won seven of ten bouts, dominated the action from start to finish. The Nittany Lions rolled up 25 takedowns to only one for Wisconsin. Sanderson's Lions notched 12 bonus points off three pins (Nolf, Nickal, Retherford) and three majors (Hall, Suriano, Gulibon).
Retherford has now won 49 straight matches dating back to the end of the 13-14 season. He is 14-0 with 11 pins, a tech and a major. Nolf is 14-0 with eight pins, a major and four techs. Nickal is 13-0 with 11 pins and a major this season. The Nittany Lions are now 9-0, 5-0 in the Big Ten, and winners of 26 straight duals. Wisconsin falls to 3-4, 1-4 B1G.
Penn State returns to Rec Hall on Sunday, Jan. 29, for a 2 p.m. dual with the Northwestern Wildcats. 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:
157: #1 Jason Nolf PSU pinned Jared Scharenbrock WIS, WBF (3:48) / 6-0
165: #3 Isaac Jordan WIS dec. (SV) #4 Vincenzo Joseph PSU, 6-4 (SV) / 6-3
174: #7 Mark Hall PSU maj. dec. Ryan Christensen WIS, 17-4 / 10-3
184: #2 Bo Nickal PSU pinned Hunter Ritter WIS, WBF (2:35) / 16-3
197: #10 Matt McCutcheon PSU dec. #12 Ricky Robertson WIS, 2-0 / 19-3
285: #2 Connor Medbery WIS dec. #4 Nick Nevills PSU, 4-3 / 19-6
125: #3 Nick Suriano PSU maj. dec. Jens Lantz WIS, 15-4 / 23-6
133: Eli Stickley WIS TF Triston Law PSU, 17-2 (TF; 7:00) / 23-11
141: #12 Jimmy Gulibon PSU maj. dec. #15 Cole Martin WIS, 15-3 / 27-11
149: #1 Zain Retherford PSU pinned Andrew Crone WIS, WBF (4:30) / 33-11
Attendance: 1,873
Records: Penn State 9-0, 5-0 B1G; Wisconsin 3-4, 1-4 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: hosts Northwestern, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2 p.m. – Rec Hall
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
157: Sophomore Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, faced off against Badger Jared Scharenbrock. Nolf took Scharenbrock down quickly and fought off a quick reversal attempt, forcing a stalemate at the 2:28 mark. Nolf cut the Badger loose and continued to press on offense, using a low single off a Scharenbrock shot to take a 4-1 lead. He then locked up a cradle and turned Scharenbrock for four points. The Badger reversed Nolf and the Lion led 8-3 at the 1:05 mark. Scharenbrok maintained control of Nolf until the final seconds when Nolf reversed the Badger to lead 10-3 after one. Nolf chose down to start the second period and steadily worked his way to a reversal and a 12-3 lead. He locked up a cradle and got the fall at the 3:48 mark.
165: Red-shirt freshman Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 4 at 165, took on Wisconsin senior Isaac Jordan, ranked No. 3, in another marquee bout. Joseph set the pace early, forcing Jordan's shoulders to the mat while pushing the Badger to the outside circle. Action remained scoreless into the second minute with neither wrestler getting in deep on an offensive effort. Joseph worked his way in on a single at the 1:00 mark that Jordan countered. Joseph fought off the counter effort and action remained neutral and scoreless with :17 left on the clock. Tied 0-0, Joseph chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Joseph continued to work shoulder control, forcing Jordan into defense on the edge of the mat. The Lion continued to pressure the Badger senior for the rest of the period and led 1-0 after two. Jordan chose down to start the third period and worked his way to a reversal and a 2-1 lead. Joseph quickly escaped and the bout was tied 2-2 at the 1:20 mark. Joseph continued to set the tempo on offense and connected on a low single on the edge of the mat. Joseph finished off the shot, pulling Jordan's other foot in bounds and getting the takedown at the :25 mark to take a 4-2 lead. With just :02 left, Jordan reversed Joseph to tie the bout 4-4 and send the match into sudden victory. Joseph took a high shot early in extra time and Jordan once again countered, forced a scramble, and finished off the takedown to post the hard-fought 6-4 (sv) win.
174: True freshman Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 7 at 174, faced off against Wisconsin sophomore Ryan Christensen in his second dual meet of the season. Hall got in on an early single and finished off the takedown to open up an early 2-1 lead after a Christensen escape. The Lion true freshman moved down on a single and took the Badger down for a 4-1 lead at the 1:00 mark. He then worked on top for the remainder of the period and led 4-1 with 1:11 in riding time after one period. Hall chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. Hall worked his way in on a single with :40 on the clock and finished off the takedown with :20 on the clock. He then rode Christensen out and led 7-1 after two with 1:13 in time. Christensen chose down to start the third period and Hall worked him to the mat once before cutting him loose to a 7-2 lead. Hall controlled Christensen's shoulders, tripped him to his back and lead 13-2 with a takedown and four near fall points. He cut the Badger loose and then countered Christensen and took him down once more with :50 on the clock. Leading 15-4, Hall added one more takedown and rolled to the 17-4 major with 2:20 in riding time.
184: Sophomore Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 2 at 184, battled Hunter Ritter. Nickal and Ritter worked evenly for a minute before the Lion sophomore took the Badger down for a 2-0 lead. He deftly locked up yet another cradle and picked up four near fall points for a 6-0 lead at the 1:20 mark. With 1:00 left, Nickal locked up a second cradle and turned Ritter over one more time. After a bit of work, the Lion sophomore picked up the pin at the 2:35 mark, his 11th in 13 matches to date.
197: Junior Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 197, took on junior Ricky Robertson, ranked No. 12. The ranked duo worked the center of the mat for the bout's first minute-plus. McCutcheon worked his way in on a low single at the 1:00 mark, trying to turn the low shot into a takedown. But Robertson was able to force a stalemate at the :50 mark, keeping the bout tied 0-0. Tied 0-0, McCutcheon chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The duo battled in the middle of the mat for the next minute-plus with neither man breaking through the other's defense. McCutcheon nearly finished off a takedown as the period ended but Robertson was able to kill the clock. Trailing 1-0, Robertson chose down to start the third period. McCutcheon worked to maintain control and Robertson tried to reverse the Lion. McCutcheon fought off the slight reversal attempt and a stalemate was called with 1:08 on the clock and McCutcheon having :42 in riding time. McCutcheon worked his riding time edge up over 1:00 and continued to ride Robertson down below :30. The Lion junior finished the period on top and, with 1:50 in riding time, posted a strong 2-0 win.
285: Sophomore Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), ranked No. 4 at 285, took on unbeaten senior Connor Medbery, ranked No. 2, in one of the dual's most anticipated match-ups. The unbeaten big men battled evenly for the first minute, facing off in the middle of the mat. The first period clock worked its way down below 1:00 with the wrestlers on their feet on the center logo. The bout moved to the second stanza tied 0-0. Medbery chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Nevills worked his way in on a high single, Medbery nearly turned Nevills for back points, and Nevills rolled through, worked his way out and finished off the takedown to lead 2-1 with under 1:00 on the clock. Medbery worked his way to an escape and a 2-2 tie after two. Nevills chose down to start the second period and steadily worked his way to an escape and a 3-2 lead with 1:35 left to wrestle. Medbery used a fast low double to take a 4-3 lead with :45 on the clock. Medbery then controlled the Lion sophomore from the top position and finished off the match on top for a tough 4-3 win.
125: True freshman Nick Suriano (Paramus, N.J.), ranked No. 3 at 125, took on Wisconsin's Jens Lantz. Suriano took an early 2-1 lead with a quick takedown and added to it at the 1:00 mark with a high single to takedown. Leading 4-1, Suriano worked his riding time edge up to 1:20 with a ride out. Leading 4-1, Suriano chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. He worked his way in on another low shot and worked his way up for a third takedown to lead 7-2 after cutting Lantz loose. Suriano picked up another point on a stall warning and then blew through a high shot at Lantz's waist to lead 10-2 after two. Lantz chose down to start the third period and Suriano cut him loose to a 10-3 score. With the riding time point clinched, Suriano took Lantz down and cut him loose to lead 12-4 with :40 on the clock. Suriano tacked on one final takedown and rolled to a 15-4 major with 2:29 in riding time.
133: Red-shirt freshman Triston Law (Windber, Pa.) made his season and Penn State dual meet debut at 133 against Wisconsin's Eli Stickley. Law fought off an early Stickley shot, keeping the bout scoreless with nice defense :30 into action. Law worked his way in on a single and nearly notched a takedown but Stickley stayed on his feet with a whizzer intact to keep the bout scoreless. Law continued to shoot, working his way in on a high single. Stickley tried to counter but Law was relentless, finishing off the takedown for a 2-0 lead. Law tried to turn the Badger but got too high on his shoulders and Stickley reversed the Lion freshman for a reversal and a ride out. Law chose down to start the second period but could not work his way free from a strong Stickley ride. Stickley managed to turn Law for four back points and a 6-2 lead while working his riding time edge up over 2:00. Law gave up another point on a stall and trailed 7-2 after two periods. Stickley chose top to start the third period and turned Law for two four point near falls. Law gave up another stall point and a point on 4:28 in riding time, giving Stickley a 17-2 tech fall at the 7:00 mark.
141: Senior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 12 at 141, met #15 Cole Martin in one of the dual's marquee match-ups. Gulibon used a strong high double to take an early 2-0 lead. The Lion senior worked up :52 in riding time before Martin escaped to a 2-1 score. Gulibon countered a solid Martin shot, worked his way into control of Martin's hips and took him down for a 4-1 lead with 1:05 on the clock. Gulibon finished the period on top and led 4-1 with 2:05 in riding time after one period. Gulibon chose down to start the second period and steadily worked his way to an escape and a 5-1 lead. The Lion senior used a fast high crotch for a third takedown and a 7-1 lead with 1:25 on the clock. Gulibon cut Martin loose and moved in on offense again. Martin took a first stall and Gulibon took him down one more time and, with the ride out, led 9-2 with 2:22 in time after two. Martin chose down to start the third period and Gulibon cut him to a 9-3 score. The Lion senior then took him down once more for an 11-3 lead with 1:20 on the clock. Gulibon clinched the riding time point with a strong ride, trying to turn the Badger. Gulibon upped his lead to 12-3 with a stall point, turned Martin for two near fall points and picked up another on 3:54 in riding time. The Lion senior walked away with a strong 15-3 major decision.
149: Junior Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, met Wisconsin junior Andrew Crone. Retherford worked his way through Crone's hips for an early takedown and a 2-0 lead. The Lion junior then put together a strong ride. He turned Crone for four nearfall points and a 6-0 lead at the 1:12 mark, reset, and went back to work on top. The Lion Junior turned Crone once more for a 10-0 lead, but Crone reversed the Lion to cut the lead to 10-2. Retherford chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to an 11-2 lead. Retherford worked his way to a takedown hand to more back points to up his lead to 15-2. He then reset himself, worked his way into a pinning position once again and, after a bit of work, got the pin at the 4:30 mark. The fall was Retherford's 11th of the year.
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