125: Junior Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa.), ranked No. 11 at 125, pinned red-shirt freshman Eric Caschera (South Williamsport, Pa.) at 3:00 as the first period ended to pen up his return to action after transferring last year from Buffalo. Since McKnight and Caschera were the only 125-pounders wrestling, the twosome met one more time with McKnight bolting out to a 14-3 lead after one period and 23-5 tech fall at 5:52.
133: Junior Tim Haas (Camp Hill, Pa.) got things started early at 133 with an impressive 11-4 win over freshman Chris Robbins (Frederica, Del.). The win gave Haas a shot at No. 8 Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) in the winners bracket finals. Strayer opened with an early takedown in that match and rolled to an impressive 10-1 win over Haas. The coaching staff decided to stop action at 133 pounds after Strayer's impressive win, so no consolations took place.
141: Senior Bryan Heller (Fair Haven, N.J.) opened up action at 141 with a solid win over freshman Mike Eagan (Wharton, N.J.). Heller broke open a tight match early by outscoring Eagan 4-0 in the second period on his way to a 12-1 major decision. Freshman Christian Harr (Hollidaysburg, Pa.) notched a takedown as time expired to post a 5-4 win over Ben Mandelbraut (Sharon, Mass.).
In the winners bracket finals, Heller downed Harr 10-2 to await the winner of wrestle-backs. Eagan got a medical forfeit over Mandelbraut in wrestle-backs to earn a match-up with Harr. Harr scored a takedown with under ten seconds left to grab a thrilling 5-4 win over Eagan in the consolation finals, earning a rematch with Heller. Heller would claim the crown at 141 with a hard-fought 8-5 win over Harr in the final bout.
149: In an anticipated battle at 149, red-shirt freshman Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) met true freshman Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.). Jenkins opened up a 2-1 lead after one period, but Vallimont tied things at 2-2 after two. Jenkins chose down to begin the third period and escaped to a 3-2 lead. Vallimont countered with two late shots and, on the last one, scored a decisive takedown with just two seconds left to post a 4-3 win.
Since the duo were the only two wrestlers at 149, they met again over an hour later, with Vallimont opening up an early lead with an impressive takedown on the outer circle to lead 2-0 after one. Jenkins chose down to start the second and tied the match with a reversal. Vallimont reclaimed a 3-2 lead after an escape and held that lead through the middle period. Vallimont chose down to begin the final stanza and escaped to a 4-2 lead. The two-time New Jersey state champion who did not lose as a junior or senior in high school stretched his lead to 6-2 and posted an impressive 8-3 win over the talented Jenkins.
157: A key bout at 157 took place early with senior Nathan Galloway (State College, Pa.), ranked No. 11 nationally, took the mat against true freshman Josh Rohler (Akron, Ohio). The twosome wrestled to a scoreless tie after one period. Rohler led 1-0 after two with an escape from a chosen down position. Galloway chose down to begin the third but could not escape and Rohler grabbed a 2-0 win. Sophomore Jason Lapham (West Chazy, N.Y.) grabbed a tough 4-3 win over sophomore Jon Clemens (McVeytown, Pa.) in another opening round bout.
In the winners bracket final, Rohler and Lapham wrestled to a 0-0 tie after one period. Rohler chose down to begin the second, but Lapham rode him for the entire period, building up a 2:00 riding time edge and getting a 1-0 lead due to a Rohler stall point. Lapham chose neutral to begin the final period and held off each Rohler scoring attempt to post the impressive 2-0 win and await the consolation bracket winner.
Wrestle-backs began with Galloway tangling with Clemens. The duo was tied at 1-1 after regulation and went into sudden victory time. Galloway nearly notched a takedown as the period wound down but Clemens fought off the move. Clemens chose down in the first overtime period and escaped to a 2-1 lead. Galloway chose down and got a point when Clemens locked his hands while on top. With :12 left, Galloway needed an escape for the win but could not get the point. A second sudden victory period was also scoreless, setting up two more overtime periods. Galloway chose down to begin his period and gave up two back-points. Clemens, leading 4-2 in his overtime period, chose down to begin the :30 period and escaped to post a 5-2 win.
Clemens moved on to face Rohler in the next bout at 157 and continued his impressive run with a solid 5-3 win, earning a rematch with Jason Lapham in the finals. Lapham scored two early takedowns to take a 4-1 lead into the second period. He chose down to begin the second and escaped to a 5-1 lead, which he would carry into the final period. Lapham gave up only one point in the third to take a 5- 2 win in the final bout at 157.
165: Sophomore Mark Friend (Libertyville, Ill.) got a hot start at 165 with a quick pin of Michael Lorenzo (Bellefonte, Pa.) in 2:07. True freshman Dave Rella (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) gave early notice to his prowess by bolting out to an early 6-2 lead over Zach Snyder (Mt. Pleasant, Pa.) and rolling to an 11-4 win.
In the winners bracket final, Friend opened up with a 2-1 lead over Rella after one period. Friend added another takedown in the second period and led 4-1 after two. Friend would go on to post an impressive 6-1 win to await the winner of consolations.
Lorenzo was leading 5-2 over Snyder when Snyder suffered an injury and could not continue, giving Lorenzo the win and a shot at Rella in the consolation finals. Rella proved too much for the Bellefonte native, posting an impressive 19-7 win. Rella's victory earned him a chance to wrestle Friend again. Friend got out to an early 5-1 lead but Rella closed the gap to 5-3 with a takedown late in the second. But Friend would counter a late Rella shot to post a convincing 7-3 win in the finals.
174: Senior All-American James Yonushonis (Philipsburg, Pa.), who's training has been altered by his student teaching duties, did get a shot to wrestle-off today as Sunderland felt that he needed the mat time heading into the Pa. Duals and his appearance in the NWCA Classic in Dallas. Yonushonis, ranked No. 3 nationally, opened up with a solid 6-0 win over talented sophomore Jack Decker (Roseland, N.J.). The only two wrestlers at 174, Yonushonis and Decker met again over an hour later with Yonushonis claiming a 6-3 win.
184: In a wide open weight class, sophomore Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa.) inched his way out to a 4-2 lead over senior vBrian Cantalupi (Carlisle, Pa.) after two periods and held on for a hard-fought 6-3 win. In the brackets other opening round match, red-shirt freshman Mike Ward (Mayfield, Ohio) scored a takedown early in extra time for a 4-2 overtime win over senior A.J. Cummings (Lititz, Pa.).
In the winners bracket final, Bomberger and Ward found themselves locked in a battle that went into sudden victory time tied 1-1. Bomberger shot quickly out of the opening whistle and nearly scored a winning takedown, but Ward managed to fight off the attempt for a stalemate. In the first overtime period, Ward chose down but could not escape in 30 seconds. Bomberger chose down and quickly escaped to a 2-1 lead that he would hold on to for the win.
Cantalupi got a 4-2 win over Cummins in the first consolation bout to move on, facing Ward in the conso finals, where he posted a 2-1 overtime win. Bomberger and Cantalupi met again in the finals and Bomberger opened up a 6-2 lead early, but Cantalupi cut the lead to 6-4 before the first period ended. Bomberger led 9-5 in the second when Cantalupi bowed out with an injury, giving Bomberger the injury default win in the finals.
197: Defending Big Ten champion Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 197 pounds, was given the day off by Sunderland as he continues to train for the NWCA Classic in Dallas. Action began with red-shirt freshman Eric Burnett (Uniondale, N.Y.) posting a 4-1 win over sophomore David Klug (Pennington, N.J.).
Burnett's win moved him into the winners bracket final against junior Chad Unger (Perry, Ohio). Unger scored a takedown in the first to lead 2-0 after one and added a quick second in the middle stanza to open up a 4-0 lead. He would cement the win with a pin at 4:09. In consolations, Burnett downed Klug 4-3 to earn another shot at Unger in the finals. But the results were the same as Unger pinned Burnett again, this time in 1:00.
HWT: Heavyweight began with freshman Brendan Herlihy (Fairfield, Conn.) handing classmate Nathan Andrews (Spring Mills, Pa.) a 9-5 win. In the winners bracket semis, senior Aaron Anspach (Columbia, Pa.) posted an impressive 23-7 tech fall over Herlihy at 5:03. Transfer John Laboranti (Scranton, Pa.) grabbed a 4-2 win over Joe Farina (Denville, N.J.) in the other heavyweight semifinal bout.
In the winners bracket final, Anspach, unranked in the coaches poll but ranked as high as No. 18 in others, led 2-1 after one period in his bout with transfer Laboranti. Anspach opened his lead up to 3-1 after two periods. After and escape, Laboranti tied the match at 4-4 with a takedown, only to be taken down shortly thereafter. Anspach would hold on for a hard fought 6-5 win to await the winner of wrestle-backs.
In consolations, Herlihy again downed Andrews, this time with a 14-5 major. Herlihy then matched up with Farina in wrestle-backs but fell as Farina posted a solid 4-1 win, getting another chance to tangle with Laboranti. Farina took advantage and posted a 5-2 win, moving into the finals against Anspach. Anspach dominated the HWT finals bout, bolting out to a 4-1 lead after one period and rolling to a 15-2 major decision.
The Nittany Lions will open up the regular season at the Pennsylvania Duals on Saturday, Nov. 19. Penn State faces Clarion at 10 a.m., Pitt-Johnstown at 12 p.m. and No. 13 Edinboro at 2 p.m. Day-long passes cost $15 and can be ordered by calling the LHU Athletics Department at 570-893-2102. Penn State's home season begins with a Dec. 8 dual vs. Lehigh. This year's season ticket prices are $24 for adults and $18 for students. Single dual prices are $5 per event for adults and $3 per event for youth. Contact the Penn State ticket office at 814-863-1000 or 800-833-5533 for more information or visit GoPSUsports.com.
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