The Nittany Lions increased their dual match win streak to 27 straight dating back to the end of the 2014-15 season. Penn State sent seven underclassmen into the bout against the Wildcats. The capacity crowd of 6,630, the largest Rec Hall crowd of the year for the Lions, was the 33rd straight Rec Hall sell-out for Penn State. The Nittany Lions have sold out 36 of their last 38 duals, including three of five in the Bryce Jordan Center.
The dual began at 125 where freshman Nick Suriano (Paramus, N.J.), ranked No. 1 nationally, turned a quick second period reversal into a pin at the 3:10 mark of Northwestern's Anthony Rubinetti. Suriano lead 10-2 at the time. . At 133, sophomore George Carpenter (Chapel Hill, N.C.) suffered a hard-fought 4-3 loss to Northwestern's Jason Ipsarides. Senior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 12 at 141, continued his outstanding run with a 20-5 technical fall at the 5:25 mark over NU's Alec McKenna. Gulibon tallied seven takedowns in the win.
Junior Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.) won at 149, receiving a forfeit victory. The win was Retherford's 50th straight victory dating back to the 2013-14 season. His win pushed Penn State out to a 17-3 lead. Sophomore Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, notched Penn State's second fall of the dual, pinning Ben Sullivan at the 4:39 mark. Nolf's win gave Penn State a 23-3 lead heading into the halftime break.
Red-shirt freshman Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked no. 4 at 165, got the afternoon off, and senior Caleb Livingston (Drexel Hill, Pa.) got the nod in front of the sell-out Rec Hall crowd. Livingston took advantage of the chance and thrilled the Rec Hall crowd by picking up a first period pin of Anthony Petrone at the 2:19 mark. The win was Livingston's first dual victory as a Nittany Lion. True freshman Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 7 at 174, won by forfeit, pushing Penn State out to a 35-3 lead. Hall will look to make his actual Rec Hall debut in two weeks against Illinois. The true freshman leads Penn State with 20 wins and improves to 20-2 overall with the victory.
Sophomore Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 2 at 184, faced No. 20 Mitch Sliga in the lone match-up between ranked opponents. Nickal dominated the action from start to finish and posted the 10-1 major with over 3:00 in riding time. Junior Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 197, rolled through Northwestern senior Jacob Berkowitz, posting a 10-3 win with 1:37 in riding time to move Penn State out to a 42-3 lead. Sophomore Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), ranked No. 4 at 285, closed out the dual with a hard-fought 5-4 win over talented Northwestern big man Conan Jennings and the Nittany Lions rolled to the 45-3 win.
Penn State dominated the takedown war, posting a 22-3 edge. In Penn State's two weekend dual meets, the team amassed a stunning 47-5 takedown advantage. The Nittany Lions won nine of ten bouts and picked up 18 bonus points off three pins (Suriano, Nolf, Livingston), two forfeits (Retherford, Hall), a tech fall (Gulibon) and a major (Nickal).
Retherford has now won 50 straight matches dating back to the end of the 13-14 season. He is 15-0 with 11 pins, a forfeit, a tech and a major. Nolf is 15-0 with nine pins, a major and four techs. Nickal is 14-0 with 11 pins and two majors this season. The Nittany Lions are now 10-0, 6-0 in the Big Ten, and winners of 27 straight duals. Northwestern falls to 6-6, 1-5 B1G.
Penn State visits No. 3 Ohio State next Friday, Feb. 3, for a 6 p.m. dual meet that will air live nationally on the Big Ten Network. Penn State's next home date is a meeting with Illinois on Friday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. 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:
125: #3 Nick Suriano PSU pinned Anthony Rubinetti NU, WBF (3:10) / 6-0
133: Jason Ipsarides NU dec. George Carpenter PSU, 4-3 / 6-3
141: #12 Jimmy Gulibon PSU tech fall Alec McKenna NU, 20-5 (TF; 5:25) / 11-3
149: #1 Zain Retherford PSU win by forfeit / 17-3
157: #1 Jason Nolf PSU pinned Ben Sullivan NU, WBF (4:39) / 23-3
165: Caleb Livingston PSU pinned Anthony Petrone NU, WBF (2:19) / 29-3
174: #7 Mark Hall PSU win by forfeit / 35-3
184: #2 Bo Nickal PSU maj. dec. #20 Mitch Sliga NU, 10-1 / 39-3
197: #10 Matt McCutcheon PSU dec. Jacob Berkowitz NU, 10-3 / 42-3
285: #4 Nick Nevills PSU dec. Conan Jennings NU, 5-4 / 45-3
Attendance: 6,630
Records: Penn State 10-0, 6-0 B1G; Northwestern 6-6, 1-5 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: at #3 Ohio State, Friday, Feb. 3, 6 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: True freshman Nick Suriano (Paramus, N.J.), ranked No. 3 at 125, faced off against Northwestern's Anthony Rubinetti. The Lion freshman came out hot, taking Rubinetti down for an early 2-1 lead. He added a second takedown midway through the period and cut Rubinetti loose for a 4-2 lead. Suriano quickly caught the Wildcat and took him to his back for a takedown and four near fall points to lead 10-2. A short ride out gave the Lion freshman a 10-2 lead with 1:10 in riding time after one period. Suriano chose down to start the second period, and in just seconds reversed Rubinetti to his back and picked up the pin at the 3:10 mark.
133: Sophomore George Carpenter (Chapel Hill, N.C.) took on freshman Jason Ipsarides. Ipsarides drew first blood with a takedown at the 1:26 mark, opening up a 2-1 lead after a quick Carpenter escape. The duo battled evenly for the remainder of the first period but Carpenter got hit for a first stall warning. Trailing 2-1, Carpenter chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. Carpenter's defense moved the match into the third period tied 2-2. Ipsarides chose down to start the third period and steadily worked his way to a reversal and a 4-2 lead with 1:20 left in the match. Carpenter escaped to a 4-3 deficit with 1:20 on the clock and immediately worked his way in on a low single. The Lion sophomore's offense forced a scramble in the middle of the mat that eventually ended in a stalemate at the :36 mark. Carpenter scrambled for a final takedown and forced Ipsarides into a stall warning, but the Lion sophomore ran out of time and dropped a tough 4-3 decision.
141: Senior Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 12 at 141, tangled with Northwestern's Alec McKenna. Gulibon exploded out of the gates, taking McKenna down and two his back for a quick 6-0 lead off a takedown and two back points. McKenna escaped to a 6-1 score, only to have Gulibon quickly turn a solid double into a takedown and an 8-1 lead with 1:20 on the clock. Gulibon cut McKenna loose and then hustled his way around the Wildcat for a third takedown and a 10-2 lead. Gulibon chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to an 11-2 lead. He then blew through another shot for a fourth takedown to up his lead to 13-2 with 1:25 on the clock. The Lion senior cut McKenna loose once more and turned a high single into a 15-3 lead. A second McKenna stall and a ride out sent Gulibon into the third period with a 16-3 lead and 3:34 in riding time. McKenna chose down to start the third period and Gulibon cut him loose. A quick Gulibon takedown and cut gave the Lion an 18-5 lead and the Lion senior ended the match with a takedown to post the 20-5 technical fall at the 5:25 mark.
149: Junior Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, received a forfeit victory at 149. Retherford improves to 15-0 on the year with 11 pins, one forfeit, a tech and a major. He has won 50 straight matches dating back to the end of the 2013-14 season.
157: Sophomore Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 157, battled senior Ben Sullivan. Nolf took a quick 2-1 lead with a takedown and cut in the first 20 seconds. The Lion sophomore continued to press on offense and added a second takedown and cut midway through the period. With the score 4-2, Sullivan worked his way behind Nolf and looked for a takedown. Nolf rolled under the Wildcat and countered his way to a takedown of his own. The takedown was reviewed by the officials, the call was reversed and Sullivan was awarded the takedown. Tied 4-4, Nolf quickly escaped to a 5-4 lead and then countered a Sullivan shot for another takedown and a 7-5 lead. The Lion sophomore added one more takedown and led 9-6 after one. Nolf chose down to start the second period and reversed the Wildcat to an 11-7 lead. He then took Sullivan down again, locked up a cradle and picked up the fall at the 4:39 mark.
165: Red-shirt freshman Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 4 at 165, stepped aside for the day allowing senior Caleb Livingston (Drexel Hill, Pa.) to face off against Anthony Petrone. Petrone worked his way in on and early single, but Livingston countered the shot, worked his way around the Wildcat and took an early 2-0 lead. Petrone was able to notch a reversal, however, and the bout was tied 2-2 at the 2:10 mark. Continuing the scramble, Livingston answered with his own reversal to retake the lead 4-2. Livingston then broke Petrone down and worked his way to four near fall points and an 8-2 lead. He reset himself and turned Petrone once more. This time the senior worked Petrone's shoulders flat and got the pin at the 2:19 mark. The win was Livingston's first dual meet victory as a Nittany Lion.
174: True freshman Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 7 at 174, won by forfeit. The true freshman will look to see his first action in Rec Hall in two weeks against Illinois. He leads Penn State with 20 wins this season and is 20-2 overall.
184: Sophomore Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 2 at 184, took on No. 20 Mitch Sliga in the dual's marquee match-up. Nickal worked his way into control of Sliga's leg and spent :30 trying to take the Wildcat down. Sliga managed to fight the move off by backing out of bounds, forcing a reset at the 2:00 mark. Sliga worked his way into control of Nickal's ankle, but the Lion sophomore deftly scrambled his way into a takedown of his own to lead 2-0 with 1:25 on the clock. Sliga escaped to a 2-1 score with :50 left and Nickal went back to work on the Nittany Lion logo. Nickal's offense kept Sliga on his heels and the match moved to the second period with Nickal up 2-1. Sliga chose down to start the second period and Nickal went to work on top, trying to turn the Wildcat to his back. Nickal maintained control of the Wildcat for over a minute, building his riding time edge up over 2:00. Nickal completed the ride out and led 2-1 with 2:46 in riding time after two. The Lion sophomore chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Nickal countered a Sliga shot and scrambled for a takedown. He then locked up a cradle and nearly picked up another late pin. Sliga fought off his shoulders and Nickal settled for a dominating 10-1 major with 3:12 in riding time.
197: Junior Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 197, battled senior Jacob Berkowitz. McCutcheon nearly scored at the 1:45 mark, using a fast low single to gain control of Berkowitz's leg. But the Wildcat was able to step back and out of trouble and action resumed in the center of the mat with 1:20 left in the opening period. McCutcheon took a 2-0 lead with a fast takedown at the 1:06 mark and then put together a strong ride. The Lion junior controlled the action for the rest of the period and led 2-0 with 1:06 riding time after one. McCutcheon chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. McCutcheon turned a low single into a scramble on the edge of the mat. After a brief struggle, the Lion moved up Berkowitz's leg and picked up the takedown to lead 5-0 with :55 left in the period. Berkowitz escaped to a 5-1 score and action resumed neutral. McCutcheon continued to press on offense and nearly picked up a takedown at the buzzer to no avail. Trailing 5-1, Berkowitz chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-2 score. McCutcheon slipped by a slight Berkowitz shot and moved behind him for another takedown and a 7-2 lead. He cut the Wildcat senior to a 7-3 score, working for a major. McCutcheon added one final takedown and, with 1:37 in riding time, posted the dominating 10-3 win.
285: Sophomore Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), ranked No. 4 at 285, took to the mat against sophomore Conan Jennings. Nevills gained control of Jennings' left leg with a solid shot and steadily worked his way into control of the Wildcat. The Lion nearly secured the takedown but a stalemate forced a reset with 1:00 on the clock. Nevills shot once more and Jennings broke the hold to keep the bout scoreless after the opening stanza. Jennings chose down to start the second period and Nevills controlled the action from the top position. The Lion sophomore broke Jennings down, building his riding time up over 1:00 with a strong ride. Nevills closed out the period on top, controlling Jennings' arm, and the bout moved to the third period 0-0 but with Nevills owning 2:00 in time. Nevills chose down to start the second period and steadily worked his way to a reversal at the 1:22 mark. Leading 2-0, Nevills clinched the riding time point then cut Jennings loose to a 2-1 score. Looking to pick up a takedown, the Lion sophomore used a low shot to lift Jennings' leg off the ground. He took him down, cut him to a 4-2 lead, but gave up a late takedown to tie the score. Nevills fought off a late turn attempt and, with 2:07 in riding time, posted the 5-4 win.
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