Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA

Penn State- Eight Ranked Individuals Keep Penn State No. 2 in Coaches Poll and No. 1 in Team TPI

Molinaro and Taylor maintain No. 1 spots at respective weights.

           UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; February 7, 2012 - Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team continue to be ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Four Nittany Lion All-Americans are ranked in the top two and all eight are listed in the top 12. Penn State is now 11-1 overall, 7-1 in the Big Ten, after winning at No. 7 Nebraska (31-6) and beating No. 12 Michigan (34-7) this past weekend. Head coach Cael Sanderson's Lions are ranked No. 2 in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll and continue to hold the No. 1 in Intermat's Tournament Power Index (TPI).

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 23-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) is 21-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 23-0 at ranked No. 2 at 174. Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is No. 2 at 184 with a 20-2 mark.

Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 20-4 at heavyweight and is ranked No. 6 and red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 18-4 at 157 and ranked No. 6. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 19-5 at 125 and ranked No. 8 while classmate Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 14-5 at 197 and ranked No. 12.

Penn State is still ranked No. 2 in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll. Oklahoma State sits at No. 1 with 250 points while Penn State is second with 236. Iowa (3), Minnesota (4) and Cornell (5) round out the top five. The Nittany Lions widened their hold on the No. 1 spot on Intermat's Tournament Power Index as well. Penn State checks in at No. 1 with a 105.5 TPI while Minnesota and Oklahoma State are No. 2 with 77.5 each. Iowa is No. 4 with 67.5 while Cornell is No. 5 with 66.5.

The Nittany Lions will trek Orem, Utah, this Saturday for a non-conference dual at Utah Valley. The dual with the Wolverines begins at 9 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Mountain time (local to site). Penn State then closes out the regular season by hosting Pittsburgh on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m. The dual meet is already sold out, including standing room only ducats, and will serve as Senior Day for Penn State.

Nittany Lion Frank Molinaro Named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week

Three-time All-American earns Penn State's fourth weekly honor of the year

           UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; February 7, 2012 - Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) has been named the Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending February 5, 2012. The honor is the first for Molinaro and Penn State's fourth of the year.

The Barnegat, N.J., native won the award after a superb weekend that saw him go 2-0 with a major and amassing, amazingly, over 8:00 riding time in two match-ups. Molinaro posted a 14-6 major over Nebraska's Skylar Galloway on Friday night with 4:53 riding time. His win helped spark Penn State to a 31-6 win at No. 7 Nebraska.

Two days later, Molinaro thrilled a sold-out Rec Hall crowd in a rematch of last year's Big Ten Championship bout at 149. The Lion senior dominated No. 7 Eric Grajales of Michigan 6-1 with 3:13 in riding time, leading Penn State to a 34-7 win over 12th-ranked Michigan and a share of the 2012 Big Ten Dual Meet crown. Molinaro's two wins improve him to 23-0 on the year with nine majors, five tech fall and three pins (giving him 17 bonus point victories in 23 bouts). Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) won on Dec. 20, David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) won on Jan. 2 and Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) won on Jan. 16.

The Nittany Lions will trek Orem, Utah, this Saturday for a non-conference dual at Utah Valley. The dual with the Wolverines begins at 9 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Mountain time (local to site). Penn State then closes out the regular season by hosting Pittsburgh on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m. The dual meet is already sold out, including standing room only ducats, and will serve as Senior Day for Penn State.

Nittany Lion Wrestlers Roll Over Michigan 34-7 to Claim Share of Big Ten Regular Season Title

Wright and Wade get pins to lead Lions to blow-out victory

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; February 5, 2012 - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestlers hammered visiting Michigan 34-7 in their Big Ten dual finale to claim a share of the Big Ten regular season dual meet championship. The Nittany Lions won eight of ten bouts, including seven straight to close out the dual.

True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 125, put on a takedown show in the first bout, posting 10 takedowns on route to a 22-10 major over Michigan's Grant Pizzo (with 3:19 in riding time). No. 16 Zac Stevens downed Nittany Lion sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 11-7 at 133 to cut Penn State's lead to one before No. 1 Kellen Russell majored Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) 12-2 at 141 to give UM a 7-4 lead.

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), undefeated and ranked No. 1 nationally, hammered No. 7 Eric Grajales, posting a 6-1 win with 3:13 in riding time. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 6 at 157, followed that up with a 5-4 victory over Wolverine senior Brandon Zeerip to give Penn State a 10-7 lead heading into the halftime break.

Top-ranked sophomore All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) hammered No. 14 Dan Yates at 165, posting a 15-0 technical fall at the 5:25 mark. Fellow sophomore All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, then dominated No. 8 Justin Zeerip to the tune of a 12-1 major with 3:50 in riding time. Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184 as the defending national champion, then clinched the dual victory with a pin of UM's Hunter Collins at the 5:25 mark.

With true freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) cleared to wrestle but held out as a precaution, red-shirt freshman 174-pounder Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) stepped up two weights once more and this time took down a ranked wrestler. Brown posted a late takedown to post a 3-1 win over No. 15 Max Huntley. Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at heavyweight, capped off a resounding win by pinning No. 10 Ben Apland at the 3:58 mark to give the Nittany Lions the lopsided 34-7 win.
The Nittany Lions are now 11-1 overall, and 7-1 in the Big Ten, while Michigan falls to 6-5, 4-4. Penn State's 7-1 conference mark sets a new school record for Big Ten wins in a season and helped the team share the conference's regular season dual meet crown with Minnesota. Penn State's dominating performance showed up in the match's stats as well. The Nittany Lions won eight of ten bouts and picked up ten bonus points off two pins, a tech fall and two majors. The Nittany Lions owned a lopsided 24-9 edge in takedowns.

The Nittany Lions will head west to take on Utah Valley in a non-conference dual set for Saturday, Feb. 11, at 9 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Mountain (local to site). Penn State's final home dual of the season takes place on Sunday, Feb. 19, when the Lions entertain No. 9 Pittsburgh at 2 p.m. While seats for the dual are now sold out, a limited number of Standing Room Only tickets remain. Fans can purchase these SRO ducats by calling 1-800-NITTANY or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office.

#2 Penn State 34, #12 Michigan 7
February 5, 2012 - Rec Hall - University Park, Pa.

125: #9 Nico Megaludis PSU maj. dec. Grant Pizzo UM, 22-10 4-0
133: #16 Zac Stevens UM dec. Frank Martellotti PSU, 11-7 4-3
141: #1 Kellen Russell UM maj. dec. Bryan Pearsall PSU, 12-2 4-7
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU dec. #7 Eric Grajales UM, 6-1 7-7
157: #6 Dylan Alton PSU dec. Brandon Zeerip UM, 5-4 10-7
165: #1 David Taylor PSU tech fall #14 Dan Yates UM, 15-0 (TF; 5:25) 15-7
174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU maj. dec. #8 Justin Zeerip UM, 12-1 19-7
184: #2 Quentin Wright PSU pinned Hunter Collins UM, WBF (4:22) 25-7
197: Matt Brown PSU dec. #15 Max Huntley UM, 3-1 28-7
285: #6 Cameron Wade PSU pinned #10 Ben Apland UM, WBF (3:58) 34-7
Attendance: 6,671
Records: #2 Penn State 11-1, 7-1 B1G; #12 Michigan 6-5, 4-4 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: at Utah Valley, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2 p.m.

BOUT-BY-BOUT:

125: True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 125, faced off against Michigan sophomore Grant Pizzo. Megaludis wasted no time taking Pizzo down, using a single leg to grab an early lead. The Lion let Pizzo up right away and quickly turned a low ankle pick into another takedown and a 4-2 lead (after cutting Pizzo loose). Putting on a takedown clinic in the first, Megaludis added three more takedowns before spending the final :30 looking for a turning combination. Megaludis rode Pizzo out and carried the 10-4 lead into the second period. Pizzo chose down to start the third period and Megaludis cut the Wolverine loose to a 10-5 score. Megaludis took Pizzo down at the 1:22 mark, cut him loose but fell into a takedown to lead 12-8. Megaludis escaped at the :40 marks, quickly took Pizzo down to lead 15-8 and then rode him out to carry that lead and over 2:00 riding time into the second stanza. Megaludis chose neutral to start the third period and dove through a low double to another takedown just :10 into the stanza. A Pizzo escape was swiftly followed by another Megaludis takedown. Megaludis worked to another takedown with :20 left to lead 21-10 and then rode Pizzo out to post the strong 22-10 major with 3:19 riding time.


133: Nittany Lion Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) took on No. 16 Zac Stevens at 133. Martellotti and the ranked Stevens battled evenly for the first half of the opening period before Martellotti took a blood time out with the bout scoreless. Stevens got in on a single leg on the reset and took Martellotti down at the 1:09 mark to take a 2-1 lead after a quick Martellotti escape. Stevens countered a Martellotti shot at the :30 mark for another takedown and, with a ride out, led 4-1 after the opening period. Stevens chose down to start the second period and quickly reversed Martellotti to lead 6-1 just :20 into action. Stevens then controlled the Nittany Lion sophomore until the 1:00 mark before he escaped and cut the lead to 6-2. Down by four, Martellotti chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 6-3 deficit. But Stevens moved around Martellotti for another takedown to up his lead to 8-4 at the 1:28 mark. Stevens tacked on one more takedown on and then Martellotti took the Wolverine senior down for a takedown of his own to cut the lead to 10-7 at the :45 mark. Martellotti worked to turn Stevens for back points, but Stevens was able to kill the clock to escape with an 11-7 victory.

141: Facing his second top-five opponent in three nights, Penn State junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) met top-ranked Kellen Russell at 141. Russell notched the first takedown early to lead 2-1 with 2:12 on the clock as Pearsall escaped quickly. Pearsall fought off a couple more Russell scoring attacks over the next minute before Russell connected on a high single leg for another takedown with :40 left. Russell then added three back points as the period wound down to lead 7-1 after one. Russell chose down to start the second period and reversed Pearsall to up his lead to 9-1. Trailing by eight, Pearsall chose down to start the final period and was allowed up to a 9-2 deficit. Pearsall countered a Russell shot as the bout wound down, nearly notching a takedown. But Russell was able to fight off the final blast and added a late takedown and riding time point to post the 12-2 major decision.

149: Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, met Michigan's Eric Grajales, who was ranked No. 7. Molinaro set the tempo early, forcing Grajales backwards from each starting whistle before connecting on a fast high single duck-under to lead 2-0 with 1:57 on the clock. Grajales escaped quickly but Molinaro used another high single to take Grajales down and then began working for a turning combination. Molinaro dominated action from the top, riding Grajales out to lead 4-1 with 1:26 in riding time after the opening period. Molinaro chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. The Lion continued to force Grajales backwards as the Wolverine worked the edge of the mat. Molinaro fought off Grajales first shot at the :12 mark of the second period and led 5-1 with 1:13 riding time after two. Grajales chose down to start the final period but could not break free of Molinaro as the Lion senior tacked on over a minute's more riding time to clinch the bonus point. The top-ranked Nittany Lion then kept Grajales bellied out for the remainder of the match, posting the 6-1 major with 3:13 riding time.

157: Red-shirts freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 6 at 157, took on Brandon Zeerip. Alton took Zeerip down right out of the gates and led 2-1 after a quick Zeerip escape. Alton nearly added a second score, but Zeerip was able to work his way out of bounds in front of the Michigan bench to keep the bout close with 1:38 left. The senior Wolverine countered an Alton shot and took a 3-2 lead with :24 on the clock. A ride out allowed the Wolverine to lead 3-2 after one period. Zeerip chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 4-2 lead. Alton gained control of Zeerip's left thigh but was countered and action moved out of bounds with the Nittany Lion still down by two. Alton drove through Zeerip at the :20 mark and worked his way for a tying takedown and rode the Wolverine out to tie the bout at 4-4 after two periods. Alton chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-4 lead. Alton nearly connected on another high double, but Zeerip fought off the move and shifted action out of bounds at the 1:00 mark with Alton still leading by one. Alton fought off a late Zeerip flurry and escaped with a 5-4 win, putting Penn State up 10-7 heading into the lockerroom.

165: All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, met No. 14 Dan Yates. Taylor used shoulder control to toss Yates to the mat at the 1:50 mark for his first takedown. He then maintained control of Yates for over a minute and gained control of his arm for three back points and a 5-0 lead after one period (with 1:54 riding time). Taylor chose down to start the second period and steadily worked his way to an escaped and a 6-0 lead. Taylor turned a low ankle pick into a takedown and four near fall points (three back points and blood time) to up his lead to 12-0 at the :28 mark. Taylor then rode Yates out to carry that lead into the third period. Yates chose down to start the final period but Taylor made quick work of him, turning him for a final three-point near fall and a 15-0 technical fall at the 5:25 mark.

174: All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, faced off against No. 8 Justin Zeerip. Ruth wasted no time in getting in on a single leg, gaining control of Zeerip off the opening whistle and taking the eighth-ranked Wolverine down for an early lead. Ruth spent the bulk of the period in control, looking for an opportunity to lock a cradle and turn Zeerip to his back. Zeerip got hit for a first stall warning at the 1:20 mark. Ruth continued to control the action from the top position for the remainder of the period, picking up a late stall point to lead 3-0 with 2:37 riding time after one. Ruth chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead. The rest of the period was uneventful and Ruth led 4-0 after two. Zeerip chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 4-1 deficit. Ruth countered a Zeerip shot and notched a takedown on the edge of the mat to lead 6-1 with 1:27 left. Zeerip gave up another stall point and Ruth led 7-1 with a clinched riding time point with :48 left. Ruth then turned the Wolverine for three near fall points and a 10-1 lead. Another stall point and a riding time point gave Ruth a 12-1 major with 3:50 riding time.

184: Defending national champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184, met Michigan's Hunter Collins. Wright spent the first minute looking for a chance to score and broke through with a takedown at the 1:58 mark. The Lion junior then spent a minute work for back points and turned him for three with :50 on the clock, taking a 5-0 lead. Collins escaped but Wright used a slick low single to take him down with just :01 on the clock to lead 7-1 after the opening period. Collins chose down to start the second period and escaped, but Wright quickly caught him in a throw, tossing him to mat for a blistering pin at the 4:22 mark that sent the sell-out Lion crowd to its feet.

197: True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 12 at 197, was once again held out as a precaution. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), who weighed in at 174, moved up two weights once more and this time met No. 15 Max Huntley of Michigan. The duo battled through an even first period with neither man finding a chance to score. Huntley chose down to start the second period and worked his way to an escape and a 1-0 lead. McIntosh was the aggressor during the third period, forcing Huntley to the edge of the mat throughout the period. Brown could not break through to score and chose down to start the third period. The Lion freshman escaped to a 1-1 tie with 1:40 on the clock and immediately began forcing Huntley backwards once again. Huntley got hit with a first stall warning with 1:25 on the clock. Brown worked to get in on a high single, but Huntley was able to fight off the move and keep the bout tied at 1-1 with :30 on the clock. Huntley then shot, but Brown countered the move, took the ranked 197-pounder down and sent the crowd to its feet once more with a 3-1 win.

285: Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at heavyweight, battled No. 10 Ben Apland of Michigan. Wade got the bout's first takedown early, using a low single to open up a 2-0 lead early. Wade then dominated the action from the top position, turning Apland to his back for three near fall points and a 5-0 lead with 1:00 on the clock. Wade reset himself and gained control of Apland's arm and turning him once more for three back points. Wade led 8-0 with 2:37 riding time after one period. Wade chose top to start the second period

Nittany Lion Wrestlers Hammer #7 Nebraska 31-6 in Key Big Ten Road Dual

Lions win eight of ten bouts and post lopsided 25-3 takedown edge in road rout

               LINCOLN, Neb.; February 3, 2012 - The second-ranked Penn State wrestling team travelled to Lincoln, Neb., to take on No. 7 Nebraska in the first-ever Big Ten dual between the two teams and recorded yet another statement victory. Penn State won eight of ten bouts on its way to a lopsided 31-6 win over the home standing Cornhuskers, keeping its hopes of the Big Ten regular season dual meet title alive.

The host Cornhuskers opted to draw for the starting weight and the match began at 174. Nittany Lion All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2, pinned Husker Tyler Koehn at the 5:58 mark to give Penn State an early 6-0 lead.  All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184 and battling a serious cold all week long, took down No. 7 Josh Ihnen 9-6, nearly pinning the seventh-ranked grappler right out of the gates and using that quick flurry to coast to victory.

At 197, 12th-ranked true freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) was cleared to wrestle but was held out as a precaution. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), who weighed in at 174, moved up two weights and beat starting Husker senior James Nakashima, 2-1. The win put the Lions up 12-0 after three bouts. Senior heavyweight Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at 285, then dominated No. 9 Tucker Lane of Nebraska, picking up an 8-2 win with 1:31 in riding time. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 125, tacked on a 23-6 technical fall over Shawn Nagel (5:59) to give Penn State a 20-0 lead at the midway point of the dual.

At 133, sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) nearly downed No. 18 Ridge Kelly, but the ranked Husker notched a late reversal to steal a 4-3 win and put NU on the board. Junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) then lost a hard fought 6-1 decision to No. 5 Jake Sueflohn at 141 to cut Penn State's lead to 20-6.

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, dominated Husker Skylar Galloway, posting a 14-6 major with 4:53 in riding time. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 6 at 157, then beat No. 7 James Green in a thrilling 2-1 overtime bout. Sophomore All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, then closed out the lopsided Penn State win with a resounding 13-3 major over No. 6 Robert Kokesh of Nebraska.

The Nittany Lions are now 10-1 overall, 6-1 in the Big Ten, while Nebraska falls to 14-2, 5-2 in the Big Ten. The sixth Big Ten dual meet victory ties the Penn State record for conference dual wins in a season with the team having a chance to set a new school mark on Sunday. Molinaro moved into tenth all-time on Penn State's dual meet win list with his victory at 149, he now has 52. Penn State dominated the dual from start to finish, winning eight of the ten bouts and picking up seven bonus points off a pin, a tech fall and two majors. The Nittany Lions won the takedown battle in convincing fashion, notching a 25-3 margin in takedowns.

The Nittany Lions now head home to prep for a home dual vs. No. 12 Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 2 p.m. The dual meet is now a full sellout with no SRO tickets remaining as well. If Penn State beats the Wolverines, the Nittany Lions clinch either a share of the Big Ten regular season dual meet title or the title outright (depending on the result of Sunday's Nebraska/Minnesota dual in Minneapolis).

#2 Penn State 31, #7 Nebraska 6
February 3, 2012 - Lincoln, Neb.

174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU pinned Tyler Koehn NU, WBF (5:58) 6-0
184: #2 Quentin Wright PSU dec. #7 Josh Ihnen NU, 9-6 9-0
197: Matt Brown PSU dec. James Nakashima NU, 2-1 12-0
285: #6 Cameron Wade PSU dec. #9 Tucker Lane NU, 8-2 15-0
125: #9 Nico Megaludis PSU tech fall Shawn Nagel NU, 23-6 (TF; 5:59) 20-0
133: #18 Ridge Kelly NU dec. Frank Martellotti PSU, 4-3 20-3
141: #5 Jake Sueflohn NU dec. Bryan Pearsall PSU, 6-1 20-6
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU maj. dec. Skylar Galloway NU, 14-6 (4:53 RT) 24-6
157: #6 Dylan Alton PSU dec. #7 James Green NU, 2-1 (OT) 27-6
165: #1 David Taylor PSU maj. dec. #6 Robert Kokesh NU, 13-3 31-6
Attendance: 2,673
Records: #2 Penn State 10-1, 6-1 B1G; #7 Nebraska 14-2, 5-2 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: home vs. #12 Michigan, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2 p.m.

BOUT-BY-BOUT:

174: Undefeated sophomore Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, took on NU's Tyler Koehn. Koehn got in on a quick shot but Ruth deftly stepped out of trouble. Ruth countered with his own single leg but Koehn fought off that move and the bout hit the midway point of the first period scoreless. Ruth chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped. He then gained control of Koehn's ankle and turned a low single into a double on the edge of the mat for a 3-0 lead at the 1:25 mark. The Lion sophomore then put together a dominating ride and finished off a cradle with :38 left to pick up three near fall points. Leading 6-0, Ruth rode Koehn out to carry that lead, plus 1:20 riding time, into the final period. Koehn chose neutral to start the third period and shot low on Ruth, but the Nittany Lion countered the move, worked his way into his own takedown and then clinched a cradle to get a quick pin at the 5:58 mark.

184: In yet another match-up of top ranked wrestlers, two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184, met No. 7 Josh Ihnen. Wright quickly caught Ihnen in a shoulder throw and tossed him to his back for a quick takedown and three near fall points. While Ihnen fought off the pin, Wright maintained control till the 1:30 mark and led 5-1 early. Wright tossed Ihnen one more time, picking up another takedown and led 7-2 after a quick Ihnen escape with :45 left in a furious opening period. Wright chose down to start the second period but could not break free of a strong Ihnen ride. The Husker maintained control of the Lion junior for the entire period, forcing one stall warning but picking up one of his own as well. Wright scrambled to a late escaped with :02 left and led 8-2 after two but Ihnen had 1:25 in riding time. Ihnen chose down to start the third and quickly escaped to an 8-3 deficit. Ihnen forced a scramble at the :40 mark and rolled his way to a takedown to cut the lead to 9-5 at the :30 mark after a Wright escape. Wright held on to the 9-6 win after battling a serious cold all week long.

197: True-freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 12 at 197, was cleared to wrestle but was held out as a precaution. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), who weighed in at 174, stepped up two weights to take on Nebraska senior James Nakashima. The duo battled through an even first period, with Brown fighting off a quick Nakashima shot and then forcing the tempo as the period wound down. Tied 0-0, Nakashima chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 1-0 lead at the 1:28 mark. Brown shot Nakashima out of bounds twice, forcing the Husker to the edge of the mat repeatedly. Brown shot low once again but Nakashima was able to move out of bounds once more and led 1-0 after two. Brown chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Brown's offense forced Nakashima into a stall at the 1:20 mark and the Nittany Lion freshman continued to pressure the Husker to the edge of the mat. Brown shot low on the Husker with :44 left, but the Husker countered for a near takedown. Brown forced a reset with :42 left and the score tied 1-1 and continued to pressure Nakashima. The Husker was hit with a second stall warning, giving Brown a point and a 2-1 lead while the Lion freshman nearly notched a takedown. Brown worked his way to a strong 2-1 win, up two weights.

285: In the fourth match-up of top ten wrestlers, Nittany Lion senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at 285, met No. 9 Tucker Lane. Wade fought off an early Lane shot as Lane tried to connect on a single leg. The Nittany Lion senior then took Lane down on a counter for a 2-0 lead. Lane worked his way into a position to reverse Wade, but the Lion senior forced a stalemate and maintained his lead at the :24 mark. Wade rode Lane out for the final seconds and carried that two point lead into the second period. Lane chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-1 deficit. The duo then battled through an even period and Wade led by one after two periods. The Lion senior chose down to start the third stanza and Lane cut him loose to a 3-1 Wade lead. Lane got in on a low single but Wade confidently worked his way around the Husker for a counter and his own takedown. The Lion led 5-2 after a Lane escape with :57 on the clock. Wade countered another Lane shot, getting a final takedown to roll to an 8-2 win with 1:31 riding time.

125: Ninth-ranked Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) took on Nebraska sophomore Shawn Nagel at 125. Megaludis quickly gained control of Nagel for a takedown and cut him loose right away for an early 2-1 lead. Megaludis would add two more takedown and cuts to lead 6-3 with 1:06 on the clock. The Lion freshman fought off one Nagel shot, forcing a stalemate with :30 left. The Lion then scored quickly with a high double off the reset and, after a ride out, led 8-3 after one period. Megaludis chose down to start the second period and worked his way to a reversal and then tacked on three quick takedowns to lead 14-6 with :45 left in the middle period. Megaludis then took Nagle down with :22 on the clock and turned him for three near fall points to lead 19-6 after two periods. Nagle chose down to start the final stanza and quickly gave up a stall point to fall behind 20-6. Megaludis then turned Nagle to his back for three final near fall points and a 23-6 technical fall at the 5:59 mark.

133: Penn State sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) took to the mat at 133 against No. 18 Ridge Kelly of Nebraska. The Lion sophomore scored quickly, taking the ranked Husker down for an early 2-0 lead. Kelly was not able to break free of a strong Martellotti ride as the Nittany Lion built up over 2:00 riding time while trying to turn Kelly to his back. Kelly finally escaped at the :20 mark and Martellotti led 2-1 with 2:28 riding time. Martellotti chose down to start the second stanza but this time it was Kelly who was able to maintain control. The Nittany Lion sophomore was not able to break free and Kelly notched the two minute ride out. Martellotti led 2-1 with Kelly having :28 in riding time after two. Kelly chose down to start the final period but Martellotti was able to maintain control of the Husker but was hit with a late stall warning. Kelly then scrambled around for a reversal with just :02 left and escaped the upset with a 4-3 win. Martellotti had 2:12 in riding time.

141: Junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) faced off against No. 5 Jake Sueflohn at 141. The Nittany Lion junior scrambled through an early Sueflohn scoring attempt, nearly turning it into his own score. He then countered a second Sueflohn left and kept the bout scoreless at the :30 mark. Tied 0-0, Pearsall chose down to start the second stanza. He quickly escaped and then spent :50 fighting off a Sueflohn takedown attempt before the Husker got the call at the :38 mark to take a 2-1 lead. Sueflohn chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 3-1 lead. Sueflohn then added a second takedown with 1:00 on the clock to take a 5-1 lead. A riding time point gave the fifth-ranked Husker a 6-1 win.

149: Undefeated senior Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, met Husker Skylar Galloway. Molinaro scored early, getting a takedown just over :30 into the bout to lead 2-0. He then dominated the action from the top position, building up 2:17 in riding time with the ride out. Molinaro chose down to start the second and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Another high single leg led to a second takedown and the Lion cut Galloway loose. The top-ranked senior then used a high double to lift Galloway off the ground for a third takedown and a 7-1 lead with :53 left in the middle stanza. Galloway countered a Molinaro shot, got his own takedown only to be quickly reversed by the Nittany Lion, giving Molinaro a 9-4 lead with over 3:00 riding time for a clinched bonus point. Galloway chose down to start the third period and was cut loose and immediately takedown down by the Lion. Molinaro added another takedown and then spent the remainder of the bout looking for back points. While not picking up any back points, the Lion walked away with a 13-6 major decision with 4:53 in riding time.

157: Sixth-ranked freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) met No. 7 James Green in a key battle at 157. The evenly matched duo battled through a scoreless first period, with neither man finding an opening in which to move through to score. Green chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Alton gained control of Green's shoulders, pulled him down to the mat and then worked his way into a low single. But Green was able to work the action out of bounds to hold his one point lead at the :57 mark. Alton fought off a late Green shot and trailed by one after two periods. Alton chose down to start the third and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Alton gained control of Green's leg, worked to pull him in but was nearly countered for an NU takedown. The scramble led to no scoring and action resumed in the center circle tied 1-1 with :40 on the clock. With no one scoring down the stretch, action moved into a sudden victory overtime. Alton nearly got taken down at the :18 mark, but the Lion was able to fight off the move and send the bout to overtime. Alton was down to start the first overtime period and quickly escaped to a 2-1 lead. Green was down for the second period and Alton strongly rode the Husker out to post the 2-1 OT victory.

165: Undefeated sophomore David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1, met No. 6 Robert Kokesh in a marquee match-up at 165. Taylor spent the first minute-plus working Kokesh's shoulders, looking for an opening to score. The sophomore finally notched the takedown, rolling through Kokesh at the :39 mark for a 2-0 lead. Taylor then rode the Husker out to carry that lead into the second period. Kokesh chose down to start the second period. Kokesh got his escape at the 1:20 mark, but Taylor quickly turned him to his back for a takedown and two near fall points. Kokesh escaped to a 6-2 deficit, but Taylor quickly took him to his back once again for a takedown and two more near fall points. Leading 10-2, Taylor chose neutral to start the final period. The Lion All-American added another takedown at the 1:06 mark and upped his lead to 12-2. With 2:51 in riding time, Taylor went on to post the convincing 13-3 major over the sixth-ranked Kokesh.

Eight Nittany Lions Ranked Among Top 12 in Latest Intermat Rankings

Team ranked No. 2 in latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll and No. 1 in Team TPI

           UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; January 31, 2012 - Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team continue to be ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Four Nittany Lion All-Americans are ranked in the top two and all eight are listed in the top 12. Penn State is now 9-1 overall, 5-1 in the Big Ten, after a resounding 34-9 thumping of Ohio State in a sold out Rec Hall last Sunday. Head coach Cael Sanderson's Lions are ranked No. 2 in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll and continue to hold the No. 1 in Intermat's Tournament Power Index (TPI).

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 21-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) is 19-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 21-0 at ranked No. 2 at 174. Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is No. 2 at 184 with an 18-2 mark.

Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 18-4 at heavyweight and is ranked No. 6 and red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 16-4 at 157 and ranked No. 6. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 17-5 at 125 and ranked No. 9 while classmate Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 14-5 at 197 and ranked No. 12.

Penn State is now ranked No. 2 in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll. Oklahoma State is No. 1 with 250 points while the Lions follow with 236. Cornell is No. 3 with 227; Minnesota is No. 4 with 214 and Iowa No. 5 with 212. The Nittany Lions retain their hold on the No. 1 spot on Intermat's Tournament Power Index with 102.0 points while Oklahoma State is second with 81.5. Minnesota (73.0), Cornell (69.5) and Iowa (54.0) follow to round out the TPI top five.

The Nittany Lions will trek to Lincoln, Neb., on Friday, Feb. 3, for a Big Ten dual with the Cornhuskers beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central (local to site). Penn State's next home dual is against No. 10 Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 2 p.m. While seats for the dual are now sold out, a limited number of Standing Room Only tickets remain. Fans can purchase these SRO ducats by calling 1-800-NITTANY or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office.

Penn State Wrestlers Thrash No. 5 Ohio State 34-9 in Sold Out Rec Hall

Nearly 7,000 fans watch Penn State win eight of ten to roll over visiting Buckeyes

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; January 29, 2012 - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team followed up a win over Iowa with yet another statement victory by hammering visiting Ohio State 34-9 in a key Big Ten dual. Penn State won eight of ten bouts in front of yet another sold out Rec Hall crowd of nearly 7,000 fans, not giving up a single takedown in its eight victories over the fifth-ranked Buckeyes.

True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 8 at 125, opened up the dual with a dominating 6-2 win over No. 15 Johnni Dejulius with 2:41 in riding time. Buckeye Logan Stieber, ranked No. 3 at 133, then pinned Nittany Lion sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) at the 1:38 mark. At 141, Lion junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) battled No. 6 Hunter Stieber tough before dropping a 9-5 decision, giving the Buckeyes a 9-3 lead.

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, began a Penn State onslaught with a thorough dismantling of Ohio State's Alex Gordon. Molinaro posted a 12-0 major with an impressive 5:20 in riding time. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) then hammered No. 20 John Demas, shutting out the ranked Buckeye 4-0 with 1:28 in riding time to give Penn State a 10-9 lead heading into the halftime break.

Coming out of the locker room, All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, posted a devastating 18-3 tech fall over Ohio State's Derek Garcia (6:20). Keeping the Lion train rolling, All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) ranked No. 2 at 174, pinned No. 8 Nick Heflin in the first period, getting the fall at the 2:05 mark.. Defending national champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184, then pinned Buckeye Craig Thomas at the 3:18 mark for Penn State's third straight bonus point win. In a much-anticipated bout at 197, Lion true freshman Morgan McIntosh, ranked No. 12 at 197, took care of No. 20 Andrew Campolattano with a 5-4 win. Senior heavyweight Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at heavyweight, then took care of No. 16 Peter Capone, posting a 9-0 major with 3:00 in riding time to cap off the 34-9 win.

The Nittany Lions are now 9-1 overall, 5-1 in the Big Ten, while Ohio State falls to 9-3, 3-3. The Nittany Lions dominated the match from start to finish, winning eight of ten bouts, notching 10 bonus points off two pins, a tech fall and two majors, and winning the takedown war by a gaudy 16-4 margin. Penn State did not give up a single takedown in its eight victories and had five wrestlers get riding time points.

The Nittany Lions will trek to Lincoln, Neb., on Friday, Feb. 3, for a Big Ten dual with the Cornhuskers beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central (local to site). Penn State's next home dual is against No. 10 Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 2 p.m. While seats for the dual are now sold out, a limited number of Standing Room Only tickets remain. Fans can purchase these SRO ducats by calling 1-800-NITTANY or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office.

#2 Penn State 34, #5 Ohio State 9
January 29, 2012 - Rec Hall - University Park, Pa.

125: #8 Nico Megaludis PSU dec. #15 Johnni Dejulius OSU, 6-2 3-0
133: #3 Logan Stieber OSU pinned Frank Martellotti PSU, WBF (1:38) 3-6
141: #6 Hunter Stieber OSU dec. Bryan Pearsall PSU, 9-5 3-9
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU maj. dec. Alex Gordon, 12-0 (5:20 RT) 7-9
157: #7 Dylan Alton PSU dec. #20 Josh Demas OSU, 4-0 10-9
165: #1 David Taylor PSU tech fall Derek Garcia OSU, 18-3 (6:20) 15-9
174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU pinned #8 Nick Heflin OSU, WBF (2:05) 21-9
184: #2 Quentin Wright PSU pinned Craig Thomas OSU, WBF (3:18) 27-9
197: #12 Morgan McIntosh PSU dec. #20 Andrew Campolattano OSU, 5-4 30-9
285: #6 Cameron Wade PSU maj. dec. #16 Peter Capone, 9-0 34-9
Attendance: 6,728
Records: #2 Penn State 9-1, 5-1 B1G; #5 Ohio State 9-3, 3-3 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: at Nebraska, Friday, Feb. 3, 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central (local to site)

BOUT-BY-BOUT:

125: True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) met fellow true freshman Johnni Dejulius in a battle of ranked 125-pounders. Megaludis entered the bout ranked No. 8 while Dejulius was ranked No. 15. Megaludis gained control of Dejulius' right leg with a high single and steadily worked his way into a scoring position, getting the takedown for a 2-0 lead at the 1:20 mark. The true freshman then maintained control for :51 before the Buckeye escaped to a 2-1 Lion lead. Dejulius chose down to start the second period and Megaludis gained control of the Buckeyes arm, working to turn the Buckeye over for back points with an arm bar. A dangerous hold call stopped action with Megaludis still in control with over 2:00 riding time. Dejulius escaped to a 2-2 tie, but Megaludis continued to pressure the Buckeye, forcing him into defense for the rest of the period. Tied 2-2 but with 2:11 in time to his advantage, Megaludis chose down to start the third and quickly escaped to 3-2 lead. A quick low single led to another Megaludis takedown with :40 left, giving the Lion a 5-2 lead with a clinched riding time point. Megaludis then maintained control for the remainder of the match and rolled to a 6-2 win with 2:41 in riding time.

133: Nittany Lion sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) took on Ohio State's Logan Stieber, who was ranked No. 3 at 133. Stieber got in on a quickly single leg and drove through for an early takedown and a 2-0 lead. He then worked his way into a pin, getting the fall over Martellotti at the 1:38 mark.

141: Penn State junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) battled Buckeye Hunter Stieber, who was ranked No. 6 at 141. Stieber scored first, using a high single to take Pearsall down for an early 2-0 lead. Stieber put together a strong ride, trying to turn Pearsall for back points before cutting him loose at the 1:38 mark with 1:04 in riding time. Another quick high single led to a second Stieber takedown and a 4-1 lead for the sixth-ranked Buckeye. Stieber then rode Pearsall out and led 4-1 with 2:11 in riding time after one period. Stieber chose down to start the second period but could not break free of a strong Pearsall ride as the Lion junior maintained control for over a minute. But the sixth-ranked sophomore worked his way into a reversal at the :50 mark to take a 6-1 lead. But Pearsall answered the reversal to cut the lead to 6-3 as the period ended. The Lion junior took down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 6-4 deficit, but Stieber had 1:59 in riding time. Stieber took a low single and worked his way into a takedown and an 8-4 lead with a clinched riding time point at the :45 mark. Pearsall escaped to an 8-5 deficit and continued to pressure the Buckeye, looking for his takedown. Stieber held off a late Pearsall shot and posted the 9-5 decision.

149: Top-ranked Nittany Lion Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) faced off against Alex Gordon at 149. The Lion senior pressured Gordon from the offset, forcing the Buckeye back on his heels. Molinaro connected on a head inside single to take a 2-0 lead with 1:558 left. He then turned Gordon to his back for three near fall points and a 5-0 lead. Molinaro reset himself after action moved out of bounds and maintained control of the Buckeye for the rest of the period to lead 5-0 with 2:03 in time after one. Molinaro chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 6-0 lead. Another takedown with 1:20 left gave the Lion an 8-0 lead and another turn for two near fall points put him up 10-0. Down by ten, Gordon chose down to start the third period (Molinaro had a riding time point clinched). Molinaro spent the entire period trying to turn Gordon for more back points, picking up a stall point in the process. Molinaro posted a 12-0 win with 5:20 in riding time.

157: Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 7 at 157, met Ohio State's Josh Demas, who was ranked No. 20. Alton dove through a high double at the 1:37 mark to take a 2-0 lead, getting the takedown in front of the Buckeye bench. He then maintained control of Demas for over a minute, looking for a chance to turn his foe and forcing him into a first stall warning with :25 on the clock. Alton rode Demas out to lead by two with 1:41 in riding time after one period. Alton chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. The Lion continued to pressure Demas, forcing the Buckeye backwards for the rest of the period. Demas, down 3-0 and giving up 1:38 in time, chose neutral to start and Alton quickly got in on a single. Demas once again worked his way towards the outside circle and forced a reset with 1:30 on the clock. Demas took a shot at the 1:00 mark of the third period but Alton nearly turned it into a throw. With the riding time point clinched, Alton rolled on to a 4-0 win to give Penn State a 10-9 lead at the break.

165: Top-ranked Penn Stater David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) met OSU freshman Derek Garcia at 165. Taylor used a blazing fast low single to notch the first takedown at the 2:00 mark. Garcia got hit with a first stall warning quickly as the Buckeyes continued to belly out underneath. Taylor cut Garcia loose at the :30 mark and then worked his way for a second takedown even as Garcia worked to move out of bounds. Up 4-1 with :18 left, Taylor maintained control of the Buckeye for the ride out. Garcia chose down to start the second period and Taylor cut him loose. Garcia got in on a high single, but Taylor easily countered for his own takedown and a 6-2 lead with 1:25 on the clock. Taylor picked up a stall point before turning Garcia to his back. But the Buckeye was able to roll out of trouble without any near falls. Taylor cut Garcia loose, took him down against with :30 on the clock. A third stall gave Taylor a 10-3 lead and two near fall points put him up 12-3 after two periods. Taylor chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 13-3 lead. The Lion sophomore countered another Garcia shot, took him down for a 15-3 lead, and then turned him for three near fall points and the 18-3 technical fall at the 6:20 mark.

174: Second-ranked Nittany Lion Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) took on Ohio State's Nick Heflin, who was ranked No. 8 at 174. Ruth shot quick out of the gates, turning a high double into a scramble on the edge of the mat. But Heflin was able to keep from giving up the takedown and the match remained scoreless. Ruth countered a Heflin shot and then nearly completed a cradle on the takedown. Heflin fought to his belly and the Lion led 2-0. Ruth reset himself, worked his way into a position for a cradle and locked it up. The Lion All-American finished off the eighth-ranked Buckeye at the 2:05 mark with the pin.

184: Second-ranked Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) battled Buckeye Craig Thomas at 184. Wright quickly took the Buckeye down, taking a 2-0 lead just :30 into the bout. The All-American then began working for a chance to turn Thomas, steadily breaking the Buckeye down while building up a solid riding time edge. Wright got two near fall points before Thomas rolled over and out of trouble, giving the Nittany Lion a 4-1 lead at the 1:10 mark. Another high Wright double leg led to a 6-1 lead less than :20 after that and the Nittany Lion once again set to breaking Thomas down. He picked up a riding tim point and then added on two more near fall points to lead 9-1 with :11 on the clock. Wright chose down to start the second, quickly escaped and then caught Thomas in a shoulder throw, tossing the Buckeye to the mat and getting the pin at the 3:18 mark, just :18 into the second period.

197: True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 12 at 197, met Ohio State's Andrew Campolattano, who was ranked No. 20. McIntosh gained control of Campolattano's left ankle and steadily worked his way to a 2-0 lead with a takedown at the 1:47 mark. The Buckeye quickly escaped and action moved to the center circle with McIntosh up by a point. Another low ankle pick by McIntosh led to a second takedown and a 4-2 lead after a quick Campolattano escaped. Campolattano chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-3 McIntosh lead. McIntosh continued to shoot low, working for a takedown, but an injury forced McIntosh to call for time out, allowing the Buckeye to choose down and escape to a 4-4 tie. With the score deadlocked heading into the third, McIntosh chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-4 lead. The ranked duo battled evenly for the bulk of the period, with the Nittany Lion freshman fighting off a late shot to hold on for a thrilling 5-4 win.

285: Nittany Lion senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at heavyweight, met Buckeye Peter Capone, who was ranked No. 16. Each wrestler took an early shot, with neither man breaking through to score early. The ranked duo battled through an even first period and action moved to the second scoreless. Capone chose down to start the second period and Wade quickly gained control of the Buckeye, working for back points. The Lion senior dominated action from the top, controlling Capone for the full two minutes. Tied 0-0 but with 2:00 riding time to his favor, Wade chose down to start the final period. Wade deftly reversed the 16th-ranked Buckeye for a 2-0 lead and then he once again went to work, turning the Buckeye for three near fall points and a 5-0 lead. After a reset, Wade picked up three more back points and posted a dominating 9-0 major with 3:00 in riding time.

Eight Nittany Lions Ranked Among Top 12 in Latest Intermat Rankings

Team ranked No. 2 in latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll and No. 1 in Team TPI

           UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; January 25, 2012 - Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team continue to be ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Four Nittany Lion All-Americans are ranked in the top two and all eight are listed in the top 12. Penn State is now 8-1 overall, 4-1 in the Big Ten, after its resounding 22-12 win over Iowa in a sold out Rec Hall last Sunday. Head coach Cael Sanderson's Lions are ranked No. 2 in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll and continue to hold the No. 1 in Intermat's Tournament Power Index (TPI).

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 20-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) is 18-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 20-0 at ranked No. 2 at 174. Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is No. 2 at 184 with a 17-2 mark.

Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 17-4 at heavyweight and is ranked No. 6 and red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 15-4 at 157 and ranked No. 7. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 16-5 at 125 and ranked No. 8 while classmate Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 13-5 at 197 and ranked No. 12.

Penn State is now ranked No. 2 in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll. Oklahoma State remains No. 1 with 250 points with the Nittany Lions at No. 2 with 235. Minnesota is No. 3 with 228 while Cornell is No. 4 with 225 and Ohio State No. 5 with 206. The Nittany Lions retain their hold on the No. 1 spot on Intermat's Tournament Power Index with 103.0 points while Oklahoma State is second with 81.0. Minnesota (74.5), Cornell (67.5) and Iowa (50.5) follow to round out the TPI top five.

Penn State's next dual is on Sunday, Jan. 29, when No. 5 Ohio State invades Rec Hall for a dual that is already sold out, including the allotted Standing Room Only tickets. Penn State hosts Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. and a limited number of SRO tickets do remain for that battle. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased by calling 1-800-NITTANY or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

Nittany Lion Wrestlers Down #2 Iowa 22-12 Front of Sold Out Rec Hall Crowd

True freshman Morgan McIntosh clinches the dual to the delight of nearly 7,000

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; January 22, 2012 - The third-ranked Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team reeled off seven straight wins to run away from No. 2 Iowa in a marquee Big Ten dual today in sold out Rec Hall. Nearly 7,000 fans came to their feet as true freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) clinched the dual with a win over Iowa All-American Grant Gambrall at 197.

The bout began with a thriller at 125, where No. 2 Matt McDonough of Iowa was taken to sudden victory by talented Penn State freshman Nico Megaludis, ranked No. 8. The true freshman dropped a 3-1 (sv) decision. Iowa followed that up with a pin at 133, where No. 2 Tony Ramos pinned Lion sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.). The Hawkeyes made it three straight out of the gates when No. 3 Montell Marion posted a hard-fought 7-3 decision over Penn State junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) at 141.

Penn State got on the scoreboard at 149 when Nittany Lion senior Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1, dominated Iowa's Mike Kelly to the tune of an 11-5 decision. The three-time All-American had over 3:00 in riding time. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 8 at 157, followed that up with a sound 5-3 win over Iowa's Nick Moore and Penn State trailed 12-6 at the break.

Nittany Lion All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, dominated No. 6 Mike Evans of Iowa to the tune of a 9-4 decision with over 3:00 in riding time. Fellow All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, then hammered No. 9 Ethan Lofthouse, posting a dominating 10-1 major decision with 2:45 in riding time as well. Defending national champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184, posted a solid 8-2 win over Iowa's Vinnie Wagner, setting up the heroics at 197.

McIntosh, ranked No. 12 at 197, took returning Hawkeye All-American Grant Gambrall to sudden victory tied a 3-3 and then sent a packed Rec Hall into hysterics with a takedown and a 5-3 (sv) win. The win clinched the dual and then Nittany Lion senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at heavyweight, closed it out with a superb 4-0 win over Iowa's Blake Raising.

The Nittany Lions are now 8-1 overall, 4-1 in the Big Ten, while Iowa falls to 9-3, 4-2 in the loop. While Penn State only managed one bonus point (on Ruth's major), Penn State dominated the dual by winning seven of the ten bouts and posting an 18-10 takedown advantage.

Penn State's next action will be against Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m., in an already sold out Rec Hall. No standing room only tickets are left for the battle with the Buckeyes. Penn State's next home dual is against No. 10 Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 2 p.m. A very limited number of tickets remain for that top-ten battle. Fans can purchase tickets for the Michigan dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

#3 Penn State 22, #2 Iowa 12
January 22, 2012 - Rec Hall - University Park, Pa.

125: #2 Matt McDonough IOWA dec. #8 Nico Megaludis PSU, 3-1 (sv) 0-3
133: #3 Tony Ramos IOWA pinned Frank Martellotti PSU, WBF (4:20) 0-9
141: #3 Montell Marion IOWA dec. Bryan Pearsall PSU, 7-3 0-12
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU dec. Mike Kelly IOWA, 11-5 3-12
157: #8 Dylan Alton PSU dec. Nick Moore IOWA, 5-3 6-12
165: #1 David Taylor PSU dec. #6 Mike Evans IOWA, 9-4 9-12
174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU maj. dec. #9 Ethan Lofthouse IOWA, 10-1 13-12
184: #2 Quentin Wright PSU dec. Vinnie Wagner IOWA, 8-2 16-12
197: #12 Morgan McIntosh PSU dec. Grant Gambrall IOWA, 5-3 (sv) 19-12
285: #6 Cameron Wade PSU dec. Blake Raising IOWA, 4-0 22-12
Attendance: 6,796
Records: #3 Penn State (8-1, 4-1 B1G), #2 Iowa (9-3, 4-2 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: vs. Ohio State, Saturday, Jan. 29, 2 p.m., Rec Hall

BOUT-BY-BOUT:

125: Penn State true freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 8 at 125, took on two time All-American and former national champion Matt McDonough, who entered the bout ranked No. 2. The duo battled evenly for the first minute-plus with neither man getting in on a shot to score. Megaludis countered an early McDonough headlock attempt, got in on a single leg and worked to finalize his own takedown as the period wound down. While neither man scored, the flurry allowed the match to move to the second tied 0-0. McDonough chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Megaludis took a high single shot but McDonough was able to counter and pressure the Lion, looking for his first takedown. Megaludis shot again as the period wound down and McDonough countered to kill the clock. Megaludis chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 1-1 tie with :55 on the clock. With McDonough only having :45 riding time, the match moved into the final seconds tied 1-1. Megaludis fought off a late McDonough shot and sent the match to overtime. McDonough notched a takedown with just :02 left on the clock to give the second-ranked grappler a 3-1 SV win and put Iowa up 3-0 early.

133: Sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) took to the mat at 133 to battle No. 3 Tony Ramos of Iowa. Ramos notched the first takedown early and led 2-1 after a quick Martellotti escape. The third-ranked Ramos added a second takedown at the :20 mark and the ride out gave the Hawkeye a 4-1 lead after one period. Ramos chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. Ramos then took Martellotti down again and finished off a cradle for a pin at the 4:20 mark.

141: Junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) faced off against Iowa senior Montell Marion, who was ranked No. 3 at 141. Pearsall and Marion battled evenly for the first minute plus, with neither man finding an opening to score. Marion got in on a single leg at the 1:20 mark, Pearsall countered by gaining control of Marion's left leg and a stalemate was called at the 1:00 mark. Marion gained control of Pearsall's shoulder and moved behind him for a takedown and a 2-0 lead with :17 on the clock. A short ride out and Marion led by two after one. Marion chose down to start the second stanza and escaped at the 1:30 mark. Marion then countered a Pearsall shot and notched another takedown for a 5-0 lead with 1:20 left in the middle period. Pearsall escaped to a 5-1 deficit and action resumed with :50 on the clock. Marion got in on a single leg with :10 left but Pearsall was able to kill the clock and trailed 5-1 after two. Pearsall chose down to start the final period and escaped to a 5-2 deficit. Pearsall shot, was countered by Marion, but fought off the move to stay close with 1:10 left. Marion finished off a takedown with :50 left and led 7-3 after a Pearsall escape. Pearsall tried to score late but Marion was able to hold off the effort and earned a hard-fought 7-3 decision.

149: Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, met Iowa's Mike Kelly. Molinaro set the tempo early, looking for an opening to score. A high single turned into a lift and takedown with 2:17 on the clock and Molinaro led 2-0. Molinaro then put together a strong ride, building up over a minute's riding time. Kelly escaped at the :58 mark but Molinaro quickly took the Hawkeye down to lead 4-1 with :20 on the clock. A short ride-out later and the Lion led 4-1 with 1:45 riding time after one. Kelly chose down to start the second stanza but Molinaro maintained control for over a minute and led 4-2 with :40 after Kelly escaped. Leading 4-2, Molinaro chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-2 lead. Molinaro added a quick takedown to lead 7-3 with 1:09 on the clock. Kelly gained control of Molinaro's ankle, looking for his own takedown and got it with :35 on the clock to lead 8-5 after Molinaro escaped. With the riding time point clinched, Molinaro With :15 left, Molinaro closed out the win with another takedown and posted the 11-5 decision.

157: Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 8 at 157, faced off against Iowa's Nick Moore. Alton wasted no time taking the lead, getting in on a takedown to move out to a 2-0 advantage early. Moore escaped after :29, but Alton continued to pressure the Hawkeye, looking for an opening to add to his lead. Alton continued to shoot and Moore was forced into defense for the rest of the period, allowing Alton to lead 2-1 after one. Moore chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. Alton shot low after the Moore escape, gained control of his waist and led 4-2 with 1:15 left in the period. Moore escaped quickly and cut Alton's lead to one. Leading 4-3, Alton chose down to start the third and quickly escaped to a 5-3 lead. The Lion freshman used a swift low single to force a scramble in the middle of the mat. Moore was able to fight off the move and Alton continued to lead by two. Neither man would score down the stretch and Alton sent the Lions into the locker-room on a high with the 5-3 decision.

165: All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, faced off against Iowa's Mike Evans, who entered the bout ranked No. 6. Taylor quickly gained control of the Hawkeye, using a low single to double for a 2-0 lead. The sophomore then maintained control of the Hawkeye for over a minute until he cut him loose. Taylor quickly took Evans down again and cut him quickly to a 4-2 lead. Taylor continued to shoot Evans back on his heels, but the Hawkeye stepped back for the rest of the period and trailed Taylor 4-2 after one. Taylor chose down to start the second period and deftly reversed Evans for a 6-2 lead with 1:34 on the clock. Taylor controlled the action from the top, spending the next minute-plus looking for a chance to turn the Hawkeye for back points. Evans managed to not give up near fall points and Taylor led 6-2 with nearly 3:00 riding time after two. Evans chose down to start the third and Taylor immediately cut him loose. Taylor took Evans down, forced a first stall warning and then cut him loose to an 8-4 le3ad with 1:00 left. Looking for a major, Taylor continued to pressure Evans off the mat. Evans defense allowed the Hawkeye to escape without giving up bonus points as Taylor posted the 9-4 win with over 2:00 riding time.

174: All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, met Hawkeye Ethan Lofthouse, who was ranked No. 9. Ruth quickly took Lofthouse down for an early 2-0 lead, cut the ninth-ranked wrestler loose and then immediately began looking for a second takedown. With the Hawkeye wrestler back on his heels, Ruth continued to pressure Lofthouse for the next two minutes. Ruth's pressure paid off as the Lion notched a second takedown with :20 on the clock and, after a short ride out, led 4-1 with :40 in riding time after the opening period. Ruth chose down to start the second stanza and steadily worked his way to an escape and a 5-1 lead. Ruth notched another takedown with :45 on the clock, upping his lead to 7-1. The sophomore then spent the rest of the period forcing Lofthouse into a stall warning with a ride out. Lofthouse chose down to start the third period and got his with a quick stall for an 8-1 Ruth lead. Ruth turned Lofthouse to his back but did not get the back point call. He did pick up another point on stalling and, with nearly 3:00 in riding time, walked away with a resounding 10-1 major decision.

184: Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184, met Hawkeye Vinnie Wagner. Wright, like the Lions before him, set the tempo early, looking for a chance to take an early lead. Wagner got in on a single leg, but Wright was able to counter the move and nearly threw Wagner to his back for a pin. Wagner worked out of trouble and the bout resumed tied 0-0 with 1:15 left in the first period. Wright countered a Wagner shot with :15 left and took the Hawkeye down to lead 2-0 after one. Wright chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Wagner got in on a high single leg and Wright once again forced a stalemate with 1:10 on the clock. Trailing 3-0, Wagner chose down to start the third period. A quick escape cut into Wright's lead but the Lion then drove through a double leg for another takedown and a 5-1 lead for the Lion junior. Wright cut Wagner at the :52 mark and then countered a Wagner shot off the reset. Wright added one more takedown and, with the riding time point, posted the 8-2 win.

197: True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 12 at 197, met talented Hawkeye junior Grant Gambrall. McIntosh and Gambrall battled evenly for the opening minute, with McIntosh taking shots that Gambrall was able to step away from. Gambrall took a high single that led to a stalemate at the 1:15 mark and the bout moved on scoreless. McIntosh shot at the :42 mark, but Gambrall was able to counter and got a go-ahead takedown late in the period. McIntosh steadily worked his way to a reversal with :11 left to tie the bout up at 2-2 heading into the second period. McIntosh chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 lead. McIntosh gained control of Gambrall's left leg, worked his way into a scoring chance but a dangerous hold call stopped the action at the :55 mark. McIntosh nearly scored at the end of the second, but time ran out. Trailing by one, Gambrall chose down to start the final period and escaped to a 3-3 tie with 1:34 on the clock. The duo battled evenly down the stretch until McIntosh got in on a low single with :35 on the clock. Gambrall was able to defend the move and force a stalemate with :09 left, keeping the bout tied. Gambrall shot low off the opening whistle in sudden victory, but McIntosh countered the move, forcing a stalemate with :35 on the clock. McIntosh countered another Gambrall shot and this time, the Lion true freshman sent nearly 7,000 into hysterics with a dual clinching takedown. The 5-3 win with just :17 left in sudden victory put Penn State up 19-12 with just one bout remaining.

285: Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at 285, took to the mat against Iowa senior Blake Raising. Wade got the bout's first takedown at the 1:20 mark, using a swift low double to take Raising to the mat and open up an early 2-0 lead. Wade spent the remainder of the period turning Raising to his shoulder but could not get him to his back for any near fall points. Leading by two, Wade chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Neither man scored for the remainder of the second period and Wade led by three with 1:16 in riding time heading into the final period. Raising chose neutral to start the third period. The veteran duo battled evenly for much of the period with Raising getting in deep on two low doubles that Wade was able to counter and end with stalemates. Wade held on for the 3-0 win and the Lions walked away with a 22-12 win.

Penn State's Jan. 29 Home Dual with Ohio State Sold Out

All 300 Standing Room Only Tickets sold out; Lions notch third shut-out of the year to date

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; January 18, 2012 - As Penn State prepares for this Sunday's sold out dual with Iowa in Rec Hall, all 300 standing room only tickets for Penn State's Jan. 29 home dual with Ohio State have now sold out as well. The dual with the Buckeyes, set for next Sunday at 2 p.m., is Penn State's third shut-out of the year.

Rec Hall's listed capacity is 6,502 including the 300 SRO seats that are now gone for the OSU dual. Penn State was also into SRO capacity against Minnesota in November and, as stated, will be sold out for the next two Sunday duals. By the time student tickets for both Iowa and OSU duals are distributed, over 6,700 tickets for each of those duals will have been distributed prior to their starts. The Nittany Lions are already averaging over 6,100 per dual to date and that number is set to rise.

A very limited number of tickets remain for Penn State's home duals against No. 10 Michigan on Feb. 5 and No. 9 Pittsburgh on Feb. 19. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

Penn State- Wrestler Ed Ruth Named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week

Shares this week's honor with Ohio State's Logan Stieber

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; January 17, 2012 - Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending Jan. 15, 2012. The honor is the second for the Nittany Lion sophomore and he shares this week's with Ohio State's Logan Stieber.

The Lion All-American, ranked No. 2 at 174, was unstoppable in a 2-0 road weekend for Penn State in Big Ten action. Ruth made short work of No. 9 Lee Munster of Northwestern, blistering the top-ten Wildcat to the tune of an 18-3 technical fall at the 5:37 mark. Ruth helped spark Penn State to a 38-3 dismantling of No. 17 Northwestern in Evanston. Two days later, Ruth posted an equally quick 17-2 tech fall over Wisconsin's Matt Liegel at the same 5:37 mark. Ruth's win was part of Penn State's 43-0 shutout of Wisconsin in Madison. The shut-out was Penn State's first ever in a Big Ten dual and was the first shut-out of Wisconsin since 1958. Ruth improves to 19-0 on the year with six pins, six techs and three majors.

The honor is the third for Penn State this year as junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) won on Dec. 20 and sophomore All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) won on Jan. 3.

Penn State's next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of 'standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

Eight Nittany Lions Ranked in Latest Intermat Rankings

Team ranked No. 3 in latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll and No. 1 in Team TPI

           UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; January 17, 2012 - Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team continue to be ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Four Nittany Lion All-Americans are ranked in the top two and all eight are listed in the top 12. Coming off a sizzling 2-0 road weekend in the Big Ten (which featured the school's first ever Big Ten dual shutout), the Nittany Lions are ranked No. 3 in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll and continue to hold the No. 1 in Intermat's Tournament Power Index (TPI).

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 19-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) is 17-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 19-0 at ranked No. 2 at 174. Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is No. 2 at 184 with a 16-2 mark.

Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 16-4 at heavyweight and is ranked No. 6 and red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 14-4 at 157 and ranked No. 8. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 16-4 at 125 and ranked No. 8 while classmate Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 12-5 at 197 and ranked No. 12.

Penn State is now ranked No. 3 in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll. Oklahoma State remains No. 1 with 250 points while Iowa is No. 2 at 240. Penn State is No. 3 with 225, followed by Minnesota in fourth with 221 and Cornell at No. 5 with 211. The Nittany Lions retain their hold on the No. 1 spot on Intermat's Tournament Power Index with 102.0 points while Oklahoma State is second with 82.5 and Iowa is third with 81.5. Minnesota is fourth with 74.5 and Cornell is fifth with 66.5.

Penn State's next dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of 'standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

Penn State- Nick Ruggear Takes Third at Hitchcock Invitational

Red-shirting sophomore leads Lion contingent at Millersville

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; January 16, 2012 - Red-shirting sophomore Nick Ruggear (Oxford, Pa.) had a fine day at Sunday's Floyd 'Shorty' Hitchcock Invitational on the campus of Millersville University. The Nittany Lion heavyweight led a contingent of Penn Staters who competed unattached at the open event.

Ruggear, who started at 197 for Penn State last year and is red-shirting this season, went 5-1 at heavyweight with a pin. He advanced to the semifinals before losing to Lehigh's John Delia by decision. Ruggear then wrestled back to take third place.

Seven other Lions competed at the event, with each picking up victories. Freshman Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) picked up a win at 125, classmate Michael Waters (Advance, N.C.) went 3-2 at 141, freshman David Owens (Derry, N.H.) was 2-2 at 141, freshman Rex Lutz (Easton, Pa.) went 2-2 at 165, sophomore Andrew Church (Erie, Pa.) was 3-2 at 174, red-shirt freshman Brandon Phillips grabbed a victory at 174, and freshman Scott Syrek (Chester Springs, Pa.) went 2-2 at 197.

Penn State's next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of 'standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

Penn State Notches First Ever Big Ten Dual Shutout in 43-0 Win at Wisconsin

Nittany Lions also hand Badgers their first shutout since 1958

               MADISON, Wis.; January 15, 2012 - The third-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions put on a clinic against Wisconsin on Sunday in Madison, hammering the home-standing Badgers to the tune of a 43-0 shutout. The shut out marked the first time Wisconsin had been shut out in over half a century and was the first shutout for Penn State in a Big Ten dual meet.

Coming off a 38-3 dismantling of Northwestern in Evanston two days ago, Penn State continued its dominating road wrestling. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrsyville, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 125, once again gave Penn State a bolt of energy out of the gates, pinning Wisconsin's Austin Hietpas at the 6:05 mark. Sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) followed that up with a 14-6 major decision over Shane McQuade at 133 and junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) downed UW's Thomas Glenn 4-2 at 141, giving Penn State an early 13-0 lead.

All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, had no trouble with No. 9 Cole Schmitt of Wisconsin, posting a 12-0 major decision. The shutout was Molinaro's second of the weekend and his tenth of the year. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 157, closed out the first half with a solid 11-4 win over Shawn Perry, giving Penn State a 20-0 lead at intermission.

All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, opened up the second half with a quick pin of Wisconsin's Alex Yde. Taylor got the fall at the 2:28 mark in the first period. Fellow All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, followed that pin up with a 17-2 technical fall over Scott Liegel, getting the TF at 5:37. Defending National Champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184, then pinned UW's Timmy McCall, getting the fall at the 6:05 mark.

True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 12 at 197, was then dominant in a 7-3 decision over UW's Jackson Hein. Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at heavyweight, closed out the dual and secured the shut out with a 6-4 win over Cole Tobin, giving the Nittany Lions the 43-0 victory.

The Nittany Lions move to 7-1 on the year, 3-1 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin is now 5-5, 0-3 in the league. Penn State dominated the dual from start to finish, amassing a 31-2 takedown advantage and picking up 13 bonus points off three pins, one technical fall and two majors. The shut out of Wisconsin was the first for the Badgers since Iowa turned the trick 30-0 in 1958. It was Penn State's second shutout of the year and marks the first time Penn State notched a shutout in a Big Ten dual.

Penn State's next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of 'standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

#3 Penn State 43, Wisconsin 0
January 15, 2012 - Madison, Wis.

125: #10 Nico Megaludis PSU pinned Austin Hietpas UW, WBF (6:05) 6-0
133: Frank Martellotti PSU maj. dec. Shane McQuade UW, 14-6 10-0
141: Bryan Pearsall PSU dec. Thomas Glenn UW, 4-2 13-0
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU maj. dec. #9 Cole Schmitt UW, 12-0 17-0
157: #9 Dylan Alton PSU dec. Shawn Perry UW, 11-4 20-0
165: #1 David Taylor PSU pinned Alex Yde UW, WBF (2:28) 26-0
174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU tech fall Scott Liegel UW, 17-2 (TF; 5:37) 31-0
184: #2 Quentin Wright PSU pinned Timmy McCall UW, WBF (6:05) 37-0
197: #12 Morgan McIntosh PSU dec. Jackson Hein UW, 7-3 40-0
285: #6 Cameron Wade PSU dec. Cole Tobin UW, 6-4 43-0
Attendance: 701
Records: #3 Penn State (7-1, 3-1 B1G), Wisconsin (5-5, 0-3 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: vs. Iowa, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2 p.m., Rec Hall

BOUT-BY-BOUT:

125: Nittany Lion freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 125, faced off against Wisconsin's Austin Hietpas. Megaludis set the tempo of the bout from the start, forcing Hietpas into defense for the bulk of the opening period. The Nittany Lion freshman took a 2-1 lead with a takedown at the 1:40 mark and then used another quick low single to a scramble and takedown to lead 4-2 with :45 on the clock. Megaludis added two more takedowns before a rideout allowed him to lead 8-3 after one period. Megaludis chose neutral to start the second period and quickly took Hietpas down. Megaludis would pile on the takedowns and lead 19-7 with nearly 2:00 riding time after two. Hietpas chose down to start the third and Megaludis worked his way to a pin at the 6:05 mark.

133: Sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) met Badger junior Shane McQuade at 133. Martellotti got the bout's first takedown with a strong body lock for a 2-0 lead just :16 into action. The Lion sophomore then put together a strong ride before cutting the Badger junior loose at the 1:45 mark. McQuade caught Martellotti with a takedown and two near fall points, almost pinning the Lion sophomore. But Martellotti rolled through, quickly reversed him and then tacked on two near fall points of his own to lead 6-5 after one period. Martellotti chose down to start the second period and quickly worked his way into a position to notch a reversal. After a brief scramble, Martellotti got the two points and lead 8-5. Martellotti then maintained control of McQuade for the rest of the period, picking up a stall point during a ride out. McQuade chose neutral to start the third period turning a swift single into a takedown and an 11-5 lead at the 1:28 mark. The Lion then cut the Badger loose, looking for one more takedown to notch a major. Martellotti snared McQuade's foot on the edge of the mat, pulled him back into the circle and got the takedown at the :20 mark to take a 13-6 lead with a clinched riding time point. Needing a ride out without stalling to get the major, Martellotti was strong over the final :20 and posted the 14-6 major.

141: Penn State junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) battled UW's Tommy Glenn at 141. Pearsall took a quick 2-0 lead with a takedown at the 2:43 mark. He then put together a dominating ride, building up a minute-plus in riding time while looking for a chance to turn Glenn. Pearsall got called for locked hands and led 2-1 at the 1:30 mark. He turned Glenn quickly at the reset but the Badger was able to roll through and stave off any back points. Pearsall led 2-1 after one period but had two cautions and a stall warning, while totaling 2:46 in riding time. Glenn chose neutral to start the second stanza and the duo battled evenly through the period with neither man scoring. Pearsall chose down to start the third and escaped to a 3-1 lead. With the riding time point clinched, Pearsall fought off a brief Glenn flurry and walked away with a 4-2 win.

149: In a marquee match-up at 149, top-ranked All-American Lion Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) met No. 9 Cole Schmitt of Wisconsin. Molinaro notched the first takedown at the 1:48 mark, taking Schmitt down in front of the Penn State bench. The Lion senior then built up a solid riding time edge with a ride out and led 2-0 after one. Molinaro chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Molinaro turned a single leg into a scoring opportunity at the edge of the mat but Schmitt was able to move the action out of bounds and the Lion led 3-0 after two periods with 1:45 riding time. Schmitt chose down to start the third and Molinaro quickly turned the Badger to his back for two near fall points and a 5-0 lead. Another three point near fall and the Lion was quickly up 8-0 with :45 on the clock. Molinaro added another three point near fall and, with the riding time point, posted the convincing 12-0 major.

157: Nittany Lion Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 157, faced off against Shawn Perry. Alton wasted no time taking Perry down and led 2-1 at the 2:44 mark. The Lion freshman continued to set the pace, taking low singles and forcing Perry back on his heels. Alton's offensive pressure led to a second takedown at the 1:32 mark. Alton caught Perry on a reset, nearly pinning the Badger before he could roll out of trouble. Perry escaped at the :55 mark and Alton led 7-2. Leading by five, Alton chose down to start the second period and escaped to an 8-2 lead in seconds. The Lion freshman carried that six point lead into the third period where Perry chose down to begin the final stanza. Perry escaped to an 8-3 deficit and action resumed in the center circle with 1:45 on the clock. Alton dove through a low double for another takedown to lead 10-4 after cutting Perry loose at the :20 mark. Needing one more takedown, Alton scrambled for the final score but the clock ran out, giving the Nittany Lion an 11-4 decision.

165: All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, met Wisconsin's Alex Yde. Yde was making his Wisconsin dual meet debut and Taylor quickly scored on a series of takedowns and cuts, taking an early 6-3 lead a minute into the bout. Taylor added a fourth takedown and turned Yde to his back for three back points and an 11-4 lead. One more takedown later and Taylor was able to plant Yde to his back for a quick first period pin at the 2:28 mark.

174: All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, battled Badger Scott Liegel. Ruth started with a similar flurry, taking Liegel down twice in thirty seconds to lead 4-2 early on. Liegel was able to hold off Ruth for a bit, but the Lion added a third takedown with 1:27 on the clock to lead 6-2. Ruth continued to control Liegel for the rest of the period and led 6-2 with 1:40 in riding time after the opening period. Ruth chose down and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. Ruth then picked up a stall point and added another takedown to lead 10-2 at the 1:25 mark. Ruth turned Liegel to his back for two near fall points to up the margin to 12-2. Another two point turn gave Ruth a 14-2 lead heading into the third period. Liegel chose down to start the third period and Ruth first clinched the riding time point and then turned McCall to his back for three near fall points and the technical fall. The 17-2 TF came at the 5:37 mark.

184: All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184, met UW's Timmy McCall. Wright quickly threw McCall to his back, getting a fast takedown and nearly pinning him out of the gates. But McCall was able to roll out of trouble without giving up any back points and the Lion led 2-0. Wright put together a strong ride, looking for a chance to turn the Badger to his back. McCall was able to hold off Wright's efforts but the Nittany Lion's ride out gave him a 2-0 lead with 2:30 in riding time after one period. Wright chose down to start the second stanza and quickly rolled his way to a reversal and a 4-0 lead. He then maintained control of McCall for the remainder of the period and led 4-0 with 4:02 in riding time after two periods. McCall chose neutral to start the final period and Wright made him pay for the decision, catching him in a headlock and turning him to his back for a pin at the 6:05 mark.

197: Penn State's Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 12 at 197, took on Jackson Hein of Wisconsin. McIntosh got in on an early low single, turning it into a scramble that led to a takedown and a 3-1 lead as McIntosh picked up a penalty point for a locked hands call on Hein before the Badger escaped. McIntosh looked to score more in the first period but Hein was able to keep the bout close, 3-1, after one. The Lion freshman chose down to start the second and quickly escaped to a 4-1 lead. McIntosh forced Hein into a stall warning and then used a low single to finish off a takedown to lead 6-2 after a Hein escape with just :15 left. McIntosh led 6-2 after two periods, Hein chose down to start the third and quickly escaped and the Lion led 6-3. McIntosh continued to pressure Hein back, forcing the Badger towards the outside circle continuously. McIntosh used another single leg to nearly take Hein down again but did pick up a point off another Hein technical violation. The Lion freshman rolled to a 7-3 decision.

285: Veteran heavyweight Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6, met UW sophomore Cole Tobin. Wade set the tempo early, controlling the action high while looking for an opening to score with a single leg. Wade's pressure paid off as the Lion senior gained control of Tobin's leg, slid down for a low double for the takedown and a 2-0 lead at the :40 mark. A short rideout gave the Lion a 2-0 lead heading into the second period. Tobin chose neutral to start the second stanza and tied the bout with a takedown :30 into the middle period. Wade worked his way to an escaped and a 3-2 lead at the :25 mark. He then chose down to start the third period and quickly reversed the Badger for a 5-2 lead with 1:32 on the clock. Wade then maintained control until the :20 mark when Tobin reversed him to cut the lead to 6-4 after a Wade escape. Wade fought off a late Tobin shot and escaped with a 6-4 win.

Nittany Lion Wrestlers Down Northwestern 38-3 in Big Ten Road Dual

Megaludis gets key victory at 125 as Lions win nine of ten bouts on the road

               EVANSTON, Ill.; January 13, 2012 - No. 3 Penn State continued a lengthy January road trip with a 38-3 win at No. 17 Northwestern on Friday night. The Nittany Lions got a key win out of the gates from true freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) at 125 and rolled to nine wins in ten bouts.

Megaludis, ranked No. 10 at 125, got Penn State off to a fast start, posting a convincing 7-3 win over No. 7 Levi Mele in the dual's opening bout. Sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) followed that up with a sound 10-4 win over Jameson Oster at 133 and the Nittany Lions quickly bolted out to a 6-0 lead. Junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) was leading Colin Shober 4-2 at 141 in the second period when Shober was forced to take an injury default, giving Pearsall the win at the 3:18 mark and putting the Lions up 12-0.

No. 1 Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) then posted a dominating 10-0 major decision over Kaleb Friedley at 149. The All-American's major put Penn State up 16-0. In one of the dual's marquee match-ups, Nittany Lion freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) faced off against No. 3 Jason Welsh of Northwestern at 157. Alton gave the undefeated Wildcat all he could handle before dropping a 2-1 decision on riding time. Penn State led 16-3 at intermission.

Top-ranked David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) continued Penn State's roll with a 20-5 technical fall over Pierce Harger at 165. The All-American got the tech at the 7:00 mark with 4:45 in riding time. Second-ranked Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) then posted perhaps the night's most dominating win, posting an 18-3 technical fall over No. 9 Lee Munster at 174. The All-American got the tech at the 5:37 mark.

All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), also ranked No. 2, pinned NU's Marcus Shrewsbury at the 2:41 mark in the first period before Nittany Lion true freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 12 at 197, downed Wildcat senior John Schoen 6-4. Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at heavyweight, closed out the 38-3 win with a sound 6-3 victory over No. 19 Mike McMullan.

Penn State improves to 6-1 overall, 2-1 in the Big Ten with the win. Northwestern falls to 5-2, 1-2 in the conference. The Nittany Lions owned the takedown battle as well, posting a 22-4 advantage. Penn State notched 11 bonus points off an injury default, a pin, two tech falls and a major.

Penn State continues its Big Ten road swing at Wisconsin on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 2 p.m. (Eastern). Penn State's next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of 'standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

#3 Penn State 38, #17 Northwestern 3
January 13, 2012 - Evanston, Ill.

125: #10 Nico Megaludis PSU dec. #7 Levin Mele NU, 7-3 3-0
133: Frank Martellotti PSU dec. Jameson Oster NU, 10-4 6-0
141: Bryan Pearsall PSU inj. def. Colin Shober NU (Inj. Def.; 3:18) 12-0
Pearsall leading 4-2 at the time of injury default
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU maj. dec. Kaleb Friedley NU, 10-0 16-0
157: #3 Jason Welsh NU dec. #9 Dylan Alton PSU, 2-1 16-3
165: #1 David Taylor PSU tech fall Pierce Harger NU, 20-5 (TF; 7:00) 21-3
174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU tech fall #9 Lee Munster NU, 18-3 (TF; 5:37) 26-3
184: #2 Quentin Wright PSU pinned Marcus Shrewsbury NU (WBF; 2:41) 32-3
197: #12 Morgan McIntosh PSU dec. John Schoen NU, 6-4 35-3
285: #6 Cameron Wade PSU dec. #19 Mike McMullan NU, 6-3 38-3
Attendance: 719
Records: #3 Penn State (6-1, 2-1 B1G), #17 Northwestern (5-2, 1-2 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: at Wisconsin, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2 p.m. (Eastern)

BOUT-BY-BOUT:

125: True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 125, met No. 7 Levi Mele in one of the dual's most anticipated match-ups. Mele gained control of Megaludis' head early but the Lion freshman worked out of trouble and shot low for a quick takedown attempt of his own. But Mele scrambled out of trouble twice and forced a stalemate at the 1:55 mark, still scoreless. Another low single by Megaludis off the reset gave the Lion a 2-1 lead at the 1:41 mark after a quick Mele escape. Megaludis got in on another low single with a quick shot off the reset, forcing a scramble in the center circle. But Mele once again forced a stalemate with Megaludis up 2-1 at the :32 mark. Megaludis forced Mele into a stall warning and then notched a takedown at the buzzer to lead 4-1 after one. Mele chose down to start the second stanza and escaped to a 4-2 deficit at the 1:36 mark. Nico used another low ankle pick for his third takedown off a reset and led 6-2 at the midway point of the second stanza. A Mele escape at the :52 mark cut into that lead, but Megaludis continued to connect on low singles. Mele forced a stalemate on a potentially dangerous hold and action resumed with Megaludis up 6-3 at the :27 mark. Megaludis chose down on the reset but Mele was able to ride the Lion freshman out to end the period. Megaludis chose down to start the third period and steadily worked his way to an escape and a 7-3 lead at the 1:38 mark. Mele got in on his first real scoring attempt off a reset at the 1:10 mark, but Megaludis was able to force a scramble that worked the clock down to the :30 mark before the reset. The Lion freshman then used a low double to force Mele into defense for the rest of the bout and the Lion posted the 7-3 win.

133: Sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) faced off against Wildcat Jameson Oster at 133. Martellotti notched the first takedown by using a single leg to pull Oster onto the mat, finishing off the move at the 2:19 mark. The Lion sophomore then put together a strong ride, maintaining control of Oster for over a minute while forcing the Wildcat into a first stall warning. Martellotti tried to turn Oster for back points, got caught and reversed as time wound down, then immediately reversed the Wildcat for his own two points and then nearly pinned him at the buzzer. The five point flurry gave him a 7-2 lead after one period. Martellotti chose down to start the second stanza but could not break free of a solid Oster ride. Oster worked off Martellotti's riding time advantage first and then finished off the ride out. Trailing 7-2, Oster chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 7-3 deficit at the 1:18 mark. The duo battled evenly until Martellotti gained control of Oster's body and tossed him to the mat for another takedown and, with the riding time point, notch a 10-4 win (Oster escaped late).

141: Junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) went to battle at 141 against NU' Colin Shober. Shober had the first scoring chance of the bout but Pearsall was able to fight off the move and force a stalemate at the 1:59 mark. The tandem battled through the next minute-plus looking for an opening to score with each man's defense equal to the task. But Shober broke into the scoring column, rolling Pearsall to the mat for a takedown at the :23 mark to lead 2-0. Pearsall spun out of Shober's control at the buzzer and was awarded an escape to trail by one after the opening stanza. Pearsall chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. He then got in on a single leg, took Shober down and the Wildcat was unable to continue due to an injury. The injury default win for Pearsall came at the 3:18 mark.

149: No. 1 Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) put his undefeated record on the line against Northwestern's Kaleb Friedley at 149. Molinaro gained control of the match quickly with an early takedown, tacking on a solid ride to build up over 2:00 riding time while looking for a chance to turn the Wildcat to his back. Friedley was able to hold off on giving up any back points, but the ride out gave Molinaro a 2-0 lead with 2:15 in riding time after one. Molinaro chose down to start the second period and Friedley worked off a minute's worth of time before Molinaro rolled through Friedley's control for a reversal and a 4-0 lead at the :58 mark. The Nittany Lion All-American maintained control of the Wildcat for the rest of the period to lead 4-0 with 2:17 in riding time heading into the third period. Friedley chose down to start the third period but this time Molinaro was able to turn the Wildcat to his back for two near fall points and a 6-0 lead with 1:28 left to wrestle. The Lion senior then reset himself, turned Friedley to his back for three more back points and moved out to a 9-0 lead. Molinaro continued to dominate Friedley, riding the Wildcat out to post the 10-0 major with 4:17 in riding time. With the win, Molinaro moved to No. 17 on Penn State's all-time wins list (106) and 13th on its all-time dual meet victories list (48).

157: Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 157, met No. 3 Jason Welsh, who carried a 13-0 mark into the bout, in another key bout. Alton quickly got in on a single leg and forced Welsh into a scramble that ended with a stalemate at the 2:10 mark. Alton countered a Welsh shot with 1:38 left, forcing a stalemate with the score still 0-0. The duo continued to scramble, trading quick shots for the next minute, with each man holding firm defensively. Scoreless after one period, Welsh chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Welsh looked to get in on a single leg at the :50 mark, but Alton was able to push the move aside, although he picked up a first stall warning in the process. Down 1-0, Alton chose down to start the third period. Welsh was able to control Alton long enough to build up a minute's worth of riding time. Alton then scrambled for a reversal but the Wildcat junior was able to maintain control of the Lion freshman until Alton escaped with just a second left. The brief 1-1 tie was short-lived as Welsh had 1:55 in riding time and got the hard fought 2-1 win.

165: No. 1 David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) looked to continue his unbeaten start to the season against Northwestern's Pierce Harger at 165. Harger notched the first takedown of the bout, taking a 2-0 lead at the 2:22 mark with a solid high double. Taylor quickly escaped and then used his low ankle pick to take a 3-2 lead at the 1:51 mark. The Lion All-American then controlled Harger for over a minute, looking to turn him to his back for near fall points. The Lion rode Harger out to lead 3-2 with 1:37 riding time after one period. Harger chose neutral to start the second period and Taylor quickly upped his lead to 7-3 with two takedowns (cutting Harger once in the process). Taylor cut Harger loose at the :54 mark, countered a Harger shot and took him down once more to lead 9-4 with :44 left. Another Taylor cut led to a late Taylor takedown with :06 left, giving the Lion sophomore an 11-5 lead after two periods. Taylor chose down to start the middle stanza and quickly reversed Harger to lead 13-5. He added three near fall points to up his lead to 16-5 with 1:18 left. A near cradle led to three more back points and a 19-5 lead with :47 on the clock. With the riding time point clinched, Taylor rode Harger out and got the 20-5 technical fall at the 7:00 mark with 4:45 in riding time.

174: No. 2 Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) also looked to remain unbeaten at 174 in a marquee match-up against No. 9 Lee Munster. Ruth took a quick 2-1 lead with a single leg to takedown and then nearly scored on another quick shot. Munster fought off Ruth's effort but the Lion All-American quickly took him down again at the 2:00 mark to lead 4-1. He then locked in on a cradle and picked up three near fall points to lead 7-1 with 1:30 on the clock. Two more back points gave Ruth a 9-1 lead before Munster escaped with :55 on the clock. Ruth tacked on yet another takedown with :20 left in the opening period and, with the ride out, led 11-2 after one period. Munster chose down to start the second stanza, but Ruth maintained control of the Wildcat freshman. Ruth cut Munster loose with :38 on the clock and quickly gained control of the Wildcat for another takedown in front of the Penn State bench. Ruth added two near fall points in the final seconds and carried a 15-3 lead with 3:17 riding time (clinching the point) after two. Ruth chose down to start the third period and fought off a quick Munster turn effort before escaping to a 16-3 lead.  A final Ruth takedown gave the Lion a convincing 18-3 tech fall over the ninth-ranked Wildcat at the 5:37 mark.

184: No. 2 Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) met Marcus Shrewsbury at 184. The defending National Champion quickly took control of the bout with two early takedowns to lead 4-1 at the midway point of the opening period. Wright then turned Shrewsbury to his back for three near fall points and a 7-1 lead with :40 left in the first period. The All-American then turned Shrewsbury to his back, adjusted, and picked up the pin at the 2:41 mark.

197: True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 12 at 197, met Wildcat senior John Schoen. The duo battled evenly for the first half of the opening period, with neither man finding an opening to score early. McIntosh countered a Schoen shot, moved behind the Wildcat and got the bout's first takedown at the :37 mark. A quick Schoen escaped halved the lead and action resumed in the center circle. Trailing by one, Schoen chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. Schoen broke the tie open with a takedown at the :40 mark, taking the 4-2 lead. McIntosh quickly escaped and trailed by one with :25 left in the middle period. McIntosh chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 4-4 tie. The duo continued to battle for position for the bulk of the third period. Schoen tried to score on a high double but the Lion true freshman was able to back out of trouble, keeping the bout tied 4-4 at the :22 mark. McIntosh scrambled off a Schoen shot, powered the NU senior to the mat and got the winning takedown at the :02 mark, posting the 6-4 win.

285: Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at heavyweight, took on No. 19 Mike McMullan. McMullan shot first, forcing Wade to counter and get a reset out of bounds. The duo then battled for position in the center circle. Wade shot low on McMullan but slipped to the mat, allowing the Wildcat to work around the Nittany Lion for a takedown and a 2-1 lead after a quick Wade escape. Wade chose top to start the second stanza, Wade turned him for two back points and McMullan escaped to a 3-3 tie, all before :20 had elapsed in the period. Wade turned a low single into a scramble and a takedown with :48 on the clock to take a 5-3 lead. The Lion senior then rode McMullan out to lead 5-3 after two periods. McMullan chose top to start the third period, looking for a chance to turn Wade. Wade got called for a stall warning at the :54 mark then escaped to a 6-3 lead with :30 left in the bout. A late scramble led to no scoring and Wade posted the 6-3 win.

Nittany Lions Head to Northwestern and Wisconsin for Big Ten Road Duals

TODAY'S ACTION

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Jan. 11, 2012 -- No. 3 Penn State (5-1, 1-1 B1G) continues a near-month long road trip with two Big Ten duals. Penn State is at No. 17 Northwestern (5-1, 1-1 B1G) on Friday, Jan. 13, at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and at Wisconsin (5-3, 0-2*) on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 2 p.m. (Eastern). Wisconsin is at Northern Iowa on Friday night.

Penn State is coming off 36-6 Big Ten win over Michigan State last Sunday. The dual was wrestled at Kellog Arena in Battle Creek, Mich. The Nittany Lions won nine of ten bouts with the lone loss coming due to an illegal throw DQ in a match the Lion wrestler was dominating at the time. Penn State got key wins from All-American Frank Molinaro at 149, red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton at 157 and a pin from junior Bryan Pearsall at 141.

The Nittany Lions are being led by a balanced attack featuring eight ranked grapplers and two talented veterans, giving the team a strong line-up from top to bottom. All-American Frank Molinaro is ranked No. 1 at 149, All-American David Taylor is ranked No. 1 at 165, All-American Ed Ruth is No. 2 at 174 and All-American Quentin Wright is No. 2 at 184. Senior Cameron Wade is No. 6 at 285, red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton is No. 9 at 157, true freshman Nico Megaludis is No. 10 at 125 and classmate Morgan McIntosh is No. 12 at 197. Junior Bryan Pearsall is 8-6 at 141 with four pins (including a 3-1 dual meet record featuring two pins and a major). Sophomore Frank Martellotti made his season dual debut with a win at 133 vs. MSU on is 4-1 on the year.

Northwestern comes into the weekend's dual meet action with an identical 5-1, 1-1 B1G, mark. The Wildcats feature a strong line-up as well with four ranked wrestlers set to battle Penn State. Junior Levi Mele is 20-2 and ranked No. 7 at 125, junior Jason Welch is 13-0 and No. 3 at 157, freshman Lee Munster is 15-5 and No. 9 at 174 and classmate Mike McMullen is 14-7 and No. 19 at heavyweight. Penn State leads the all-time series with Northwestern 11-1, including nine straight. The Nittany Lions won 37-10 two years ago in Rec Hall (2/5/10). The last time the two teams wrestled in Evanston it was a tight match. The Nittany Lions won 18-15 on 2/1/08.

Wisconsin enters the weekend's action with a 5-3 mark, 0-2 in conference action. The Badgers are at Northern Iowa on Friday night, the same evening Penn State visits Northwestern. Wisconsin is being led by the ranked tandem of junior Cole Schmitt at 149 and senior Ben Jordan at 165. Schmitt is 12-2 and ranked No. 9 at 149 while Jordan is 18-5 and No. 14 at 165. The Nittany Lions own an 11-8 edge in the all-time series with Wisconsin, having won 30-12 in Rec Hall last year (2/18/11). Winners of two straight against UW, the Lions won the last meeting in Madison, a 22-15 decision on 1/31/10.

Penn State returns to action on Jan. 22 when No. 2 Iowa comes to Rec Hall for a dual that is already sold out. Penn State then hosts Ohio State on Jan. 29 and only standing room only tickets remain.  Fans can purchase a very limited number of those SRO tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. WIEZ 670 AM (Huntingdon/Lewistown) will carry all Sunday duals during the regular season plus the Big Ten and NCAA Championships in March. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

POSSIBLE STARTERS
#3 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (5-1, 1-1 B1G)
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 #10 Nico Megaludis Fr. Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional 14-4
133 Frank Martellotti So. Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side 4-1
Derek Reber Jr. Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg 4-5
141 Bryan Pearsall Jr. Lititz, Pa./Warwick 8-6
149 #1 Frank Molinaro Sr. Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional 17-0
157 #9 Dylan Alton R-Fr. Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain 13-3
165 #1 David Taylor So. St. Paris, Ohio/St. Paris Graham 15-0
174 #2 Ed Ruth So. Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp. 17-0
184 #2 Quentin Wright Jr. Wingate, Pa./Bald Eagle Area 14-2
197 #12 Morgan McIntosh Fr. Santa Ana, Calif./Calvary Chapel 10-5
285 #6 Cameron Wade Sr. Twinsburg, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel 14-4
#17 NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS (5-1, 1-1 B1G)
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 #7 Levi Mele Jr. Vernal, Utah/Uintah 20-2
133 Jameson Oster Fr. Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport 8-8
141 Colin Shober Fr. Reading, Pa./Schuylkill Valley 11-8
OR Pat Greco Fr. St. Charles, Ill./Marmion Academy 9-9
149 Kaleb Friedley So. Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill 13-6
157 #3 Jason Welch Jr. Walnut Cree, Calif./Las Lomas 13-0
165 Pierce Harger Fr. Loveland, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller 13-7
174 #9 Lee Munster Fr. Fox Lake, Ill./Grant 15-5
184 Marcus Shrewsbury Jr. Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point 2-7
OR Robert Kellogg Sr. Sioux City, Iowa/Sioux City North 2-9
197 John Schoen Sr. Homer Glen, Ill./Marist 11-10
285 #19 Mike McMullan Fr. Easton, Pa./Wyoming Seminary 14-7
WISCONSIN BADGERS (5-3, 0-2 B1G)
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 Austin Hietpas Fr. Kimberly, Wis. 0-2
133 Shane McQuade Jr. Appleton, Wis. 5-8
141 Tommy Glenn Fr. Inver Grove Heights, Minn. 0-9
149 #9 Cole Schmitt Jr. New Glarus, Wis. 12-2
157 Shawn Perry So. Wausau, Wis. 8-7
165 #14 Ben Jordan Sr. St. Parish, Ohio 18-5
174 Frank Cousins Fr. St. Cloud, Fla. 8-8
184 Timmy McCall Fr. Hope Mills, N.C. 8-6
197 Jackson Hein So. Wausau, Wis. 6-5
285 Cole Tobin So. Hudson, Wis. 6-5

Indiv. Rankings Intermat as of 1/10; Team Rankings NWCA/USA Today as of 1/10

HEAD COACH CAEL SANDERSON

Cael Sanderson, now in his third year as mentor of the Nittany Lions, came to Penn State after three extremely successful years as the head coach at his alma mater. Sanderson's teams did not finish any lower than fifth at the NCAA Championships and never had a wrestler not qualify for nationals, getting 30 of 30 grapplers through to the championship tournament. In 2007, Sanderson's rookie campaign, he led ISU to a 13-3 dual meet record and the first of three straight Big 12 Championships. An NCAA Runner-Up finished in Detroit capped off a wildly successful year as the Cyclones crowned one national championship and Sanderson was honored as Big 12 Coach of the Year, National Rookie Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year. The next year, Sanderson led ISU to a 16-4 dual meet mark, another Big 12 title and a fifth place finish at nationals. Iowa State's seven All-Americans in 2008 were the most at the school since 1993. In his final year at ISU, Sanderson's team went 15-3 in duals, won its third straight Big 12 title and took third place at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis (just 12 points out of first place). The Cyclones also crowned another national champion. In three years, Sanderson's teams went 44-10, won three conference crowns, qualified all 30 wrestlers for nationals, and earned 15 All-America awards and two individual national titles. In his first year at Penn State (2009-10), he guided the Lions to a 13-6-1 dual meet mark, 5-3 in Big Ten action, and crowned his first Big Ten Champion. The Lions finished No. 10 in the final USA Today/Coaches dual meet poll and placed ninth at NCAAs. Last year, Sanderson guided the Nittany Lions to its first-ever Southern Scuffle Co-Championship (2010-11) and its first Virginia Duals Championship since 1991 (2010-11). In guiding Penn State to a 6-1-1 conference mark, Sanderson equaled the most Big Ten dual meet wins in Penn State history in just his second year at the helm of the Nittany Lions (Penn State won six Big Ten duals in 1998). Sanderson led Penn State to the school's first ever Big Ten Championship on March 5-6 and was named 2011 Big Ten Coach of the Year. Saving the best for last, he led the Nittany Lions to the 2011 NCAA National Championship in Philadelphia on March 17-19, Penn State's first since 1953 and Sanderson's first as a collegiate head coach. Coach Sanderson now sports a 79-18-2 dual meet mark in his sixth year as a collegiate head coach. He is 35-8-2 in his third year at Penn State.

MOLINARO AND ALTON DOWN RANKED FOES IN NITTANY LIONS' WIN OVER MICHIGAN STATE

Senior Frank Molinaro and red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton made short work of Michigan State's ranked grapplers in Penn State's 36-6 win over Michigan State in Battle Creek's Kellog Arena on January 8. Molinaro downed #18 Dan Osterman 9-3 and Alton took care of #14 Anthony Jones 1-0 to lead Penn State to the victory.

NITTANY LIONS CLAIM SECOND STRAIGHT SOUTHERN SCUFFLE CHAMPIONSHIP, THIS TIME OUTRIGHT

After tying Cornell for the Southern Scuffle championship last year, Penn State rolled away from the competition by crowning four champions and won the 2012 Southern Scuffle outright on Jan. 1-2 in Chattanooga. Penn State won the title with 191.5 points while Minnesota was second with 177.5. The Nittany Lions entered day two with a slim 7.5 point lead over the gophers and used a superb 6-3 run in the semifinals and a 4-2 showing in the finals to claim the crown. All-American David Taylor won the 165-pound title and was named Outstanding Wrestler. Joining Taylor as champs were All-American Frank Molinaro at 149, All-American Ed Ruth at 174 and All-American Quentin Wright at 184. Penn State posted a superb 56-23 overall mark among its 15 wrestlers, collecting 18 pins, nine tech falls and 11 majors along the way. 38 of Penn State's 56 wins were of the bonus point variety.

TAYLOR BLAZES HIS WAY TO SCUFFLE TITLE TO EARN TOURNEY OW AND BIG TEN WoW HONORS

All-American David Taylor blazed his way to his second straight Southern Scuffle title and was named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler (teammate Ed Ruth won the honor last year). Top-ranked Taylor took on No. 10 Cody Yohn of Minnesota in the finals at 165. Already owning a tech fall over the 10th-ranked Gopher, Taylor did it one better this time with a team-title clinching pin in the first period (2:36). Taylor, who claimed his second Scuffle crown, went 5-0 with three pins, a tech and a major. He was also named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week (1/3) for his efforts.

MOLINARO STRONG ON HIS WAY TO SCUFFLE CROWN AND 100TH CAREER WIN

No. 1 Frank Molinaro met No. 11 Dylan Ness of Minnesota in the finals of the 2012 Southern Scuffle and the bout belonged in full to the three-time Nittany Lion All-American. Molinaro scored big for Penn State with a dominating 9-1 major over Ness and won his first Scuffle title with a 5-0 mark, including two techs and a major. His first win of the event was the 100th for his career, making him the 26th member of Penn State's 100-win club.

RUTH'S PERFECTION LEADS TO SECOND SCUFFLE CROWN

All-American Ed Ruth, last year's Scuffle Outstanding Wrestler, won his second straight title in an All-PSU final at 174. Ruth downed talented teammate Matt Brown, posting a 6-3 decision. Ruth's win gave him his second straight Scuffle title and he went 6-0 with three pins, a tech and a major.

WRIGHT HAMMERS #4 BOSAK ON WAY TO SCUFFLE TITLE

Defending National Champion Quentin Wright and put the exclamation point on Penn State's Southern Scuffle team title by dominating fourth-ranked Steve Bosak of Cornell to the tune of a 10-3 win in the 184-pound final.. Wright claimed his first Scuffle title with the victory as he went 5-0 with three pins.

ALTON AND BROWN TAKE SECOND AT SOUTHERN SCUFFLE

The red-shirt freshmen tandem of Dylan Alton and Matt Brown advanced to the finals of the 2012 Southern Scuffle to help Penn State claim the team title in Chattanooga. Alton, ranked No. 10, met No. 1 Kyle Dake of Cornell in the finals at 157. Alton battled the two-time NCAA champ tough before dropping a 3-0 decision to take second place in his first Scuffle. Alton went 4-1 with two pins and a major. Brown lost to teammate #2 Ed Ruth in the 174-pound title and ended an outstanding tournament with a 4-1 mark, including wins over the No. 7 and No. 11-ranked wrestlers.

PEARSALL PINS #14 BONSON TO LEAD LIONS TO 50-0 WIN AT LOCK HAVEN; NAMED BIG TEN WRESTLER OF THE WEEK

Junior Bryan Pearsall pinned nationally ranked Matt Bonson of Lock Haven to lead the Nittany Lions to a 50-0 shut-out win at Lock Haven on 12/18. Pearsall pinned No. 14 Bonson in the second period of their battle at 141. The fall was one of four for Penn State in the dual (Nico Megaludis, Frank Molinaro and Cameron Wade added pins as well), which featured a 41-0 takedown edge for the Nittany Lions. Pearsall was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending 12/18, the first such honor of his career.

BROWN GETS TF IN PENN STATE DUAL DEBUT

Matt Brown got the call at 174 in Penn State's 50-0 shut-out win at Lock Haven on 12/18 and posted a convincing 19-4 technical fall in just 3:47 over LHU's Aaron McKinney. The win helped Penn State earn its first shut-out since a 48-0 win over LHU back in December of '10.

WRIGHT PINS #17 RYAN TO LEAD LIONS TO 34-6 WIN OVER WEST VIRGINIA

Defending national champion Quentin Wright, ranked No. 5 at 184, pinned No. 17 Matt Ryan of West Virginia in the first period (1:57) to spark Penn State to a 34-6 win over WVU in a packed Rec Hall. Over 6,000 fans watched Penn State post a 35-2 edge in takedowns in the lopsided win on 12/11.

LIONS RUN AWAY FROM #10 LEHIGH FOR ROAD WIN IN 100TH MEETING BETWEEN TWO TEAMS

Penn State built up a huge early lead and coasted to a 24-12 win at No. 10 Lehigh on 12/9. Penn State got a key win from David Taylor over No. 9 Brandon Hatchett (8-5) and majors from Bryan Pearsall, Frank Molinaro and David Taylor while Ed Ruth, leading 12-1 at the time, got an injury forfeit win at 174. The win gave Penn State a 63-34-3 lead in the all-time series as the dual was the 100th meeting between the two eastern powers.

NITTANY LION WRESTLING ATTENDANCE SOARING

Three dual meets into the 2011-12 season and Penn State's average wrestling attendance is soaring once again. All three of Penn State's duals have topped the 6,000 fan mark, including a sellout against Minnesota. Penn State is average 6,138 fans per event to date.

MOLINARO, TAYLOR, RUTH STILL PERFECT AND PILING UP BONUS WINS

The All-American trio of Frank Molinaro (149), David Taylor (157) and Ed Ruth (174) are all still perfect on the year and a combined 49-0 with 10 majors, 13 tech falls, 17 pins and an injury default victory. They have combined for 41 bonus point wins in 49 matches. Molinaro is 17-0 with 5 majors, 5 techs and three pins, giving him 13 bonus wins in 17 matches. Taylor is 15-0 with 8 pins, 4 tech falls and 2 majors, giving him 14 bonus point wins in 15 matches. Ruth is 17-0 with 6 pins, 4 techs, 3 majors and one injury default, giving him 14 bonus wins in 17 matches.

LIONS CROWN SIX CHAMPS AT '11 NLO

Penn State crowned six champions at the 2011 Nittany Lion Open. Freshman Nico Megaludis won the title at 125; senior Frank Molinaro won the title at 149 (his third Open crown); sophomore David Taylor won the title at 165 (his second Open crown); sophomore Ed Ruth won the 174-pound bracket (his first NLO gold); junior Quentin Wright won the 184-pound title (his first as well); and senior Cameron Wade won the championship at heavyweight (his second). Wins over ranked wrestlers for the champions included: Molinaro with an 8-0 major over #20 Steve Santos of Columbia and a first period pin (1:23) of #9 Donnie Vinson of Binghamton; Taylor with a pin (4:40) of #14 Peter Yates of Virginia Tech and a 14-6 major over former American All-American Steve Fittery; and Ruth with a 7-4 win over #17 Jimmy Sheptock of Maryland.

PENN STATE WITH 18 PLACE WINNERS AT '11 NLO

In addition to the above six champions, Penn State had 12 other place winners at the 2011 Nittany Lion Open, headed by finalists/runners-up Dylan Alton at 157 and Morgan McIntosh at 197. Jordan Conaway was fourth at 125, Frank Martellotti was eighth at 133, Andrew Alton was third at 149, Seth Beitz was fifth at 149, James Vollrath was third at 157, Nick Fischer was fourth at 157, Matt Brown was fifth at 174, Justin Ortega was eighth at 197, Nick Ruggear was fourth at 285 and Jon Gingrich was fifth at 285.

WADE NOW 9TH ON ALL-TIME PINS LIST

Cameron Wade entered the season with 21 career falls. The senior heavyweight has seven on the year and now has 28 for his career, 9th on Penn State's all-time list.

THREE LIONS GRAB WINS IN MINNESOTA DUAL

Penn State's loss to Minnesota on 11/20 in front of a sold out Rec Hall crowd of over 6,200 including three dominating wins from a trio of Penn State All-Americans. No. 1 David Taylor handled No. 8 Cody Yohn with ease, notching a 16-1 technical fall in only 4:29 at 165. No. 1 Frank Molinaro roughed up No. 5 Dylan Ness, notching five takedowns to roll to a 16-10 win at 149. No. 2 Ed Ruth pinned Gopher Eric Ortiz at the 2:27 mark at 174.

DAVID TAYLOR AND ED RUTH'S STUNNING DUAL MEET POINT AVERAGES

Just 22 matches into his collegiate dual meet career, sophomore David Taylor surpassed the 100 point mark in dual meet points. Taylor is now 25-0 in collegiate duals with 121 dual meet points. That's an average of 4.84 dual points per match. Classmate Ed Ruth passed the 100 point mark a mere 23 matches as well. Ruth is now is 24-0 with 110 career dual meet points for an equally impressive average of 4.58 dual points per match.

FIVE LIONS WIN TITLES AT LAKER OPEN

Five of Penn State's ten-man contingent taking part unattached at the Mercyhurst Laker Open came home with first place titles with seven of the nine playing in the top three. Penn State earned five firsts, a second and a third place showing in Erie. Red-shirt freshman Kyle Moran went 4-0 at 141 to win the first place title while classmate Seth Beitz was 5-0 with a pin at 149 to win the title. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown was superb with a 5-0 mark to win the crown at 174. Brown notched two pins and three tech falls to roll to the title. Brown defeated teammate Andrew Church in the finals at 174. Church was 3-1 with a major to place second in front of a hometown crowd. Junior Justin Ortega was a perfect 4-0 at 197 to win the title while red-shirt freshman Jon Gingrich won another heavyweight title, this time going 4-0 with three pins to win it all. Also competing for Penn State was true freshman Mike Waters, who went 2-2 at 141; true freshman Rex Lutz, who won once at 165, and red-shirt freshman Brandon Phillips, who was 3-2 at 174.

LION FRESHMEN SHINE IN PENN STATE DEBUTS

Plenty of new faces picked up big wins for Penn State in their collegiate debuts in the Nittany Lions' 39-3 win over Bloomsburg in the season opener on 11/13. True freshman Nico Megaludis pinned Bloomsburg's Sean Boylan at the 2:15 mark at 125, giving Penn State an early leg up in the dual. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton downed No. 14 Frank Hickman 10-8 at 157. True freshman Morgan McIntosh then posted a 6-0 win over Huskie Richard Perry at 197.

LIONS USE THREE FIRST PERIOD PINS TO BLAST HUSKIES

Penn State used three early pins to rout the Bloomsburg Huskies before 6,059 fans in the team's season opener in Rec Hall on 11/13. True freshman Nico Megaludis got a pin over BU's Sean Boylan at the 2:15 mark at 125, getting the Nittany Lion season off to a fast start. All-American David Taylor pinned BU's Kevin Hartnett at the 2:21 mark at 165 and All-American Quentin Wright pinned Huskie Mike Mirra at the 1:55 mark at 184. Penn State also picked up tech fall from All-American Frank Molinaro at 149 and a major from Cameron Wade at HWT.

SIX LIONS WIN CROWNS AT ESU OPEN

Eighteen Nittany Lion wrestlers trekked to East Stroudsburg University for the ESU Open on Saturday with six Penn Staters grabbing individual crowns. In all, 14 of Penn State's 18 entrants placed at the event. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown went 5-0 with two pins and three majors to win the title at 174. True freshman Jordan Conaway went 4-0 with a pin and a major to win the title at 125. One win, the major, was against a non-collegiate wrestler, meaning Conaway was officially 3-0 on the day.  True freshman Luke Frey was 4-0 at 141, winning the title and picking up two tech falls along the way. Sophomore Andrew Alton dominated 149, going 5-0 with two pins and two majors to win the title. One pin was against a non-collegiate wrestler, meaning Alton went 4-0 with a pin officially. Sophomore James Vollrath was 5-0 with a pin, a tech and a major to win the title at 157. Rounding out Penn State's champions was red-shirt freshman Jonathan Gingrich, who went 5-0 with a major and a pin at heavyweight. His pin was against an NC grappler, giving him a 4-0 official mark on the day.

FREY, CHURCH AND CONAWAY PLACE AT CLARION OPEN

Six members of Penn State's wrestling team competed unattached at the 2011 Clarion Knight Point Open on Sunday. True freshmen Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) and Luke Frey (Montoursville, Pa.) and sophomore Andrew Church (Erie, Pa.) each placed at their respective weights. Frey, a true freshman from Montoursville, took the runner-up spot at 141, advancing to the finals with three wins including a major and a tech fall before dropping a 5-1 decision in the finals to unattached Daniel Neff. Conaway, an Abbottstown native, placed third at 125 with a 4-1 mark that included two tech falls and a 13-7 loss in the semifinals to the eventual champion. Church, an Erie native, went 3-1 at 174 and advanced to the finals before losing to take the runner-up spot. Other Nittany Lions competing included Michael Waters (Advance, N.C.), who went 2-2 at 141; Brandon Phillips (Timonium, Md.), who went 2-2 at 174; and Collin Campbell (Hurdle Mills, N.C.), who went 2-2 at heavyweight.

PENN STATE RANKED #3 IN NWCA/USA TODAY COACHES POLL; #1 IN TPI; EIGHT LIONS RANKED BY INTERMAT

Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team continue to be ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Four Nittany Lion All-Americans are ranked in the top two and all eight are listed in the top 12. Coming off a Big Ten road win over Michigan State on Sunday, the Nittany Lions are ranked No. 3 in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll and continue to hold the No. 1 in Intermat's Tournament Power Index (TPI).

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 17-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) is 15-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 17-0 at ranked No. 2 at 174. Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is No. 2 at 184 with a 14-2 mark.

Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 14-4 at heavyweight and is ranked No. 6 and red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 13-3 at 157 and ranked No. 9. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 14-4 at 125 and ranked No. 10 while classmate Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 10-5 at 197 and ranked No. 12. Penn State is now ranked No. 3 in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll. Oklahoma State is No. 1 with 250 points, Iowa No. 2 Oklahoma State is No. 1 with 250 points, Iowa No. 2 with 240 and PSU follows in third with 223. Minnesota, Cornell, Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio State, Missouri and Pitt round out the top ten. The Nittany Lions retain their hold on the No. 1 spot on Intermat's Tournament Power Index with 95.0 points while Minnesota is second with 85.5. Oklahoma State is third with 82.5, Iowa fourth with 79.0 and Cornell fifth with 69.0.

WRESTLING RADIO NETWORK READY FOR '11-12 SEASON

The Penn State Wrestling Radio Show will begin yet another season on Wednesday, Nov. 2, while multiple local stations will once again broadcast the entire 2011-12 Nittany Lion season. The march to St. Louis begins with the Intrasquad dual on Nov. 3 and concludes with the national championships in late-March. The wrestling radio season begins on Nov. 2 when Jeff Byers hosts the first edition of the Penn State Wrestling Show. The show will air every Wednesday from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and will air across the state on the Pennsylvania Sports Network. Local affiliate 3WZ (95.3 FM) will serve as the flagship station for the show that will features coaches, wrestlers and other individuals affiliated with the Nittany Lion wrestling program. The 30-minute show welcomes calls from fans, who can call into the show at 814-237-0953. In addition to 3WZ, the weekly show can be heard on the following stations: WCPA (900 AM) Clearfield/DuBois; WIEZ (670 AM) Lewistown/Huntingdon; WLYC (1050 AM) Williamsport/Lewisburg; WLYC (104.1 FM) Montoursville/Jersey Shore; WBPZ (1230 AM) Lock Haven; WTZN (1310 AM) Troy/Canton; WTTC (1550 AM) Towanda/Elmira, N.Y.; WGET (1330 AM) Gettysburg/Hanover. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. Lewistown/Huntingdon's WIEZ (670 AM) will carry every Sunday dual and the post-season. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events.

Eight Nittany Lions Ranked in Latest Intermat Rankings

Team ranked No. 3 in latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll and No. 1 in Team TPI

           UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; January 11, 2012 - Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team continue to be ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Four Nittany Lion All-Americans are ranked in the top two and all eight are listed in the top 12. Coming off a Big Ten road win over Michigan State on Sunday, the Nittany Lions are ranked No. 3 in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll and continue to hold the No. 1 in Intermat's Tournament Power Index (TPI).

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 17-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) is 15-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 17-0 at ranked No. 2 at 174. Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is No. 2 at 184 with a 14-2 mark.

Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 14-4 at heavyweight and is ranked No. 6 and red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 13-3 at 157 and ranked No. 9. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 14-4 at 125 and ranked No. 10 while classmate Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 10-5 at 197 and ranked No. 12.

Penn State is now ranked No. 3 in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll. Oklahoma State is No. 1 with 250 points, Iowa No. 2 Oklahoma State is No. 1 with 250 points, Iowa No. 2 with 240 and PSU follows in third with 223. Minnesota, Cornell, Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio State, Missouri and Pitt round out the top ten. The Nittany Lions retain their hold on the No. 1 spot on Intermat's Tournament Power Index with 95.0 points while Minnesota is second with 85.5. Oklahoma State is third with 82.5, Iowa fourth with 79.0 and Cornell fifth with 69.0.

The Nittany Lions continue a near-month long road trip this weekend with duals at Northwestern on Friday night (8 p.m. Eastern) and Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon (2 p.m. Eastern). Penn State's next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of 'standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

Penn State rolls in front of packed house at Kellog Arena in Battle Creek

               BATTLE CREEK, Mich.; January 8, 2012 - The fourth-ranked Penn State wrestling team dominated host Michigan State to pick up a 36-6 Big Ten road win. The dual, wrestled in front of a packed house at Kellog Arena in Battle Creek, Mich., saw Penn State win nine of ten bouts, losing only once on an illegal throw disqualification.

The dual began at heavyweight, where Nittany Lion senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 nationally, gave Penn State a 3-0 lead with an 8-3 decision over Steve Andrus. Nittany Lion freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 125, was crushing Spartan senior Eric Olanowski 8-3 early in the second period before being called for an illegal hold and, when Olanowski could not continue, lost the match on a disqualification, giving MSU a 6-3 lead. Lion sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) made his 133-pound dual debut with a 7-5 win over Brandon Fifield to tie the dual and then Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) put Penn State on top for good by pinning Brian Gibbs at the 4:21 mark.

No. 1 Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) handled No. 18 Dan Osterman 9-3 at 149 to put Penn State up 15-6. With the win, Molinaro moved into 18th  place on Penn State's all-time victories list (105) and into 17th on Penn State's all-time dual meet victory list (47). Freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 157, then downed No. 14 Anthony Jones 1-0 to put the Nittany Lions up 18-6. Top-ranked David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) then majored David Cheza 13-5 at 165.

Second-ranked Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) dominated Michigan State's Curran Jacobs, posting a second period technical fall at the 6:33 mark, getting the 17-2 win. Third-ranked Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) then fought off an early struggle to pin Michigan State's John Rizqallah at the 5:52 mark to put Penn State up 33-6. True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 13 at 197, closed out the dominating performance with a 7-5 win to give Penn State the 36-6 victory.

Penn State won nine of ten bouts and was leading handily in the one bout it lost on the illegal throw call. The Nittany Lions posted a dominating 24-5 edge in takedowns and picked up five riding time points. Penn State picked up nine bonus points off two pins, a tech fall and a major. The Nittany Lions improve to 5-1 on the year, 1-1 in the Big Ten. Michigan State falls to 2-3, 0-2.

Penn State continues a multi-week road swing with two Big Ten road duals next weekend. Penn State is at Northwestern on Friday, Jan. 13, at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and at Wisconsin on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 2 p.m. (Eastern). Penn State's next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of 'standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (670 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

#4 Penn State 36, Michigan State 6
January 8, 2012 - Kellog Arena - Battle Creek, Mich.

285: #6 Cameron Wade PSU dec. Steve Andrus, 8-3 3-0
125: Eric Olanowski MSU DQ over #10 Nico Megaludis PSU
               (Illegal Throw, Megaludis up 8-3 early in second period, 3:45) 3-6
133: Frank Martellotti PSU dec. Brandon Fifield MSU, 7-5 6-6
141: Bryan Pearsall PSU pinned Brian Gibbs MSU, WBF (4:21) 12-6
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU dec. #18 Dan Osterman MSU, 9-3 15-6
157: #9 Dylan Alton PSU dec. #14 Anthony Jones MSU, 1-0 18-6
165: #1 David Taylor PSU maj. dec. David Cheza MSU, 13-5 22-6
174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU tech fall Curran Jacobs MSU, 17-2 (TF; 6:33) 27-6
184: #3 Quentin Wright PSU pinned John Rizqallah MSU, WBF (5:52) 33-6
197: #13 Morgan McIntosh PSU dec. Nick McDiarmid MSU, 7-5 36-6
Attendance: 3,000
Records: #4 Penn State (5-1, 1-1 B1G), Michigan State (2-3, 0-2 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: at Northwestern, Friday, Jan. 13, 8 p.m. (Eastern)

BOUT-BY-BOUT:

285: Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at heavyweight, battled Spartan Steve Andrus. Wade set the tempo early, taking a couple shots out of the gate, looking to take control early. Wade got in on a low single at the 1:46 mark and taking a 2-0 lead at the 1:29 mark. The Lion senior then began working for a chance to turn Andrus for back points. Wade finished off the tilt for three near fall points at the :15 mark and led 5-0 at the end of the first period. Wade chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 6-0 lead. The duo then battled evenly for the rest of the period, allowing Wade to hold that lead heading into the third period. Andrus chose neutral to start the second period, Wade shot low and Andrus countered for a quick takedown to cut the lead to 7-2 after a Wade escape. Wade got called for a stall warning at the :35 mark and then another at the :12 mark, giving Andrus a third point. Wade got the riding time point at the match's end and claimed a hard-fought 8-3 win.

125: True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 10 nationally at 125, took on Michigan State senior Eric Olanowski. The Lion freshman took the senior down at the 2:02 mark with a low single for an early 2-1 lead. Megaludis notched his second takedown at the 1:10 mark, cut the Spartan loose and led 4-2 at the 1:10 mark. The Nittany Lion freshman countered an Olanowski shot at the :25 mark, worked his way around him for a third takedown and then rode him out to lead 6-2 after one period. Megaludis chose neutral to start the second stanza, shot low off the whistle and quickly added another takedown and cut to lead 8-3 at the 1:40 mark. But Megaludis was quickly called or an illegal throw, Olanowski did not continue to wrestle and Megaludis lost via a disqualification.

133: Sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) made his season dual meet debut against the Spartans and took on Brandon Fifield. Fifield got an early takedown and rode the Lion sophomore for over a minute before the Nittany Lion escaped to a 2-1 deficit. Fifield immediately got in on another single, but this time Martellotti scrambled behind the Spartan for a takedown and led 3-2. With a one point lead after one, Martellotti chose down to start the second period, quickly scrambled into a position to reverse Fifield but could not get the call before a stalemate call at the :30 mark. On the reset, Martellotti did reverse Fifield to lead 5-3 after a Fifield escape. Martellotti held that lead after two periods and Fifield chose down to start the third period. The Nittany Lion sophomore was strong on top to start the third, working off a minute's time before Fifield reversed him to tie the bout at 5-5. Martellotti escaped and then fought off a late Spartan shot and, with 1:10 riding time, posted a 7-5 win.

141: Junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) took to the mat at 141 for Penn State and met MSU freshman Brian Gibbs. Pearsall got on the board at the 1:39 mark, countering a Gibbs shot for a takedown and a 2-0 lead. The Nittany Lion junior then put together a strong ride, controlling Gibbs and turning him for three near fall points at the buzzer to lead 5-0 after one. Gibbs chose neutral to start the second stanza but Pearsall quickly took the Spartan down, turned him for two back points and led 9-0 at the 1:22 mark. Pearsall locked up a far side cradle and worked his way into a chance for a fall, getting the pin at the 4:21 mark.

149: Top-ranked Nittany Lion Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) faced off against Michigan State's Dan Osterman, who was ranked No. 18, at 149. Osterman energized the packed Spartan crowd with an early takedown to lead 2-0 out of the gate. Molinaro quickly escaped, only to see Osterman pressure the Lion senior into another near takedown. Molinaro was able to fight off that move and then, on a reset, used a fierce double leg to take Osterman down and lead 3-2 at the 1:30 mark. The three-time All-American then controlled the action from top, building up over 1:00 in riding time on his way to a ride out. Leading 3-2 with 1:31 in riding time, Molinaro chose down and quickly escaped to a 4-2 lead. Molinaro turned a head outside single into another takedown and a 6-2 lead at the :38 mark. Osterman chose neutral to start the third period. With the riding time point clinched, Molinaro needed just one more takedown to secure a major and picked it up at the :45 mark to lead 8-3 after a takedown and a cut. But it was Osterman who nearly scored at the buzzer with Molinaro holding off the effort and posting the 9-3 win.

157: Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 157, met Michigan State senior Anthony Jones, ranked No. 14, in one of the dual's most anticipated bouts. The ranked duo battled through the first half of the opening period evenly. Jones tried to score off a throw at the 1:20 mark but Alton was able to roll out of trouble and force a reset with the bout still scoreless. After a scoreless first period, Jones chose neutral to start the second stanza. As in the first period, neither man could find a chance to work their offense in the second period and the bout went to the third scoreless. Alton took down to start the third and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Alton pressured the senior Jones for the entire third period with Jones backing away and playing the edge of the mat. Alton fought off one Jones shot at the :17 mark and then escaped with a 1-0 win.

165: Top-ranked Lion sophomore David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) face off against MSU senior David Cheza at 165. Taylor took a 2-0 lead with a quick takedown but was reversed by Cheza at the 1:50 mark for a 2-2 tie. Taylor quickly escaped, got in on a single leg and pulled Cheza back onto the mat and got the takedown to lead 5-2 at the :49 mark. The Lion sophomore then rode Cheza out to lead 5-2 after one period. Taylor took down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 6-2 lead. Another low single for Taylor gave the Nittany Lion an 8-2 lead at the 1:10 mark. He then turned Cheza for two back points and led 10-2 at the :45 mark but Cheza notched his second reversal to cut Taylor's lead to 10-4 at the :08 mark. Cheza took neutral to start the third period only to be quickly taken down by Taylor, giving the Lion a 12-4 lead with well over 1:00 in riding time.  After clinching the riding time point, Taylor continued to build the riding time edge before Cheza escaped at the :23 mark. With the riding time point, Taylor posted the 13-5 major decision.

174: Second-ranked Penn State sophomore Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) med MSU senior Curran Jacobs at 174. Ruth was relentless from the start, forcing Jacobs into a stall warning less than a minute into the bout. He then took Jacobs down at the 2:09 mark to open up an early lead. He then spent the next minute-plus looking to turn Jacobs for back points. He picked up two near fall points and the :25 mark and led 4-0 with 2:09 in riding time after one. Ruth took down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 5-0 lead. The Lion All-American then turned a head lock into a pinning opportunity, getting the takedown and three back points to lead 10-0 at the 1:06 mark. Another dominating ride by Ruth led to a stall point for the Nittany Lion and an 11-0 lead after two periods. Jacobs took neutral to start the third period, but Ruth quickly gained control of the action, working his way around the Spartan for another takedown and a 13-1 lead after a quick Jacobs escape. Another Ruth takedown and cut at the :45 mark gave Ruth a chance for a technical fall. The Lion added the last takedown to post the 17-2 tech fall at the 6:33 mark.

184: Third-ranked junior Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) took to the mat against Spartan John Rizqallah at 184. Wright dominated the action from the start, picking up a quick takedown and then turning Rizqallah for three near fall points to lead 5-0. Rizqallah escaped and countered Wright's next shot for his own takedown, cutting the lead to 5-3 at the :55 mark. He then nearly ended the bout with a pin of Wright, turning the Nittany Lion All-American for three back points to lead 6-5. Wright escaped at the :14 mark to tie the score at 6-6 after the opening period. Wright chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-6 lead. He added to his lead with a nice double leg on the edge of the mat to lead 9-6 with :32 left in the middle stanza. Trailing 9-6, Rizqallah chose top to start the third period. Wright quickly reversed Rizqallah, turned him to his back for two near fall points and reset himself with a 13-6 lead. The defending national champion then turned Rizqalla to his back and, after a brief struggle, pinned the Spartan at the 5:52 mark.

197: True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 13 at 197, met MSU's Nick McDiarmid. The Nittany Lion freshman picked up the bout's first takedown at the 1;49 mark, moving out to a 2-0 lead with 1:43 on the clock. McDiarmid escaped after a brief McIntosh ride and action resumed in the center circle with the Nittany Lion up by one. McDiarmid countered a McIntosh shot to lead 3-2 as the period wound down and rode McIntosh out to lead 3-2 after one period. McIntosh chose down to start the second stanza and, after a brief McDiarmid ride, reversed the Spartan to retake the lead, 4-3. McIntosh was called for locked hands while riding McDiarmid out and the match went to the third tied 4-4. McDiarmid chose down to start the final period and quickly escaped to a 5-4 lead. McIntosh turned a swift low single into a takedown in front of the MSU bench to take a 6-5 lead at the :45 mark. McIntosh maintained control long enough to build up over a minute's riding time. He then rode McDiarmid out and, with the riding time point, posted the 7-5 win.

Penn State Treks to Battle Creek to Tussle with Michigan State Spartans

TODAY'S ACTION

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Jan. 4, 2012 -- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (4-1, 0-1 B1G), ranked No. 4, will return to dual meet action on Sunday, Jan. 3, when they face the Michigan State Spartans (2-2, 0-1 B1G) at Kellog Arena in Battle Creek, Mich. The dual begins at 2 p.m.

Penn State is coming off a superb run to the 2012 Southern Scuffle Championships, crowning four champions and winning the team title over No. 3 Minnesota by 14 points. Penn State won the title with 191.5 points while Minnesota was second with 177.5. The Nittany Lions entered day two with a slim 7.5 point lead over the gophers and used a superb 6-3 run in the semifinals and a 4-2 showing in the finals to claim the crown. The semifinal fireworks led way to Penn State crowning four individual champions and getting the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler Award, given to All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) for his 165-pound title. Joining Taylor as champs were All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) at 149, All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) at 174 and All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) at 184.

The Nittany Lions are being led by a balanced and high scoring attack, including a trio of undefeated wrestlers. Molinaro is 16-0 and ranked No. 1 at 149, Taylor is 14-0 and ranked No. 1 at 157 and Ruth is 16-0 at 174 and ranked No. 2. Defending National Champion Wright is 13-2 and No. 3 at 184 while senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 13-4 and No. 6 at 285. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton is 12-3 and ranked No. 9 at 157 while true freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is ranked No. 10 at 125 with a 14-3 mark. Fellow true freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 9-5 and ranked No. 13 at 197.

Michigan State will come into the dual with a 2-2 mark, 0-1 in Big Ten action. The Spartans sport a veteran line-up featuring four ranked grapplers and six talented seniors. Sophomore Mike McClure is 11-5 and ranked No. 11 at heavyweight, senior Anthony Jones is 12-3 and ranked No. 14 at 157, senior Tyler Dickenson is 7-1 and No. 16 at 197 and junior Dan Osterman is 17-6 and No. 18 at 149.

Penn State leads the all-time series between the two schools 15-9, including the last six in a row. Penn State won last year's meeting 30-9 in East Lansing on Feb. 4. Michigan State's last win was a 19-12 victory in East Lansing on Jan. 15, 2005.

Penn State continues Big Ten action on the road next weekend when it visits Northwestern on Friday, Jan. 13, at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and at Wisconsin on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 2 p.m. (Eastern). Penn State's next home dual is on Jan. 22 when Iowa comes to Rec Hall for a dual that is already sold out. Penn State then hosts Ohio State on Jan. 29 and only standing room only tickets remain.  Fans can purchase a very limited number of those SRO tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. WIEZ 670 AM (Huntingdon/Lewistown) will carry all Sunday duals during the regular season plus the Big Ten and NCAA Championships in March. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

POSSIBLE STARTERS
#4 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (4-1, 0-1 B1G)
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 #10 Nico Megaludis Fr. Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional 14-3
133 Derek Reber Jr. Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg 4-5
OR Frank Martellotti So. Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side 3-1
141 Bryan Pearsall Jr. Lititz, Pa./Warwick 7-6
149 #1 Frank Molinaro Sr. Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional 16-0
157 #9 Dylan Alton R-Fr. Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain 12-3
165 #1 David Taylor So. St. Paris, Ohio/St. Paris Graham 14-0
174 #2 Ed Ruth So. Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp. 16-0
184 #3 Quentin Wright Jr. Wingate, Pa./Bald Eagle Area 13-2
197 #13 Morgan McIntosh Fr. Santa Ana, Calif./Calvary Chapel 9-5
285 #6 Cameron Wade Sr. Twinsburg, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel 13-4
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (2-2, 0-1 B1G)
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 Eric Olanowski Sr. Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam 2-3
133 Brandon Fifield Fr. Leslie, Mich./Leslie 9-8
141 Brian Gibbs Fr. Temperance, Mich./Bedford 14-8
149 #18 Dan Osterman Jr. Carson City, Mich./St. Johns 17-6
157 #14 Anthony Jones Sr. Highland Park, Mich./Highland Park 12-3
165 David Cheza Sr. Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc 10-2
174 Curran Jacobs Sr. Owosso, Mich./Owosso 15-5
184 Ian Hinton Sr. Nappanee, Ind./Mishawaka 12-5
197 #16 Tyler Dickenson Sr. Pewamo, Mich./St. John's 7-1
285 Steve Andrus Jr. Manhattan, Kan./Manhattan 14-7
OR #11 Mike McClure So. Holland, Mich./West Ottawa 11-5

Indiv. Rankings Intermat as of 1/3; Team Rankings NWCA/USA Today as of 1/3

HEAD COACH CAEL SANDERSON

Cael Sanderson, now in his third year as mentor of the Nittany Lions, came to Penn State after three extremely successful years as the head coach at his alma mater. Sanderson's teams did not finish any lower than fifth at the NCAA Championships and never had a wrestler not qualify for nationals, getting 30 of 30 grapplers through to the championship tournament. In 2007, Sanderson's rookie campaign, he led ISU to a 13-3 dual meet record and the first of three straight Big 12 Championships. An NCAA Runner-Up finished in Detroit capped off a wildly successful year as the Cyclones crowned one national championship and Sanderson was honored as Big 12 Coach of the Year, National Rookie Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year. The next year, Sanderson led ISU to a 16-4 dual meet mark, another Big 12 title and a fifth place finish at nationals. Iowa State's seven All-Americans in 2008 were the most at the school since 1993. In his final year at ISU, Sanderson's team went 15-3 in duals, won its third straight Big 12 title and took third place at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis (just 12 points out of first place). The Cyclones also crowned another national champion. In three years, Sanderson's teams went 44-10, won three conference crowns, qualified all 30 wrestlers for nationals, and earned 15 All-America awards and two individual national titles. In his first year at Penn State (2009-10), he guided the Lions to a 13-6-1 dual meet mark, 5-3 in Big Ten action, and crowned his first Big Ten Champion. The Lions finished No. 10 in the final USA Today/Coaches dual meet poll and placed ninth at NCAAs. Last year, Sanderson guided the Nittany Lions to its first-ever Southern Scuffle Co-Championship (2010-11) and its first Virginia Duals Championship since 1991 (2010-11). In guiding Penn State to a 6-1-1 conference mark, Sanderson equaled the most Big Ten dual meet wins in Penn State history in just his second year at the helm of the Nittany Lions (Penn State won six Big Ten duals in 1998). Sanderson led Penn State to the school's first ever Big Ten Championship on March 5-6 and was named 2011 Big Ten Coach of the Year. Saving the best for last, he led the Nittany Lions to the 2011 NCAA National Championship in Philadelphia on March 17-19, Penn State's first since 1953 and Sanderson's first as a collegiate head coach. Coach Sanderson now sports a 78-18-2 dual meet mark in his sixth year as a collegiate head coach. He is 34-8-2 in his third year at Penn State.

NITTANY LIONS CLAIM SECOND STRAIGHT SOUTHERN SCUFFLE CHAMPIONSHIP, THIS TIME OUTRIGHT

After tying Cornell for the Southern Scuffle championship last year, Penn State rolled away from the competition by crowning four champions and won the 2012 Southern Scuffle outright on Jan. 1-2 in Chattanooga. Penn State won the title with 191.5 points while Minnesota was second with 177.5. The Nittany Lions entered day two with a slim 7.5 point lead over the gophers and used a superb 6-3 run in the semifinals and a 4-2 showing in the finals to claim the crown. All-American David Taylor won the 165-pound title and was named Outstanding Wrestler. Joining Taylor as champs were All-American Frank Molinaro at 149, All-American Ed Ruth at 174 and All-American Quentin Wright at 184. Penn State posted a superb 56-23 overall mark among its 15 wrestlers, collecting 18 pins, nine tech falls and 11 majors along the way. 38 of Penn State's 56 wins were of the bonus point variety.

TAYLOR BLAZES HIS WAY TO SCUFFLE TITLE TO EARN TOURNEY OW AND BIG TEN WoW HONORS

All-American David Taylor blazed his way to his second straight Southern Scuffle title and was named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler (teammate Ed Ruth won the honor last year). Top-ranked Taylor took on No. 10 Cody Yohn of Minnesota in the finals at 165. Already owning a tech fall over the 10th-ranked Gopher, Taylor did it one better this time with a team-title clinching pin in the first period (2:36). Taylor, who claimed his second Scuffle crown, went 5-0 with three pins, a tech and a major. He was also named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week (1/3) for his efforts.

MOLINARO STRONG ON HIS WAY TO SCUFFLE CROWN AND 100TH CAREER WIN

No. 1 Frank Molinaro met No. 11 Dylan Ness of Minnesota in the finals of the 2012 Southern Scuffle and the bout belonged in full to the three-time Nittany Lion All-American. Molinaro scored big for Penn State with a dominating 9-1 major over Ness and won his first Scuffle title with a 5-0 mark, including two techs and a major. His first win of the event was the 100th for his career, making him the 26th member of Penn State's 100-win club.

RUTH'S PERFECTION LEADS TO SECOND SCUFFLE CORWN

All-American Ed Ruth, last year's Scuffle Outstanding Wrestler, won his second straight title in an All-PSU final at 174. Ruth downed talented teammate Matt Brown, posting a 6-3 decision. Ruth's win gave him his second straight Scuffle title and he went 6-0 with three pins, a tech and a major.

WRIGHT HAMMERS #4 BOSAK ON WAY TO SCUFFLE TITLE

Defending National Champion Quentin Wright and put the exclamation point on Penn State's Southern Scuffle team title by dominating fourth-ranked Steve Bosak of Cornell to the tune of a 10-3 win in the 184-pound final.. Wright claimed his first Scuffle title with the victory as he went 5-0 with three pins.

ALTON AND BROWN TAKE SECOND AT SOUTHERN SCUFFLE

The red-shirt freshmen tandem of Dylan Alton and Matt Brown advanced to the finals of the 2012 Southern Scuffle to help Penn State claim the team title in Chattanooga. Alton, ranked No. 10, met No. 1 Kyle Dake of Cornell in the finals at 157. Alton battled the two-time NCAA champ tough before dropping a 3-0 decision to take second place in his first Scuffle. Alton went 4-1 with two pins and a major. Brown lost to teammate #2 Ed Ruth in the 174-pound title and ended an outstanding tournament with a 4-1 mark, including wins over the No. 7 and No. 11-ranked wrestlers.

PEARSALL PINS #14 BONSON TO LEAD LIONS TO 50-0 WIN AT LOCK HAVEN; NAMED BIG TEN WRESTLER OF THE WEEK

Junior Bryan Pearsall pinned nationally ranked Matt Bonson of Lock Haven to lead the Nittany Lions to a 50-0 shut-out win at Lock Haven on 12/18. Pearsall pinned No. 14 Bonson in the second period of their battle at 141. The fall was one of four for Penn State in the dual (Nico Megaludis, Frank Molinaro and Cameron Wade added pins as well), which featured a 41-0 takedown edge for the Nittany Lions. Pearsall was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending 12/18, the first such honor of his career.

BROWN GETS TF IN PENN STATE DUAL DEBUT

Matt Brown got the call at 174 in Penn State's 50-0 shut-out win at Lock Haven on 12/18 and posted a convincing 19-4 technical fall in just 3:47 over LHU's Aaron McKinney. The win helped Penn State earn its first shut-out since a 48-0 win over LHU back in December of '10.

WRIGHT PINS #17 RYAN TO LEAD LIONS TO 34-6 WIN OVER WEST VIRGINIA

Defending national champion Quentin Wright, ranked No. 5 at 184, pinned No. 17 Matt Ryan of West Virginia in the first period (1:57) to spark Penn State to a 34-6 win over WVU in a packed Rec Hall. Over 6,000 fans watched Penn State post a 35-2 edge in takedowns in the lopsided win on 12/11.

LIONS RUN AWAY FROM #10 LEHIGH FOR ROAD WIN IN 100TH MEETING BETWEEN TWO TEAMS

Penn State built up a huge early lead and coasted to a 24-12 win at No. 10 Lehigh on 12/9. Penn State got a key win from David Taylor over No. 9 Brandon Hatchett (8-5) and majors from Bryan Pearsall, Frank Molinaro and David Taylor while Ed Ruth, leading 12-1 at the time, got an injury forfeit win at 174. The win gave Penn State a 63-34-3 lead in the all-time series as the dual was the 100th meeting between the two eastern powers.

NITTANY LION WRESTLING ATTENDANCE SOARING

Three dual meets into the 2011-12 season and Penn State's average wrestling attendance is soaring once again. All three of Penn State's duals have topped the 6,000 fan mark, including a sellout against Minnesota. Penn State is average 6,138 fans per event to date.

MOLINARO, TAYLOR, RUTH STILL PERFECT AND PILING UP BONUS WINS

The All-American trio of Frank Molinaro (149), David Taylor (157) and Ed Ruth (174) are all still perfect on the year and a combined 46-0 with 9 majors, 12 tech falls, 17 pins and an injury default victory. They have combined for 39 bonus point wins in 46 matches. Molinaro is 16-0 with 5 majors, 5 techs and three pins, giving him 13 bonus wins in 16 matches. Taylor is 14-0 with 8 pins, 4 tech falls and 1 major, giving him 13 bonus point wins in 14 matches. Ruth is 16-0 with 6 pins, 3 techs, 3 majors and one injury default, giving him 13 bonus wins in 16 matches.

LIONS CROWN SIX CHAMPS AT '11 NLO

Penn State crowned six champions at the 2011 Nittany Lion Open. Freshman Nico Megaludis won the title at 125; senior Frank Molinaro won the title at 149 (his third Open crown); sophomore David Taylor won the title at 165 (his second Open crown); sophomore Ed Ruth won the 174-pound bracket (his first NLO gold); junior Quentin Wright won the 184-pound title (his first as well); and senior Cameron Wade won the championship at heavyweight (his second). Wins over ranked wrestlers for the champions included: Molinaro with an 8-0 major over #20 Steve Santos of Columbia and a first period pin (1:23) of #9 Donnie Vinson of Binghamton; Taylor with a pin (4:40) of #14 Peter Yates of Virginia Tech and a 14-6 major over former American All-American Steve Fittery; and Ruth with a 7-4 win over #17 Jimmy Sheptock of Maryland.

PENN STATE WITH 18 PLACE WINNERS AT '11 NLO

In addition to the above six champions, Penn State had 12 other place winners at the 2011 Nittany Lion Open, headed by finalists/runners-up Dylan Alton at 157 and Morgan McIntosh at 197. Jordan Conaway was fourth at 125, Frank Martellotti was eighth at 133, Andrew Alton was third at 149, Seth Beitz was fifth at 149, James Vollrath was third at 157, Nick Fischer was fourth at 157, Matt Brown was fifth at 174, Justin Ortega was eighth at 197, Nick Ruggear was fourth at 285 and Jon Gingrich was fifth at 285.

WADE NOW 9TH ON ALL-TIME PINS LIST

Cameron Wade entered the season with 21 career falls. The senior heavyweight has seven on the year and now has 28 for his career, 9th on Penn State's all-time list.

THREE LIONS GRAB WINS IN MINNESOTA DUAL

Penn State's loss to Minnesota on 11/20 in front of a sold out Rec Hall crowd of over 6,200 including three dominating wins from a trio of Penn State All-Americans. No. 1 David Taylor handled No. 8 Cody Yohn with ease, notching a 16-1 technical fall in only 4:29 at 165. No. 1 Frank Molinaro roughed up No. 5 Dylan Ness, notching five takedowns to roll to a 16-10 win at 149. No. 2 Ed Ruth pinned Gopher Eric Ortiz at the 2:27 mark at 174.

DAVID TAYLOR AND ED RUTH'S STUNNING DUAL MEET POINT AVERAGES

Just 22 matches into his collegiate dual meet career, sophomore David Taylor surpassed the 100 point mark in dual meet points. Taylor is now 24-0 in collegiate duals with 117 dual meet points. That's an average of 4.88 dual points per match. Classmate Ed Ruth passed the 100 point mark a mere 23 matches as well. Ruth is now is 23-0 with 105 career dual meet points for an equally impressive average of 4.57 dual points per match.

FIVE LIONS WIN TITLES AT LAKER OPEN

Five of Penn State's ten-man contingent taking part unattached at the Mercyhurst Laker Open came home with first place titles with seven of the nine playing in the top three. Penn State earned five firsts, a second and a third place showing in Erie. Red-shirt freshman Kyle Moran went 4-0 at 141 to win the first place title while classmate Seth Beitz was 5-0 with a pin at 149 to win the title. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown was superb with a 5-0 mark to win the crown at 174. Brown notched two pins and three tech falls to roll to the title. Brown defeated teammate Andrew Church in the finals at 174. Church was 3-1 with a major to place second in front of a hometown crowd. Junior Justin Ortega was a perfect 4-0 at 197 to win the title while red-shirt freshman Jon Gingrich won another heavyweight title, this time going 4-0 with three pins to win it all. Also competing for Penn State was true freshman Mike Waters, who went 2-2 at 141; true freshman Rex Lutz, who won once at 165, and red-shirt freshman Brandon Phillips, who was 3-2 at 174.

LION FRESHMEN SHINE IN PENN STATE DEBUTS

Plenty of new faces picked up big wins for Penn State in their collegiate debuts in the Nittany Lions' 39-3 win over Bloomsburg in the season opener on 11/13. True freshman Nico Megaludis pinned Bloomsburg's Sean Boylan at the 2:15 mark at 125, giving Penn State an early leg up in the dual. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton downed No. 14 Frank Hickman 10-8 at 157. True freshman Morgan McIntosh then posted a 6-0 win over Huskie Richard Perry at 197.

LIONS USE THREE FIRST PERIOD PINS TO BLAST HUSKIES

Penn State used three early pins to rout the Bloomsburg Huskies before 6,059 fans in the team's season opener in Rec Hall on 11/13. True freshman Nico Megaludis got a pin over BU's Sean Boylan at the 2:15 mark at 125, getting the Nittany Lion season off to a fast start. All-American David Taylor pinned BU's Kevin Hartnett at the 2:21 mark at 165 and All-American Quentin Wright pinned Huskie Mike Mirra at the 1:55 mark at 184. Penn State also picked up tech fall from All-American Frank Molinaro at 149 and a major from Cameron Wade at HWT.

SIX LIONS WIN CROWNS AT ESU OPEN

Eighteen Nittany Lion wrestlers trekked to East Stroudsburg University for the ESU Open on Saturday with six Penn Staters grabbing individual crowns. In all, 14 of Penn State's 18 entrants placed at the event. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown went 5-0 with two pins and three majors to win the title at 174. True freshman Jordan Conaway went 4-0 with a pin and a major to win the title at 125. One win, the major, was against a non-collegiate wrestler, meaning Conaway was officially 3-0 on the day. True freshman Luke Frey was 4-0 at 141, winning the title and picking up two tech falls along the way. Sophomore Andrew Alton dominated 149, going 5-0 with two pins and two majors to win the title. One pin was against a non-collegiate wrestler, meaning Alton went 4-0 with a pin officially. Sophomore James Vollrath was 5-0 with a pin, a tech and a major to win the title at 157. Rounding out Penn State's champions was red-shirt freshman Jonathan Gingrich, who went 5-0 with a major and a pin at heavyweight. His pin was against an NC grappler, giving him a 4-0 official mark on the day.

FREY, CHURCH AND CONAWAY PLACE AT CLARION OPEN

Six members of Penn State's wrestling team competed unattached at the 2011 Clarion Knight Point Open on Sunday. True freshmen Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) and Luke Frey (Montoursville, Pa.) and sophomore Andrew Church (Erie, Pa.) each placed at their respective weights. Frey, a true freshman from Montoursville, took the runner-up spot at 141, advancing to the finals with three wins including a major and a tech fall before dropping a 5-1 decision in the finals to unattached Daniel Neff. Conaway, an Abbottstown native, placed third at 125 with a 4-1 mark that included two tech falls and a 13-7 loss in the semifinals to the eventual champion. Church, an Erie native, went 3-1 at 174 and advanced to the finals before losing to take the runner-up spot. Other Nittany Lions competing included Michael Waters (Advance, N.C.), who went 2-2 at 141; Brandon Phillips (Timonium, Md.), who went 2-2 at 174; and Collin Campbell (Hurdle Mills, N.C.), who went 2-2 at heavyweight.

IOWA DUAL SOLD OUT INCLUDING SRO, OHIO STATE SOLD OUT W/ SOME SRO REMAINING; OTHERS NEARING SAME STATUS

A mere 90 minutes after the public sale of single dual tickets began, Penn State's Jan. 22 dual match against Iowa has sold out, including 300 standing room only tickets. With over 6,500 tickets now distributed for the match-up with the Hawkeyes, the single dual allotments for Penn State's remaining six home events are also disappearing fast. Rec Hall's listed capacity is 6,502 including the 300 SRO ducats. Both Minnesota and Ohio State duals are also sold out with limited SRO tickets remaining for each. Less than 600 tickets remain for all other Penn State duals (against Bloomsburg, West Virginia, Michigan and Pitt). Fans can purchase these very limited single dual tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

PENN STATE RANKED NO. 4 IN LATEST NWCA/USA TODAY COACHES POLL; EIGHT LIONS RANKED BY INTERMAT

Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team continue to be ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Four Nittany Lion All-Americans are ranked in the top five and all eight are listed in the top 15. Coming off a superb championship run at the Southern Scuffle on Jan. 1-2, Penn State is now No. 4 in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll and has moved back to No. 1 in Intermat's Tournament Power Index (TPI). Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 16-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) is 14-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 16-0 at ranked No. 2 at 174. Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is No. 3 at 184 with an 13-2 mark. Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 13-4 at heavyweight and is ranked No. 6 and red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 12-3 at 157 and ranked No. 9. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 14-3 at 125 and ranked No. 10 while classmate Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 9-5 at 197 and ranked No. 13. Penn State has moved up to No. 4 in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches Dual Meet Poll, tied with Cornell. Iowa remains No. 1, Oklahoma State is No. 2 and Cornell is No. 3. Penn State has, however returned to the No. 1 spot on Intermat's Tournament Power Index with 92.0 points while Iowa and Oklahoma State are tied for No. 2 with 81.0. Minnesota is fourth with 80.5.

WRESTLING RADIO NETWORK READY FOR '11-12 SEASON

The Penn State Wrestling Radio Show will begin yet another season on Wednesday, Nov. 2, while multiple local stations will once again broadcast the entire 2011-12 Nittany Lion season. The march to St. Louis begins with the Intrasquad dual on Nov. 3 and concludes with the national championships in late-March. The wrestling radio season begins on Nov. 2 when Jeff Byers hosts the first edition of the Penn State Wrestling Show. The show will air every Wednesday from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and will air across the state on the Pennsylvania Sports Network. Local affiliate 3WZ (95.3 FM) will serve as the flagship station for the show that will features coaches, wrestlers and other individuals affiliated with the Nittany Lion wrestling program. The 30-minute show welcomes calls from fans, who can call into the show at 814-237-0953. In addition to 3WZ, the weekly show can be heard on the following stations: WCPA (900 AM) Clearfield/DuBois; WIEZ (670 AM) Lewistown/Huntingdon; WLYC (1050 AM) Williamsport/Lewisburg; WLYC (104.1 FM) Montoursville/Jersey Shore; WBPZ (1230 AM) Lock Haven; WTZN (1310 AM) Troy/Canton; WTTC (1550 AM) Towanda/Elmira, N.Y.; WGET (1330 AM) Gettysburg/Hanover. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. Lewistown/Huntingdon's WIEZ (670 AM) will carry every Sunday dual and the post-season. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events.

Eight Nittany Lions Ranked in Latest Intermat Rankings

Team moves to No. 4 in Coaches Dual Meet Poll and back to No. 1 in TPI

           UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; January 4, 2012 - Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team continue to be ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Four Nittany Lion All-Americans are ranked in the top five and all eight are listed in the top 15. Coming off a superb championship run at the Southern Scuffle on Jan. 1-2, Penn State is now No. 4 in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll and has moved back to No. 1 in Intermat's Tournament Power Index (TPI).

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 16-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) is 14-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 16-0 at ranked No. 2 at 174. Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is No. 3 at 184 with an 13-2 mark.

Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 13-4 at heavyweight and is ranked No. 6 and red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 12-3 at 157 and ranked No. 9. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 14-3 at 125 and ranked No. 10 while classmate Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 9-5 at 197 and ranked No. 13.

Penn State has moved up to No. 4 in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches Dual Meet Poll, tied with Cornell. Iowa remains No. 1, Oklahoma State is No. 2 and Cornell is No. 3. Penn State has, however returned to the No. 1 spot on Intermat's Tournament Power Index with 92.0 points while Iowa and Oklahoma State are tied for No. 2 with 81.0. Minnesota is fourth with 80.5.

The Nittany Lions return to dual meet action this coming Sunday with a 2 p.m. dual against Michigan State. The road Big Ten battle will take part place in Battle Creek's Kellog Center. Penn State's next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of 'standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

Penn State- Wrestler David Taylor Named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week

Outstanding Wrestler Performance at Southern Scuffle Leads to Weekly Honor

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; January 3, 2012 - Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending Jan. 2, 2012. The honor is the first for the Nittany Lion sophomore.

Taylor, the 2011 Big Ten Wrestler of the Year and Big Ten Rookie of the Year, got the nod for a 5-0 run to the 165 pound Southern Scuffle title. Taylor posted three pins, a tech fall and a major and improved to 14-0 on the year. He majored #20 Kyle Blevins of Appalachian State in the semifinals before pinning Big Ten rival Cody Yohn, ranked #10, at the 2:34 mark in the championship finals. Taylor was named the 2012 Southern Scuffle Most Outstanding Wrestler and was one of four Penn State individual champions.

The Nittany Lions rolled past No. 3 Minnesota to claim the team crown with 191.5 points to Minnesota's 177.0. Taylor, an All-American national and national finalist as a freshman last year, is now 52-1 for his career. The honor is the second for Penn State as junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) won on Dec. 20.

Taylor and the rest of the Nittany Lions return to dual meet action this coming Sunday with a 2 p.m. dual against Michigan State. The road Big Ten battle will take part place in Battle Creek's Kellog Center. Penn State's next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of 'standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

Penn State Rolls Past Minnesota for 2012 Southern Scuffle Title

Molinaro, Taylor, Ruth and Wright all claim titles while Taylor named OW

               CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.; January 2, 2012 - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 5 nationally, stormed through the finals of the 2012 Southern Scuffle, crowning four champions and winning the team title over No. 3 Minnesota by 14 points. Penn State won the title with 191.5 points while Minnesota was second with 177.5. The Nittany Lions entered day two with a slim 7.5 point lead over the gophers and used a superb 6-3 run in the semifinals and a 4-2 showing in the finals to claim the crown.

The morning's semifinal fireworks led way to Penn State crowning four individual champions and getting the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler Award, given to All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) for his 165-pound title. Joining Taylor as titlists were All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) at 149, All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) at 174 and All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) at 184.

In the morning's semifinals, Penn State sent nine grapplers into action at seven weights and came away with six finalists in five weights. Three-time All-American Molinaro, ranked No. 1 at 149, downed No. 20 Scott Sakaguchi of Oregon State 4-0; No. 10 Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) beat Corey Mock of North Carolina 4-1 at 157; teammate James Vollrath (Richboro, Pa.) dropped a tough 6-0 decision to No. 1 Kyle Dake of Cornell at 157; Taylor, ranked No. 1 at 165, downed No. 20 Kyle Blevins to the tune of a 12-3 major; Ruth, ranked No. 2 at 174, majored Patrick Wright of Illinois 10-1; teammate Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) downed No. 11 Logan Storley in the other semifinal at 174, 7-5, to set up a meeting with teammate Ruth in the finals; Wright, ranked No. 5 at 184, beat No. 15 Luke Rebertus of Navy 7-3; true freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 11 at 197, lost 12-5 to No. 1 Cam Simaz of Cornell; and senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 8 at 258, lost a close 4-3 decision to No. 4 Clayton Jack of Oregon State.

The blistering run through the semifinals set up five championship finals matches featuring six Nittany Lions. For Penn State the championship finals began at 149 where No. 1 Molinaro met No. 11 Dylan Ness of Minnesota. Molinaro scored big for Penn State with a dominating 9-1 major over Ness. Molinaro won his first Scuffle title with a 5-0 mark with two techs and a major. Red-shirt freshman Alton, ranked No. 10, met No. 1 Kyle Dake of Cornell in the finals at 157. Alton battled the two-time NCAA champ tough before dropping a 3-0 decision to take second place in his first Scuffle. Alton went 4-1 with two pins and a major.

Top-ranked Taylor took on No. 10 Cody Yohn of Minnesota in the finals at 165. Already owning a tech fall over the 10th-ranked Gopher, Taylor did it one better this time with a team-title clinching pin in the first period (2:36). Taylor, who claimed his second Scuffle crown, went 5-0 with three pins, a tech and a major. At 174, the all-Penn State final pitted No. 2 Ruth against teammate Brown. In a spirited battle, Ruth downed his talented teammate, posting a 6-3 decision. Ruth's win gave him his second straight Scuffle title and he went 6-0 with three pins, a tech and a major. No. 5 Wright met No. 4 Steve Bosak of Cornell in the title bout at 184 and put the exclamation point on the team title by dominating the fourth-ranked Bosak to the tune of a 10-3 win. Wright claimed his first Scuffle title with the victory as he went 5-0 with three pins.

Penn State had 11-place winners at the event. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) opened up the day in consolation action at 125 and rolled three straight wins to advance to the third place bout at 125. Megaludis downed No. 7 Matt Snyder of Virginia in the conso semis to advance to the bronze medal bout. In the third place bout, the Lion freshman lost another close decision to No. 7 Perrelli of Cornell, this one by a 6-4 score. He ended the tournament with a 5-2 record for fourth place. Vollrath dropped a tough 3-2 (ot) decision to Chattanooga's Daniel Waddell in the conso semis before moving to the fifth place bout. Vollrath ended the tournament with a tough 4-1 loss to Mock of UNC and placed sixth with a 3-3 mark.

McIntosh had a 5-4 win taken from him when a last second reversal was waved off when clock operator was asked by the official and overruled the officials call, sending him to a 4-3 loss to No. 4 Matt Powless of Indiana. He then lost in the fifth place bout and ended the day with a 3-3 mark and with a sixth place finish. Wade rebounded from his close loss to Jack by picking up a key pin at the 1:34 mark over No. 5 Jeremy Johnson of Ohio in the conso semis. He finished the day an upset loss in the third place match and went 4-2 to take fourth place. Red-shirt freshman Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) was in the heavyweight consolation bracket for Penn State and won his first match, clinching a place. Gingrich ended the day with two losses in consolations but still took eighth place with a 4-3 record.

Junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) was in action in consolations at 141 and dropped his first match of the day to No. 15 Michael Nevinger of Cornell. The loss eliminated Pearsall with a 3-2 mark.

Yesterday, Penn State had three wrestlers eliminated but still picked up important wins from them. Red-shirt freshman Seth Beitz (Juniata, Pa.) had a solid showing at 141, going 3-2 before being eliminated. Junior Nick Fischer (Unionville, Pa.) posted a 2-2 mark at 165 before being eliminated. At 133, Nittany Lion junior Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) went 0-2 one day one.

Penn State posted a superb 56-23 overall mark among its 15 wrestlers, collecting 18 pins, nine tech falls and 11 majors along the way. 38 of Penn State's 56 wins were of the bonus point variety.

The Nittany Lions return to dual meet action this coming Sunday with a 2 p.m. dual against Michigan State. The road Big Ten battle will take part place in Battle Creek's Kellog Center. Penn State's next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of 'standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (670 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at <http://www.GoPSUsports.com>www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at <http://www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html>www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at <http://www.twitter.com/pennstatepat>www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at <http://www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling>www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.



2012 SOUTHERN SCUFFLE FINAL TOP TEN TEAM STANDINGS:
Sunday, January 2, 2012 - Chattanooga, Tenn.
1: PENN STATE - 191.5
2: Minnesota - 177.5
3: Missouri - 136.0
4: Cornell - 130.0
5: Oregon State - 103.0
6: Virginia - 82.0
7: Chattanooga - 79.0
8: Appalachian State - 63.5
9: Hofstra - 58.0
10: Ohio - 57.0
Attendance: Day 1 (2,168) 2-Day Total (4,378)

2012 SOUTHERN SCUFFLE CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS AGATE:
Sunday, January 2, 2012 - Chattanooga, Tenn.
125: #1 Zach Sanders MINN dec. #3 Alan Waters MIZ, 1-0
133: Chris Dardanes MINN dec. Nick Soto CHATT, 7-2
141: #5 Michael Mangrum ORE ST dec. Darius Little NCST, 4-1
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU maj. dec. #11 Dylan Ness MINN, 9-1
157: #1 Kyle Dake COR dec. #10 Dylan Alton PSU, 0-3
165: #1 David Taylor PSU pinned #10 Cody Yohn MINN, WBF (2:34)
174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU dec. Matt Brown PSU, 6-3
184: #5 Quentin Wright PSU dec. #4 Steve Bosak COR, 10-3
197: #19 Brent Haynes MIZ inj. def. #1 Cam Simaz COR
285: #7 Tony Nelson MINN dec. #4 Clayton Jack ORE ST, 2-0

Penn State's 125 agate:

#13 Nico Megaludis:
1st Round: W, 18-3 TF Richard Alarcon, The Citadel (4:58)
2nd Round: W, 19-7 maj. dec. David White, Army
Qtrs: L, 3-9 dec. #7 Frank Perrelli, Cornell
Cn. 4: W, 18-2 TF Pat Rollins, Oregon State (TF; 6:17)
Cn Qtrs: W, 5-2 dec. Bricker Dixon, Cornell
Cn. Semis: W, 4-1 dec. #9 Matt Snyder, Virginia
3rd Place: L, 4-6 dec. #7 Frank Perrelli, Cornell
Went 5-2, fourth place

Penn State's 133 agate:

Derek Reber:
1st Round: L, 3-4 dec. Jordan O'Donnell, Virginia Tech
Cn. 1: bye
Cn. 2: L, 3-5 dec. Nikkolas Pena, Cornell
Went 0-2, did not place

Penn State's 141 agate:

Bryan Pearsall:
1st Round: WBF Jimmy Nehls, UA-Virginia (1:06)
2nd Round: L, 4-6 (sv) dec. Darius Little, North Carolina State
Cn. 2: W, 3-1 dec. Undrakhb Khishigayam, UA-The Citadel
Cn. 3: W, 17-1 TF Chris Mullin, Duke (6:37)
Cn. 4: L, 0-17 TF #15 Michael Nevinger, Cornell (6:36)
Went 3-2, did not place

Seth Beitz:
Pigtail: W, 12-3 maj. dec. Jordan Tolbert, Campbell
1st Round: L, 1-6 dec. Casey Smith, Army
Cn. 1: bye
Cn. 2: W, 5-4 dec. Jordan Dix, The Citadel
Cn. 3: W, 10-8 (sv) Raymond Borja, Navy
Cn. 4: L, 1-2 dec. Matt Ortega, Indiana
Went 3-2, did not place

Penn State's 149 agate:

#1 Frank Molinaro
1st Round: W, 16-0 TF Samuel McCauley, UA-The Citadel (3:28) (Career Win 100)
2nd Round: W, 9-3 dec. Chris Villalonga, Cornell
Qtrs: W, 16-0 TF Dean Pavlou, Chattanooga (3:25)
Semis: W, 4-0 dec. #20 Scott Sakaguchi, Oregon State
Finals: dfdd #11 Dylan Ness, Minnesota
Went 4-0jkjkj, kjkj place

Penn State's 157 agate:

#10 Dylan Alton
1st Round: WBF Tanner Hirstine, Virginia (3:51)
2nd Round: WBF Harrison Hightower, Ohio (0:47)
Qtrs: W, 13-2 maj. dec. Matt Stephens, Virginia Tech
Semis: W, 4-1 dec. Corey Mock, North Carolina
Finals: kjkj #1 Kyle Dake, Cornell
Went 4-0dfdf, kj place

James Vollrath
1st Round: W, 10-5 dec. William Powell, Appalachian State
2nd Round: W, 11-3 maj. dec. Chad Strube, Virginia Tech
Qtrs: W, 5-4 dec. #20 Drake Houdashelt, Missouri
Semis: L, 0-6 dec. #1 Kyle Dake, Cornell
Cn. Semis: L, 2-3 (ot) dec. Daniel Waddell, Chattanooga
5th Place: L, 1-4 dec. Corey Mock, North Carolina
Went 3-3, 6th place

Penn State's 165 agate:

#1 David Taylor
1st Round: WBF Justin Guthrie, UA-Gardner Webb (1:54)
2nd Round: W, 21-6 TF Tristan Warner, Old Dominion (7:00)
Qtrs: WBF John Staudenmayer, UA-North Carolina (2:13)
Semis: W, 12-3 maj. dec. #20 Kyle Blevins, Appalachian State
Finals: W, 9-1 maj. dec. #11 Cody Yohn, Minnesota
Went 5-0, 1st place

Nick Fischer
Pigtail: W, 11-2 maj. dec. Nijel Jones, N.C. State
1st Round: L, 4-8 dec. Jordan Gagliano, Missouri
Cn. 1: Bye
Cn. 2 W, 5-2 dec. Kenneth Radford, UA-The Citadel
Cn. 3: L, 5-11 dec. Ryan Krecker, Campbell
Went 2-2, did not place

Penn State's 174 agate:

#2 Ed Ruth
Pigtail: W, 16-1 TF William Coggins, Virginia (3:33)
1st Round: WBF Cody Walters, UA-Ohio (1:22)
2nd Round: WBF Levi Clemmons, Chattanooga (3:11)
Qtrs: WBF William George, Cornell (1:05)
Semis: W, 10-1 maj. dec. Patrick Wright, Missouri
Finals: W, 6-3 dec. Matt Brown, Penn State
Went 6-0, 1st place

Matt Brown
1st Round: WBF Aric Thurn, Cleveland State (4:56)
2nd Round: WBF Michael Alexander, Cornell (3:20)
Qtrs: W, 6-3 dec. #7 Dorian Henderson, Missouri
Semis: W, 7-5 dec. #11 Logan Storley, Minnesota
Finals: L, 3-6 dec. #2 Ed Ruth, Penn State
Went 4-1, 2nd place

Penn State's 184 agate:

#5 Quentin Wright
1st Round: WBF Jesse Johnson, Appalachian State (5:13)
2nd Round: WBF Angelo Malvestuto, Virginia Tech (6:51)
Qtrs: WBF #17 Mike Larson, Missouri (1:12)
Semis: W, 7-3 dec. #15 Luke Rebertus, Navy
Finals: W, 10-3 dec. #4 Steve Bosak, Cornell
Went 5-0, 1st place

Penn State's 197 agate:

#11 Morgan McIntosh
1st Round: WBF Paul Weiss, Appalachian State (4:03)
2nd Round: WBF Zach Bennett, North Carolina (6:39)
Qtrs: W, 13-8 dec. Paul Rands, Navy
Semis: L, 5-12 dec. #1 Cam Simaz, Cornell
Cn. Semis: L, 3-4 dec. #4 Matt Powless, Indiana
5th Place: L, 6-11 dec. Scott Schiller, Minnesota
Went 3-3, 6th place

Penn State's 285 agate:

#8 Cameron Wade
1st Round: W, 17-2 TF Brock Durfee, Appalachian State (5:20)
2nd Round: W, 15-0 TF Bobby Lavelle, UA-Virginia Tech (3:36)
Qtrs: WBF Andy Hartshorn, Ohio (2:13)
Semis: L, 3-4 dec. #4 Clayton Jack, Oregon State
Cn. Semis: WBF #5 Jeremy Johnson, Ohio (1:34)
3rd Place: L, 3-7 dec. Chad Hanke, UA-Oregon State
Went 4-2, fourth place

Jon Gingrich
1st Round: W, 9-1 maj. dec. Bradley Rogers, Chattanooga
2nd Round: L, 3-5 dec. Paul Snyder, Hofstra
Cn. 2: W, 15-1 maj. dec. Brock Durfee, Appalachian State
Cn. 3: W, 10-2 maj. dec. Devon Mellon, Missouri
Cn. 4: W, 4-0 dec. Maciej Jochym, Cornell
Cn. Qtrs: L, 2-5 dec. Andy Hartshorn, Ohio
7th Place: L, 4-8 dec. Adam Chalfant, UA-Indiana
Went 4-3, eighth place

Nittany Lion Wrestlers Pin Their Way to Team Lead After Day One of Southern Scuffle

Lions amass 16 pins on day one of marquee event in Chattanooga

               CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.; January 1, 2012 - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 5 nationally, finds itself in first place after the first day of the 2012 Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn., thanks in large part to an explosion of bonus point wins. The Nittany Lions notched 32 bonus point wins (including 16 pins) and leads No. 3 Minnesota by nine points and senior Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) got his 100th career win in the process.

Penn State sent 15 wrestlers into action at the Scuffle with two at 141, 157, 165, 174 and 285. The top scoring wrestler at each weight class is calculated into the score, so a 'starting line-up' is not designated per se. Ten of Penn State's 15 wrestlers advanced to the quarterfinals with the team rolling up bonus points in the process. In the quarters, the Nittany Lions went 9-1

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, went 3-0 on the day with two technical falls to advance to tomorrow morning's semifinals. Molinaro first win was the 100th of his career, making the Nittany Lion the latest to join Penn State's 100-win club.Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) was perfect at 157, going 3-0 to advance to the semifinals with two pins and a major. Sophomore James Vollrath (Richboro, Pa.) also advanced to the semis at 157, going 3-0 with a major and a 5-4 win over No. 20 Drake Houdashelt of Missouri in the quarterfinals.

Top-ranked All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, continued his undefeated roll through his season by going 3-0 to advance to the semis. Taylor, who won the Scuffle title at 157 last year, used got two pins and a tech fall. All-American sophomore Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, was outstanding at 174 as well, going 4-0 with three pins and a tech fall to move to the semifinals. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) also advanced to the semis at 174, thrilling the Lion faithful with a resounding 6-3 win over No. 7 Dorian Henderson of Missouri in the quarterfinals. Brown's 3-0 mark included two pins.

Defending national champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 184, pinned No. 17 Mike Larson of Missouri in the quarterfinals to move into the semis, going 3-0 on the day as well. True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 11 at 197, was 3-0 and moved to the semifinals. McIntosh notched two falls. Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) was perfect at heavyweight as well. Wade, ranked No. 8, went 3-0 with two techs and a pin to move into the semifinals.

True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 13 at 125, started the tournament 2-0 with a technical fall and a major before suffering a 9-3 loss to No. 7 Frank Perrelli of Cornell in the quarterfinals. Megaludis is 2-1 and is set for consolation action tomorrow morning. His was Penn State's lone quarterfinal loss as the Nittany Lions posted a 9-1 mark.

Junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) got a pin in the first round at 141, lost a tough match in round two. He rebounded for a big consolation win and is 2-1 through day one of the tournament. He continues into consolation action tomorrow morning. Red-shirt freshman Seth Beitz (Juniata, Pa.) had a solid first day at 141, going 2-2 before being eliminated. Junior Nick Fischer (Unionville, Pa.) also picked up wins for Penn State at 165, posting a 2-2 mark before being eliminated. Red-shirt freshman Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) got a major in his first match at 285 before dropping a close 5-3 decision in round two. Gingrich then posted two straight majors in consolations, went 3-1 on the day and is set for tomorrow mornings wrestle-backs. At 133, Nittany Lion junior Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) went 0-2 on the day.

Penn State is in first place in the team race with 119.5 points, just ahead of second place Minnesota, who has 110.5. Missouri is in third with 82.0, Cornell in fourth with 80.5 and Oregon State in fifth with 66.5. The Nittany Lions first day totals are, in terms of bonus points, stunning. Penn State went 41-9 over the course of day one with 16 pins, eight technical falls and eight majors, meaning 32 of Penn State's 41 wins were of the bonus point variety. Also of note, all nine of Penn State's losses were by decision only.

Penn State continues action in the Southern Scuffle beginning tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. Penn State's next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of 'standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (670 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

2012 SOUTHERN SCUFFLE TOP FIVE TEAM STANDINGS AFTER DAY ONE:
Sunday, January 1, 2012 - Chattanooga, Tenn.
1: PENN STATE - 119.5
2: Minnesota - 110.5
3: Missouri - 82.0
4: Cornell - 80.0
5: Oregon State - 66.5

Penn State's 125 agate:

#13 Nico Megaludis:
1st Round: W, 18-3 TF Richard Alarcon, The Citadel (4:58)
2nd Round: W, 19-7 maj. dec. David White, Army
Qtrs: L, 3-9 dec. #7 Frank Perrelli, Cornell
Cn. 5: Tomorrow
Currently 2-1, in action tomorrow

Penn State's 133 agate:

Derek Reber:
1st Round: L, 3-4 dec. Jordan O'Donnell, Virginia Tech
Cn. 1: bye
Cn. 2: L, 3-5 dec. Nikkolas Pena, Cornell
0-2 today, eliminated

Penn State's 141 agate:

Bryan Pearsall:
1st Round: WBF Jimmy Nehls, UA-Virginia (1:06)
2nd Round: L, 4-6 (sv) dec. Darius Little, North Carolina State
Cn. 3: W, 3-1 dec. Undrakhb Khishigayam, UA-The Citadel
Cn. 4: Tomorrow
Currently 2-1, in action tomorrow

Seth Beitz:
Pigtail: W, 12-3 maj. dec. Jordan Tolbert, Campbell
1st Round: L, 1-6 dec. Casey Smith, Army
Cn. 1: bye
Cn. 2: W, 5-4 dec. Jordan Dix, The Citadel
Cn. 3: L, 1-2 dec. Matt Ortega, Indiana
Went 2-2, eliminated

Penn State's 149 agate:

#1 Frank Molinaro
1st Round: W, 16-0 TF Samuel McCauley, UA-The Citadel (3:28) (Career Win 100)
2nd Round: W, 9-3 dec. Chris Villalonga, Cornell
Qtrs: W, 16-0 TF Dean Pavlou, Chattanooga (3:25)
Semis: Tomorrow
Currently 3-0, in action tomorrow

Penn State's 157 agate:

#10 Dylan Alton
1st Round: WBF Tanner Hirstine, Virginia (3:51)
2nd Round: WBF Harrison Hightower, Ohio (0:47)
Qtrs: W, 13-2 maj. dec. Matt Stephens, Virginia Tech
Semis: Tomorrow
Currently 3-0, in action tomorrow

James Vollrath
1st Round: W, 10-5 dec. William Powell, Appalachian State
2nd Round: W, 11-3 maj. dec. Chad Strube, Virginia Tech
Qtrs: W, 5-4 dec. #20 Drake Houdashelt, Missouri
Semis: Tomorrow
Currently 3-0, in action tomorrow

Penn State's 165 agate:

#1 David Taylor
1st Round: WBF Justin Guthrie, UA-Gardner Webb (1:54)
2nd Round: W, 21-6 TF Tristan Warner, Old Dominion (7:00)
Qtrs: WBF John Staudenmayer, UA-North Carolina (2:13)
Semis:
Currently 3-0, in action tomorrow

Nick Fischer
Pigtail: W, 11-2 maj. dec. Nijel Jones, N.C. State
1st Round: L, 4-8 dec. Jordan Gagliano, Missouri
Cn. 1: Bye
Cn. 2 W, 5-2 dec. Kenneth Radford, UA-The Citadel
Cn. 3: L, 5-11 dec. Ryan Krecker, Campbell
Went 2-2, eliminated

Penn State's 174 agate:

#2 Ed Ruth
Pigtail: W, 16-1 TF William Coggins, Virginia (3:33)
1st Round: WBF Cody Walters, UA-Ohio (1:22)
2nd Round: WBF Levi Clemmons, Chattanooga (3:11)
Qtrs: WBF William George, Cornell (1:05)
Semis: Tomorrow
Currently 4-0, in action tomorrow

Matt Brown
1st Round: WBF Aric Thurn, Cleveland State (4:56)
2nd Round: WBF Michael Alexander, Cornell (3:20)
Qtrs: W, 6-3 dec. #7 Dorian Henderson, Missouri
Semis: Tomorrow
Currently 3-0, in action tomorrow

Penn State's 184 agate:

#5 Quentin Wright
1st Round: WBF Jesse Johnson, Appalachian State (5:13)
2nd Round: WBF Angelo Malvestuto, Virginia Tech (6:51)
Qtrs: WBF #17 Mike Larson, Missouri (1:12)
Semis: Tomorrow
Currently 3-0, in action tomorrow

Penn State's 197 agate:

#11 Morgan McIntosh
1st Round: WBF Paul Weiss, Appalachian State (4:03)
2nd Round: WBF Zach Bennett, North Carolina (6:39)
Qtrs: W, 13-8 dec. Paul Rands, Navy
Semis: Tomorrow
Currently 3-0, in action tomorrow

Penn State's 285 agate:

#8 Cameron Wade
1st Round: W, 17-2 TF Brock Durfee, Appalachian State (5:20)
2nd Round: W, 15-0 TF Bobby Lavelle, UA-Virginia Tech (3:36)
Qtrs: WBF Andy Hartshorn, Ohio (2:13)
Semis: Tomorrow
Currently 3-0, in action tomorrow

Jon Gingrich
1st Round: W, 9-1 maj. dec. Bradley Rogers, Chattanooga
2nd Round: L, 3-5 dec. Paul Snyder, Hofstra
Cn. 3: W, 15-1 maj. dec. Brock Durfee, Appalachian State
Cn. 4: W, 10-2 maj. dec. Devon Mellon, Missouri
Cn. 5: Tomorrow
Currently 3-1, in action tomorrow

Nittany Lion Wrestlers Head to Southern Scuffle on Jan. 1-2!

TODAY'S ACTION

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Dec. 20, 2011 -- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (4-1, 0-1 B1G), ranked No. 5 nationally, will head to Chattanooga, Tenn., for New Year's and the 2012 Southern Scuffle. The two-day event takes place on Jan. 1-2 at UT-Chattanooga.

The Nittany Lions are defending co-champions of the Scuffle along with Cornell, which is also back to defend its share of the Scuffle crown. Penn State is coming off a 50-0 shutout win over Lock Haven on Sunday, Dec. 18. Junior Bryan Pearsall sparked the Lion win by pinning No. 14 Matt Bonson at 141 as Penn State piled up four pins, three techs and two majors.

The 2012 Southern Scuffle features eight top 25 teams, including three of the top five in No. 3 Minnesota, No. 4 Cornell and No. 5 Penn State. Also in the field will be No. 11 Missouri, No. 15 Virginia Tech, No. 16 Oregon State, No. 21 Virginia and No. 25 Hofstra. The strong field will include numerous top 25 wrestlers at each weight, including Penn State's eight ranked grapplers. Penn State will send No. 1 Frank Molinaro at 149, No. 1 David Taylor at 165, No. 2 Ed Ruth at 174, No. 5 Quentin Wright at 184, No. 8 Cameron Wade at 285, No. 10 Dylan Alton at 157, No. 11 Morgan McIntosh at 197 and No. 13 Nico Megaludis at 125 as well as Derek Reber at 133 and Bryan Pearsall at 141. Penn State will send more than 10 wrestlers into action (as will many teams), but only ten score in the team race.

The Nittany Lions won last year's co-championship along with Cornell, which is also returning to the event this year. Penn State will have three defending individual champions at the event, including last year's Scuffle OW, Ed Ruth who won the title at 174. David Taylor won last year's 157 crown and Cameron Wade won the title at 285. Frank Molinaro placed second at 149.

Penn State will continue Big Ten dual action with at Michigan State on Sunday, Jan. 8, at 2 p.m. Penn State's next home dual is on Jan. 22 when Iowa comes to Rec Hall for a dual that is already sold out. Penn State then hosts Ohio State on Jan. 29 and only standing room only tickets remain.  Fans can purchase a very limited number of those SRO tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. WIEZ 670 AM (Huntingdon/Lewistown) will carry all Sunday duals during the regular season plus the Big Ten and NCAA Championships in March. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

POSSIBLE STARTERS
#5 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (4-1, 0-1 B1G)
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 #13 Nico Megaludis Fr. Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional 9-1
133 Derek Reber Jr. Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg 4-3
Frank Martellotti So. Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side 3-1
141 Bryan Pearsall Jr. Lititz, Pa./Warwick 4-3
Seth Beitz R-Fr. Juniata, Pa./Juniata 16-3
149 #1 Frank Molinaro Sr. Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional 11-0
157 #10 Dylan Alton R-Fr. Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain 8-2
James Vollrath So. Richboro, Pa./Council Rock 9-1
165 #1 David Taylor So. St. Paris, Ohio/St. Paris Graham 9-0
174 #2 Ed Ruth So. Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp. 10-0
Matt Brown R-Fr. West Valley City, Utah/Cyprus 16-1
184 #5 Quentin Wright Jr. Wingate, Pa./Bald Eagle Area 8-2
197 #11 Morgan McIntosh Fr. Santa Ana, Calif./Calvary Chapel 6-2
285 #8 Cameron Wade Sr. Twinsburg, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel 9-2
Jon Gingrich R-Fr. Wingate, Pa./Bald Eagle Area 13-1
THE FIELD
#5 Penn State
Appalachian State
Army
Campbell
UT-Chattanooga
The Citadel
Cleveland State
#4 Cornell
Duke
Gardner Webb
#25 Hofstra
Indiana
#3 Minnesota
#11 Missouri
Navy
North Carolina
North Carolina State
Ohio
Old Dominion
#16 Oregon State
#21 Virginia
#15 Virginia Tech

Indiv. Rankings Intermat as of 12/20; Team Rankings NWCA/USA Today as of 12/20

HEAD COACH CAEL SANDERSON

Cael Sanderson, now in his third year as mentor of the Nittany Lions, came to Penn State after three extremely successful years as the head coach at his alma mater. Sanderson's teams did not finish any lower than fifth at the NCAA Championships and never had a wrestler not qualify for nationals, getting 30 of 30 grapplers through to the championship tournament. In 2007, Sanderson's rookie campaign, he led ISU to a 13-3 dual meet record and the first of three straight Big 12 Championships. An NCAA Runner-Up finished in Detroit capped off a wildly successful year as the Cyclones crowned one national championship and Sanderson was honored as Big 12 Coach of the Year, National Rookie Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year. The next year, Sanderson led ISU to a 16-4 dual meet mark, another Big 12 title and a fifth place finish at nationals. Iowa State's seven All-Americans in 2008 were the most at the school since 1993. In his final year at ISU, Sanderson's team went 15-3 in duals, won its third straight Big 12 title and took third place at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis (just 12 points out of first place). The Cyclones also crowned another national champion. In three years, Sanderson's teams went 44-10, won three conference crowns, qualified all 30 wrestlers for nationals, and earned 15 All-America awards and two individual national titles. In his first year at Penn State (2009-10), he guided the Lions to a 13-6-1 dual meet mark, 5-3 in Big Ten action, and crowned his first Big Ten Champion. The Lions finished No. 10 in the final USA Today/Coaches dual meet poll and placed ninth at NCAAs. Last year, Sanderson guided the Nittany Lions to its first-ever Southern Scuffle Co-Championship (2010-11) and its first Virginia Duals Championship since 1991 (2010-11). In guiding Penn State to a 6-1-1 conference mark, Sanderson equaled the most Big Ten dual meet wins in Penn State history in just his second year at the helm of the Nittany Lions (Penn State won six Big Ten duals in 1998). Sanderson led Penn State to the school's first ever Big Ten Championship on March 5-6 and was named 2011 Big Ten Coach of the Year. Saving the best for last, he led the Nittany Lions to the 2011 NCAA National Championship in Philadelphia on March 17-19, Penn State's first since 1953 and Sanderson's first as a collegiate head coach. Coach Sanderson now sports a 78-18-2 dual meet mark in his sixth year as a collegiate head coach. He is 34-8-2 in his third year at Penn State.

PEARSALL PINS #14 BONSON TO LEAD LIONS TO 50-0 WIN AT LOCK HAVEN; NAMED BIG TEN WRESTLER OF THE WEEK

Junior Bryan Pearsall pinned nationally ranked Matt Bonson of Lock Haven to lead the Nittany Lions to a 50-0 shut-out win at Lock Haven on 12/18. Pearsall pinned No. 14 Bonson in the second period of their battle at 141. The fall was one of four for Penn State in the dual (Nico Megaludis, Frank Molinaro and Cameron Wade added pins as well), which featured a 41-0 takedown edge for the Nittany Lions. Pearsall was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending 12/18, the first such honor of his career.

BROWN GETS TF IN PENN STATE DUAL DEBUT

Matt Brown got the call at 174 in Penn State's 50-0 shut-out win at Lock Haven on 12/18 and posted a convincing 19-4 technical fall in just 3:47 over LHU's Aaron McKinney. The win helped Penn State earn its first shut-out since a 48-0 win over LHU back in December of '10.

WRIGHT PINS #17 RYAN TO LEAD LIONS TO 34-6 WIN OVER WEST VIRGINIA

Defending national champion Quentin Wright, ranked No. 5 at 184, pinned No. 17 Matt Ryan of West Virginia in the first period (1:57) to spark Penn State to a 34-6 win over WVU in a packed Rec Hall. Over 6,000 fans watched Penn State post a 35-2 edge in takedowns in the lopsided win on 12/11.

LIONS RUN AWAY FROM #10 LEHIGH FOR ROAD WIN IN 100TH MEETING BETWEEN TWO TEAMS

Penn State built up a huge early lead and coasted to a 24-12 win at No. 10 Lehigh on 12/9. Penn State got a key win from David Taylor over No. 9 Brandon Hatchett (8-5) and majors from Bryan Pearsall, Frank Molinaro and David Taylor while Ed Ruth, leading 12-1 at the time, got an injury forfeit win at 174. The win gave Penn State a 63-34-3 lead in the all-time series as the dual was the 100th meeting between the two eastern powers.

NITTANY LION WRESTLING ATTENDANCE SOARING

Three dual meets into the 2011-12 season and Penn State's average wrestling attendance is soaring once again. All three of Penn State's duals have topped the 6,000 fan mark, including a sellout against Minnesota. Penn State is average 6,138 fans per event to date.

MOLINARO, TAYLOR, RUTH STILL PERFECT AND PILING UP BONUS WINS
The All-American trio of Frank Molinaro (149), David Taylor (157) and Ed Ruth (174) are all still perfect on the year and a combined 30-0 with six majors, eight tech falls, 11 pins and an injury default victory. They have combined for 26 bonus point wins in 30 matches. Molinaro is 11-0 with four majors, three techs and three pins, giving him ten bonus wins in 11 matches. Taylor is 9-0 with five pins and three tech fall, giving him eight bonus point wins in nine matches. Ruth is 10-0 with two majors, two techs, three falls and an injury default win, giving him eight bonus wins in ten matches.

LIONS CROWN SIX CHAMPS AT '11 NLO

Penn State crowned six champions at the 2011 Nittany Lion Open. Freshman Nico Megaludis won the title at 125; senior Frank Molinaro won the title at 149 (his third Open crown); sophomore David Taylor won the title at 165 (his second Open crown); sophomore Ed Ruth won the 174-pound bracket (his first NLO gold); junior Quentin Wright won the 184-pound title (his first as well); and senior Cameron Wade won the championship at heavyweight (his second). Wins over ranked wrestlers for the champions included: Molinaro with an 8-0 major over #20 Steve Santos of Columbia and a first period pin (1:23) of #9 Donnie Vinson of Binghamton; Taylor with a pin (4:40) of #14 Peter Yates of Virginia Tech and a 14-6 major over former American All-American Steve Fittery; and Ruth with a 7-4 win over #17 Jimmy Sheptock of Maryland.

PENN STATE WITH 18 PLACE WINNERS AT '11 NLO

In addition to the above six champions, Penn State had 12 other place winners at the 2011 Nittany Lion Open, headed by finalists/runners-up Dylan Alton at 157 and Morgan McIntosh at 197. Jordan Conaway was fourth at 125, Frank Martellotti was eighth at 133, Andrew Alton was third at 149, Seth Beitz was fifth at 149, James Vollrath was third at 157, Nick Fischer was fourth at 157, Matt Brown was fifth at 174, Justin Ortega was eighth at 197, Nick Ruggear was fourth at 285 and Jon Gingrich was fifth at 285.

WADE NOW 11TH ON ALL-TIME PINS LIST

Cameron Wade entered the season with 21 career falls. The senior heavyweight has four on the year and now has 25 for his career, tied for 11th on Penn State's all-time list.

THREE LIONS GRAB WINS IN MINNESOTA DUAL

Penn State's loss to Minnesota on 11/20 in front of a sold out Rec Hall crowd of over 6,200 including three dominating wins from a trio of Penn State All-Americans. No. 1 David Taylor handled No. 8 Cody Yohn with ease, notching a 16-1 technical fall in only 4:29 at 165. No. 1 Frank Molinaro roughed up No. 5 Dylan Ness, notching five takedowns to roll to a 16-10 win at 149. No. 2 Ed Ruth pinned Gopher Eric Ortiz at the 2:27 mark at 174.

DAVID TAYLOR AND ED RUTH'S STUNNING DUAL MEET POINT AVERAGES

Just 22 matches into his collegiate dual meet career, sophomore David Taylor surpassed the 100 point mark in dual meet points. Taylor is now 24-0 in collegiate duals with 117 dual meet points. That's an average of 4.88 dual points per match. Classmate Ed Ruth passed the 100 point mark a mere 23 matches as well. Ruth is now is 23-0 with 105 career dual meet points for an equally impressive average of 4.57 dual points per match.

FIVE LIONS WIN TITLES AT LAKER OPEN

Five of Penn State's ten-man contingent taking part unattached at the Mercyhurst Laker Open came home with first place titles with seven of the nine playing in the top three. Penn State earned five firsts, a second and a third place showing in Erie. Red-shirt freshman Kyle Moran went 4-0 at 141 to win the first place title while classmate Seth Beitz was 5-0 with a pin at 149 to win the title. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown was superb with a 5-0 mark to win the crown at 174. Brown notched two pins and three tech falls to roll to the title. Brown defeated teammate Andrew Church in the finals at 174. Church was 3-1 with a major to place second in front of a hometown crowd. Junior Justin Ortega was a perfect 4-0 at 197 to win the title while red-shirt freshman Jon Gingrich won another heavyweight title, this time going 4-0 with three pins to win it all. True freshman Collin Campbell took third at heavyweight, going 4-1 with a major. Also competing for Penn State was true freshman Mike Waters, who went 2-2 at 141; true freshman Rex Lutz, who won once at 165, and red-shirt freshman Brandon Phillips, who was 3-2 at 174.

FOUR LION FRESHMEN SHINE IN PENN STATE DEBUTS

Four new faces picked up big wins for Penn State in their collegiate debuts in the Nittany Lions' 39-3 win over Bloomsburg in the season opener on 11/13. True freshman Nico Megaludis pinned Bloomsburg's Sean Boylan at the 2:15 mark at 125, giving Penn State an early leg up in the dual. Red-shirt freshman Sam Sherlock then downed Huskie Matt Rappo 10-5 at 141 and classmate Dylan Alton downed No. 14 Frank Hickman 10-8 at 157. True freshman Morgan McIntosh then posted a 6-0 win over Huskie Richard Perry at 197.

LIONS USE THREE FIRST PERIOD PINS TO BLAST HUSKIES

Penn State used three early pins to rout the Bloomsburg Huskies before 6,059 fans in the team's season opener in Rec Hall on 11/13. True freshman Nico Megaludis got a pin over BU's Sean Boylan at the 2:15 mark at 125, getting the Nittany Lion season off to a fast start. All-American David Taylor pinned BU's Kevin Hartnett at the 2:21 mark at 165 and All-American Quentin Wright pinned Huskie Mike Mirra at the 1:55 mark at 184. Penn State also picked up tech fall from All-American Frank Molinaro at 149 and a major from Cameron Wade at HWT.

SIX LIONS WIN CROWNS AT ESU OPEN

Eighteen Nittany Lion wrestlers trekked to East Stroudsburg University for the ESU Open on Saturday with six Penn Staters grabbing individual crowns. In all, 14 of Penn State's 18 entrants placed at the event. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown went 5-0 with two pins and three majors to win the title at 174. True freshman Jordan Conaway went 4-0 with a pin and a major to win the title at 125. One win, the major, was against a non-collegiate wrestler, meaning Conaway was officially 3-0 on the day. True freshman Luke Frey was 4-0 at 141, winning the title and picking up two tech falls along the way. Sophomore Andrew Alton dominated 149, going 5-0 with two pins and two majors to win the title. One pin was against a non-collegiate wrestler, meaning Alton went 4-0 with a pin officially. Sophomore James Vollrath was 5-0 with a pin, a tech and a major to win the title at 157. Rounding out Penn State's champions was red-shirt freshman Jonathan Gingrich, who went 5-0 with a major and a pin at heavyweight. His pin was against an NC grappler, giving him a 4-0 official mark on the day.

FREY, CHURCH AND CONAWAY PLACE AT CLARION OPEN

Six members of Penn State's wrestling team competed unattached at the 2011 Clarion Knight Point Open on Sunday. True freshmen Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) and Luke Frey (Montoursville, Pa.) and sophomore Andrew Church (Erie, Pa.) each placed at their respective weights. Frey, a true freshman from Montoursville, took the runner-up spot at 141, advancing to the finals with three wins including a major and a tech fall before dropping a 5-1 decision in the finals to unattached Daniel Neff. Conaway, an Abbottstown native, placed third at 125 with a 4-1 mark that included two tech falls and a 13-7 loss in the semifinals to the eventual champion. Church, an Erie native, went 3-1 at 174 and advanced to the finals before losing to take the runner-up spot. Other Nittany Lions competing included Michael Waters (Advance, N.C.), who went 2-2 at 141; Brandon Phillips (Timonium, Md.), who went 2-2 at 174; and Collin Campbell (Hurdle Mills, N.C.), who went 2-2 at heavyweight.

IOWA DUAL SOLD OUT INCLUDING SRO, OHIO STATE SOLD OUT W/ SOME SRO REMAINING; OTHERS NEARING SAME STATUS

A mere 90 minutes after the public sale of single dual tickets began, Penn State's Jan. 22 dual match against Iowa has sold out, including 300 standing room only tickets. With over 6,500 tickets now distributed for the match-up with the Hawkeyes, the single dual allotments for Penn State's remaining six home events are also disappearing fast. Rec Hall's listed capacity is 6,502 including the 300 SRO ducats. Both Minnesota and Ohio State duals are also sold out with limited SRO tickets remaining for each.  Less than 600 tickets remain for all other Penn State duals (against Bloomsburg, West Virginia, Michigan and Pitt). Fans can purchase these very limited single dual tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

PENN STATE RANKED NO. 5 IN LATEST NWCA/USA TODAY COACHES POLL; EIGHT LIONS RANKED BY INTERMAT

Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team continue to be ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Four Nittany Lion All-Americans are ranked in the top five and all eight are listed in the top 15. Penn State is No. 5 in the latest NWCA/USA Today Coaches dual meet poll and Intermat gives the Lions a No. 3 nod in its tournament power index (TPI). Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 11-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) is 9-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 10-0 at ranked No. 2 at 174. Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is No. 5 at 184 with an 8-2 mark. Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 8-2 at heavyweight and is ranked No. 8. True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 6-2 at 197 and ranked No. 11 while red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 8-2 at 157 and ranked No. 10 as well. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 9-1 at 125 and ranked No. 13. Penn State is No. 5 nationally, trailing No. 1 Iowa, No. 2 Oklahoma State, No. 3 Minnesota and No. 4 Cornell. Ohio State (6), Illinois (7), Michigan (8), Nebraska (14) and Northwestern (18) are the other Big Ten schools ranked in the top 25 while Purdue is receiving votes. Iowa tops Intermat's TPI with 91.5 points, followed by Oklahoma State with 90.5 and Penn State with 85 (tied with Minnesota). Cornell is fifth with 66.5.

WRESTLING RADIO NETWORK READY FOR '11-12 SEASON

The Penn State Wrestling Radio Show will begin yet another season on Wednesday, Nov. 2, while multiple local stations will once again broadcast the entire 2011-12 Nittany Lion season. The march to St. Louis begins with the Intrasquad dual on Nov. 3 and concludes with the national championships in late-March. The wrestling radio season begins on Nov. 2 when Jeff Byers hosts the first edition of the Penn State Wrestling Show. The show will air every Wednesday from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and will air across the state on the Pennsylvania Sports Network. Local affiliate 3WZ (95.3 FM) will serve as the flagship station for the show that will features coaches, wrestlers and other individuals affiliated with the Nittany Lion wrestling program. The 30-minute show welcomes calls from fans, who can call into the show at 814-237-0953. In addition to 3WZ, the weekly show can be heard on the following stations: WCPA (900 AM) Clearfield/DuBois; WIEZ (670 AM) Lewistown/Huntingdon; WLYC (1050 AM) Williamsport/Lewisburg; WLYC (104.1 FM) Montoursville/Jersey Shore; WBPZ (1230 AM) Lock Haven; WTZN (1310 AM) Troy/Canton; WTTC (1550 AM) Towanda/Elmira, N.Y.; WGET (1330 AM) Gettysburg/Hanover. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. Lewistown/Huntingdon's WIEZ (670 AM) will carry every Sunday dual and the post-season. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events.

Penn State Wrestler Bryan Pearsall Named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week

Junior's pin of 14th-ranked Bonson earns him first weekly honor

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; December 20, 2011 - Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending Dec. 18, 2011. The honor is the first for the Nittany Lion junior.

Pearsall got the nod for his stellar work in Penn State's 50-0 shut-out win over Lock Haven on Sunday, Dec. 18. Pearsall, getting the nod at 141, pinned No. 14 Matt Bonson of Lock Haven in the second period, one of four Nittany Lion pins on the day. Pearsall, who was up 4-0 at the time of the fall, got the call at the 4:22 mark.

The junior is now 4-4 on the year but sports a 2-1 mark in Penn State's last three duals at 141. A week ago, Pearsall nearly upset the 19th-ranked 141-pounder in the country in PSU's win over West Virginia. He now has 20 career victories and eight dual meet wins for the Nittany Lions during his two-plus years of action. He is currently ranked No. 16 nationally in the 12/19 version of Amateur Wrestling News' individual rankings.

Pearsall and the rest of the Nittany Lions head to the Southern Scuffle for New Year's, taking part in the two-day, team scored tournament on Jan. 1-2 at UT-Chattanooga. Penn State's next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of 'standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

Eight Nittany Lions Ranked in Latest Intermat Rankings

Nittany Lions hold No. 5 spot in NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll

           UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; December 21, 2011 - Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team continue to be ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Four Nittany Lion All-Americans are ranked in the top five and all eight are listed in the top 15. Penn State is No. 5 in the latest NWCA/USA Today Coaches dual meet poll and Intermat gives the Lions a No. 3 nod in its tournament power index (TPI).

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 11-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) is 9-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 10-0 at ranked No. 2 at 174. Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is No. 5 at 184 with an 8-2 mark.

Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 8-2 at heavyweight and is ranked No. 8. True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 6-2 at 197 and ranked No. 11 while red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 8-2 at 157 and ranked No. 10 as well. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 9-1 at 125 and ranked No. 13.

Penn State is No. 5 nationally, trailing No. 1 Iowa, No. 2 Oklahoma State, No. 3 Minnesota and No. 4 Cornell. Ohio State (6), Illinois (7), Michigan (8), Nebraska (14) and Northwestern (18) are the other Big Ten schools ranked in the top 25 while Purdue is receiving votes. Iowa tops Intermat's TPI with 91.5 points, followed by Oklahoma State with 90.5 and Penn State with 85 (tied with Minnesota). Cornell is fifth with 66.5.

The Nittany Lions head to the Southern Scuffle for New Year's, taking part in the two-day, team scored tournament on Jan. 1-2 at UT-Chattanooga. Penn State's next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of 'standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (690 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

Nittany Lion Wrestlers Shut-out Lock Haven 50-0 for Road Dual Win

Pearsall pins No. 14 Bonson at 141 to spark Penn State to victory

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; December 18, 2011 - The fifth-ranked Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team put forth a dominating effort at Lock Haven on Sunday, shutting out the Bald Eagles 50-0 in non-conference wrestling action. Penn State won all ten bouts, including a thrilling pin by junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) at 141, as Penn state rolled to victory.

True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 15 at 125, opened up the bout by pinning LHU's Bobby Rehm at the 4:02 mark. Junior Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) followed that up with a 6-3 win over LHU's John Trumbetti at 133. Junior Pearsall then notched the dual's hallmark win by pinning No. 14 Matt Bonson at the 4:22 mark at 141. All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, then pinned Owen Wilkinson at the 2:30 mark. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 157, posted a 19-8 major over the Haven's Aaron Fry to give Penn State a 25-0 lead at the midway point.

All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, notched a furious 21-5 technical fall of Seth Creasy in just 3:21. With second-ranked Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) getting the night off, talented red-shirt freshman Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) stepped in and the Nittany Lions did not skip a beat. Brown posted a 19-4 technical fall over Lock Haven's Aaron McKinney in just 3:47. All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 184, posted a 17-2 technical fall at the 7:00 mark over Zach Heffner before true freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 10 at 197, majored LHU junior Matt Parlier 13-4. Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 8 at heavyweight, capped off the shut-out by pinning Harry Turner at the 3:53 mark to give Penn State the 50-0 win.

The Nittany Lions move to 4-1 while Lock Haven shifts to 3-3. Penn State was simply dominant in the dual, posting a gaudy 39-0 edge in takedowns and collecting 20 bonus points off four pins, three tech falls and two majors. The shut out is Penn State's first since a 48-0 shutout of Lock Haven last December in Rec Hall.

The Nittany Lions head to the Southern Scuffle for New Year's, taking part in the two-day, team scored tournament on Jan. 1-2 at UT-Chattanooga. Penn State's next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of 'standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (690 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

#5 Penn State 50, Lock Haven 0
December 18, 2011 - Thomas Fieldhouse - Lock Haven, Pa.

125: #15 Nico Megaludis PSU pinned Bobby Rehm LHU, WBF (4:02) 6-0
133: Derek Reber PSU dec. John Trumbetti LHU, 6-3 9-0
141: Bryan Pearsall PSU pinned #14 Matt Bonson LHU, WBF (4:22) 15-0
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU pinned Owen Wilkinson LHU, WBF (2:30) 21-0
157: #10 Dylan Alton PSU maj. dec. Aaron Fry LHU, 19-8 25-0
165: #1 David Taylor PSU tech fall Seth Creasy LHU, 21-5 (TF; 3:21) 30-0
174: Matt Brown PSU tech fall Aaron McKinney LHU, 19-4 (TF; 3:47) 35-0
184: #5 Quentin Wright PSU tech fall Zach Heffner LHU, 17-2 (TF; 7:00) 40-0
197: #10 Morgan McIntosh PSU maj. dec. Matt Parlier LHU, 13-4 44-0
285: #8 Cameron Wade PSU pinned Harry Turner LHU, WBF (3:53) 50-0
Attendance: 1,094
Records: #5 Penn State (4-1, 1-1 B1G), Lock Haven (3-3)
Up Next for Penn State: at Southern Scuffle, Jan. 1-2, Chattanooga, Tenn.

BOUT-BY-BOUT:

125: Penn State's Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 15 nationally at 125, met Lock Haven's Bobby Rehm. Megaludis countered an early Rehm shot, gained control of his shoulders and turned a low ankle pick into a takedown and a 2-0 lead. Rehm escaped quickly only to get taken down again by the Lion freshman. Another Rehm escape cut Megaludis' lead to 4-2 with 1:08 on the clock, but Megaludis began adding takedowns at a quick rate. By the end of the period, Megaludis had a 10-4 lead thanks to five takedowns. Rehm chose down to start the second, was allowed up by Megaludis and immediately taken down by the Lion. Megaludis cut him loose and took him down again. This time, Megaludis worked the Bald Eagle to his back and got the pin at the 4:02 mark.

133: Junior Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) took on Bald Eagle senior John Trumbetti at 133. Reber and Trumbetti battled evenly for the first half of the opening period, wrestling to a series of stalemates as each man looked for an opening to score. Reber got in on a low single with :30 left in the opening period and forced a scramble as the period wound down. Trumbetti was able to fight the move off to keep things scoreless through three minutes. Reber chose down to start the second period and worked to escape. But Trumbetti was able to maintain control although he picked up a stall warning at the :55 mark. Reber finally reversed the Bald Eagle with :10 left to take a 2-0 lead after two periods, but Trumbetti had 1:46 in riding time. Trumbetti chose down to start the final stanza and worked his way into a chance to reverse Reber himself. He finished off the reversal with 1:25 and tied the bout. Trumbetti was called for an illegal hold, Reber then escaped to take a 4-2 lead. Reber added a final takedown and won 6-3 with Trumbetti getting the riding time point.

141: Junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) took to the mat at 141 for Penn State against Lock Haven's Matt Bonson, who entered the bout 12-1 and ranked No. 14 nationally. Bonson gained control of Pearsall's legs early but Pearsall was able force a scramble and a stalemate to keep the bout scoreless early. Pearsall then scrambled around behind Bonson after a short scramble to take an early 2-0 lead. He then turned the ranked Bale Eagle for two back points and a 4-0 lead with :55 on the clock. Pearsall then rode Bonson out for a 4-0 lead with 1:11 RT after one period. Bonson chose down to start the second and Pearsall was hit with a quick stall warning just :08 into the period. Pearsall was able to break Bonson down and began looking for a chance to turn the ranked Eagle for more back points. After a reset, Pearsall gained control of Bonson's shoulders and turned him to his back with a solid headlock. A brief twenty second's worth of work led to a Pearsall pin of the ranked Bonson at the 4:22 mark, giving Penn State a 15-0 lead.

149: Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, met LHU senior Owen Wilkenson. Molinaro got the bout's first takedown at the 1:55 mark and began looking for a chance to turn the Bald Eagle for back points. The Lion senior got two near fall points, reset and began working for another turn. Molinaro gained control of the Bald Eagle, turned him to his back and got the fall at the 2:30 mark to remain undefeated on the year.

157: Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 157, met LHU's Aaron Fry. Alton wasted no time in taking a 2-0 lead with a takedown less than ten seconds into the bout. Alton added a second takedown after a Fry escape to lead 4-1 midway through the period. Fry worked his way for a reversal at the :46 mark to cut the lead to 5-3 after an Alton escape. Trailing 5-3, Fry chose down to start the second period and was cut loose by Alton at the 1:20 mark. Alton never lost contact and quickly slid behind the Bald Eagle to lead 7-5 after another Fry escape. Alton picked up a stall point and then took Fry down for a 10-5 lead with :35 on the clock. He then rode Fry out to lead 10-5 with 3:11 in riding time after two. Alton chose down to start the third, quickly escaped, and then added another takedown to lead 13-5 with 1:29 on the clock. The Lion freshman dominated the remainder of the rest of the period and rolled to a 19-8 major with 4:14 in riding time.

165: All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 nationally at 165, faced off against Bald Eagle senior Seth Creasy. The sophomore Lion dominated the opening period, rolling up takedowns and adding a three-point near fall to lead 11-4 after less than 2:00 of time. Taylor's fifth takedown allowed the Nittany Lion to lead 13-5 and his sixth on a quick low ankle pick gave Taylor a 15-5 lead with :20 on the clock. Taylor added three late back points to lead 18-5 after one period. Creasy chose top to start the second stanza and Taylor quickly escaped for a 19-5 lead. He then ended the match with a takedown to get the 21-5 technical fall at the 3:21 mark.

174: All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, stepped aside for a dual to give talented red-shirt freshman Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) a chance to wrestle in front of a dual meet crowd. Brown made his Penn State dual debut against LHU's Aaron McKinney. Brown took an early 2-0 lead with a solid takedown and then put together a nice ride, breaking McKinney down and looking for a chance to turn the Bald Eagle. Brown notched a second takedown and turned McKinney for three back points, nearly picking up the fall. The move gave the Lion freshman a 7-2 lead with :50 on the clock after cutting McKinney loose. Brown took McKinney down again at the :30 mark. A Brown ride out gave the Lion a 9-2 lead heading to the second. Brown chose down to start the second and quickly escaped to a 10-2 lead. Another takedown and three more back points put Brown up 15-2 with 1:20 on the clock. Brown cut the Bald Eagle loose at the :35 mark and picked up another takedown with :20 left, cut the Bald Eagle loose and then ended the bout with a final takedown at the :12 mark. The 19-4 technical fall came at the 3:47 mark.

184: All-American and defending national champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 184, took on Lock Haven's Zach Heffner.  Wright nearly ended the match in seconds, throwing Heffner to his back for a quick takedown and near fall. While Heffner was able to keep from getting pinned, the move gave Wright a 5-1 lead after cutting Heffner loose less than :20 into the bout. Wright set the tone on offense, looking for a chance at another shoulder throw or turning those shots into low singles. Heffner was able to fight off numerous Wright shots but the Lion All-American got his second takedown with :15 left and led 7-1 after one. Heffner chose down to start the second period and escaped :45 into the period. But Wright was relentless, tacking on another takedown to lead 9-2 with 1:00 on the clock. Wright then turned Heffner for back points at the end of the period to lead 12-2 after two periods. Wright quickly escaped and took Heffner down to lead 15-2. He picked up a stall point and, after a ride out, the bonus point for a 17-2 technical fall at the 7:00 mark.

197: Nittany Lion Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 10 at 197, med Bald Eagle junior Matt Parlier. McIntosh got the first takedown at the 2:05 mark and led 2-1 after cutting Parlier loose. The Lion freshman added a second takedown and cut, then a third one with 1:00 left to lead 6-3. McIntosh then forced a scramble and picked up a fourth takedown with :40 on the clock. He then rode Parlier out to carry an 8-3 lead into the second period. McIntosh chose neutral to start the second period and added a fifth takedown less than :30 in. He then controlled the action from the top, looking for a chance to turn the Bald Eagle for back points. While not picking up any back points, the ride out gave the Nittany Lion a 10-3 lead with 3:00 RT after two periods. Parlier chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 10-4 deficit, but McIntosh continued his offensive pressure, using a low ankle pick to up his lead to 12-4 with another takedown. McIntosh spent the rest of the bout in control and walked away with a convincing 13-4 major (with 4:31 riding time).

285: Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 8 at heavyweight, met LHU's Harry Turner. Wade got the bout's first takedown and was looking for back points when Turner was able to reverse him at the 1:30 mark. A quick Wade escape gave the Lion a 3-2 lead. Wade continued to set the tempo, looking for chances to score high and shift to low singles. Turner was able to step back from numerous Wade shots and the Nittany Lion led 3-2 after one period. Turner chose down to start the second stanza but Wade was able to gain control of Turner and turn him to his back. Wade turned a three point near fall into a fall at the 3:53 mark, giving Penn State the 50-0 win.

Penn Results

The team finished the semester on a very good note. We beat a very talented Penn team in a very tough match.  I was happy with the way our guys competed and once again a total team effort made the win possible. 

Terp Talk tonight

This evening around 6.30p, I will be a guest on Terptalk.com. Terptalk.com is a one stop portal to learn about what is happening with the Maryland Terrapins and Maryland Sports. Terp Talk also has a live radio show every Thursday night hosted by Bruce Posner on ESPN 1300 AM Radio in Baltimore.

Visit terptalk.com or 1300 AM Radio to listen to the show

The guys are starting their finals today. The team has done a great job all semester and now they get a chance to recharge their batteries and let their bodies heal up and recover. Its been great so far and I am looking forward to bigger and better things in the coming weeks. We return to action the last week of December with the Wilkes Open aka "The Rose Bowl of Wrestling" and the Midlands Invitational. To keep up with us check our twitter and facebook pages (twitter.com/umdwrestling, facebook.com/umdwrestling).

Take care and thanks for your support,

Kerry

Penn State Wrestlers Trek to Lock Haven for Sunday Dual

TODAY'S ACTION

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Dec. 13, 2011 -- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (3-1, 0-1 B1G), ranked No. 5 nationally,

will head to neighborhood rival Lock Haven (3-2) on Sunday, Dec. 18, for a non-conference dual. Action begins at 2 p.m. in LHU's Thomas Fieldhouse.

The Nittany Lions are coming off a resounding two-win weekend, getting a 24-12 win at No. 10 Lehigh and a 34-6 home win over West Virginia. The Nittany Lions are being led by a trio of undefeated wrestlers and a total of eight ranked men. The trio of Frank Molinaro (149), David Taylor (165) and Ed Ruth (174) are a combined 28-0 and ranked No. 1, No. 1 and No. 2 respectively at their weights. Junior Quentin Wright (184) is 7-2 at and ranked No. 5 while senior Cameron Wade (285) is 8-2 and ranked No. 8. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (157) is 7-2 and ranked No. 10, true freshman Morgan McIntosh (197) is 5-2 and ranked No. 10 and true freshman Nico Megaludis (125) is 8-1 and ranked No. 13.

Lock Haven comes into the dual with a 3-2 mark, owning wins over The Citadel, Buffalo and American International while dropping duals to Boston and Michigan State. The Bald Eagles are coming off a fourth place finish at the 2011 PSAC Championships. LHU had three finalists at the event, grabbing one champion (Bobby Rehm at 125). Lock Haven senior Matt Bonson is 12-1 and ranked No. 14 at 141 while Rehm has a team-best 21 wins (21-7 overall). Senior Owen Wilkenson is 14-6 at 149 as well.

Penn State leads the all-time series with LHU 33-4, including nine straight. The Nittany Lions won the last meeting in Thomas Field house 32-6 back on Jan. 3, 2010. Penn State shut LHU out last year, 48-0, on Dec. 12 in Rec Hall.

The Nittany Lions trek to UT-Chattanooga for the 2012 Southern Scuffle, hosted by the Mocs in Chattanooga, Tenn. The two-day, team scored tournament takes place on Jan. 1-2, 2012. Penn State's next home dual is on Jan. 22 when Iowa comes to Rec Hall for a dual that is already sold out. Penn State then hosts Ohio State on Jan. 29 and only standing room only tickets remain.  Fans can purchase a very limited number of those SRO tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. WIEZ 670 AM (Huntingdon/Lewistown) will carry all Sunday duals during the regular season plus the Big Ten and NCAA Championships in March. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

POSSIBLE STARTERS
#5 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (3-1, 0-1 B1G)
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 #15 Nico Megaludis Fr. Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional 8-1
133 Derek Reber Jr. Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg 3-3
141 Sam Sherlock R-Fr. West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin 3-3
OR Bryan Pearsall Jr. Lititz, Pa./Warwick 3-3
149 #1 Frank Molinaro Sr. Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional 10-0
157 #10 Dylan Alton R-Fr. Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain 7-2
165 #1 David Taylor So. St. Paris, Ohio/St. Paris Graham 8-0
174 #2 Ed Ruth So. Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp. 10-0
184 #5 Quentin Wright Jr. Wingate, Pa./Bald Eagle Area 7-2
197 #10 Morgan McIntosh Fr. Santa Ana, Calif./Calvary Chapel 5-2
285 #8 Cameron Wade Sr. Twinsburg, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel 8-2
LOCK HAVEN BALD EAGLES (3-2)
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 Bobby Rehm Fr. Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor 21-7
133 John Trumbetti Sr. Montvale, N.J./St. Joseph Regional 4-8
141 #14 Matt Bonson Sr. Lewistown, Pa./UVA 12-1
OR Damien Hopper Fr. Grove, Okla./Allentown Central Catholic 4-5
149 Owen Wilkenson Sr. Hartland, Mich./Hartland 14-6
157 Aaron Fry So. Muncy, Pa./Muncy 7-9
165 Seth Creasy Sr. Mercer, Pa./Mercer 6-6
174 Aaron McKinney Fr. Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny 4-12
184 Zach Heffner Fr. New Berlinville, Pa./Boyertown 4-8
OR Fred Garcia So. Donora, Pa./Ringgold 8-3
197 Matt Parlier Jr. Cuddebackville, N.Y./Port Jervis 2-8
285 Harry Turner Jr. Howell, N.J./Howell 5-8

Indiv. Rankings Intermat as of 12/13; Team Rankings NWCA/USA Today as of 12/13

HEAD COACH CAEL SANDERSON

Cael Sanderson, now in his third year as mentor of the Nittany Lions, came to Penn State after three extremely successful years as the head coach at his alma mater. Sanderson's teams did not finish any lower than fifth at the NCAA Championships and never had a wrestler not qualify for nationals, getting 30 of 30 grapplers through to the championship tournament. In 2007, Sanderson's rookie campaign, he led ISU to a 13-3 dual meet record and the first of three straight Big 12 Championships. An NCAA Runner-Up finished in Detroit capped off a wildly successful year as the Cyclones crowned one national championship and Sanderson was honored as Big 12 Coach of the Year, National Rookie Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year. The next year, Sanderson led ISU to a 16-4 dual meet mark, another Big 12 title and a fifth place finish at nationals. Iowa State's seven All-Americans in 2008 were the most at the school since 1993. In his final year at ISU, Sanderson's team went 15-3 in duals, won its third straight Big 12 title and took third place at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis (just 12 points out of first place). The Cyclones also crowned another national champion. In three years, Sanderson's teams went 44-10, won three conference crowns, qualified all 30 wrestlers for nationals, and earned 15 All-America awards and two individual national titles. In his first year at Penn State (2009-10), he guided the Lions to a 13-6-1 dual meet mark, 5-3 in Big Ten action, and crowned his first Big Ten Champion. The Lions finished No. 10 in the final USA Today/Coaches dual meet poll and placed ninth at NCAAs. Last year, Sanderson guided the Nittany Lions to its first-ever Southern Scuffle Co-Championship (2010-11) and its first Virginia Duals Championship since 1991 (2010-11). In guiding Penn State to a 6-1-1 conference mark, Sanderson equaled the most Big Ten dual meet wins in Penn State history in just his second year at the helm of the Nittany Lions (Penn State won six Big Ten duals in 1998). Sanderson led Penn State to the school's first ever Big Ten Championship on March 5-6 and was named 2011 Big Ten Coach of the Year. Saving the best for last, he led the Nittany Lions to the 2011 NCAA National Championship in Philadelphia on March 17-19, Penn State's first since 1953 and Sanderson's first as a collegiate head coach. Coach Sanderson now sports a 77-18-2 dual meet mark in his sixth year as a collegiate head coach. He is 33-8-2 in his third year at Penn State.

WRIGHT PINS #17 RYAN TO LEAD LIONS TO 34-6 WIN OVER WEST VIRGINIA

Defending national champion Quentin Wright, ranked No. 5 at 184, pinned No. 17 Matt Ryan of West Virginia in the first period (1:57) to spark Penn State to a 34-6 win over WVU in a packed Rec Hall. Over 6,000 fans watched Penn State post a 35-2 edge in takedowns in the lopsided win on 12/11.

LIONS RUN AWAY FROM #10 LEHIGH FOR ROAD WIN IN 100TH MEETING BETWEEN TWO TEAMS

Penn State built up a huge early lead and coasted to a 24-12 win at No. 10 Lehigh on 12/9. Penn State got a key win from David Taylor over No. 9 Brandon Hatchett (8-5) and majors from Bryan Pearsall, Frank Molinaro and David Taylor while Ed Ruth, leading 12-1 at the time, got an injury forfeit win at 174. The win gave Penn State a 63-34-3 lead in the all-time series as the dual was the 100th meeting between the two eastern powers.

NITTANY LION WRESTLING ATTENDANCE SOARING

Three dual meets into the 2011-12 season and Penn State's average wrestling attendance is soaring once again. All three of Penn State's duals have topped the 6,000 fan mark, including a sellout against Minnesota. Penn State is average 6,138 fans per event to date.

MOLINARO, TAYLOR, RUTH STILL PERFECT AND PILING UP BONUS WINS

The All-American trio of Frank Molinaro (149), David Taylor (157) and Ed Ruth (174) are all still perfect on the year and a combined 28-0 with six majors, seven tech falls, ten pins and an injury default victory. They have combined for 24 bonus point wins in 28 matches. Molinaro is 10-0 with four majors, three techs and two pins, giving him nine bonus wins in ten matches. Taylor is 8-0 with five pins and a two fall, giving him seven bonus point wins in eight matches. Ruth is 10-0 with two majors, two techs, three falls and an injury default win, giving him eight bonus wins in ten matches.

LIONS CROWN SIX CHAMPS AT '11 NLO

Penn State crowned six champions at the 2011 Nittany Lion Open. Freshman Nico Megaludis won the title at 125; senior Frank Molinaro won the title at 149 (his third Open crown); sophomore David Taylor won the title at 165 (his second Open crown); sophomore Ed Ruth won the 174-pound bracket (his first NLO gold); junior Quentin Wright won the 184-pound title (his first as well); and senior Cameron Wade won the championship at heavyweight (his second). Wins over ranked wrestlers for the champions included: Molinaro with an 8-0 major over #20 Steve Santos of Columbia and a first period pin (1:23) of #9 Donnie Vinson of Binghamton; Taylor with a pin (4:40) of #14 Peter Yaters of Virginia Tech and a 14-6 major over former American All-American Steve Fittery; and Ruth with a 7-4 win over #17 Jimmy Sheptock of Maryland.

PENN STATE WITH 18 PLACE WINNERS AT '11 NLO

In addition to the above six champions, Penn State had 12 other place winners at the 2011 Nittany Lion Open, headed by finalists/runners-up Dylan Alton at 157 and Morgan McIntosh at 197. Jordan Conaway was fourth at 125, Frank Martellotti was eighth at 133, Andrew Alton was third at 149, Seth Beitz was fifth at 149, James Vollrath was third at 157, Nick Fischer was fourth at 157, Matt Brown was fifth at 174, Justin Ortega was eighth at 197, Nick Ruggear was fourth at 285 and Jon Gingrich was fifth at 285.

WADE NOW 11TH ON ALL-TIME PINS LIST

Cameron Wade entered the season with 21 career falls. The senior heavyweight has four on the year and now has 25 for his career, tied for 11th on Penn State's all-time list.

THREE LIONS GRAB WINS IN MINNESOTA DUAL

Penn State's loss to Minnesota on 11/20 in front of a sold out Rec Hall crowd of over 6,200 including three dominating wins from a trio of Penn State All-Americans. No. 1 David Taylor handled No. 8 Cody Yohn with ease, notching a 16-1 technical fall in only 4:29 at 165. No. 1 Frank Molinaro roughed up No. 5 Dylan Ness, notching five takedowns to roll to a 16-10 win at 149. No. 2 Ed Ruth pinned Gopher Eric Ortiz at the 2:27 mark at 174.

TAYLOR AND RUTH'S STUNNING DUAL MEET POINT AVERAGES

Just 21 matches into his collegiate dual meet career, sophomore David Taylor surpassed the 100 point mark in dual meet points. Taylor is now 23-0 in collegiate duals with 112 dual meet points. That's an average of 4.87 dual points per match. Classmate Ed Ruth passed the 100 point mark a mere 23 matches as well. Ruth is now is 23-0 with 105 career dual meet points for an equally impressive average of 4.57 dual points per match.

FIVE LIONS WIN TITLES AT LAKER OPEN

Five of Penn State's ten-man contingent taking part unattached at the Mercyhurst Laker Open came home with first place titles with seven of the nine playing in the top three. Penn State earned five firsts, a second and a third place showing in Erie. Red-shirt freshman Kyle Moran went 4-0 at 141 to win the first place title while classmate Seth Beitz was 5-0 with a pin at 149 to win the title. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown was superb with a 5-0 mark to win the crown at 174. Brown notched two pins and three tech falls to roll to the title. Brown defeated teammate Andrew Church in the finals at 174. Church was 3-1 with a major to place second in front of a hometown crowd. Junior Justin Ortega was a perfect 4-0 at 197 to win the title while red-shirt freshman Jon Gingrich won another heavyweight title, this time going 4-0 with three pins to win it all. True freshman Collin Campbell took third at heavyweight, going 4-1 with a major. Also competing for Penn State was true freshman Mike Waters, who went 2-2 at 141; true freshman Rex Lutz, who won once at 165, and red-shirt freshman Brandon Phillips, who was 3-2 at 174.

FOUR LION FRESHMEN SHINE IN PENN STATE DEBUTS

Four new faces picked up big wins for Penn State in their collegiate debuts in the Nittany Lions' 39-3 win over Bloomsburg in the season opener on 11/13. True freshman Nico Megaludis pinned Bloomsburg's Sean Boylan at the 2:15 mark at 125, giving Penn State an early leg up in the dual. Red-shirt freshman Sam Sherlock then downed Huskie Matt Rappo 10-5 at 141 and classmate Dylan Alton downed No. 14 Frank Hickman 10-8 at 157. True freshman Morgan McIntosh then posted a 6-0 win over Huskie Richard Perry at 197.

LIONS USE THREE FIRST PERIOD PINS TO BLAST HUSKIES

Penn State used three early pins to rout the Bloomsburg Huskies before 6,059 fans in the team's season opener in Rec Hall on 11/13. True freshman Nico Megaludis got a pin over BU's Sean Boylan at the 2:15 mark at 125, getting the Nittany Lion season off to a fast start. All-American David Taylor pinned BU's Kevin Hartnett at the 2:21 mark at 165 and All-American Quentin Wright pinned Huskie Mike Mirra at the 1:55 mark at 184. Penn State also picked up tech fall from All-American Frank Molinaro at 149 and a major from Cameron Wade at HWT.

SIX LIONS WIN CROWNS AT ESU OPEN

Eighteen Nittany Lion wrestlers trekked to East Stroudsburg University for the ESU Open on Saturday with six Penn Staters grabbing individual crowns. In all, 14 of Penn State's 18 entrants placed at the event. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown went 5-0 with two pins and three majors to win the title at 174. True freshman Jordan Conaway went 4-0 with a pin and a major to win the title at 125. One win, the major, was against a non-collegiate wrestler, meaning Conaway was officially 3-0 on the day. True freshman Luke Frey was 4-0 at 141, winning the title and picking up two tech falls along the way. Sophomore Andrew Alton dominated 149, going 5-0 with two pins and two majors to win the title. One pin was against a non-collegiate wrestler, meaning Alton went 4-0 with a pin officially. Sophomore James Vollrath was 5-0 with a pin, a tech and a major to win the title at 157. Rounding out Penn State's champions was red-shirt freshman Jonathan Gingrich, who went 5-0 with a major and a pin at heavyweight.  His pin was against an NC grappler, giving him a 4-0 official mark on the day.

FREY, CHURCH AND CONAWAY PLACE AT CLARION OPEN

Six members of Penn State's wrestling team competed unattached at the 2011 Clarion Knight Point Open on Sunday. True freshmen Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) and Luke Frey (Montoursville, Pa.) and sophomore Andrew Church (Erie, Pa.) each placed at their respective weights. Frey, a true freshman from Montoursville, took the runner-up spot at 141, advancing to the finals with three wins including a major and a tech fall before dropping a 5-1 decision in the finals to unattached Daniel Neff. Conaway, an Abbottstown native, placed third at 125 with a 4-1 mark that included two tech falls and a 13-7 loss in the semifinals to the eventual champion. Church, an Erie native, went 3-1 at 174 and advanced to the finals before losing to take the runner-up spot. Other Nittany Lions competing included Michael Waters (Advance, N.C.), who went 2-2 at 141; Brandon Phillips (Timonium, Md.), who went 2-2 at 174; and Collin Campbell (Hurdle Mills, N.C.), who went 2-2 at heavyweight.

IOWA DUAL SOLD OUT INCLUDING SRO, OHIO STATE SOLD OUT W/ SOME SRO REMAINING; OTHERS NEARING SAME STATUS

A mere 90 minutes after the public sale of single dual tickets began, Penn State's Jan. 22 dual match against Iowa has sold out, including 300 standing room only tickets. With over 6,500 tickets now distributed for the match-up with the Hawkeyes, the single dual allotments for Penn State's remaining six home events are also disappearing fast. Rec Hall's listed capacity is 6,502 including the 300 SRO ducats. Both Minnesota and Ohio State duals are also sold out with limited SRO tickets remaining for each. Less than 600 tickets remain for all other Penn State duals (against Bloomsburg, West Virginia, Michigan and Pitt). Fans can purchase these very limited single dual tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

PENN STATE RANKED NO. 5 IN LATEST NWCA/USA TODAY COACHES POLL; EIGHT LIONS RANKED BY INTERMAT

Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team continue to be ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Four Nittany Lion All-Americans are ranked in the top five and all eight are listed in the top 15. Penn State is No. 5 in the latest NWCA/USA Today Coaches dual meet poll and Intermat gives the Lions a No. 3 nod in its tournament power index (TPI). Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 10-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), is 8-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 10-0 at ranked No. 2 at 174. Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is No. 5 at 184 with a 7-2 mark. Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 7-2 at heavyweight and is ranked No. 8. True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 5-2 at 197 and ranked No. 10 while red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 7-2 at 157 and ranked No. 10 as well. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 8-1 at 125 and ranked No. 13. Penn State is No. 5 nationally, trailing No. 1 Iowa, No. 2 Oklahoma State, No. 3 Minnesota and No. 4 Cornell. Ohio State (6), Illinois (7), Michigan (8), Pittsburgh (9) and Oklahoma (10) round out the top ten while Nebraska (16) and Northwestern (18) round out the Big Ten entries on the list. Iowa tops Intermat's TPI with 101.0 points, followed by Oklahoma State with 86.0 and Penn State with 85. Minnesota is fourth with 78.0 and Cornell fifth with 66.5.

WRESTLING RADIO NETWORK READY FOR '11-12 SEASON

The Penn State Wrestling Radio Show will begin yet another season on Wednesday, Nov. 2, while multiple local stations will once again broadcast the entire 2011-12 Nittany Lion season. The march to St. Louis begins with the Intrasquad dual on Nov. 3 and concludes with the national championships in late-March. The wrestling radio season begins on Nov. 2 when Jeff Byers hosts the first edition of the Penn State Wrestling Show. The show will air every Wednesday from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and will air across the state on the Pennsylvania Sports Network. Local affiliate 3WZ (95.3 FM) will serve as the flagship station for the show that will features coaches, wrestlers and other individuals affiliated with the Nittany Lion wrestling program. The 30-minute show welcomes calls from fans, who can call into the show at 814-237-0953. In addition to 3WZ, the weekly show can be heard on the following stations: WCPA (900 AM) Clearfield/DuBois; WIEZ (670 AM) Lewistown/Huntingdon; WLYC (1050 AM) Williamsport/Lewisburg; WLYC (104.1 FM) Montoursville/Jersey Shore; WBPZ (1230 AM) Lock Haven; WTZN (1310 AM) Troy/Canton; WTTC (1550 AM) Towanda/Elmira, N.Y.; WGET (1330 AM) Gettysburg/Hanover. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. Lewistown/Huntingdon's WIEZ (670 AM) will carry every Sunday dual and the post-season. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events.

Penn State Wrestlers Hammer West Virginia 34-6 in Packed Rec Hall

Another capacity crowd cheers Lions on to dominating victory over WVU

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; December 11, 2011 - The fifth-ranked Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team dominated visiting West Virginia in a non-conference wrestling dual. The Nittany Lions posted a resounding 34-6 win in front of over 6,000 fans in another packed Rec Hall.

Nittany Lion freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 15 at 125, put Penn State up 3-0 early with an 8-2 win over WVU junior Shane Young. Junior Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) then majored Jesse Schiffbauer for his first Penn State dual win, getting the 12-4 win to put the Nittany Lions up 7-0. Junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) nearly pulled off a major upset at 141, dropping a hard fought 5-4 decision to No. 19 Nathan Pennesi of West Virginia. The win cut Penn State's lead to 7-3 before three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, majored George Scheffel 10-1 (with 4:25 in riding time) to put Penn State back up 11-3. Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 157, dominated West Virginia's Dominic Prezzia to the tune of a 16-4 major (with 4:09 RT) to give Penn State a 15-3 lead at the halftime break.

Top-ranked All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) hammered WVU senior Kyle Eason at 165, picking up a 22-7 technical fall at the 4:17 mark before second-ranked All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) majored Lance Bryson 18-6. Leading 24-3, defending national champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 184, thrilled over 6,000 Rec Hall faithful by pinning No. 17 Matt Ryan at the 1:57 mark, using a swift throw to counter a Ryan move and get the pin. West Virginia's Mac Mancuso picked up a 3-2 win over Lion junior Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.), who was filling in for No. 10 Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) at 197. Nittany Lion senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 8 at heavyweight, dominated WVU senior Brandon Williamson, posting an 11-0 major with nearly 3:00 riding time to give the Lions the 34-6 final.

Penn State moves to 3-1 on the year while WVU falls to 2-1. The Nittany Lions won the takedown battle by a gaudy 35-2 margin. Penn State picked up 10 bonus points to none for the Mountaineers.

Penn State treks to Lock Haven on Sunday, Dec. 18, for a 2 p.m. dual with the Bald Eagles. Penn State's next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of 'standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (690 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

#5 Penn State 34, West Virginia 6
December 11, 2011 - Rec Hall - University Park, Pa.

125: #15 Nico Megaludis PSU dec. Shane Young WVU, 8-2 3-0
133: Derek Reber PSU maj. dec. Jesse Schiffbauer WVU, 12-4 7-0
141: #19 Nathan Pennesi WVU dec. Bryan Pearsall PSU, 5-4 7-3
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU maj. dec. George Scheffel WVU, 10-1 11-3
157: #10 Dylan Alton PSU maj. dec. Dominic Prezzia WVU, 16-4 15-3
165: #1 David Taylor PSU tech fall Kyle Eason WVU, 22-7 (TF; 4:17) 20-3
174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU maj. dec. Lance Bryson WVU, 18-6 24-3
184: #5 Quentin Wright PSU pinned #17 Matt Ryan WVU, WBF (1:57) 30-3
197: Mac Mancuso WVU dec. Justin Ortega PSU, 3-2 30-6
285: #8 Cameron Wade PSU maj. dec. Brandon Williamson WVU, 11-0 34-6
Attendance: 6,078
Records: #5 Penn State (3-1, 1-1 B1G), West Virginia (2-1)
Up Next for Penn State: at Lock Haven, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2 p.m.

BOUT-BY-BOUT:

125: Nittany Lion true freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 15 at 125, met West Virginia junior Shane Young. Megaludis wasted no time getting in on a single leg, finishing off the takedown and leading 2-1 after a Young escape. Megaludis fought off a shot by Young, gained control of his shoulders and forced a reset in the middle of the mat. Young began playing defense, backing away constantly from Megaludis and working time off the clock in an effort to keep the bout close. Megaludis fought off a late Young shot and went to the second leading by one. The Lion freshman chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. His pressure forced Young into a first stall warning as well. Megaludis countered a slight Young shot, worked his way behind the Mountaineer junior for another takedown and a 5-1 lead. A ride out allowed the Lion to lead 5-1 with 1:15 in riding time heading into the third period. Young chose down to start the final period but could not break free of a strong Megaludis ride until the Lion let him up at the 1:32 mark to a 5-2 deficit. Megaludis continued to pressure the WVU junior, getting a stall point for a 6-2 lead at the 1:04 mark. Megaludis got another point with a third stall to lead 7-2 and, with the bonus point got the 8-2 win.

133: Junior Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) took on WVU's Jesse Schiffbauer at 133. Reber got the first takedown at the 2:08 mark, taking an early lead and then putting together a strong ride to build up a solid riding time edge. Reber maintained control of Schiffbauer for the entire period, taking a 2-0 lead with 2:08 in time into the second period. Reber chose down to start the second and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. He then used a swift low double to tack on another takedown, to lead 5-0. Schiffbauer reversed Reber and then gave up a penalty point on an illegal hold before Reber escaped to a 7-2 lead. Reber almost added a third takedown at the end of the period but the WVU grappler fought it off. Schiffbauer chose down to start the third, Reber let him up and then quickly took him down for two more points and a 9-3 lead. After a WVU escape, Reber gained control of Schiffbauer again and took him down for an 11-4 lead with a clinched riding time point. Reber rode Schiffbauer out, picked up the riding time point, and walked away with a strong 12-4 major decision.

141: Penn State junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) got the nod at 141 and took on No. 19 Nathan Pennesi. The duo battled evenly for the first half of the opening period until Pearsall got in on a low single and forced a scramble on the Nittany Lion logo. Pennesi got the takedown at the :47 mark but Pearsall quickly escaped to a 2-1 deficit. Leading 2-1, Pennesi chose down to start the second stanza. Pearsall gained control of the Mountaineer and began working for a chance to turn the Mountaineer for back points. Pearsall maintained control for the entire period, then finished off a cradle near the end of the period and picked up three late back points to lead 4-2 heading into the third. The Nittany Lion chose down to start the third but spent the first minute fighting off a Pennesi turn attempt. Pennesi picked up three back points to lead 5-4 before a reset stopped action at the :11 mark. With just over :10 to escape and force a tie, the Nittany Lion junior could not quite scramble out of Pennesi's grasp and dropped a hard-fought 5-4 decision.

149: Top-ranked Nittany Lion senior Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, Pa.) met WVU freshman George Scheffel at 149. Molinaro got the bout's first takedown at the 2:15 mark and then put together a dominating ride, building up a large riding time edge while trying to turn the Mountaineer freshman for back points. Molinaro rode Scheffel out for the entire period and took the 2-0 lead into the second. Molinaro chose down to start the second and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. He then tacked on a second takedown, cut Scheffel loose and began working for more points with a 5-1 lead. Scheffel fought off two high singles but Molinaro connected on the next one to lead 7-1 at the :30 mark. Another ride out allowed the Lion senior to lead 7-1 with 2:52 RT after two periods. Scheffel chose neutral to start the final period and Molinaro essentially clinched the riding time point. He then quickly took the WVU freshman down, upped his lead to 9-1 and maintained control for the remainder of the match. With 4:25 in riding time, Molinaro posted the 10-1 major and put the Lions up 11-3.

157: Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 10 nationally, took on Mountaineer Dominic Prezzia at 157. Alton came out the aggressor, looking for points early with multiple shots. Gaining control of Prezzia's shoulders, the Lion freshman worked his way around for a takedown and a 2-0 lead at the 2:12 mark. Alton forced Prezzia into a first stall warning and then proceeded to control him for the remainder of the period. But Alton gave up a point with an illegal hold and led 2-1 with 2:12 in RT after one. Prezzia chose neutral to start the second period but found himself fighting off a flurry of Alton shots. The Nittany Lion freshman finished his second one off and led 4-1 :30 into the middle stanza. Alton got called for a stall warning and then he allowed Prezzia up at the reset. He quickly took the Mountaineer down to lead 6-2 with :54 on the clock. He picked up a point on another Prezzia stall and, with the ride out, led 7-2 with a clinched riding time point (3:35) after two periods. Alton chose down to start the third, quickly escaped to an 8-2 lead and then took Prezzia down again for a 10-2 lead. Alton cut him loose and began working for another takedown. Alton picked up another stall point, then added another takedown at the :50 mark to lead 13-4 after another cut. The Lion freshman looked to finish on top with a late takedown and picked a final one up at the :08 mark to post the 16-4 win (with 4:09 in RT).

165: Top-ranked Lion sophomore David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) battled WVU senior Kyle Eason at 165. Taylor notched the first takedown early, getting two points and cutting Eason loose quickly. Eason got in on a high single, but Taylor countered the move and worked his way around for another takedown and a 4-1 lead at the 1:40 mark. He quickly added two back points before cutting Eason loose and leading 6-2. The Lion All-American added a third takedown at the :35 mark and turned Eason for two more back points to lead 10-3 after cutting him loose. Taylor added a fourth as the period ended and led 12-4. The Lion continued to dominate the action, picking up three quick takedowns in the first :30 to lead 18-6 after cutting Eason loose. Two more takedowns set up a chance for a second period tech fall. Leading 20-7, Taylor got the tech fall at the 4:17 mark with a final takedown, getting the 22-7 win and putting Penn State up 20-3.

174: Second-ranked Nittany Lion sophomore Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) faced off against Lance Bryson at 174. Ruth wasted little time in building up a 2-1 lead, taking Bryson down and cutting him loose in the first :30. The Lion All-American was relentless, grabbing a second takedown and cut to lead 4-2 just over a minute into the bout. A third Ruth takedown gave the Lion a 6-2 lead and this time Ruth worked from the top position to build up a bit of a riding time edge midway through the first. A Ruth ride-out gave the Lion a 6-2 lead with 2:02 RT after one. Ruth chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. Ruth took Bryson down midway through the period to lead 9-2. Bryson escaped with :12 left in the period and Ruth picked up a last second takedown to lead 11-2 after two. Bryson chose down to start the third period and Ruth worked to finish off a cradle. Bryson was called for a first stall warning while Ruth set the tone from the top. Bryson escaped at the 1:10 mark, but Ruth continued to dominate the action, with another takedown and cut to lead 13-5. Ruth used a low single trip for a takedown with :24 left, cut Bryson loose, and added a final takedown and with 4:02 riding time, notched the 18-6 major.

184: Defending national champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 184, met No. 17 Matt Ryan of West Virginia. The duo battled evenly for the first half of the period with Ryan setting an early aggressive tone. Wright fought off two Ryan shots and then countered a third, gained control of the senior's shoulders, and tossed him to the mat. Just :20 later, Wright picked up the fall at the 1:57 mark, giving Penn State a 30-3 lead and thrilling over 6,000 Rec Hall faithful.

197: True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 10 at 197, was held out once again as a precaution, and junior Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) faced off against WVU's Mac Mancuso at 197. The duo traded shots early in the first period with neither man finding an opening. Tied 0-0 after the first three minutes, Ortega chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Mancuso scrambled his way to the bout's initial takedown, working his way into control of Ortega for a 2-1 lead at the 1:10 mark. Ortega quickly escaped to tie the bout at 2-2 and action resumed in the center circle. Ortega fought off a late shot attempt and the bout moved to the final period tied 2-2. Mancuso chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 lead. Ortega mounted a late charge, trying to get a late takedown, but Mancuso fought off each attempt and escaped with a 3-2 win.

285: Penn State senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 8 at 285, met WVU's Brandon Williamson. The two veteran big men battled each other through an even first period, with each man taking shots the other was able to step away from. After a scoreless first period, Wade chose down to start the second and quickly worked his way into a reversal and a 2-0 lead at the 1:39 mark. Wade then put together a strong ride, gaining control of Williamson's legs and looking for a chance to turn the WVU big man. Williamson got hit with a first stall warning at the :32 mark. Wade then turned the Mountaineer for three late back points to lead 5-0 after two periods. Williamson chose neutral to start the third, shot low, and was quickly countered by Wade for another PSU takedown to give the Lion a 7-0 lead with a solid riding time edge. Another stall on Williamson put Wade up by eight. Williamson called for an injury timeout with :09 left in the match and Wade then turned him for two more back points and posted the 11-0 major with 2:54 riding time.

Penn State Downs #10 Lehigh in 100th Meeting Between Rivals

Lions win six of ten bouts, bolt out to big early lead and coast to victory

               BETHLEHEM, Pa.; December 9, 2011 - The fifth-ranked Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team dominated No. 10 Lehigh in the 100th dual meet between the two venerable eastern powers and rolled to a 24-12 win in LU's Stabler Arena. The Nittany Lions won six of ten bouts, bolted out to a big early lead and coasted to the victory to take a 63-34-3 lead in the all-time series.

True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) ranked No. 15 nationally at 125, put Penn State up 3-0 early with a resounding 4-0 win (with 2:44 in riding time) over Lehigh's Mason Beckman. Lehigh countered with a 10-7 win for Chris Dinnien over Lion junior Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) at 133. Junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) made his season dual debut in fine fashion with a dominating 12-2 major over LU's Jimmy Carucci (with over 4:00 in riding time) at 133. Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, then dominated Lehigh's Anthony Salupo to the tune of a 14-3 major with 3:53 in riding time. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 157, majored Sean Bilodeau 10-1 to give Penn State a 15-3 lead at the break.

In marquee match-up at 165, Penn State All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1, downed No. 9 Brandon Hatchett 8-5 with 1:09 in riding time. All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, then built up a 12-1 lead over LU's Nathaniel Brown after two periods before Brown injury defaulted, giving Ruth the six team points and clinching the dual meet victory for Penn State (24-3). In a rematch of last year's national championship bout at 184, Nittany Lion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), the defending national champion, dropped a tough 8-3 decision to top-ranked Robert Hamlin, whom he defeated in the finals last year. At 197, 10th-ranked Lion freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) was held out of action after being a bit banged up from the Nittany Lion Open last Sunday. Junior Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) stepped in and nearly upset No. 7 Joe Kennedy of Lehigh before dropping a hard-fought 2-0 decision. Nittany Lion senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 8 at heavyweight, then lost a hard-fought 3-2 decision to defending national champion Zach Rey.

Penn State moves to 2-1 on the year while Lehigh falls to 5-3. Penn State dominated the dual statistically as well, winning the takedown battle 16-7 and picking up riding time points in six matches (while Ruth had over 3:00 in his injury default win). Penn State picked up six bonus points to none for LU as well.

Penn State returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 11, when West Virginia visits Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. match-up. A very limited number of ticket remains for the WVU dual, fans can purchase them by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (690 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

#5 Penn State 24, #10 Lehigh 12

December 9, 2011 - Bethlehem, Pa.

125: #15 Nico Megaludis PSU dec. Mason Beckman LU, 4-0 3-0
133: Chris Dinnien LU dec. Derek Reber PSU, 10-7 3-3
141: Bryan Pearsall PSU maj. dec. Jimmy Carucci LU, 12-2 7-3
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU maj. dec. Anthony Salupo LU, 14-3 11-3
157: #10 Dylan Alton PSU maj. dec. Sean Bilodeau LU, 10-1 15-3
165: #1 David Taylor PSU dec. #9 Brandon Hatchett LHU, 8-5 18-3
174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU inj. def. Nathaniel Brown LU, (5:00, Ruth up 12-1) 24-3
184: #1 Robert Hamlin LU dec. #5 Quentin Wright PSU, 8-3 24-6
197: #7 Joe Kennedy LU dec. Justin Ortega PSU, 2-0 24-9
285: #3 Zach Rey LU dec. #8 Cameron Wade PSU, 3-2 24-12
Attendance: 5,584
Records: #5 Penn State (2-1, 1-1 B1G), Lehigh (5-3)
Up Next for Penn State: at Lock Haven, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2 p.m.

BOUT-BY-BOUT:

125: True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 15 nationally, met Lehigh's Mason Beckman at 125. Megaludis set the tempo early, forcing Beckman back towards the edge of the mat. Beckman continued to play defense for the first half of the period while Megaludis continued to force the LU grappler off the mat. Beckman finally got hit with a first stall warning at the ;30 mark and Megaludis continued to pressure the Mountain Hawk.  The first period ended in a 0-0 tie and Megaludis chose down to start the second. He quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead and then proceeded to force Beckman off the mat over again. Beckman got in deep on Megaludis' right leg with his first shot at the 1:20 mark but Megaludis was able to force a stalemate with 1:08 left in the period. Megaludis got in on a low single with :50 left and finished off the takedown to move out to a 3-0 lead. The Nittany Lion rookie then rode Beckman out to lead 3-0 with :44 in riding time. Beckman took a second long time out to have some blood cleaned off his nose and chose down to start the third period. Megaludis controlled Beckman for the entire period, keeping Beckman down while the Hawk crawled out of bounds repeatedly. The ride out gave Megaludis a 4-0 win with 2:44 in RT.

133: Junior Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) took on LU's Chris Dinnien at 133. Dinnien caught Reber on the edge of the mat, nearly pinning him but getting the quick takedown. Reber, however, deftly reversed the Hawk wrestler for a 2-2 tie at the 1:20 mark. Reber then put together a strong ride, building up over a minute in time. But Dinnien reversed Reber and then turned him to his back for three near fall points to lead 7-2 after one period. Reber chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-3 deficit. Reber got in on a low single and forced a scramble, but Dinnien countered the move for his own takedown to up his lead to 9-3 with :20 left. Reber escaped before the period ended and nearly scored at the end of the period, but time ran out and the Lion trailed 9-4. Dinnien chose down to start the final period and escaped to a 10-4 lead. Reber then got his first takedown and then began trying to turn the Hawk, trailing 10-6. Dinnien was able to keep from giving up the near fall and, though Reber got the riding time point, won 10-7.

141: Junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) took to the mat for Penn State at 141 to take on Lehigh's Jimmy Carucci. Pearsall, making his season dual debut, turned a low single into a takedown on the edge of the mat to lead 2-0 at the 2:18 mark. Once in control on top, Pearsall began looking for an opportunity to turn Carucci for back points. Pearsall stayed in control and got a two point near fall with :30 on the clock to lead 4-0. The Lion junior then tagged on two more back points as the period ended to lead 6-0. Carucci chose neutral to start the second period but Pearsall quickly got in on a single, forced a scramble that lasted nearly :30, and finished off the takedown to lead 8-0 with 1:15 on the clock. Pearsall spent the rest of the period looking for a turn and kept control for a ride out and an 8-0 lead with 3:36 in RT. Pearsall chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 9-0 lead. But Carucci got his first takedown to cut the lead to 9-2 with 1:25 on the clock. Pearsall, with a clinched riding time point, reversed Carucci to lead 11-2 with 1:00 left in the match. Pearsall forced Carucci into a stall warning with :17 on the clock and then rode the Hawk out for a 12-2 major with 4:17 in RT.

149: Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, met Lehigh's Anthony Salupo. Molinaro got his first takedown by using a high single and lift to put Salupo to the mat with 1:48 on the clock. Molinaro then put together a strong ride, keeping Salupo on the mat for the rest of the period to lead 2-0 with 1:48 in riding time after one. Molinaro chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Molinaro then used a high double to take Salupo down once more for a 5-0 lead with 1:10 on the clock. Molinaro cut Salupo loose with :45 on the clock to begin looking for another takedown. But Salupo turned in quickly and took the Lion senior down to cut the lead to 6-3 after a quick Molinaro escaped. An energized Molinaro notched another takedown with :10 on the clock and led 8-3 with 2:20 in RT after two. Salupo chose neutral to start the third period but Molinaro quickly scored again, lifting the Hawk off the mat and taking a 10-3 lead with 1:20 on the clock and a clinched riding time point. Molinaro then turned Salupo for three near fall points and a 13-3 lead. Salupo could not break free and Molinaro's ride out gave him the 14-3 major with 3:53 in riding time.

157: Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 157, met Lehigh's Sean Bilodeau. Alton scored first, getting an early takedown to lead 2-1 after a Bilodeau escape. The duo battled evenly after that with Bilodeau fighting off numerous Alton shots to keep the bout close. But Alton's pressure paid off as the Lion freshman got a late takedown, sending Bilodeau to his back for three near fall points and a 7-1 lead after one period. Bilodeau chose down to start the second stanza but Alton was dominant in control, keeping Bilodeau down and building up a 2:37 riding time advantage with a ride out. Leading 7-1, Alton chose neutral to start the third. Alton quickly gained control of Bilodeau's right ankle, forcing a tie-up on the edge of the mat. But a stalemate sent action back to the center circle with 1:08 on the clock with Alton still up 7-1. Alton forced Bilodeau's head to the mat, circled around the LU grappler and upped his lead to 9-1 with another takedown. An Alton ride out and a bonus point gave the Lion a 10-1 major and put Penn State up 15-3 at the intermission.

165: Sophomore All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, battled Lehigh senior Brandon Hatchett, who was ranked No. 9. Taylor fought off an early Hatchett shot but was then taken down to trail 2-0 at the 2:08 mark. Taylor deftly scrambled his way to a reversal and a 2-2 tie with 1:20 on the clock. Hatchett escaped to a 3-2 lead with :40 on the clock and carried that lead into the second period. Taylor chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-3 tie. He never lost contact w/ Hatchett, forced a scramble and got his first takedown at the 1:40 mark to lead 5-3. Hatchett escaped to a 5-4 deficit at the 1:10 mark. Taylor used a quick low double off a reset w/ :10 left to take Hatchet down again and lead 7-4 after two. Hatchett chose down to start the final period but could not break free of Taylor's control as the Lion sophomore built up a 1:09 time edge before Hatchett escaped to a 7-5 deficit. Taylor fought off a late Hatchett shot and with the bonus point, posted an 8-5 win.

174: Sophomore All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, met Lehigh freshman Nathaniel Brown. Ruth scored first, getting a quick takedown to lead 2-0 at the 2:43 mark. He quickly tried to lock up a cradle and end the bout, but Brown was able to roll through to stay in the match. Ruth finished off a nearside cradle for three near fall points and a 5-0 lead midway through the period. Ruth maintained control of Brown for the rest of the period and led 5-0 with 2:42 in riding time heading to the second. Ruth chose down and steadily worked his way to a reversal and a 7-0 lead. Ruth then cut Brown loose at the :30 mark and added another takedown at the :18 mark. He locked up a cradle and nearly pinned Brown at the buzzer, picking up three near fall points to lead 12-1 with a clinched riding time point (3:34) heading into the third. Brown could not continue after being injured as the period ended and Ruth got six team points for the injury default (he was leading 12-1 at the time).

184: In a rematch of last year's national championship bout at 184, junior Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 5 as the defending national champion, took on No. 1 Robert Hamlin of Lehigh, last year's runner-up. Hamlin drew first blood with a strong takedown to lead 2-1 after a quick Wright escape. Wright nearly picked up a takedown, forcing a solid scramble on the edge of the mat, but Hamlin was able to work his way into position to notch his second takedown and lead 4-1 after one period. Wright chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-2 deficit. Wright worked for a takedown but Hamlin was able to hold his 4-2 lead heading into the third. Hamlin chose down to start the period, quickly reversed Wright and led 6-3 after a quick Lion escape. Wright attacked Hamlin, appearing to take him down at the :40 mark, but Wright did not get the call and trailed by three still. Hamlin countered a slight Wright shot, added another takedown and posted a strong 8-3 win over Wright

197: Junior Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) filled in for No. 10 Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) at 197 to take on No. 7 Joe Kennedy of Lehigh. Ortega appeared to have a takedown, locking up a cradle on the edge of the mat. But like Wright before him, he did not get the call and the bout moved on at a scoreless tie. The Lion junior battled the fifth-year LU senior evenly for the entire period and went to the second period tied 0-0. Kennedy chose down to start the second stanza and worked his way to an escape and a 1-0 lead. The duo traded shots for the bulk of the period with neither wrestler finding a solid opening to score until Ortega nearly finished off a high single as the period ended. But the buzzer sounded and action moved to the final period with Ortega down 1-0. Ortega chose down to start the third period but could not break free of a strong Kennedy ride as the seventh-ranked senior built up more than a minute in riding time first and then rode Ortega out for a hard-fought 2-0 win.

285: Nittany Lion senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 8 at heavyweight, took on defending national champion Zach Rey of Lehigh, who was ranked No. 3. The duo battled evenly for the first period, with neither man finding a real solid opening to score as action remained in the center circle. The bout went to the second period in a scoreless tie and Rey chose down to start the second. A quick escape gave the third-ranked Rey a 1-0 lead and the duo continued action in the center circle. Rey got the bout's first takedown at the :58 mark, using a high single to take a 3-1 lead after Wade escaped. Trailing 3-1 after two periods, Wade chose down to start the final period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 deficit. Wade worked for an opening to take the lead, but Rey's defense was solid and the Mountain Hawk All-American was able to hold on to his lead and escape with a tough 3-2 win.

MATCH NOTES: Penn State Treks to #10 Lehigh/Hosts West Virginia on Sunday

TODAY'S ACTION

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Dec. 6, 2011 -- No. 5 Penn State (1-1, 0-1 B1G) will take part in two tough eastern duals this weekend. Penn State visits No. 10 Lehigh (5-2) in its first road action of the year on Friday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. The Nittany Lions then return to Rec Hall on Sunday, Dec. 11, for a 2 p.m. dual with West Virginia (2-0).

Penn State enters the weekend's duals coming off a successful outing at the 2011 Nittany Lion Open last Sunday. Penn State crowned six champions with eight finalists and 18 total placewinners. Nico Megaludis won at 125, Frank Molinaro at 149, David Taylor at 165, Ed Ruth at 174, Quentin Wright at 184 and Cameron Wade at 285. Dylan Alton (157) and Morgan McIntosh (197) each advanced to the finals.

Penn State will take eight ranked grapplers into action this weekend, led by three-time All-American Molinaro who is 8-0 at 149 and ranked No. 1. All-American Taylor is 6-0 at 165 and also ranked No. 1 while classmate Ruth is 8-0 at 174 and ranked No. 2. Two-time All-American Wright is 6-1 at 184 and ranked No. 5. Senior Wade carries a 7-1 mark and is No. 8 at 285 as well. Red-shirt freshman Alton is 5-2 at 157 and carries a No. 10 ranking while true freshman McIntosh is an identical 5-2 at 197 and ranked No. 10 as well. True freshman Megaludis is 6-1 at 125 and ranked No. 15.

Lehigh will enter Friday's dual with a 5-2 mark. The Mountain Hawks are an outstanding squad and feature five ranked grapplers in a deep and balanced line-up. Stephen Dutton is 4-0 at 141 and ranked No. 7 while Brandon Hatchett is 11-1 and ranked No. 9 at 165. 2011 National Runner-Up Robert Hamlin is 9-0 at 184 and ranked No. 1 while senior Joe Kennedy is 9-2 at 197 and ranked No. 7. Defending national champion Zach Rey is 6-1 and ranked No. 3 at 285.

The dual with Lehigh will be the 100th between the two venerable teams, by far the longest running dual in Penn State's long wrestling history. Penn State owns a 62-34-3 lead in the all-time series, including last year's 21-17 win in Rec Hall on Nov. 14. The last time the team's met in Lehigh was two years ago when the Mountain Hawks grabbed a 23-14 win.

West Virginia comes in with a 2-0 mark and plenty of action in various open tournaments. The Mountaineers are being led by senior Matt Ryan, who is 5-1 and ranked No. 17 at 184. Sophomore Nathan Pennesi is 12-2 and ranked No. 19 at 141. Penn State leads the all-time series with the Mountaineers 27-7, including a 40-3 win at the Sprawl and Brawl Duals last Nov. 21 in Binghamton, N.Y. Penn State won the last meeting in Rec Hall, 27-10 on 12/14/05 and has won five straight.

The Nittany Lions trek to neighborhood rival Lock Haven on Sunday, Dec. 18, for a 2 p.m. battle with the Bald Eagles in their next action. Penn State's next home dual is on Jan. 22 when Iowa comes to Rec Hall for a dual that is already sold out. Penn State then hosts Ohio State on Jan. 29 and only standing room only tickets remain.  Fans can purchase a very limited number of those SRO tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. WIEZ 670 AM (Huntingdon/Lewistown) will carry all Sunday duals during the regular season plus the Big Ten and NCAA Championships in March. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

POSSIBLE STARTERS

#5 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (1-1, 0-1 B1G)

WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 #15 Nico Megaludis Fr. Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional 6-1
133 Derek Reber Jr. Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg 2-2
141 Sam Sherlock R-Fr. West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin 3-3
149 #1 Frank Molinaro Sr. Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional 8-0
157 #10 Dylan Alton R-Fr. Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain 5-2
165 #1 David Taylor So. St. Paris, Ohio/St. Paris Graham 6-0
174 #2 Ed Ruth So. Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp. 8-0
184 #5 Quentin Wright Jr. Wingate, Pa./Bald Eagle Area 6-1
197 #10 Morgan McIntosh Fr. Santa Ana, Calif./Calvary Chapel 5-2
285 #8 Cameron Wade Sr. Twinsburg, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel 7-1

#10 LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (5-2)

WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 Mason Beckman Fr. Greenville, Pa./Reynolds 8-2
133 Alex Abreu Jr. Highlands Ranch, Colo./Rock Canyon 0-4
OR Chris Dinnien Fr. Ambler, Pa./Germantown Academy 1-6
141 #7 Stephen Dutton So. Miller Place, N.Y./Rocky Point 4-0
OR Jimmy Carucci Fr. New Hartford, N.Y./Shenendehowa 2-6
149 Kyle Rosser Sr. Durand, Mich./Corunna 4-5
157 Brian Tanen Sr. Harleysville, Pa./Souderton 3-2
165 #9 Brandon Hatchett Sr. Winter Springs, Fla./Oviedo 11-1
174 Nathaniel Brown Fr. Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg 8-3
184 #1 Robert Hamlin Jr. Jonesville, Vt./Mt. Mansfield Union 9-0
197 #7 Joe Kennedy Sr. Milford, Pa./Deleware Valley 9-2
285 #3 Zach Rey Sr. Hopatcong, N.J./Hopatcong 6-1

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS (2-0)

WT NAME EL HT REC
125 Shane Young Jr. Jeannette, Pa. 9-0
133 Colin Johnston Jr. Eighty-Four, Pa. 6-0
141 #19 Nathan Pennesi So. Latrobe, Pa. 12-2
149 George Scheffel Fr. Oakland, Md. 12-5
157 Dominic Prezzia Fr. St. Clarisville, Ohio 9-4
165 Kyle Eason Sr. Dauphin, Pa. 10-5
174 Lance Bryson Jr. Shoaf, Pa. 11-4
184 #17 Matt Ryan Sr. Eighty-Four, Pa. 5-1
197 Mac Mancuso So. Atlantic City, N.J. 12-3
285 Brandon Williamson Sr. Riverside, Conn. 10-3

Indiv. Rankings Intermat as of 12/6; Team Rankings NWCA/USA Today as of 12/6

HEAD COACH CAEL SANDERSON

Cael Sanderson, now in his third year as mentor of the Nittany Lions, came to Penn State after three extremely successful years as the head coach at his alma mater. Sanderson's teams did not finish any lower than fifth at the NCAA Championships and never had a wrestler not qualify for nationals, getting 30 of 30 grapplers through to the championship tournament. In 2007, Sanderson's rookie campaign, he led ISU to a 13-3 dual meet record and the first of three straight Big 12 Championships. An NCAA Runner-Up finished in Detroit capped off a wildly successful year as the Cyclones crowned one national championship and Sanderson was honored as Big 12 Coach of the Year, National Rookie Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year. The next year, Sanderson led ISU to a 16-4 dual meet mark, another Big 12 title and a fifth place finish at nationals. Iowa State's seven All-Americans in 2008 were the most at the school since 1993. In his final year at ISU, Sanderson's team went 15-3 in duals, won its third straight Big 12 title and took third place at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis (just 12 points out of first place). The Cyclones also crowned another national champion. In three years, Sanderson's teams went 44-10, won three conference crowns, qualified all 30 wrestlers for nationals, and earned 15 All-America awards and two individual national titles. In his first year at Penn State (2009-10), he guided the Lions to a 13-6-1 dual meet mark, 5-3 in Big Ten action, and crowned his first Big Ten Champion. The Lions finished No. 10 in the final USA Today/Coaches dual meet poll and placed ninth at NCAAs. Last year, Sanderson guided the Nittany Lions to its first-ever Southern Scuffle Co-Championship (2010-11) and its first Virginia Duals Championship since 1991 (2010-11). In guiding Penn State to a 6-1-1 conference mark, Sanderson equaled the most Big Ten dual meet wins in Penn State history in just his second year at the helm of the Nittany Lions (Penn State won six Big Ten duals in 1998). Sanderson led Penn State to the school's first ever Big Ten Championship on March 5-6 and was named 2011 Big Ten Coach of the Year. Saving the best for last, he led the Nittany Lions to the 2011 NCAA National Championship in Philadelphia on March 17-19, Penn State's first since 1953 and Sanderson's first as a collegiate head coach. Coach Sanderson now sports a 75-18-2 dual meet mark in his sixth year as a collegiate head coach. He is 31-8-2 in his third year at Penn State.

MOLINARO, TAYLOR, RUTH STILL PERFECT AND PILING UP BONUS WINS

The All-American trio of Frank Molinaro (149), David Taylor (157) and Ed Ruth (174) are all still perfect on the year and a combined 22-0 with three majors, six tech falls and ten pins. They have combined for 19 bonus point wins in 22 matches. Molinaro is 8-0 with two majors, three techs and two pins, giving him seven bonus wins in eight matches. Taylor is 6-0 with five pins and a tech fall, meaning each of his wins is by a tech fall or better. Ruth is 8-0 with one major, two techs and three falls, giving him six bonus wins in eight matches.

LIONS CROWN SIX CHAMPS AT '11 NLO

Penn State crowned six champions at the 2011 Nittany Lion Open. Freshman Nico Megaludis won the title at 125; senior Frank Molinaro won the title at 149 (his third Open crown); sophomore David Taylor won the title at 165 (his second Open crown); sophomore Ed Ruth won the 174-pound bracket (his first NLO gold); junior Quentin Wright won the 184-pound title (his first as well); and senior Cameron Wade won the championship at heavyweight (his second). Wins over ranked wrestlers for the champions included: Molinaro with an 8-0 major over #20 Steve Santos of Columbia and a first period pin (1:23) of #9 Donnie Vinson of Binghamton; Taylor with a pin (4:40) of #14 Peter Yaters of Virginia Tech and a 14-6 major over former American All-American Steve Fittery; and Ruth with a 7-4 win over #17 Jimmy Sheptock of Maryland.

PENN STATE WITH 18 PLACE WINNERS AT '11 NLO

In addition to the above six champions, Penn State had 12 other place winners at the 2011 Nittany Lion Open, headed by finalists/runners-up Dylan Alton at 157 and Morgan McIntosh at 197. Jordan Conaway was fourth at 125, Frank Martellotti was eighth at 133, Andrew Alton was third at 149, Seth Beitz was fifth at 149, James Vollrath was third at 157, Nick Fischer was fourth at 157, Matt Brown was fifth at 174, Justin Ortega was eighth at 197, Nick Ruggear was fourth at 285 and Jon Gingrich was fifth at 285.

WADE NOW 11TH ON ALL-TIME PINS LIST

Cameron Wade entered the season with 21 career falls. The senior heavyweight has four on the year and now has 25 for his career, tied for 11th on Penn State's all-time list.

THREE LIONS GRAB WINS IN MINNESOTA DUAL

Penn State's loss to Minnesota on 11/20 in front of a sold out Rec Hall crowd of over 6,200 including three dominating wins from a trio of Penn State All-Americans. No. 1 David Taylor handled No. 8 Cody Yohn with ease, notching a 16-1 technical fall in only 4:29 at 165. No. 1 Frank Molinaro roughed up No. 5 Dylan Ness, notching five takedowns to roll to a 16-10 win at 149. No. 2 Ed Ruth pinned Gopher Eric Ortiz at the 2:27 mark at 174.

TAYLOR'S STUNNING DUAL MEET POINT AVERAGE

While a mere 21 matches into his collegiate dual meet career, sophomore David Taylor has already surpassed the 100 point mark in dual meet points. Taylor is now 21-0 in collegiate duals with 104 dual meet points. That's an average of 4.95 dual points per match (win or loss, or in this case, all wins!).

FIVE LIONS WIN TITLES AT LAKER OPEN

Five of Penn State's ten-man contingent taking part unattached at the Mercyhurst Laker Open came home with first place titles with seven of the nine playing in the top three. Penn State earned five firsts, a second and a third place showing in Erie. Red-shirt freshman Kyle Moran went 4-0 at 141 to win the first place title while classmate Seth Beitz was 5-0 with a pin at 149 to win the title. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown was superb with a 5-0 mark to win the crown at 174. Brown notched two pins and three tech falls to roll to the title. Brown defeated teammate Andrew Church in the finals at 174. Church was 3-1 with a major to place second in front of a hometown crowd. Junior Justin Ortega was a perfect 4-0 at 197 to win the title while red-shirt freshman Jon Gingrich won another heavyweight title, this time going 4-0 with three pins to win it all. True freshman Collin Campbell took third at heavyweight, going 4-1 with a major. Also competing for Penn State was true freshman Mike Waters, who went 2-2 at 141; true freshman Rex Lutz, who won once at 165, and red-shirt freshman Brandon Phillips, who was 3-2 at 174.

FOUR LION FRESHMEN SHINE IN PENN STATE DEBUTS

Four new faces picked up big wins for Penn State in their collegiate debuts in the Nittany Lions' 39-3 win over Bloomsburg in the season opener on 11/13. True freshman Nico Megaludis pinned Bloomsburg's Sean Boylan at the 2:15 mark at 125, giving Penn State an early leg up in the dual. Red-shirt freshman Sam Sherlock then downed Huskie Matt Rappo 10-5 at 141 and classmate Dylan Alton downed No. 14 Frank Hickman 10-8 at 157. True freshman Morgan McIntosh then posted a 6-0 win over Huskie Richard Perry at 197.

LIONS USE THREE FIRST PERIOD PINS TO BLAST HUSKIES

Penn State used three early pins to rout the Bloomsburg Huskies before 6,059 fans in the team's season opener in Rec Hall on 11/13. True freshman Nico Megaludis got a pin over BU's Sean Boylan at the 2:15 mark at 125, getting the Nittany Lion season off to a fast start. All-American David Taylor pinned BU's Kevin Hartnett at the 2:21 mark at 165 and All-American Quentin Wright pinned Huskie Mike Mirra at the 1:55 mark at 184. Penn State also picked up tech fall from All-American Frank Molinaro at 149 and a major from Cameron Wade at HWT.

SIX LIONS WIN CROWNS AT ESU OPEN

Eighteen Nittany Lion wrestlers trekked to East Stroudsburg University for the ESU Open on Saturday with six Penn Staters grabbing individual crowns. In all, 14 of Penn State's 18 entrants placed at the event. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown went 5-0 with two pins and three majors to win the title at 174. True freshman Jordan Conaway went 4-0 with a pin and a major to win the title at 125. One win, the major, was against a non-collegiate wrestler, meaning Conaway was officially 3-0 on the day. True freshman Luke Frey was 4-0 at 141, winning the title and picking up two tech falls along the way. Sophomore Andrew Alton dominated 149, going 5-0 with two pins and two majors to win the title. One pin was against a non-collegiate wrestler, meaning Alton went 4-0 with a pin officially. Sophomore James Vollrath was 5-0 with a pin, a tech and a major to win the title at 157. Rounding out Penn State's champions was red-shirt freshman Jonathan Gingrich, who went 5-0 with a major and a pin at heavyweight. His pin was against an NC grappler, giving him a 4-0 official mark on the day.

FREY, CHURCH AND CONAWAY PLACE AT CLARION OPEN

Six members of Penn State's wrestling team competed unattached at the 2011 Clarion Knight Point Open on Sunday. True freshmen Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) and Luke Frey (Montoursville, Pa.) and sophomore Andrew Church (Erie, Pa.) each placed at their respective weights. Frey, a true freshman from Montoursville, took the runner-up spot at 141, advancing to the finals with three wins including a major and a tech fall before dropping a 5-1 decision in the finals to unattached Daniel Neff. Conaway, an Abbottstown native, placed third at 125 with a 4-1 mark that included two tech falls and a 13-7 loss in the semifinals to the eventual champion. Church, an Erie native, went 3-1 at 174 and advanced to the finals before losing to take the runner-up spot. Other Nittany Lions competing included Michael Waters (Advance, N.C.), who went 2-2 at 141; Brandon Phillips (Timonium, Md.), who went 2-2 at 174; and Collin Campbell (Hurdle Mills, N.C.), who went 2-2 at heavyweight.

IOWA DUAL SOLD OUT INCLUDING SRO, OHIO STATE SOLD OUT W/ SOME SRO REMAINING; OTHERS NEARING SAME STATUS

A mere 90 minutes after the public sale of single dual tickets began, Penn State's Jan. 22 dual match against Iowa has sold out, including 300 standing room only tickets. With over 6,500 tickets now distributed for the match-up with the Hawkeyes, the single dual allotments for Penn State's remaining six home events are also disappearing fast. Rec Hall's listed capacity is 6,502 including the 300 SRO ducats. Both Minnesota and Ohio State duals are also sold out with limited SRO tickets remaining for each. Less than 600 tickets remain for all other Penn State duals (against Bloomsburg, West Virginia, Michigan and Pitt). Fans can purchase these very limited single dual tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

PENN STATE RANKED NO. 5 IN LATEST NWCA/USA TODAY COACHES POLL; EIGHT LIONS RANKED BY INTERMAT

Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team continue to be ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Four Nittany Lion All-Americans are ranked in the top five and all eight are listed in the top 15. Penn State is No. 5 in the latest NWCA/USA Today Coaches dual meet poll and Intermat gives the Lions a No. 3 nod in its tournament power index (TPI). Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 8-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), is 6-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 8-0 at ranked No. 2 at 174. Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is No. 5 at 184 with a 6-1 mark.

Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 6-1 at heavyweight and is ranked No. 8. True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 5-2 at 197 and ranked No. 10 while red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 5-2 at 157 and ranked No. 10 as well. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 6-1 at 125 and ranked No. 15. Penn State is No. 5 in the latest Coaches Poll. Iowa leads with eight first place votes and 248 points. Oklahoma State is second with two top votes and 242 points while Minnesota is third with 221. Cornell is fourth with 219 and Penn State is fifth with 213. Ohio State (6), Illinois (7), Michigan (8), Pittsburgh (9) and Lehigh (10) round out the top ten. Northwestern (19) and Nebraska (21) are the other Big Ten squads in the top 25, giving the conference eight teams on the list. Iowa tops Intermat's TPI with 98.5 points, followed by Oklahoma State with 87.5 and Penn State with 85. Minnesota is fourth with 77.0 and Cornell fifth with 66.5.

WRESTLING RADIO NETWORK READY FOR '11-12 SEASON

The Penn State Wrestling Radio Show will begin yet another season on Wednesday, Nov. 2, while multiple local stations will once again broadcast the entire 2011-12 Nittany Lion season. The march to St. Louis begins with the Intrasquad dual on Nov. 3 and concludes with the national championships in late-March. The wrestling radio season begins on Nov. 2 when Jeff Byers hosts the first edition of the Penn State Wrestling Show. The show will air every Wednesday from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and will air across the state on the Pennsylvania Sports Network. Local affiliate 3WZ (95.3 FM) will serve as the flagship station for the show that will features coaches, wrestlers and other individuals affiliated with the Nittany Lion wrestling program. The 30-minute show welcomes calls from fans, who can call into the show at 814-237-0953. In addition to 3WZ, the weekly show can be heard on the following stations: WCPA (900 AM) Clearfield/DuBois; WIEZ (670 AM) Lewistown/Huntingdon; WLYC (1050 AM) Williamsport/Lewisburg; WLYC (104.1 FM) Montoursville/Jersey Shore; WBPZ (1230 AM) Lock Haven; WTZN (1310 AM) Troy/Canton; WTTC (1550 AM) Towanda/Elmira, N.Y.; WGET (1330 AM) Gettysburg/Hanover. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. Lewistown/Huntingdon's WIEZ (670 AM) will carry every Sunday dual and the post-season. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events.

Nittany Lions Maintain Eight Ranked Individuals in Latest Rankings

Nittany Lions hold No. 5 spot in NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll

           UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; December 6, 2011 - Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team continue to be ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Four Nittany Lion All-Americans are ranked in the top five and all eight are listed in the top 15. Penn State is No. 5 in the latest NWCA/USA Today Coaches dual meet poll and Intermat gives the Lions a No. 3 nod in its tournament power index (TPI).

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 8-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), is 6-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 8-0 at ranked No. 2 at 174. Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is No. 5 at 184 with a 6-1 mark.

Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 6-1 at heavyweight and is ranked No. 8. True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 5-2 at 197 and ranked No. 10 while red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 5-2 at 157 and ranked No. 10 as well. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 5-1 at 125 and ranked No. 15.

Penn State is No. 5 in the latest Coaches Poll. Iowa leads with eight first place votes and 248 points. Oklahoma State is second with two top votes and 242 points while Minnesota is third with 221. Cornell is fourth with 219 and Penn State is fifth with 213. Ohio State (6), Illinois (7), Michigan (8), Pittsburgh (9) and Lehigh (10) round out the top ten. Northwestern (19) and Nebraska (21) are the other Big Ten squads in the top 25, giving the conference eight teams on the list. Iowa tops Intermat's TPI with 98.5 points, followed by Oklahoma State with 87.5 and Penn State with 85. Minnesota is fourth with 77.0 and Cornell fifth with 66.5.

Penn State returns to dual meet action on Friday, Dec. 9 at No. 10 Lehigh and then in Rec Hall on Sunday, Dec. 11, vs. West Virginia at 2 p.m. Nearing sellout status, fans can purchase remaining tickets for the WVU dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (690 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

Penn State-Coltin Fought Leads NC State At Nittany Lion Open

Five Wolfpack wrestlers place in a strong showing at Penn State's prestigious early-season tournament

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Freshman 125-pounder Coltin Fought advanced all the way to the championship round Sunday to lead NC State to a strong showing at the 2011 Nittany Lion Open, with five Wolfpack wrestlers landing in the top eight of their respective weight classes.

In addition to Fought, seniors Darrius Little (141) and Quinton Godley, and sophomore Matt Nereim (149) all turned in seventh-place finishes, with sophomore Nijel Jones (165) finishing eighth.

"We wrestled well," Wolfpack head coach Carter Jordan said. "We had eight starters here, and we set our goal as a staff coming in to have five of the eight place, so we did that. And the thing of it is, it could have been better. A couple of guys didn't wrestle the way they could have, but overall we have to be pleased."

Fought, a true freshman from Bloomsburg, Pa., won his first four matches of the tournament before running into 17th-ranked Nico Magaludis in the finals. Magaludis - one of eight ranked wrestlers from host Penn State, the defending national champions - ended Fought's run with an 11-1 major decision, but the Wolfpack freshman, who extended his career-best winning streak to nine before the loss, turned in his third consecutive standout performance in an early-season tournament.

Fought began his season Nov. 13 with a second-place finish at NC State's own Wolfpack Open, then finished third two week's later at the Pembroke Classic. This tournament, however, was a significant step up in terms of the caliber of the competition, with wrestlers from 10 nationally ranked teams in the field, along with more than 40 individuals who were ranked in the latest national polls.

"Coltin Fought is the real deal," Jordan said. "He's tough as nails and he really competes. I hope this will get him into the national rankings. He really wrestled well. That kid he faced in the finals is on a whole other planet. Coltin was really impressive today."

Following are NC State's individual results from the 2011 Nittany Lion Open

Coltin Fought -- 125 pounds
defeated Liberato Kyle (West Chester), by technical fall, 17-0
defeated David Terao (American), 10-3
defeated Jarrod Garnett (Virginia Tech), 16-7
defeated Jordan Conaway (Penn State), 10-5
lost to #17 Nico Magaludis (Penn State), 1-11
Coltin Fought finishes 2nd

Darrius Little (unattached) - 141 pounds
defeated Tanner Hough (Duke), 4-1
defeated Elijah Sullivan (Columbia), 9-4
lost to Frank Goodwin (Maryland), 6-8
defeated Quentin Leadbeter (Navy), by fall at 1:40
lost to Michael Depalma (Edinboro), 3-5
defeated Derek Heyman (Binghamton), 11-3
Darrius Little finishes 7th

Gabe LaVey - 141 pounds
lost to Joe Rendina (FLWC), 7-11
Gabe LaVey eliminated

Matt Nereim - 149 pounds
defeated Joe Salinetro (Lock Haven), by fall at 5:26
lost to John Belanger (Army), 4-9
defeated Kevin Timothy (George Mason), 11-9
defeated Josh Houldsworth (Columbia), by fall at 4:06
defeated Owen Wilkinson (Lock Haven), 11-4
lost to Seth Beitz (Penn State), 3-11
defeated Josh Pascazi (Pittsburgh), 12-8
Matt Nereim finishes 7th

Thomas Gantt - 149 pounds
defeated Andrew Maksimovic (Boston University), 4-1
lost to Jared Ross (Army), 3-9
lost to Nick Hodgkins (Central Michigan), 8-11
Thomas Gantt eliminated

Nijel Jones - 165 pounds
defeated John Mangini (unattached), by fall at 3:26
lost to #14 Peter Yates (Virginia Tech), by fall at 1:28
defeated Patrick Jennings (Edinboro), 9-5
defeated Tyler Buckwalter (Kent State), by fall at 3:45
defeated Sheldon Brandenburg (Cleveland State), by fall at 5:25
defeated Joseph Favia (Stevens), 7-5
lost to #19 Mark Lewandowski (Buffalo), by technical fall, 0-15
lost to Adam Fondale (Columbia), 2-14
Nijel Jones finishes 8th

Steven Ramos - 165 pounds
lost to Erin Civan (Columbia), by fall at 3:46
defeated Marshall Willet (Ohio University), by fall at 4:00
defeated Kevin Brown (Columbia), by fall at 6:44
lost to Adam Fondale (Columbia), 1-8
Steven Ramos eliminated

Quinton Godley - 174 pounds
defeated Brandon Phillips (Penn State), 12-3
defeated Vinny Waldenhauser (Virginia), 9-3
defeated Owen Smith (Maryland), 2-1
lost to #12 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (The Citadel), 2-6
defeated Frankie McLaughlin (George Mason), 11-4
lost to Matthew Brown (Penn State), 1-3
defeated James Mannier (Navy), 7-5
Quinton Godley finishes 7th

Robert O'Neill - 184 pounds
lost to Nick Milano (Clarion), 7-13
Robert O'Neill eliminated

KaRonne Jones - 197 pounds
lost to #8 Daniel Mitchell (American), 0-8
defeated Jonathan Moore (UPJ), 9-4
lost to Derek Stanley (Army), 1-6
KaRonne Jones eliminated

Eloheim Palma - 285 pounds
defeated Phillip Mandzik (West Virginia), 11-2
lost to Chris Penny (Virginia Tech), 3-7
lost to William Smith (Rutgers), by medical forfeit

Penn State Crowns Six Champions at 2011 Nittany Lion Open

Nittany Lions come through with 18 place winners at day-long event

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; December 4, 2011 - The fifth-ranked Penn State wrestling team blazed its way through the 2011 Nittany Lion Open, crowning six champions and collecting 18 place winners at the event. Penn State sent 29 wrestlers into action at the all-day event, which featured 475 grapplers from around the country.

Freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 17, went 6-0 on the day including an 11-1 major over North Carolina State's Coltin Fought in the finals at 125. No. 1 Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) was a perfect 6-0 at 149, pinning No. 9 Donnie Vinson of Binghamton in the finals. No. 1 David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) was 4-0 on the day plus a win over former American All-American Steve Fittery in the finals at 165. Taylor majored Fittery 14-6 but the result does not count in Taylor's win/loss record.

No. 2 Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) went 6-0 at 174, downing No. 17 Jimmy Sheptock of Maryland 7-4 in the finals. No. 6 Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) went 6-0 at 184, getting a 17-0 tech fall over Kent State's Cole Baxter in the finals at 184. Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 5 at heavyweight, blazed his way to a 6-0 mark to win the title, getting a pin at the 1:26 mark over Clarion's Quintas McCorkle in the finals. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 11 at 157, was pinned by No. 8 James Fleming of Clarion in the finals and placed second with a 5-1 record. True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 10 at 197, was upset by No. 20 Christian Boley of Maryland in the finals, 12-9, and took second as well. No. 7 Devin Carter of Virginia Tech won the crown with a 17-7 major over Nick Arujua at 133 while Zach Neibert of Virginia Tech upset No. 19 Kevin Smith of Buffalo in the finals at 141, getting a 7-3 win.

Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) went 3-2 and placed fourth at 125 while sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) went 4-1 and took eighth at 133. Seth Beitz (Juniata, Pa.) was 7-1 on the day and placed fifth at 149 while red-shirt freshman Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) was 5-1 to take third at that weight. James Vollrath (Richboro, Pa.) downed teammate Nick Fischer (Unionville, Pa.) in the third place bout at 157, getting an 11-2 major to take third while Fischer finished fourth.

Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) went 5-1 at 174 to take fifth place and junior Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) went 4-2 at 197 to take eighth. Red-shirt freshman Nick Ruggear (Oxford, Pa.) went 3-2 at heavyweight, advancing to the semifinals before losing to teammate Wade as well as No. 10 Spencer Myers in the third place bout. Ruggear took fourth. Red-shirt freshman Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) went 5-1 at heavyweight and placed fifth.

Penn State got fine performances from a number of Lions who did not place as well. At 133, Nittany Lion junior Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) went 3-0 on the day and then took a cautionary medical forfeit, ending his tournament before the quarterfinals began in order to further rest an injury. At 141, Lion freshman Sam Sherlock (West Mifflin, Pa.) went 3-2, injury defaulting out in his second loss of the day. Freshman Luke Frey (Montoursville, Pa.) won his first match but an illness forced him to cut his day short, going 1-1. Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.), Kyle Moran (Oxford, Pa.), David Owens (Derry, N.H.) and Mike Waters (Advance, N.C.) each went 0-1 on the day. Rex Lutz (Easton, Pa.) went 0-1 at 165. At 174, sophomore Andrew Church (Erie, Pa.) had a nice run, going 4-2. Teammate James Frascella (Carmel, Ind.) went 1-2 and Brandon Phillips (Timonium, Md.) went 0-1.

Penn State was solid through the early going of the tournament, with 16 of Penn State's 29 wrestlers advancing to the quarterfinals. In the quarters, Penn State went 13-2 with one wrestler taking a medical forfeit which does not count as a loss. In the semifinals, Penn State went 8-5 with two of the losses coming in bouts that pitted Lion against Lion. Penn State then went 6-2 in the finals, crowning its six champions to go along with two runners-up. Penn State went 101-29 overall on the day.

Penn State returns to dual meet action on Friday, Dec. 9 at Lehigh and then in Rec Hall on Sunday, Dec. 11, vs. West Virginia at 2 p.m. Nearing sellout status, fans can purchase remaining tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (690 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

2011 NITTANY LION OPEN FINALS RECAP:

Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011 - Rec Hall - University Park, Pa.

125: #17 Nico Megaludis PSU maj. dec. Coltin Fought NC State, 11-1
133: #7 Devin Carter VATECH maj. dec. Nick Arujua UANR, 17-7
141: Zach Neibert VATECH dec. #19 Kevin Smith BUF, 7-3
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU pinned #9 Donnie Vinson BING, WBF (1:23)
157: #8 James Flemming CLAR pinned #11 Dylan Alton PSU, WBF (1:58)
165: #1 David Taylor PSU maj. dec. Steve Fittery UANR, 14-6
174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU dec. #17 Jimmy Sheptock MD, 7-4
184: #6 Quentin Wright PSU tech fall Cole Baxter UA-KSU, 17-0 (TF; 6:43)
197: #20 Christian Boley MD dec. #11 Morgan McIntosh PSU, 12-9
285: #5 Cameron Wade pinned Quintas McCorkle CLAR, WBF (1:26)

Penn State's weight-by-weight summary:

UA - Note that UA indicates unattached collegiate wrestler
UANR - Note that UANR indicates a Non-Collegiate opponent and that result does NOT count towards individual's win/loss record.

* - Note that an (*) by a Penn State name indicates a PSU wrestler who is competing unattached.

Penn State's 125 agate:

#18 Nico Megaludis
Rd. 1: W, 2-1 dec. Caleb Richardson, UANR
Rd. 2: W, 17-3 maj. dec. Ryan Dowd, Boston
Rd. 3: W, 10-1 maj. dec. Conor Youtsey, UA-Army (Army Prep)
Qtrs: W, 12-3 maj. dec. Max Soria, Buffalo
Semis: W, 3-2 dec. Erik Spjut, Virginia Tech
Finals: W, 11-1 maj. dec. Coltin Fought, North Carolina State
1st place; 6-0 overall

*Jordan Conaway
Rd. 1: Bye
Rd. 2: W, 12-6 dec. Derrick Nelson, UA Pittsburgh
Rd. 3: W, 9-2 dec. Desmond Moore, Kutztown
Qtrs: W, 5-2 dec. Austin Miller, Bucknell
Semis: L, 5-10 dec. Colton Fought, North Carolina State
3rd: L, 0-4 dec. Erik Spjut, Virginia Tech
4th place; 3-2 overall

Penn State's 133 agate:

Derek Reber
Rd. 1: W, 13-0 maj. dec. Mike Savastone, UANR
Rd. 2: W, 4-1 dec. Taylor Golba, Buffalo
Rd. 3: W, 3-2 dec. Joseph Gosinski, Hofstra
Qtrs: Medical Forfeit (precautionary)
DNP; 3-0 overall

*Frank Martellotti
Rd. 1: bye
Rd. 2: W, 8-7 dec. Justis Flamio, UANR
Rd. 3: L, 0-3 dec. Geoffrey Alexander, Navy
Cn. 2: W, 12-0 maj. dec. Taylor Golba, Buffalo
Cn. 3: W, 6-0 dec. Joe Waltko, Clarion
Cn. 4: W, 6-0 dec. Erik Galloway, UA-Pitt
Cn. Semis: Med. Forfeit
8th place, 4-1 overall

Penn State's 141 agate:

Sam Sherlock
Rd. 1: WBF over Alex Scheinert, UANR
Rd. 2: L, 3-10 dec. Elijah Sullivan, Columbia
Cn. 1: W, 8-5 dec. Tanner Hough, UA-Duke
Cn. 2: W, 6-2 dec. Louis Mascola, Maryland
Cn. 4: L, inj. def. vs. Anthony Perrotti, Rutgers
DNP; 3-2 overall

Bryan Pearsall
Rd. 1: L, 0-2 dec. Derek Heyman, UA-Binghamton
DNP; 0-1 overall

Kyle Moran
Rd. 1: L, 2-4 dec. Michael Depalma, UA-Edinboro
DNP; 0-1 overall

*Luke Frey
Rd. 1: bye
Rd. 2: W, 11-0 maj. dec. Alex Johnson, Navy
Rd. 3: L, forf. Chris Conti, Buffalo (illness)
Cn. 2: L, med. forfeit
DNP; 1-1 overall

*David Owens
Rd. 1: L, 2-12 maj. dec. Jordan Dix, The Citadel
DNP; 0-1 overall

*Mike Waters
Rd. 1: L, 2-5 dec. Casey Smith, Army
DNP; 0-1 overall

Penn State's 149 agate:

#1 Frank Molinaro
Rd. 1: W, 16-0 TF over Jake Kazimir, Columbia
Rd. 2: W, 11-0 maj. dec. Peyton Walsh, Navy
Rd. 3: W, 17-0 TF over Leonard Drummond, Kutztown (4:08)
Qtrs: WBF over Cameron Moran, Clarion
Semis: W, 8-0 maj. dec. #20 Steve Santos, Columbia
Finals: WBF over #9 Donnie Vinson, Binghamton (1:23)
1st place; 6-0 overall

Seth Beitz
Rd. 1: W, 8-1 dec. Derek Leiby, Penn College
Rd. 2: W, inj. def. Gregory Flournoy, George Mason
Rd. 3: L, 2-6 dec. Steve Santos, Columbia
Cn. 2: W, 9-7 dec. Peter Ferrara, UA-Virginia
Cn. 3: W, 2-0 dec. Eric Filipowicz, Navy
Cn. 4: W. 2-1 dec. John Bellanger, Army
Cn. Semis: W, 11-3 maj. dec. Matthew Nereim, North Carolina State
5th: W, 7-6 dec. Malcolm Martin, Central Michigan
5th place; 7-1 overall

*Andrew Alton
Rd. 1: WBF over Josh Micek, Buffalo (0:55)
Rd. 2: W, 11-6 dec. Eric Filipowicz, Navy
Rd. 3: W, 12-3 maj. dec. Malcolm Martin, Central Michigan
Qtrs: W, 9-4 dec. Owen Wilkinson, Lock Haven
Semis: L, 6-8 dec. #8 Donnie Vinson, Binghamton
3rd: W, 9-5 dec. #20 Steve Santos, Columbia
3rd place; 5-1 overall

Penn State's 157 agate:

#11 Dylan Alton
Rd. 1: WBF over Hector Santana, UANR (0:35)
Rd. 2: W, 16-5 maj. dec. Aaron Fry, Lock Haven
Rd. 3: W, 12-3 maj. dec. Jake O'Hara, Columbia
Qtrs: W, 13-4 maj. dec. Eric Hess, UA-Lehigh
Semis: W, 9-1 maj. dec. Nick Fischer, Penn State
Finals: LBF vs. #8 James Fleming, Clarion (1:58)
2nd place; 5-1 overall

Nick Fischer
Rd. 1: W, 16-0 TF over Nick Terdick, UA-Hofstra
Rd. 2: W, 5-2 dec. Jaaziah Bethea, George Mason
Rd. 3: W, 6-2 dec. Jacob Salazar, UA-Michigan
Qtrs: W, 4-2 dec. #16 Kyle John Maryland
Semis: L, 1-9 maj. dec. #11 Dylan Alton, Penn State
3rd : L, 2-11 maj. dec. James Vollrath, UA-Penn State
4th place; 4-2 overall

James Vollrath
Rd. 1: WBF over James Shields, Millersville (1:39)
Rd. 2: W, 13-4 maj. dec. Owen Scott, UANR
Rd. 3: WBF over Matt Spataro, Hofstra (1:08)
Qtrs: W, 3-2 dec. Joey Napoli, Lehigh
Semis: L, 0-1 dec. #8 James Fleming, Clarion
3rd: W, 11-2 maj. dec. Nick Fischer, Penn State
3rd place; 5-1 overall

Penn State's 165 agate:

#1 David Taylor
Rd. 1: Bye
Rd. 2: WBF over Ross Renzi, UA-West Virginia (3:12)
Rd. 3: WBF over Kyle Czarnecki, Boston (2:33)
Qtrs: WBF over Joseph Favia, Stevens Tech (1:48)
Semis: WBF over #14 Peter Yates, Virginia Tech (4:40)
Finals: W, 14-6 maj. dec. Steve Fittery UANR
1st place; 4-0 overall (the Fittery result does NOT count in his record)

*Rex Lutz

Rd. 1: L, 0-4 dec. Adam Fondale, Columbia
DNP; 0-1 overall

Penn State's 174 agate:

#2 Ed Ruth
Rd. 1: W, 17-0 TF over Collin Zeerip, UA-Michigan
Rd. 2: WBF over Stephen West, Columbia (2:49)
Rd. 3: W, 24-9 TF over Stephen Doty, Virginia (7:00)
Qtrs: WBF over James Mannier, Navy (1:38)
Semis: W, 11-3 maj. dec. John Martin Cannon, UA-Buffalo
Finals: W, 7-4 dec. #17 Jimmy Sheptock, Maryland
1st place; 6-0 overall

Matt Brown
Rd. 1: bye
Rd. 2: W, 14-4 maj. dec. Chris Moon, Virginia Tech
Rd. 3: W, 19-5 maj. dec. Stephen McPeek, Bucknell
Qtrs: L, 5-8 dec. #17 Jimmy Sheptock, Maryland
Cn. 4: W, 15-6 maj. dec. Vinny Waldhauser, Virginia
Cn. Semis: W, 3-2 dec. Quinton Godley, North Carolina State
5th: W, def. Stephen West, Columbia
5th place; 5-1 overall

Andrew Church
Rd. 1: W, 11-6 dec. Julio Arredondo, Kutztown
Rd. 2: W, 5-4 dec. Aaron McKinney, Lock Haven
Rd. 3: L, 5-10 dec. #12 Tortogtokh Luvsandorj, The Citadel
Cn. 2: W, 3-1 dec. James Frascella, UA-Penn State
Cn. 3: W, 5-2 dec. Owen Smith, Maryland
Cn. 4: L, 6-12 dec. James Mannier, Navy
DNP; 4-2 overall

Brandon Phillips
Rd. 1: L, 3-11 maj. dec. Quinton Godley, North Carolina State
DNP; 0-1 overall

*James Frascella
Rd. 1: Bye
Rd. 2: L, 3-9 dec. John-Martin Cannon, Buffalo
Cn. 1: WBF over Zach Marlatt, Kutztown (2:29)
Cn. 2: L, 1-3 dec. Andrew Church, Penn State
DNP; l-2 overall

Penn State's 184 agate:

#6 Quentin Wright
Rd. 1: Bye
Rd. 2: WBF over Giovanni Ortiz, Kutztown (4:58)
Rd. 3: W, 25-10 TF over Luke Johnson, The Citadel (7:00)
Qtrs: W, 15-0 TF over Alex Najjar, Boston (6:01)
Semis: W, 15-1 maj. dec. John Dickson, Virginia Tech
Finals: W, 17-0 TF (6:23) Cole Baxter, UA-Kent State
1st place; 5-0 overall

Penn State's 197 agate:

#10 Morgan McIntosh
Rd. 1: Bye
Rd. 2: W, 14-4 maj. dec. Kelby Smith, The Citadel
Rd. 3: WBF over Austin Akins, Columbia (4:40)
Qtrs: W, 15-1 maj. dec. Tim Murphy, UA-Hofstra
Semis: W, 8-1 dec. Kadeem Samuels, Lehigh
Finals: L, 9-12 dec. #20 Christian Boley, Maryland
2nd place; 4-1 overall

Justin Ortega
Rd. 1: Bye
Rd. 2: L, 3-5 dec. #20 Christian Boley, Maryland
Cn. 1: W, 12-0 maj. dec. Mike McKeever, Bucknell
Cn. 2: W, 8-2 dec. Zack Nye, Virginia
Cn. 3: W, 9-3 dec. Bryce Barnes, UA-Army (Army Prep)
Cn. 4: W, 6-3 dec. Ryan Malo, Virginia
Cn. Semis: LBF vs. Alex Thomas, Clarion (3:27)
7th: took med forfeit, does not count as loss
8th place; 4-2 overall

Penn State's 285 agate:

#5 Cameron Wade
Rd. 1: W, 17-1 TF Austin Schaler, UA Army (Army Prep)
Rd. 2: WBF over Brandon Clark, Kutztown (2:50)
Rd. 3: WBF over Cody Mason, Lock Haven (2:36)
Qtrs: WBF over Jack Delia, UA-Lehigh (2:03)
Semis: W, 9-2 dec. Nick Ruggear, UA-Penn State
Finals: WBF over Quintas McCorkle, Clarion (1:26)
1st place; 6-0 overall

Jon Gingrich
Rd. 1: Bye
Rd. 2: W, 4-0 dec. Michael Horton, UA-Edinboro
Rd. 3: W, 11-2 maj. dec. Bobby LaVelle, Virginia Tech
Qtrs: L, 3-5 dec. #10 Spencer Myers, Maryland
Cn. 4: W, 3-1 dec. William Smith, UA-Rutgers
Cn. Semis: W, 8-4 dec. Henry Turner, Lock Haven
5th: W, 2-0 dec. Kevin Lester, Columbia
5th place; 5-1 overall

*Nick Ruggear
Rd. 1: Bye
Rd. 2: W, 5-1, Daniel Ortiz, Thaddeus Stevens
Rd. 3: W, 17-2 TF over Stephen Snyder, Army (6:03)
Qtrs: W, 7-4 dec. Chris Penny, Virginia Tech
Semis: L, 2-9 dec. #5 Cameron Wade, Penn State
3rd: L, 2-8 dec. #10 Spencer Myers, Maryland
4th place; 3-2 overall

No. 5 Penn State Ready for Sunday's Nittany Lion Open

TODAY'S ACTION

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Nov. 29, 2011 -- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (1-1, 0-1 B1G), ranked No. 5 nationally, will send the bulk of its roster into action at the 2011 Nittany Lion Open on Sunday, Dec. 4. The event takes place in Rec Hall beginning at 8:30 a.m. and is not part of Penn State's season ticket package. Tickets can be purchased at the door on the day of the event.

The Open, which is not a team scored event, will feature hundreds of wrestlers from around the nation including, potentially, plenty of ranked wrestlers. Teams set to send wrestlers into action at the event include No. 5 Penn State, No. 8 Pittsburgh, No. 10 Lehigh, No. 13 Maryland, No. 14 Virginia Tech, No. 16 Rutgers, No. 19 Central Michigan, No. 20 Kent State, No. 23 Virginia and No. 25 Binghamton.

While final registrants will change and vary up until the brackets are drawn early Sunday morning, upwards of 40 to 60 ranked wreslters could conceivable take to the Rec Hall mats. Penn State's eight ranked grapplers will be in act5ion as will the bulk of its entire roster, both attached and unattached. Penn State will send No. 1 Frank Molinaro (149), No. 1 David Taylor (165), No. 2 Ed Ruth (174), No. 5 Cameron Wade (285), No. 6 Quentin Wright (184), No. 10 Morgan McIntosh (197), No. 11 Dylan Alton (157) and No. 18 Nico Megaludis (125) into action as well as Derek Reber at 133 and Sam Sherlock at 141.

Other top ten ranked wrestlers who could wrestle on Sunday include No. 3 Nic Bedelyon of Kent State and No. 8 Matt Snyder of Virginia at 125; No. 7 Devin Carter of Virginia and No. 10 A.J. Schopp of Edinboro at 133; No. 10 Tyler Small of Kent State at 141; No. 3 Tyler Nauman of Pitt, No. 4 Mario Mason of Rutgers and No. 9 Donnie Vinson of Binghamton at 149; No. 5 Jesse Dong of Virginia Tech, No. 6 Justin Lister of Binghamton and No. 8 James Fleming of Clarion at 157; No. 2 Josh Asper of Maryland, No. 6 Scott Winston of Rutgers and No. 7 Bekzod Abdurakhmanov of Clarion at 165; No. 9 Te Edwards of Old Dominion at 174, No. 9 Ben Bennett of Central Michigan at 184; No. 4 Chris Honeycutt of Eidnboro and No. 7 Matt Wilps of Pitt at 197; and No. 9 Peter Sturgeon of Central Michigan and No. 10 Spencer Myers of Maryland at heavyweight.

Penn State will take part in two key eastern duals next weekend. The Nittany Lions visit No. 10 Lehigh on Friday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. in their first road dual and then host West Virginia on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. in Rec Hall.  Fans can purchase a very limited number of single dual tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. WIEZ 670 AM (Huntingdon/Lewistown) will carry all Sunday duals during the regular season plus the Big Ten and NCAA Championships in March. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

POSSIBLE COMPETITORS (as of 11/29)

#5 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (1-1, 0-1 B1G)

NAME Wt. El. HT/HS
Andrew Alton 141/149 So.-So. Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain
Dylan Alton 149/157 So.-Fr. Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain
Seth Beitz 149/157 So.-Fr. Juniata, Pa./Juniata
Matt Brown 165/174 So.-Fr. West Valley City, Utah/Cyprus
Collin Campbell HWT Fr.-Fr. Hurdle Mills, N.C./Person
Andrew Church 174/184 Jr.-So. Erie, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf
Jordan Conaway 125 Fr.-Fr. Abbottstown, Pa./New Oxford
Dirk Cowburn 165/174 So.-Fr. Coudersport, Pa./Coudersport
David Crowell 197 Sr.-Sr. Easton, Pa./Nazareth
James English 149/157 Sr.-Jr. York, Pa./Central York
Nick Fischer 157/165 Sr.-Jr. Unionville, Pa./Unionville
James Frascella 165/174 Fr.-Fr. Carmel, Ind./Carmel
Luke Frey 141/149 Fr.-Fr. Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville
Jon Gingrich HWT So.-Fr. Wingate, Pa./Bald Eagle Area
Rex Lutz 165 Fr.-Fr. Easton, Pa./Penn Argyl
Morgan McIntosh 184/197 Fr.-Fr. Santa Ana, Calif./Calvary Chapel
Nico Megaludis 125 Fr.-Fr. Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional
Frank Molinaro 149 Sr.-Sr. Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional
Kyle Moran 149 So.-Fr. Oxford, Pa./Oxford
Justin Ortega 184/197 Sr.-Jr. Oxford, Pa./Oxford
David Owens 141 Fr.-Fr. Derry, N.H./Pinkerton
Bryan Pearsall 133/141 Sr.-Jr. Lititz, Pa./Warwick
Brandon Phillips 174 So.-Fr. Timonium, Md./Delaney
Derek Reber 125/133 Sr.-Jr. Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg
Nick Ruggear 197 So.-So. Oxford, Pa./Oxford
Ed Ruth 174/184 Jr.-So. Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township
Sam Sherlock 133/141 So.-Fr. West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin
David Taylor 157/165 Jr.-So. St. Paris, Ohio/St. Paris Graham
James Vollrath 157 Jr.-So. Richboro, Pa./Council Rock South
Cameron Wade HWT Sr.-Sr. Twinsburg, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel
Michael Waters 125/133 Fr.-Fr. Advance, N.C./Davie
Quentin Wright 184/197 Sr.-Jr. Wingate, Pa./Bald Eagle Area

NOTE: This list is TENTATIVE and LIKELY to change!

HEAD COACH CAEL SANDERSON

Cael Sanderson, now in his third year as mentor of the Nittany Lions, came to Penn State after three extremely successful years as the head coach at his alma mater. Sanderson's teams did not finish any lower than fifth at the NCAA Championships and never had a wrestler not qualify for nationals, getting 30 of 30 grapplers through to the championship tournament. In 2007, Sanderson's rookie campaign, he led ISU to a 13-3 dual meet record and the first of three straight Big 12 Championships. An NCAA Runner-Up finished in Detroit capped off a wildly successful year as the Cyclones crowned one national championship and Sanderson was honored as Big 12 Coach of the Year, National Rookie Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year. The next year, Sanderson led ISU to a 16-4 dual meet mark, another Big 12 title and a fifth place finish at nationals. Iowa State's seven All-Americans in 2008 were the most at the school since 1993. In his final year at ISU, Sanderson's team went 15-3 in duals, won its third straight Big 12 title and took third place at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis (just 12 points out of first place). The Cyclones also crowned another national champion. In three years, Sanderson's teams went 44-10, won three conference crowns, qualified all 30 wrestlers for nationals, and earned 15 All-America awards and two individual national titles. In his first year at Penn State (2009-10), he guided the Lions to a 13-6-1 dual meet mark, 5-3 in Big Ten action, and crowned his first Big Ten Champion. The Lions finished No. 10 in the final USA Today/Coaches dual meet poll and placed ninth at NCAAs. Last year, Sanderson guided the Nittany Lions to its first-ever Southern Scuffle Co-Championship (2010-11) and its first Virginia Duals Championship since 1991 (2010-11). In guiding Penn State to a 6-1-1 conference mark, Sanderson equaled the most Big Ten dual meet wins in Penn State history in just his second year at the helm of the Nittany Lions (Penn State won six Big Ten duals in 1998). Sanderson led Penn State to the school's first ever Big Ten Championship on March 5-6 and was named 2011 Big Ten Coach of the Year. Saving the best for last, he led the Nittany Lions to the 2011 NCAA National Championship in Philadelphia on March 17-19, Penn State's first since 1953 and Sanderson's first as a collegiate head coach. Coach Sanderson now sports a 75-18-2 dual meet mark in his sixth year as a collegiate head coach. He is 31-8-2 in his third year at Penn State.

THREE LIONS GRAB WINS IN MINNESOTA DUAL

Penn State's loss to Minnesota on 11/20 in front of a sold out Rec Hall crowd of over 6,200 including three dominating wins from a trio of Penn State All-Americans. No. 1 David Taylor handled No. 8 Cody Yohn with ease, notching a 16-1 technical fall in only 4:29 at 165. No. 1 Frank Molinaro roughed up No. 5 Dylan Ness, notching five takedowns to roll to a 16-10 win at 149. No. 2 Ed Ruth pinned Gopher Eric Ortiz at the 2:27 mark at 174.

TAYLOR'S STUNNING DUAL MEET POINT AVERAGE

While a mere 21 matches into his collegiate dual meet career, sophomore David Taylor has already surpassed the 100 point mark in dual meet points. Taylor is now 21-0 in collegiate duals with 104 dual meet points. That's an average of 4.95 dual points per match (win or loss, or in this case, all wins!).

FIVE LIONS WIN TITLES AT LAKER OPEN

Five of Penn State's ten-man contingent taking part unattached at the Mercyhurst Laker Open came home with first place titles with seven of the nine playing in the top three. Penn State earned five firsts, a second and a third place showing in Erie. Red-shirt freshman Kyle Moran went 4-0 at 141 to win the first place title while classmate Seth Beitz was 5-0 with a pin at 149 to win the title. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown was superb with a 5-0 mark to win the crown at 174. Brown notched two pins and three tech falls to roll to the title. Brown defeated teammate Andrew Church in the finals at 174. Church was 3-1 with a major to place second in front of a hometown crowd. Junior Justin Ortega was a perfect 4-0 at 197 to win the title while red-shirt freshman Jon Gingrich won another heavyweight title, this time going 4-0 with three pins to win it all. True freshman Collin Campbell took third at heavyweight, going 4-1 with a major. Also competing for Penn State was true freshman Mike Waters, who went 2-2 at 141; true freshman Rex Lutz, who won once at 165, and red-shirt freshman Brandon Phillips, who was 3-2 at 174.

FOUR LION FRESHMEN SHINE IN PENN STATE DEBUTS

Four new faces picked up big wins for Penn State in their collegiate debuts in the Nittany Lions' 39-3 win over Bloomsburg in the season opener on 11/13. True freshman Nico Megaludis pinned Bloomsburg's Sean Boylan at the 2:15 mark at 125, giving Penn State an early leg up in the dual. Red-shirt freshman Sam Sherlock then downed Huskie Matt Rappo 10-5 at 141 and classmate Dylan Alton downed No. 14 Frank Hickman 10-8 at 157. True freshman Morgan McIntosh then posted a 6-0 win over Huskie Richard Perry at 197.

LIONS USE THREE FIRST PERIOD PINS TO BLAST HUSKIES

Penn State used three early pins to rout the Bloomsburg Huskies before 6,059 fans in the team's season opener in Rec Hall on 11/13. True freshman Nico Megaludis got a pin over BU's Sean Boylan at the 2:15 mark at 125, getting the Nittany Lion season off to a fast start. All-American David Taylor pinned BU's Kevin Hartnett at the 2:21 mark at 165 and All-American Quentin Wright pinned Huskie Mike Mirra at the 1:55 mark at 184. Penn State also picked up tech fall from All-American Frank Molinaro at 149 and a major from Cameron Wade at HWT.

SIX LIONS WIN CROWNS AT ESU OPEN

Eighteen Nittany Lion wrestlers trekked to East Stroudsburg University for the ESU Open on Saturday with six Penn Staters grabbing individual crowns. In all, 14 of Penn State's 18 entrants placed at the event. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown went 5-0 with two pins and three majors to win the title at 174. True freshman Jordan Conaway went 4-0 with a pin and a major to win the title at 125. One win, the major, was against a non-collegiate wrestler, meaning Conaway was officially 3-0 on the day. True freshman Luke Frey was 4-0 at 141, winning the title and picking up two tech falls along the way. Sophomore Andrew Alton dominated 149, going 5-0 with two pins and two majors to win the title. One pin was against a non-collegiate wrestler, meaning Alton went 4-0 with a pin officially. Sophomore James Vollrath was 5-0 with a pin, a tech and a major to win the title at 157. Rounding out Penn State's champions was red-shirt freshman Jonathan Gingrich, who went 5-0 with a major and a pin at heavyweight. His pin was against an NC grappler, giving him a 4-0 official mark on the day.

FREY, CHURCH AND CONAWAY PLACE AT CLARION OPEN

Six members of Penn State's wrestling team competed unattached at the 2011 Clarion Knight Point Open on Sunday. True freshmen Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) and Luke Frey (Montoursville, Pa.) and sophomore Andrew Church (Erie, Pa.) each placed at their respective weights. Frey, a true freshman from Montoursville, took the runner-up spot at 141, advancing to the finals with three wins including a major and a tech fall before dropping a 5-1 decision in the finals to unattached Daniel Neff. Conaway, an Abbottstown native, placed third at 125 with a 4-1 mark that included two tech falls and a 13-7 loss in the semifinals to the eventual champion. Church, an Erie native, went 3-1 at 174 and advanced to the finals before losing to take the runner-up spot. Other Nittany Lions competing included Michael Waters (Advance, N.C.), who went 2-2 at 141; Brandon Phillips (Timonium, Md.), who went 2-2 at 174; and Collin Campbell (Hurdle Mills, N.C.), who went 2-2 at heavyweight.

IOWA DUAL SOLD OUT INCLUDING SRO, OHIO STATE SOLD OUT W/ SOME SRO REMAINING; OTHERS NEARING SAME STATUS

A mere 90 minutes after the public sale of single dual tickets began, Penn State's Jan. 22 dual match against Iowa has sold out, including 300 standing room only tickets. With over 6,500 tickets now distributed for the match-up with the Hawkeyes, the single dual allotments for Penn State's remaining six home events are also disappearing fast. Rec Hall's listed capacity is 6,502 including the 300 SRO ducats. Both Minnesota and Ohio State duals are also sold out with limited SRO tickets remaining for each. Less than 600 tickets remain for all other Penn State duals (against Bloomsburg, West Virginia, Michigan and Pitt). Fans can purchase these very limited single dual tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

PENN STATE RANKED NO. 5 IN LATEST NWCA/USA TODAY COACHES POLL; EIGHT LIONS RANKED BY INTERMAT

Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team are ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Three Nittany Lion All-Americans are ranked No. 1 or 2. Penn State is No. 5 in the latest NWCA/USA Today Coaches dual meet poll and Intermat gives the Lions a No. 4 nod in its tournament power index (TPI). Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 2-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), is 2-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 2-0 at ranked No. 2 at 174. Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 1-1 at heavyweight and is ranked No. 5. Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is No. 6 at 184 with a 1-1 mark.

True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 1-1 at 197 and ranked No. 10 while red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 1-1 at 157 and ranked No. 11. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 1-1 at 125 and ranked No. 18. Penn State is No. 5 in the latest Coaches Poll, with Iowa, Oklahoma State, Cornell and Minnesota in the top four spots. Ohio State sits at No. 6, followed by Illinois, Pitt, Michigan and Lehigh. Northwestern (17) and Nebraska (21) round out the Big Ten entrants in the top 25 with Purdue and Wisconsin receiving votes. Iowa tops Intermat's TPI with 106.5 points, followed by Oklahoma State with 92.5, Minnesota with 90.5 and Penn State with 87.0.

WRESTLING RADIO NETWORK READY FOR '11-12 SEASON

The Penn State Wrestling Radio Show will begin yet another season on Wednesday, Nov. 2, while multiple local stations will once again broadcast the entire 2011-12 Nittany Lion season. The march to St. Louis begins with the Intrasquad dual on Nov. 3 and concludes with the national championships in late-March. The wrestling radio season begins on Nov. 2 when Jeff Byers hosts the first edition of the Penn State Wrestling Show. The show will air every Wednesday from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and will air across the state on the Pennsylvania Sports Network. Local affiliate 3WZ (95.3 FM) will serve as the flagship station for the show that will features coaches, wrestlers and other individuals affiliated with the Nittany Lion wrestling program. The 30-minute show welcomes calls from fans, who can call into the show at 814-237-0953. In addition to 3WZ, the weekly show can be heard on the following stations: WCPA (900 AM) Clearfield/DuBois; WIEZ (670 AM) Lewistown/Huntingdon; WLYC (1050 AM) Williamsport/Lewisburg; WLYC (104.1 FM) Montoursville/Jersey Shore; WBPZ (1230 AM) Lock Haven; WTZN (1310 AM) Troy/Canton; WTTC (1550 AM) Towanda/Elmira, N.Y.; WGET (1330 AM) Gettysburg/Hanover. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. Lewistown/Huntingdon's WIEZ (670 AM) will carry every Sunday dual and the post-season. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events.

Eight Penn Staters Ranked in Latest Intermat Release

Nittany Lions hold No. 5 spot in NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll

           UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 29, 2011 - Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team are ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Three Nittany Lion All-Americans are ranked No. 1 or 2. Penn State is No. 5 in the latest NWCA/USA Today Coaches dual meet poll and Intermat gives the Lions a No. 4 nod in its tournament power index (TPI).

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 2-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), is 2-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 2-0 at ranked No. 2 at 174. Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 1-1 at heavyweight and is ranked No. 5. Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is No. 6 at 184 with a 1-1 mark.

True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 1-1 at 197 and ranked No. 10 while red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 1-1 at 157 and ranked No. 11. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 1-1 at 125 and ranked No. 18.

Penn State is No. 5 in the latest Coaches Poll, with Iowa, Oklahoma State, Cornell and Minnesota in the top four spots. Ohio State sits at No. 6, followed by Illinois, Pitt, Michigan and Lehigh. Northwestern (17) and Nebraska (21) round out the Big Ten entrants in the top 25 with Purdue and Wisconsin receiving votes. Iowa tops Intermat's TPI with 106.5 points, followed by Oklahoma State with 92.5, Minnesota with 90.5 and Penn State with 87.0.

Penn State will take part in the Nittany Lion Open next Sunday, Dec. 4, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The NLO is not part of Penn State's season ticket package and tickets can be purchased at the door the day of the event. Penn State returns to dual meet action on Friday, Dec. 9 at Lehigh and then in Rec Hall on Sunday, Dec. 11, vs. West Virginia at 2 p.m. Nearing sellout status, fans can purchase remaining tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (690 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

Penn State- Molinaro, Taylor and Ruth Continue to Lead Eight Ranked Lions

Nittany Lions hold No. 5 spot in NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll

           UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 23, 2011 - Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team are ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Three Nittany Lion All-Americans are ranked No. 1 or 2. Penn State is No. 5 in the latest NWCA/USA Today Coaches dual meet poll and Intermat gives the Lions a No. 4 nod in its tournament power index (TPI).

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 2-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), is 2-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 2-0 at ranked No. 2 at 174. Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 1-1 at heavyweight and is ranked No. 5. Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) was upset on Sunday and is now ranked No. 6 at 184 with a 1-1 mark.

True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 1-1 at 197 and ranked No. 10 while red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 1-1 at 157 and ranked No. 11. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 1-1 at 125 and ranked No. 19.

Penn State is now No. 5 in the latest NWCA/USA Today Coaches poll after its loss to Minnesota on Sunday. Iowa is No. 1, followed by Oklahoma State, Cornell, Minnesota and Penn State. Illinois sits at the No. 6 spot, Michigan is No. 7, Ohio State No. 8, Pittsburgh No. 9 and Lehigh No. 10. Northwestern is No. 18 and Nebraska is No. 24 to give the Big Ten eight top 25 teams, including six in the top ten. Iowa tops Intermat's TPI with 106.5 points, followed by Oklahoma State with 95.0, Minnesota with 88.0 and Penn State with 87.0.

Penn State will take part in the Nittany Lion Open next Sunday, Dec. 4, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The NLO is not part of Penn State's season ticket package and tickets can be purchased at the door the day of the event. Penn State returns to dual meet action on Friday, Dec. 9 at Lehigh and then in Rec Hall on Sunday, Dec. 11, vs. West Virginia at 2 p.m. Nearing sellout status, fans can purchase remaining tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (690 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

Penn State Falls to No. 4 Minnesota in Early Big Ten Wrestling Battle

Over 6,200 watch Gophers upset Lions in Rec Hall

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 20, 2011 - In an early season Big Ten match-up between two of the nation's top teams, the Penn State Nittany Lion wrestlers dropped a 23-14 dual meet to visiting Minnesota in a packed Rec Hall. Penn State, ranked No. 2 nationally, lost seven of ten bouts to No. 4 Minnesota in front of over 6,200 fans.

Minnesota got off to a fast start in the dual, which began at 125. Fifth-year senior Zach Sanders, ranked No. 2 nationally, held off talented Penn State true freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 18, for a 6-2 win. No. 7 David Thorn then majored Lion junior Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) 14-5 to give the Gophers an early 7-0 lead. No. 10 Nick Dardanes of Minnesota then notched an impressive 19-6 major over Penn State's Sam Sherlock (West Mifflin, Pa.) at 141 to give the Gophers an 11-0 lead.

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, posted a resounding 16-10 win over No. 5 Dylan Ness of Minnesota to give Penn State its first win of the dual. Minnesota got a key win at 157, however, when No. 9 Jake Deitchler downed No. 11 Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) 8-4 in a hotly contested bout. The decision gave Minnesota a 14-3 lead heading into the break.

Penn State came out of the locker room on fire thanks to two sophomore All-Americans. Sophomore David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, crushed No. 8 Cody Yohn, posting a furious 16-1 technical fall at the 4:29 mark. Classmate Ed Ruth, ranked No. 2 at 174, followed that up with a quick pin of Minnesota's Eric Ortiz, getting the fall at the 2:28 mark to tie the dual at 14-14. But Minnesota got a key upset at 184 to silence the Lion crowd as No. 6 Kevin Steinhaus downed No. 1 Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) 6-1 to give Minnesota a 17-14 lead.

Lion true freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) nearly pulled off the upset of the day, taking No. 2 Cody Yohn down with under :20 left to take a 3-1 lead at 197. But Yohn, ranked No. 2 nationally, escaped notched a takedown as the bout ended to steal a thrilling 4-3 win and put Minnesota up 20-14. In the final match-up, No. 3 Tony Nelson of Minnesota downed Penn State's Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 4, 5-0 at heavyweight. The final decision gave the Gophers a 23-14 win.

Penn State fell to 1-1 with the loss, 0-1 in early Big Ten action. Minnesota improved its record to 1-1, 1-0 in the conference. Minnesota posted a dominant 26-12 edge in takedowns and had six riding time points in its seven wins.

Penn State will return to action on Sunday, Dec. 4 when it takes part in the Nittany Lion Open. The tournament, hosted by the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, begins at 8:30 a.m. and is not part of the Lions' season ticket package. Tickets are available at the door the day of the event. Penn State's next home dual is on Saturday, Dec. 11, when West Virginia visits Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. match-up. A very limited number of ticket remains for the WVU dual, fans can purchase them by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (690 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

#2 Penn State 14, #4 Minnesota 23
November 20, 2011 - University Park, Pa. - Rec Hall

125: #2 Zach Sanders MINN dec. #18 Nico Megaludis PSU, 6-2 0-3
133: #7 David Thorn MINN maj. dec. Derek Reber PSU, 14-5 0-7
141: #10 Nick Dardanes MINN maj. dec. Sam Sherlock PSU, 19-6 0-11
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU dec. #5 Dylan Ness MINN, 16-10 3-11
157: #9 Jake Deitchler MINN dec. #11 Dylan Alton PSU, 9-4 3-14
165: #1 David Taylor PSU tech. fall #8 Cody Yohn MINN, 16-1 (TF; 4:29) 8-14
174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU pinned Eric Ortiz MINN, WBF (2:28) 14-14
184: #6 Kevin Steinhaus MINN dec. #1 Quentin Wright PSU, 6-1 14-17
197: #2 Sonny Yohn PSU dec. #10 Morgan McIntosh PSU, 4-3 14-20
285: #3 Tony Nelson MINN dec. #4 Cameron Wade PSU, 5-0 14-23

Attendance: 6,277
Records: #2 Penn State (1-1, 0-1 B1G); #4 Minnesota (0-1, 1-0 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: Nittany Lion Open, Rec Hall, Sunday, Dec. 4, 8:30 a.m.

BOUT-BY-BOUT:

125: True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 18 nationally, took on Gopher senior Zach Sanders, who was ranked No. 2 at 125. The do traded early shots with Sanders trying to work a shoulder throw. Megaludis fought off the fifth-year senior's early attempts until Sanders scored the first takedown on a solid low single at the 1:42 mark. Megaludis quickly escaped and action resumed in the center circle with the second-ranked Gopher up 2-1. Megaludis trailed 2-1 after one period and chose down to start the second period but could not break free of a strong Sanders ride. Megaludis continued to battle, looking for a chance to escape and tie the bout up, but Sanders was able to ride the Lion out. Leading 2-1 with 2:19 in riding time, Sanders chose down to start the third period and Megaludis cut him loose to a 3-1 deficit. Megaludis worked for his shots, shooting low. But Sanders fought off numerous Megaludis shots until countering one and taking a 5-1 lead with a takedown at the 1:00 mark. Megaludis escaped to a 5-2 deficit. Megaludis continued shooting, but Sanders fought off every attempt to hold on for a 6-2 win.

133: Penn State junior Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) took to the mat against No. 7 David Thorn at 133. Thorn took a quick 2-0 lead with a high shot at the 2:45 mark. Reber worked his way to an escape to cut the lead to 2-1 and action resumed in the center circle. Thorn notched a second takedown to up his lead to 4-1 with 1:32 on the clock. Reber fought off an early turn attempt and then fought his way to an escaped and a 4-2 deficit. Thorn added a third takedown at the :31 mark but Reber escaped with :10 left to trail 6-3 heading into the second period. Thorn chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 7-3 lead. The ranked Gopher added a takedown and cut to lead 9-4 with 1:10 on the clock and then immediately got in on a high single, finishing it off for a takedown and an 11-4 lead. Thorn rode Reber out to lead 11-4 with 2:39 in time after two. Reber chose down to start the third and was cut loose to an 11-5 deficit. Reber scrambled for a shot and Thorn countered, forcing Reber down for a takedown as the Lion called for an injury timeout with 1:03. Thorn chose down after the injury time by Reber but Reber was able to maintain control for the rest of the period. Thorn got the riding time point and posted the 14-5 major.

141: Lion red-shirt freshman Sam Sherlock (West Mifflin, Pa.) got a stern early season test at 141 against Minnesota's Nick Dardanes, who entered the bout ranked No. 10. The duo battled evenly for the first minute until Sherlock nearly connected on a high single. Dardanes was able to fight off the shot and keep the bout scoreless. Sherlock was hit with a stall warning at the 1:30 mark. Sherlock shot again and this time Dardanes countered, moved around the Lion and got the first takedown at the 1:08 mark. Sherlock escaped to a 2-1 deficit with :40 left and action resumed in the center circle. Dardanes drove through a low double and took a 4-1 lead with :06 on the clock, a lead he took into the second period. Sherlock chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 4-2 deficit with 1:10 on the clock. Dardanes continued to find success with low doubles, getting a third takedown right after Sherlock escaped and, after cutting Sherlock loose, led 6-3 with 1:15 on the clock. Another Sherlock stall gave Dardanes a 7-3 lead. Dardanes added a fourth takedown, a stall point and a ride out to lead 10-3 with 1:53 in riding time after two periods. Dardanes chose neutral two start the third period, took Sherlock down and cut him loose to a 12-4 lead. Sherlock looked to connect on a single but Dardanes countered for another takedown to lead 14-4 with :36 and a clinched riding time point. Sherlock was cut loose to a 14-5 deficit but was taken down and cut loose twice more, giving Dardanes the 19-6 major.

149: In a bout featuring literally ten marquee match-ups, Nittany Lion senior Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) met Minnesota's Dylan Ness in a key battle at 149. Molinaro was ranked No. 1 while Ness carried a No. 5 ranking. Ness had an early chance to score, but Molinaro quickly skipped out of trouble and remained scoreless :30 into an up tempo bout. Molinaro used a high double to take a 2-0 lead and broke the Gopher down. Molinaro began looking for a chance to turn the fifth-ranked Gopher. Ness was able to fight off three different Molinaro turns and keep the bout close. After a reset with :26 left, Molinaro fought to ride Ness out and led 2-0 with 2:01 in riding time after one. The three time All-American chose down to start the second, quickly escaped and then bulled through a high double for another takedown and a 5-0 lead. Molinaro's strong ride forced Ness into a stall warning while the Lion continued to try and turn him. A full ride out gave Molinaro a 5-0 lead with 3:44 in riding time after two, clinching the extra point. Ness chose down to start the third and was cut loose. Molinaro quickly took the Gopher down to up his lead to 7-2 after another cut. Ness got his first takedown with 1:28 on the clock, cutting the lead to 8-4 after a Molinaro escape. Molinaro notched another takedown to up his lead to 10-4 with 1:00 but Ness reversed the Lion to cut the lead to 10-6. After a reset with :28 left, Molinaro escape to an 11-6 lead and but was taken down twice in the final :30. The Lion All-American finished on top, however, with a final takedown to win 16-10 with 4:01 in riding time.

157: Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 11 at 157, took on No. 9 Jake Deitchler of Minnesota in a hotly contested battle at 157. Deitchler and Alton fought off each other's shots until the 2:05 mark when Alton used a low duck-under to finish off a single leg and lead 2-0. Deitchler quickly escaped and action resumed in the center circle. Alton nearly notched another takedown but Deitchler managed to fight off the move and keep the score at 2-1 with 1:00 left. Alton nearly thrilled the crowd with a quick throw for back points, but Deitchler rolled through the effort and Alton led 2-1 after the opening period. Alton chose down to start the middle stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. He then got in on a single leg and forced a scramble that Deitchler turned into a takedown and a 3-3 tie with 1:15 on the clock. Alton worked for an escape as the period ended, but Deitchler was able to ride him out. Tied 3-3, Deitchler, who had 1:20 in riding time, chose down to start the third. The Gopher escaped to a 4-3 lead with 1:40 left and a 1:04 time edge. Alton looked to score on a high single, but Deitchler countered and used a low double to take a 6-3 lead with 1:18 left in the bout. Alton escaped to a 6-4 deficit and immediately got in on a low single. But Deitchler forced a scramble that ended in a stalemate with :34 on the clock. Alton scrambled for a late takedown, but Deitchler scrambled his way to a trip and a clinching takedown to lead 8-4. The riding time point gave the Gopher a 9-4 win and Minnesota a 14-3 lead at the break.

165: No. 1 David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) faced off against No. 8 Cody Yohn of Minnesota in a key bout at 165. Yohn got in on a single leg, but Taylor quickly countered, turned it into a cradle and had the Gopher seemingly pinned. But the Lion did not get the call, getting only two near fall points instead, and led 4-0 early. Yohn escaped to a 4-1 deficit, shot again, and once again Taylor scrambled around the Gopher for another takedown and a 6-1 lead at the 1:18 mark. Taylor began working to turn the Gopher junior, getting two more near fall points to lead 8-1 with :40 left. A three-point turn gave Taylor an 11-1 lead, another two-point turn a 13-1 lead, and a ride out gave the Lion a 13-1 lead with 2:20 in riding time after one period. Taylor chose down to start the second period. The Lion All-American escaped to a 14-1 lead and then quickly took the eighth-ranked Gopher down for the 16-1 technical fall at the 4:29 mark.

174: Sophomore Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, met Minnesota's Alec Ortiz. Ruth wasted no time in taking Ortiz down, scoring off the opening whistle to lead 2-0 just :06 into the bout. The Lion All-American then began looking for a chance to turn Ortiz by finishing off a cradle. Ortiz got hit with a stall warning at the 1:31 mark. Ruth cut Ortiz loose at the 1:06 mark and then tripped the Gopher to the mat for another takedown and a 4-1 lead. The second-ranked Lion then quickly finished off a cradle, getting the pin at the 2:28 mark, sending over 6,200 Rec Hall fans to their feet and tying the dual at 14-14.

184: Junior Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 184, met Gopher rival Kevin Steinhaus, who entered the bout ranked No. 6. Wright came out looking for an early throw, but Steinhaus fought off the first few attempts, keeping the bout scoreless at the midway point of the opening period. The duo continued to battle evenly, with Steinhaus fighting off another Ruth shot at the :40 mark. Tied 0-0, Wright chose down to start the second stanza. The Lion quickly escaped but a scramble allowed Steinhaus to work his way to a takedown and a 2-1 lead. Wright worked for an escape, but Steinhaus continued a strong ride, building up a minute-plus in riding time in the process. Steinhaus maintained control of the Lion All-American for the rest of the period and led 2-1 with 1:50 in riding time after two periods. Steinhaus chose down to start the final period and escaped to a 3-1 lead. Wright shot low, Steinhaus forced a scramble and the duo battled in the center circle with the Gopher coming out on top for a takedown and a 5-1 lead with :38 left in the bout. Steinhaus rode Wright out for the 6-1 win, giving Minnesota a 17-14 lead.

197: Lion true freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 10 nationally at 197, faced off against No. 2 Sonny Yohn. The young Lion battled the second-ranked Gopher evenly, taking low shots and setting the tempo early. The top-ten duo traded high shots in the middle of the mat with neither man finding an opening to score until McIntosh nearly finished a takedown at the buzzer. But Yohn fought off the move and the bout headed to the second period tied 0-0. McIntosh chose down to start the second and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. McIntosh got in on another high single but Yohn was able to hold tight and force a stalemate with 1:00 left in the period. McIntosh continued to pressure the second-ranked Gopher, forcing Yohn into defense for the rest of the period. Trailing 1-0, the Gopher chose down to start the final stanza and escaped to a 1-1 tie. McIntosh shot low, Yohn countered and the Lion freshman countered himself, forcing a scramble with :50 left. Each man had a chance to notch the takedown with McIntosh working his way around for a takedown and a 3-1 lead with just :20 left. Yohn scrambled to an escape and quickly got in on a shot that ended with a takedown as the bout ended. The mad scramble gave the second-ranked Gopher a 4-3 win and put Minnesota up 20-14.

285: In perhaps the dual's most anticipated bout, Lion senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 4 at heavyweight, met No. 3 Tony Nelson of Minnesota. The evenly matched duo worked their way through the first half of the opening period with neither wrestler securing an opening to score. After a scoreless first period, Nelson chose down to start the second stanza and Wade went to work looking for a chance to turn the Gopher. But Nelson countered Wade's effort and reversed the Lion senior for a 2-0 lead at the 1:20 mark. Nelson then put together a strong ride and killed the clock. Wade, trailing 2-0, chose neutral to start the final period. Wade worked for an opening to score but could not break through Nelson's defense. The Lion shot low, looking to score, but Nelson countered and got a late takedown to, with the RT point, post a 5-0 win.

Penn State- Five Lions Win Titles at Mercyhurst Laker Open

Seven of nine Lions competing place in top three

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 19, 2011 - Five of Penn State's nine-man contingent taking part unattached at the Mercyhurst Laker Open came home with first place titles with seven of the nine playing in the top three. Penn State earned five firsts, a second and a third place showing in Erie.

Red-shirt freshman Kyle Moran (Oxford, Pa.) went 4-0 at 141 to win the first place title while classmate Seth Beitz (Juniata, Pa.) was 5-0 with a pin at 149 to win the title. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) was superb with a 5-0 mark to win the crown at 174. Brown notched two pins and three tech falls to roll to the title. Brown defeated teammate Andrew Church (Erie, Pa.) in the finals at 174. Church was 3-1 with a major to place second in front of a hometown crowd.

Junior Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) was a perfect 4-0 at 197 to win the title while red-shirt freshman Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) won another heavyweight title, this time going 4-0 with three pins to win it all. True freshman Collin Campbell (Hurdle Mills, N.C.) took third at heavyweight, going 4-1 with a major. Also competing for Penn State was true freshman Rex Lutz (Easton, Pa.), who won once at 165, and red-shirt freshman Brandon Phillips (Timonium, Md.), who was 3-2 at 174.

Penn State hosts No. 4 Minnesota tomorrow at 12 p.m. in Rec Hall. Penn State will return to action on Sunday, Dec. 4 when it takes part in the Nittany Lion Open. The tournament, hosted by the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, begins at 8:30 a.m. and is not part of the Lions' season ticket package. Tickets are available at the door the day of the event. Penn State's next home dual is on Saturday, Dec. 11, when West Virginia visits Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. match-up. A very limited number of ticket remains for the WVU dual, fans can purchase them by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (690 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

#2 Penn State hosts #4 Minnesota in Early Big Ten Dual

TODAY'S ACTION

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Nov. 15, 2011 -- The second-ranked Penn State wrestling team (1-0, 0-0 B1G), under the direction of head coach Cael Sanderson, hosts No. 4 Minnesota (0-0, 0-0 B1G) in an early season conference battle. Minnesota is at Cornell on Friday night, two nights prior to its meeting with Penn State. The Lions and Gophers meet on Sunday, Nov. 20, at 12 p.m. in Rec Hall. The dual, which will air live to a national audience on the Big Ten Network, is already at SRO capacity with only a few standing room tickets available. Former Nittany Lion national champion and four-time All-American Phil Davis will be recognized at the dual and will be signing autographs after the event.

Penn State will enter the dual meet with a 1-0 record after its season opening win over Bloomsburg last Sunday. The Nittany Lions won nine of ten bouts to cost to a 39-3 victory in front of over 6,000 fans in Rec Hall. True freshman Nico Megaludis, All-American David Taylor and two-time All-American Quentin Wright each notched first period pins while three-time All-American Frank Molinaro posted a tech fall.

Eight Nittany Lions enter the dual meet with national rankings. Megaludis checks in at No. 18, Molinaro is No. 1 at 149, red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton is No. 11 at 157, Taylor is No. 1 at 165, All-American Ed Ruth is No. 2 at 174, Wright is No. 1 at 184, true freshman Morgan McIntosh is No. 10 at 197 and senior Cameron Wade is No. 4 at heavyweight.

Minnesota will be wrestling in its first duals of the season at Cornell on Friday night and in the battle with PSU in Rec Hall. The Gophers opened the season with a strong showing at the Bison Open in Fargo, N.D., last Saturday. Minnesota brought home nine titles at the event (and all nine of those wrestlers are set to compete in Rec Hall).

The Gophers sport a super dual meet line-up that features ranked wrestlers at every single weight. Zach Sanders is No. 2 at 125, David Thorn is No. 7 at 133, Nick Dardanes is No. 10 at 141, Dylan Ness is No. 5 at 149, Jake Deitchler is No. 9 at 157, Cody Yohn is No. 8 at 165, Logan Storley is No. 9 at 174, Kevin Steinhaus is No. 6 at 184, Sonny Yohn is No. 2 at 197 and Tony Nelson is No. 3 at HWT. Given that, literally eight of the ten bouts will feature battles of ranked opponents in a dual meet that can truly go either way.

Minnesota leads the all-time series with Penn State 12-6-1, including last year's 18-18 tie in Minneapolis. The Gophers won a close 20-18 dual on Jan. 30, 2009, in their last visit to Rec Hall. Penn State's last win over Minnesota was a 21-13 victory here in State College in a dual wrestled in the Bryce Jordan Center.

The Nittany Lions return to action on Sunday, Dec. 4, when they take part in the 2011 Nittany Lion Open in Rec Hall. Action begins at 8:30 a.m. The NLO is NOT part of Penn State's season ticket package and tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event. Penn State's next dual is at Lehigh on Friday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. with the next home dual coming on Dec. 11 when West Virginia comes to town. Fans can purchase a very limited number of single dual tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. WIEZ 670 AM (Huntingdon/Lewistown) will carry all Sunday duals during the regular season plus the Big Ten and NCAA Championships in March. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

POSSIBLE STARTERS
#2 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (1-0, 0-0 B1G)

WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 #18 Nico Megaludis Fr. Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional 1-0
133 Derek Reber Jr. Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg 0-1
141 Sam Sherlock R-Fr. West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin 1-0
149 #1 Frank Molinaro Sr. Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional 1-0
157 #11 Dylan Alton R-Fr. Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain 1-0
165 #1 David Taylor So. St. Paris, Ohio/St. Paris Graham 1-0
174 #2 Ed Ruth So. Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp. 1-0
184 #1 Quentin Wright Jr. Wingate, Pa./Bald Eagle Area 1-0
197 #10 Morgan McIntosh Fr. Santa Ana, Calif./Calvary Chapel 1-0
285 #4 Cameron Wade Sr. Twinsburg, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel 1-0

#4 MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS (0-0*, 0-0 B1G)
* Minnesota is AT CORNELL on Friday, 11/18

WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 #2 Zach Saners Sr. Wabasha, Minn./Kellogg 4-0
133 #7 David Thorn So. St. Michael, Minn./Albertville 4-0
141 #10 Nick Dardanes R-Fr. Chicago, Ill./Oak Park River Forest 5-0
OR Seth Lange R-Fr. Sturgis, S.D./Sturgis 4-1
149 #5 Dylan Ness R-Fr. Bloomington, Minn./John F. Kennedy 5-0
157 #9 Jake Deitchler So. Anoka, Minn./Anoka 5-0
165 #8 Cody Yohn Jr. Alamosa, Colo./Alamosa 4-0
174 #9 Logan Storley Fr. Roslyn, S.D./Webster 3-0
OR Kaleb Young Sr. Tenstrike, Minn./Bemidji 0-0
184 #6 Kevin Steinhaus So. Pennock, Minn./KMS 4-0
197 #2 Sonny Yohn Sr. Alamosa, Colo./Alamosa 4-0
285 #3 Tony Nelson So. Cambridge, Minn./Isanti 4-0

Indiv. Rankings Intermat as of 11/15; Team Rankings NWCA/USA Today as of 11/15

HEAD COACH CAEL SANDERSON

Cael Sanderson, now in his third year as mentor of the Nittany Lions, came to Penn State after three extremely successful years as the head coach at his alma mater. Sanderson's teams did not finish any lower than fifth at the NCAA Championships and never had a wrestler not qualify for nationals, getting 30 of 30 grapplers through to the championship tournament. In 2007, Sanderson's rookie campaign, he led ISU to a 13-3 dual meet record and the first of three straight Big 12 Championships. An NCAA Runner-Up finished in Detroit capped off a wildly successful year as the Cyclones crowned one national championship and Sanderson was honored as Big 12 Coach of the Year, National Rookie Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year. The next year, Sanderson led ISU to a 16-4 dual meet mark, another Big 12 title and a fifth place finish at nationals. Iowa State's seven All-Americans in 2008 were the most at the school since 1993. In his final year at ISU, Sanderson's team went 15-3 in duals, won its third straight Big 12 title and took third place at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis (just 12 points out of first place). The Cyclones also crowned another national champion. In three years, Sanderson's teams went 44-10, won three conference crowns, qualified all 30 wrestlers for nationals, and earned 15 All-America awards and two individual national titles. In his first year at Penn State (2009-10), he guided the Lions to a 13-6-1 dual meet mark, 5-3 in Big Ten action, and crowned his first Big Ten Champion. The Lions finished No. 10 in the final USA Today/Coaches dual meet poll and placed ninth at NCAAs. Last year, Sanderson guided the Nittany Lions to its first-ever Southern Scuffle Co-Championship (2010-11) and its first Virginia Duals Championship since 1991 (2010-11). In guiding Penn State to a 6-1-1 conference mark, Sanderson equaled the most Big Ten dual meet wins in Penn State history in just his second year at the helm of the Nittany Lions (Penn State won six Big Ten duals in 1998). Sanderson led Penn State to the school's first ever Big Ten Championship on March 5-6 and was named 2011 Big Ten Coach of the Year. Saving the best for last, he led the Nittany Lions to the 2011 NCAA National Championship in Philadelphia on March 17-19, Penn State's first since 1953 and Sanderson's first as a collegiate head coach. Coach Sanderson now sports a 75-17-2 dual meet mark in his sixth year as a collegiate head coach. He is 31-7-2 in his third year at Penn State.

FOUR LION FRESHMEN SHINE IN PENN STATE DEBUTS

Four new faces picked up big wins for Penn State in their collegiate debuts in the Nittany Lions' 39-3 win over Bloomsburg in the season opener on 11/13. True freshman Nico Megaludis pinned Bloomsburg's Sean Boylan at the 2:15 mark at 125, giving Penn State an early leg up in the dual. Red-shirt freshman Sam Sherlock then downed Huskie Matt Rappo 10-5 at 141 and classmate Dylan Alton downed No. 14 Frank Hickman 10-8 at 157. True freshman Morgan McIntosh then posted a 6-0 win over Huskie Richard Perry at 197.

LIONS USE THREE FIRST PERIOD PINS TO BLAST HUSKIES

Penn State used three early pins to rout the Bloomsburg Huskies before 6,059 fans in the team's season opener in Rec Hall on 11/13. True freshman Nico Megaludis got a pin over BU's Sean Boylan at the 2:15 mark at 125, getting the Nittany Lion season off to a fast start. All-American David Taylor pinned BU's Kevin Hartnett at the 2:21 mark at 165 and All-American Quentin Wright pinned Huskie Mike Mirra at the 1:55 mark at 184. Penn State also picked up tech fall from All-American Frank Molinaro at 149 and a major from Cameron Wade at HWT.

SIX LIONS WIN CROWNS AT ESU OPEN

Eighteen Nittany Lion wrestlers trekked to East Stroudsburg University for the ESU Open on Saturday with six Penn Staters grabbing individual crowns. In all, 14 of Penn State's 18 entrants placed at the event. Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown went 5-0 with two pins and three majors to win the title at 174. True freshman Jordan Conaway went 4-0 with a pin and a major to win the title at 125. One win, the major, was against a non-collegiate wrestler, meaning Conaway was officially 3-0 on the day. True freshman Luke Frey was 4-0 at 141, winning the title and picking up two tech falls along the way. Sophomore Andrew Alton dominated 149, going 5-0 with two pins and two majors to win the title. One pin was against a non-collegiate wrestler, meaning Alton went 4-0 with a pin officially. Sophomore James Vollrath was 5-0 with a pin, a tech and a major to win the title at 157. Rounding out Penn State's champions was red-shirt freshman Jonathan Gingrich, who went 5-0 with a major and a pin at heavyweight. His pin was against an NC grappler, giving him a 4-0 official mark on the day.

FREY, CHURCH AND CONAWAY PLACE AT CLARION OPEN

Six members of Penn State's wrestling team competed unattached at the 2011 Clarion Knight Point Open on Sunday. True freshmen Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) and Luke Frey (Montoursville, Pa.) and sophomore Andrew Church (Erie, Pa.) each placed at their respective weights. Frey, a true freshman from Montoursville, took the runner-up spot at 141, advancing to the finals with three wins including a major and a tech fall before dropping a 5-1 decision in the finals to unattached Daniel Neff. Conaway, an Abbottstown native, placed third at 125 with a 4-1 mark that included two tech falls and a 13-7 loss in the semifinals to the eventual champion. Church, an Erie native, went 3-1 at 174 and advanced to the finals before losing to take the runner-up spot. Other Nittany Lions competing included Michael Waters (Advance, N.C.), who went 2-2 at 141; Brandon Phillips (Timonium, Md.), who went 2-2 at 174; and Collin Campbell (Hurdle Mills, N.C.), who went 2-2 at heavyweight.

IOWA DUAL SOLD OUT INCLUDING SRO, MINNESOTA AND OHIO STATE SOLD OUT W/ SOME SRO REMAINING; OTHERS NEARING SAME STATUS

A mere 90 minutes after the public sale of single dual tickets began, Penn State's Jan. 22 dual match against Iowa has sold out, including 300 standing room only tickets. With over 6,500 tickets now distributed for the match-up with the Hawkeyes, the single dual allotments for Penn State's remaining six home events are also disappearing fast. Rec Hall's listed capacity is 6,502 including the 300 SRO ducats. Both Minnesota and Ohio State duals are also sold out with limited SRO tickets remaining for each.  Less than 600 tickets remain for all other Penn State duals (against Bloomsburg, West Virginia, Michigan and Pitt). Fans can purchase these very limited single dual tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

PENN STATE RANKED NO. 2 IN LATEST NWCA/USA TODAY COACHES POLL; EIGHT LIONS RANKED BY INTERMAT

Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team are ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Three Nittany Lions are ranked No. 1 while five are among the top four at their weights. Penn State is No. 2 in the latest NWCA/USA Today Coaches dual meet poll and Intermat gives the Lions a No. 2 nod in its tournament power index (TPI). Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 1-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), is 1-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is 1-0 and got the No. 1 nod at 184. All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 1-0 at 174 and ranked No. 2 while senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 1-0 and ranked No. 4 at heavyweight. True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 1-0 at 197 and ranked No. 10 while red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 1-0 and ranked No. 11 at 157. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 1-0 on the year and ranked No. 18 at 125.

Penn State is now No. 2 in the latest NWCA/USA Today Coaches poll with 240 points and three first place votes. Iowa is No. 1 with 244 points and six first place votes. Oklahoma State is third with 230 and one first place vote while Minnesota, Penn State's Sunday opponent, is close behind in the fourth spot with 223 points, giving the top four nationally a mere 21 points of separation between spots one and four. Cornell rounds out the top five. Michigan, Illinois, Lehigh, Missouri and Ohio State comprise the rest of the top ten. Northwestern (17) and Nebraska (24) are also ranked in the top 25, giving the Big Ten eight ranked teams, including six of the top ten. Iowa tops Intermat's TPI with 107.5 points with Penn State in second at 100.5. Minnesota is right behind in third with 92.5 while Oklahoma State sits in fourth with 86.5.

WRESTLING RADIO NETWORK READY FOR '11-12 SEASON

The Penn State Wrestling Radio Show will begin yet another season on Wednesday, Nov. 2, while multiple local stations will once again broadcast the entire 2011-12 Nittany Lion season. The march to St. Louis begins with the Intrasquad dual on Nov. 3 and concludes with the national championships in late-March. The wrestling radio season begins on Nov. 2 when Jeff Byers hosts the first edition of the Penn State Wrestling Show. The show will air every Wednesday from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and will air across the state on the Pennsylvania Sports Network. Local affiliate 3WZ (95.3 FM) will serve as the flagship station for the show that will features coaches, wrestlers and other individuals affiliated with the Nittany Lion wrestling program. The 30-minute show welcomes calls from fans, who can call into the show at 814-237-0953. In addition to 3WZ, the weekly show can be heard on the following stations: WCPA (900 AM) Clearfield/DuBois; WIEZ (670 AM) Lewistown/Huntingdon; WLYC (1050 AM) Williamsport/Lewisburg; WLYC (104.1 FM) Montoursville/Jersey Shore; WBPZ (1230 AM) Lock Haven; WTZN (1310 AM) Troy/Canton; WTTC (1550 AM) Towanda/Elmira, N.Y.; WGET (1330 AM) Gettysburg/Hanover. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. Lewistown/Huntingdon's WIEZ (670 AM) will carry every Sunday dual and the post-season. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events.

Eight Penn Staters Ranked in Latest National Rankings

Nittany Lions hold No. 2 spot in NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll

           UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; October 14, 2011 - Eight members of the Nittany Lion wrestling team are ranked in the latest version of the Intermat national individual rankings. Three Nittany Lions are ranked No. 1 while five are among the top four at their weights. Penn State is No. 2 in the latest NWCA/USA Today Coaches dual meet poll and Intermat gives the Lions a No. 2 nod in its tournament power index (TPI).

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 1-0 on the year and ranked No. 1 at 149. All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), is 1-0 thus far and is No. 1 at 165 and two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is 1-0 and got the No. 1 nod at 184. All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is 1-0 at 174 and ranked No. 2 while senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 1-0 and ranked No. 4 at heavyweight. True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is 1-0 at 197 and ranked No. 10 while red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is 1-0 and ranked No. 11 at 157. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is 1-0 on the year and ranked No. 18 at 125.

Penn State is now No. 2 in the latest NWCA/USA Today Coaches poll with 240 points and three first place votes. Iowa is No. 1 with 244 points and six first place votes. Oklahoma State is third with 230 and one first place vote while Minnesota, Penn State's Sunday opponent, is close behind in the fourth spot with 223 points, giving the top four nationally a mere 21 points of separation between spots one and four. Cornell rounds out the top five. Michigan, Illinois, Lehigh, Missouri and Ohio State comprise the rest of the top ten. Northwestern (17) and Nebraska (24) are also ranked in the top 25, giving the Big Ten eight ranked teams, including six of the top ten.

Iowa tops Intermat's TPI with 107.5 points with Penn State in second at 100.5. Minnesota is right behind in third with 92.5 while Oklahoma State sits in fourth with 86.5.

Penn State will take on No. 4 Minnesota on Sunday, Nov. 20, in a 12 p.m. dual that will televised to a national audience on the Big Ten Network. The dual is already sold out with only a few standing room only tickets remaining. Fans can purchase those SRO tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (690 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

Over 6,000 Cheer on No. 1 Penn State to 39-3 Win over Bloomsburg

Nittany Lions use three first period pins to roll to season-opening win

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 13, 2011 - The top-ranked Penn State wrestling team opened up the 2011-12 season with a 39-3 win over visiting Bloomsburg in a nearly sold-out Rec Hall today. After the championship banners for last year's Big Ten and NCAA titles were raised prior to the dual, over 6,000 fans roared as Penn State used three first period pins to roll to victory.

True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 18 at 125, made a stellar Penn State debut, pinning Bloomsburg's Sean Boylan at the 2:15 mark to give the Lions a lead they would never relinquish. Bloomsburg got its only win of the bout when Nick Wilcox downed Lion junior Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) 2-0. Red-shirt freshman Sam Sherlock (West Mifflin, Pa.) made successful Penn State debut by downing talented Huskie Matt Rappo 10-5 at 141.

Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, hammered Bloomsburg's Bryce Busler, turning the Huskie three-times in the second period alone on his way to a 16-0 technical fall at the 5:05 mark. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 12 at 157, took care of No. 14 Frank Hickman 10-8 in a bout of ranked foes. The win gave Penn State a 17-3 lead at the intermission.

All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, thrilled the crowd after intermission with a pin over Bloomsburg's Kevin Hartnett at the 2:21 mark. Taylor's win was followed up by All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), who downed No. 20 Mike Dessino 10-4 at 174. Ruth is ranked No. 2 nationally. Two-time All-American and defending national champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 184, notched Penn State's third first period pin, decking Huskie Mike Mirra at the 1:55 mark.

True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 10 heading into his collegiate debut at 197, posted a convincing 6-0 with nearly 4:00 riding time over BU's Richard Perry. Nittany Lion senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 5 at heavyweight, closed out the dual with a resounding 8-0 major over Bloomsburg's Zach Walsh.

Penn State gave up only one takedown in the dual and rolled up a 24-1 edge. Penn State won the bonus point battle 12-0 as well. The win moved Penn State to 1-0 on the year while Bloomsburg falls to 2-3.

Penn State will take on No. 5 Minnesota on Sunday, Nov. 20, in a 12 p.m. dual that will televised to a national audience on the Big Ten Network. The dual is already sold out with only a few standing room only tickets remaining. Fans can purchase those SRO tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

#1 Penn State 39, Bloomsburg 3

November 13, 2011 - University Park, Pa. - Rec Hall

125: #18 Nico Megaludis PSU pinned Sean Boylan BU, WBF (2:15)
6-0
133: Nick Wilcox BU dec. Derek Reber PSU, 2-0 6-3
141: Sam Sherlock PSU dec. Matt Rappo BU, 10-5 9-3
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU tech fall Bryce Busler BU, 16-0 (TF; 5:05) 14-3
157: #12 Dylan Alton PSU dec. #14 Frank Hickman BU, 10-8 17-3
165: #1 David Taylor PSU pinned Kevin Hartnett BU, WBF (2:21) 23-3
174: #2 Ed Ruth dec. #20 Mike Dessino BU, 10-4 26-3
184: #1 Quentin Wright PSU pinned Mike Mirra BU, WBF (2:55) 32-3
197: #10 Morgan McIntosh PSU dec. Richard Perry, 6-0 35-3
285: #5 Cameron Wade PSU maj. dec. Zac Walsh BU, 8-0 39-3

Attendance: 6,059

Records: #1 Penn State (1-0, 0-0 B1G); Bloomsburg (2-2, 0-0 EWL)

Up Next for Penn State: vs. #5 Minnesota, Sunday, Nov. 20, 12 p.m. - Rec Hall

BOUT-BY-BOUT:

125: Freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) made his collegiate debut against Bloomsburg's Sean Boylan. Megaludis entered the bout ranked No. 18 at 125. Megaludis quickly got in on a single leg and took Boylan down at the 2:35 mark. The true freshman then cut Boylan loose and quickly took the Huskie sophomore down again for a 4-1 lead. Boylan got hit with a stall in the process. Megaludis then turned Boylan for a pin in his Penn State debut at the 2:15 mark to put Penn State up 6-0.

133: Junior Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) made his Nittany Lion debut at 133 against Bloomsburg's Nick Wilcox. The duo battled through a feisty but scoreless first period. Reber chose down to start the second and fought off a strong turning attempt by Wilcox for the first part of the period. The Lion junior nearly reversed Wilcox but could not finish off the move and Wilcox rode the Lion for the full two minutes. Wilcox chose down to start the third period and Reber began controlling the Huskie, looking to turn him and working off the riding time edge. Reber maintained control for over a minute but Wilcox reversed Reber with :20 to post a 2-0 win and cut Penn State's lead to 6-3.

141: Red-shirt freshman Sam Sherlock (West Mifflin, Pa.) made his Penn State debut at 141 against Bloomsburg's Matt Rappo. Sherlock forced the bout's first scramble, nearly taking Rappo down. But Rappo countered the move and rolled around the Lion freshman for a takedown and a 2-0 lead. Sherlock escaped to a 2-1 deficit but Rappo had a 1:15 riding time edge. Rappo, leading 2-1, took down to start the second period. The Huskie escaped to a 3-1 lead with 1:35 left in the period but Sherlock used a fast low double to tie the bout up at 3-3 with :55 on the clock. Rappo quickly escaped to a 4-3 lead. Sherlock shot high, forced a scramble on the edge of the mat and turned it into a takedown with :23 left to take a 5-4 lead. Sherlock then managed a short ride to carry that lead into the final period. Sherlock chose down to start the final period and scramble to a quick escape and a 6-4 lead. Sherlock powered through a high double to up his lead to 8-4 with another takedown at the 1:00 mark. Rappo escaped with :40 left, cutting the Sherlock lead to 8-5, and Sherlock would scramble for a late takedown and a 10-5 win.

149: Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, battled Huskie Bryce Busler. Molinaro spent the first half of the opening period looking for an opening and fending off a few head slaps from Busler. The Lion senior then used a swift high single for a takedown and a 2-0 lead. Molinaro then used the final minute to dominate Busler from the top position, working up 1:12 in riding time heading into the second period. Molinaro chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Another high duck-under single by Molinaro led to another takedown and a 5-0 lead. Molinaro then turned the Huskie to his back for three near fall points, reset himself after getting the points and turned him again for three more. Leading 11-0, Molinaro reset, turned Busler to the mat once again and added a third three-point turn to lead 14-0 after two. Busler chose neutral but Molinaro wasted no time in ending the bout, using a fast high double off the whistle for a final takedown and a 16-0 technical fall at the 5:05 mark.

157: Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 12 at 157, made his Penn State debut against No. 14 Frank Hickman of Bloomsburg in one of the dual's two bouts pitting ranked grapplers against each other. Alton scored quickly, taking Hickman down for a 2-1 lead after a Huskie escape. Alton gained control of Hickman's right ankle and forced a scramble on the edge of the mat midway through the opening period. But Hickman was able to force a stalemate and keep the match close. Alton was relentless, however, working a high single into a second takedown and a 4-2 lead after another Hickman escape. Trailing 4-2, Hickman chose down to start the second and quickly escaped. But Alton scored another swift takedown and led 6-4 after Hickman escaped at the 1:20 mark. The Lion freshman continued his takedown clinic, turning a high shot into a low single and an 8-5 lead as Hickman continued quick escapes. Alton, leading 10-5, chose down to start the third period. Hickman was able control Alton for a minute and a half, but Alton notched a reversal and led 10-6 after the BU escape. Hickman countered an Alton shot with :10 left to notch a takedown but Alton walked away with the 10-8 win, giving Penn State a 17-3 lead at the break.

165: All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, faced off against Bloomsburg's Kevin Hartnett. Hartnett had the first scoring chance of the bout, working in on a high single but Taylor forced a stalemate and kept the bout scoreless early on. Taylor countered a Hartnett scramble and worked his way to a takedown and a 2-0 lead. Taylor cut Hartnett loose and then used a low ankle pick for another takedown and a 4-1 lead. Taylor then turned Hartnett quickly, worked his shoulders to the mat and got Penn State's second fall of the bout at the 2:21 mark.

174: All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, met No. 20 Mike Dessino in a battle of ranked opponents at 174. Ruth scored quickly off the opening whistle, using a high double to take a 2-1 lead early. Ruth then added a second takedown and two back points to lead 6-2 after a Dessino escape. Dessino chose down to start the second period and Ruth nearly turned him again. Dessino finally escaped at the 1:10 mark, but Ruth notched another takedown to up his lead to 8-3. Dessino escaped before the period ended to cut Ruth's lead to 8-4. Ruth chose down to start the third period but Dessino maintained control for the period's first minute. Ruth escaped with :40 left to take a 9-4 lead and, with the riding time point, posted a 10-4 win.

184: Two-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 184, took on Huskie freshman Mike Mirra. Wright used a sliding double leg to trip Mirra to the mat for an early 2-0 lead. Mirra escaped, Wright quickly took him down and Mirra escaped again to give Wright a 4-2 lead at the 1:25 mark of the first period. Wright then took Mirra down again and this time turned the Huskie to his back for Penn State's third pin at the 1:55 mark, giving the Lions a 32-3 lead.

197: True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) made his collegiate debut at 197 against Bloomsburg's Richard Perry. McIntosh entered the dual ranked No. 10. Perry was the aggressor early on, trying to set the tempo and taking numerous shots early. The Huskie sophomore worked in on McIntosh's left leg, forcing a scramble at the 1:15 mark, but the Lion forced a stalemate and action resumed in the center circle. Perry gained control of McIntosh's left leg again and nearly scored as the bout ended, but the Lion true freshman was able to work his way out of bounds to send the match to the second period in a scoreless tie. Perry chose down to start the second period and McIntosh used the opportunity to punish the Huskie from the top position. McIntosh spent over a minute trying to turn Perry to his back. He got a one count at the :40 mark and then finished the tilt as the period ended, getting the three point turn to lead 3-0 after two periods. McIntosh chose down to start the third and quickly reversed the Huskie for a 5-0 lead. McIntosh steadily gained control of Perry's arms, working his way into another turning opportunity. While Perry was able to fight the move off, McIntosh's strong ride out gave the Lion rookie a 6-0 win with 3:52 riding time.

285: Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 5 at heavyweight, met Bloomsburg's Zac Walsh in the dual's final bout. The duo battled evenly for nearly two minutes, but Wade used a high double to take a 2-0 lead. Wade then began looking for a chance to tilt Walsh but the Huskie forced a stalemate with :31 left in the opening period. Wade nearly turned Walsh but could not finish the move as the period ended and led 2-0 with 1:18 in riding time heading into the second. Walsh chose neutral to start the second stanza. Wade used a fast single to up his lead to 4-0 at the :40 mark and then rode the Huskie out to carry that lead into the final period. Wade chose down to start the third period and steadily worked his way to an escape and a 5-0 lead. The Lion senior used a low trip and single leg for another takedown and a 7-0 lead with :45 left. He clinched the riding time point and then continued to work for a tilting opportunity. Wade maintained control for the rest of the period and posted an 8-0 major.

Penn State- Six Nittany Lions Win Crowns at ESU Open Saturday

Conaway, Frey, Alton, Vollrath, Brown and Gingrich help Lions win over half of titles.

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 13, 2011 - Eighteen Nittany Lion wrestlers trekked to East Stroudsburg University for the ESU Open on Saturday with six Penn Staters grabbing individual crowns. In all, 14 of Penn State's 18 entrants placed at the event.

Four Penn Staters wrestled attached, led by red-shirt freshman Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), who went 5-0 with two pins and three majors to win the title at 174. Junior Nick Fischer (Unionville, Pa.) went 4-1 at 157 to take second place, grabbing two pins and two majors in the process. Junior Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) went 5-1 at 197 to take third place, including three pins. Junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) was 2-2 with one pin at 141 to take fourth place.

With Brown claiming one title in a blue and white singlet, five of Penn State's 14 unattached wrestlers won individual crowns. True freshman Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown) went 4-0 with a pin and a major to win the title at 125. One win, the major, was against a non-collegiate wrestler, meaning Conaway was officially 3-0 on the day. True freshman Luke Frey (Montoursville, Pa.) was 4-0 at 141, winning the title and picking up two tech falls along the way. Sophomore Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) dominated 149, going 5-0 with two pins and two majors to win the title. One pin was against a non-collegiate wrestler, meaning Alton went 4-0 with a pin officially. Sophomore James Vollrath (Richboro, Pa.) was 5-0 with a pin, a tech and a major to win the title at 157. Rounding out Penn State's champions was red-shirt freshman Jonathan Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.), who went 5-0 with a major and a pin at heavyweight. His pin was against an NC grappler, giving him a 4-0 official mark on the day.

Joining those eight place winners were six other unattached grapplers. Red-shirt freshman Seth Beitz (Juniata, Pa.) went 4-2 at 149, grapping a tech, a pin and a major to place fourth. Red-shirt freshman Brandon Phillips (Timonium, Md.) went 4-1 at 174, taking second place after losing to teammate Brown in the finals. Phillips had two majors. Sophomore Andrew Church (Erie, Pa.) was 5-2 with a major to place fifth at 174 while true freshman James Frascella (Carmel, Ind.) was 4-2 with a pin and a tech to take seventh at 174. Red-shirt freshman Kyle Moran (Oxford, Pa.) was 4-2 with three majors to place seventh at 141.

Other Nittany Lions competing at the event included Cameron Kelly (Pittsford, N.Y.), who went 2-2 with a pin at 133; Rex Lutz (Easton, Pa.), who went 2-2 with a pin at 165; Collin Campbell (Hurdle Mills, N.C.), who won once at heavyweight (all his bouts were against non-collegiate grapplers); and Michael Waters (Advance, N.C.), who competed at 141.

Penn State, which opens the season later today against Bloomsburg, will take on No. 5 Minnesota on Sunday, Nov. 20, in a 12 p.m. dual that will televised to a national audience on the Big Ten Network. The dual is already sold out with only a few standing room only tickets remaining. Fans can purchase those SRO tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

#1 Penn State Hosts Bloomsburg Sunday at 2 p.m.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Nov. 8, 2011 -- No. 1 Penn State (0-0, 0-0 B1G) opens up the 2011-12 season by hosting in-state foe Bloomsburg (0-0, 0-0 EWL) on Sunday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m. in Rec Hall. The season opener for Penn State will feature the raising of the team's 2011 Big Ten and NCAA championship banners just prior to the dual starting. A very limited number of tickets and standing room only ducats remain for the event.

Penn State comes into the dual with eight wrestlers ranked in the nation's top 20 in the preseason rankings released by Intermat at Intermatwrestle.com. Three Lions are ranked No. 1 at their weights, led by '11 184-pound national champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.). Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), national runner-up last year, is ranked No. 1 at 149 while '11 Big Ten Wrestler of the Year David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), national runner-up at 157, is ranked No. 1 at 165. All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is ranked No. 2 at 174 while senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is ranked No. 5 at heavyweight. Three freshman join that handful of top five Lions in the national rankings as well. True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is No. 10 at 197, red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is No. 12 at 157 and true freshman Nico Megaludis is No. 18 at 125.

Bloomsburg comes into the dual with a talented and young line-up as well. The Huskies could send seven freshmen and sophomores to the mat against Penn State. Bloomsburg will be led by junior Frank Hickman, who is ranked No. 14 at 157, and junior Mike Dessino, who is ranked No. 20 at 174. Key match-ups in the dual should be the battle between No. 12 Alton and No. 14 Hickman at 175 and No. 2 Ruth vs. No. 20 Dessino at 174.

Penn State leads the all-time series between the two schools 15-5-1, including a 41-3 win in a sold out Bloomsburg venue last year. Penn State, which has won five straight, won the last Rec Hall meeting 23-15 on Nov. 15, 2009.

The Nittany Lions host No. 4 Minnesota on Sunday, Nov. 20, in their next dual. The 12 p.m. dual will air live to a national BTN audience as well and is sold out with only a limited number of SRO tickets remaining. Fans can purchase these very limited single dual tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

POSSIBLE STARTERS
#1 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (0-0, 0-0 B1G)

WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 #18 Nico Megaludis Fr. Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional 0-0
133 Derek Reber Jr. Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg 0-0
141 Sam Sherlock R-Fr. West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin 0-0
OR Bryan Pearsall Jr. Lititz, Pa./Warwick 0-0
149 #1 Frank Molinaro Sr. Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional 0-0
157 #12 Dylan Alton R-Fr. Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain 0-0
165 #1 David Taylor So. St. Paris, Ohio/St. Paris Graham 0-0
174 #2 Ed Ruth So. Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp. 0-0
184 #1 Quentin Wright Jr. Wingate, Pa./Bald Eagle Area 0-0
197 #10 Morgan McIntosh Fr. Santa Ana, Calif./Calvary Chapel 0-0
285 #5 Cameron Wade Sr. Twinsburg, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel 0-0

BLOOMSBURG HUSKIES (0-0, 0-0 EWL)

WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 Sean Boylan So. Seaville, N.J./St. Marks 0-0
133 Craig Barker So. Lecanto, Fla./Citrus 0-0
OR Nick Wilcox So. Greene, N.Y./Greene Central 0-0
141 Matt Rappo Fr. Holland, Pa./Council Rock South 0-0
149 Bryce Busler Jr. Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley 0-0
OR Josh Roosa Jr. Mountaintop, Pa./Crestwood 0-0
157 #14 Frank Hickman Jr. Castle Hayne, N.C./E.A. Laney 0-0
165 Kevin Hartnett So. Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell 0-0
OR Chris Smith So. Mineral, Va./Chancellor 0-0
174 #20 Mike Dessino Jr. Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex 0-0
184 Mike Mirra Fr. Mountaintop, Pa./Crestwood 0-0
197 Richard Perry So. Meridian, Conn./Middletown 0-0
285 Zach Walsh So. Greene, N.Y./Greene Central 0-0

Indiv. Rankings Intermat as of 11/8; Team Rankings NWCA/USA Today as of 11/3

HEAD COACH CAEL SANDERSON

Cael Sanderson, now in his third year as mentor of the Nittany Lions, came to Penn State after three extremely successful years as the head coach at his alma mater. Sanderson's teams did not finish any lower than fifth at the NCAA Championships and never had a wrestler not qualify for nationals, getting 30 of 30 grapplers through to the championship tournament. In 2007, Sanderson's rookie campaign, he led ISU to a 13-3 dual meet record and the first of three straight Big 12 Championships. An NCAA Runner-Up finished in Detroit capped off a wildly successful year as the Cyclones crowned one national championship and Sanderson was honored as Big 12 Coach of the Year, National Rookie Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year. The next year, Sanderson led ISU to a 16-4 dual meet mark, another Big 12 title and a fifth place finish at nationals. Iowa State's seven All-Americans in 2008 were the most at the school since 1993. In his final year at ISU, Sanderson's team went 15-3 in duals, won its third straight Big 12 title and took third place at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis (just 12 points out of first place). The Cyclones also crowned another national champion. In three years, Sanderson's teams went 44-10, won three conference crowns, qualified all 30 wrestlers for nationals, and earned 15 All-America awards and two individual national titles. In his first year at Penn State (2009-10), he guided the Lions to a 13-6-1 dual meet mark, 5-3 in Big Ten action, and crowned his first Big Ten Champion. The Lions finished No. 10 in the final USA Today/Coaches dual meet poll and placed ninth at NCAAs. Last year, Sanderson guided the Nittany Lions to its first-ever Southern Scuffle Co-Championship (2010-11) and its first Virginia Duals Championship since 1991 (2010-11). In guiding Penn State to a 6-1-1 conference mark, Sanderson equaled the most Big Ten dual meet wins in Penn State history in just his second year at the helm of the Nittany Lions (Penn State won six Big Ten duals in 1998). Sanderson led Penn State to the school's first ever Big Ten Championship on March 5-6 and was named 2011 Big Ten Coach of the Year. Saving the best for last, he led the Nittany Lions to the 2011 NCAA National Championship in Philadelphia on March 17-19, Penn State's first since 1953 and Sanderson's first as a collegiate head coach. Coach Sanderson now sports a 74-17-2 dual meet mark after five years as a collegiate head coach. He is 30-7-2 after his second year at Penn State.

FREY, CHURCH AND CONAWAY PLACE AT CLARION OPEN

Six members of Penn State's wrestling team competed unattached at the 2011 Clarion Knight Point Open on Sunday. True freshmen Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) and Luke Frey (Montoursville, Pa.) and sophomore Andrew Church (Erie, Pa.) each placed at their respective weights. Frey, a true freshman from Montoursville, took the runner-up spot at 141, advancing to the finals with three wins including a major and a tech fall before dropping a 5-1 decision in the finals to unattached Daniel Neff. Conaway, an Abbottstown native, placed third at 125 with a 4-1 mark that included two tech falls and a 13-7 loss in the semifinals to the eventual champion. Church, an Erie native, went 3-1 at 174 and advanced to the finals before losing to take the runner-up spot. Other Nittany Lions competing included Michael Waters (Advance, N.C.), who went 2-2 at 141; Brandon Phillips (Timonium, Md.), who went 2-2 at 174; and Collin Campbell (Hurdle Mills, N.C.), who went 2-2 at heavyweight.

WRESTLING RADIO NETWORK READY FOR '11-12 SEASON

The Penn State Wrestling Radio Show will begin yet another season on Wednesday, Nov. 2, while multiple local stations will once again broadcast the entire 2011-12 Nittany Lion season. The march to St. Louis begins with the Intrasquad dual on Nov. 3 and concludes with the national championships in late-March. The wrestling radio season begins on Nov. 2 when Jeff Byers hosts the first edition of the Penn State Wrestling Show. The show will air every Wednesday from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and will air across the state on the Pennsylvania Sports Network. Local affiliate 3WZ (95.3 FM) will serve as the flagship station for the show that will features coaches, wrestlers and other individuals affiliated with the Nittany Lion wrestling program. The 30-minute show welcomes calls from fans, who can call into the show at 814-237-0953. In addition to 3WZ, the weekly show can be heard on the following stations: WCPA (900 AM) Clearfield/DuBois; WIEZ (670 AM) Lewistown/Huntingdon; WLYC (1050 AM) Williamsport/Lewisburg; WLYC (104.1 FM) Montoursville/Jersey Shore; WBPZ (1230 AM) Lock Haven; WTZN (1310 AM) Troy/Canton; WTTC (1550 AM) Towanda/Elmira, N.Y.; WGET (1330 AM) Gettysburg/Hanover. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events.

IOWA DUAL SOLD OUT INCLUDING SRO, MINNESOTA AND OHIO STATE SOLD OUT W/ SOME SRO REMAINING; OTHERS NEARING SAME STATUS

A mere 90 minutes after the public sale of single dual tickets began, Penn State's Jan. 22 dual match against Iowa has sold out, including 300 standing room only tickets. With over 6,500 tickets now distributed for the match-up with the Hawkeyes, the single dual allotments for Penn State's remaining six home events are also disappearing fast. Rec Hall's listed capacity is 6,502 including the 300 SRO ducats. Both Minnesota and Ohio State duals are also sold out with limited SRO tickets remaing for each. Less than 600 tickets remain for all other Penn State duals (against Bloomsburg, West Virginia, Michigan and Pitt). Fans can purchase these very limited single dual tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

PENN STATE ENTERS SEASON RANKED NO. 1 IN NWCA/USA TODAY COACHES POLL; EIGHT LIONS RANKED BY INTERMAT

The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 1 in the preseason NWCA/USA Today coaches poll, has eight wrestlers ranked at their respective weights in the latest Intermat individual rankings. The NWCA/USA Today Coaches preseason poll came out last Thursday. Penn State leads the preseason poll with 244 points including seven first place votes while Big Ten rival Iowa is close behind at No. 2 with 238 points and two first place votes. Oklahoma State is ranked third with 234 points and one first place vote. Minnesota and Cornell round out the top five. Lehigh (6), Michigan (7), Illinois (8), Missouri (9) and Oklahoma (10) comprise the rest of the top ten. Ohio State (13) and Northwestern (19) are the other Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25, giving the conference seven ranked teams. Michigan State, Nebraska and Purdue are receiving votes.

Defending national champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is ranked No. 1 at 184 after claiming the title last year in Philadelphia. Wright went 21-6 a year ago, including nine straight at season's end to win the Big Ten and NCAA crowns. Wright is a two-time All-American. Senior Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is ranked No. 1 at 149 after advancing to the NCAA finals in Philadelphia. Molinaro, a three-time All-American and the reigning Big Ten champion, carries an 88-29 career record into his final season. Sophomore David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) is ranked No. 1 at 165 after blazing to a 38-1 record as a freshman last year and earning All-America laurels with a spot in the NCAA finals at 157. Taylor was the Big Ten 157-pound titlist, the 2011 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and 2011 Big Ten Wrestler of the Year.

Sophomore Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is ranked No. 2 at 174 after placing third at that weight a year ago and earning All-America laurels. Ruth, who went 38-2 overall as a freshman, won the 2011 Gorriaran Award at the NCAA Championships for most pins in the least time. Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) heads into the new season ranked No. 5 at heavyweight. Wade, who went 30-8 in '10-11, is a two-time national qualifier and finished just one win shy of All-America status at NCAAs last year, losing in the 'round of 12'. Three freshmen are also ranked for Penn State. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), is ranked No. 12 at that weight by Intermat after red-shirt campaign a year ago. True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is ranked No. 10 at 197 and classmate Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is ranked No. 18 at 125. McIntosh and Megaludis were both among the nation's top recruits last season coming out of high school.

Eight Nittany Lion Wrestlers Ranked in Latest Intermat Release

No. 1 Penn State hosts Bloomsburg on Sunday in season opener.

           UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; October 14, 2011 - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 1 in the preseason NWCA/USA Today coaches poll, has eight wrestlers ranked at their respective weights in the latest Intermat individual rankings.

The NWCA/USA Today Coaches preseason poll came out last Thursday. Penn State leads the preseason poll with 244 points including seven first place votes while Big Ten rival Iowa is close behind at No. 2 with 238 points and two first place votes. Oklahoma State is ranked third with 234 points and one first place vote. Minnesota and Cornell round out the top five. Lehigh (6), Michigan (7), Illinois (8), Missouri (9) and Oklahoma (10) comprise the rest of the top ten. Ohio State (13) and Northwestern (19) are the other Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25, giving the conference seven ranked teams. Michigan State, Nebraska and Purdue are receiving votes.

Defending national champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is ranked No. 1 at 184 after claiming the title last year in Philadelphia. Wright went 21-6 a year ago, including nine straight at season's end to win the Big Ten and NCAA crowns. Wright is a two-time All-American. Senior Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is ranked No. 1 at 149 after advancing to the NCAA finals in Philadelphia. Molinaro, a three-time All-American and the reigning Big Ten champion, carries an 88-29 career record into his final season. Sophomore David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) is ranked No. 1 at 165 after blazing to a 38-1 record as a freshman last year and earning All-America laurels with a spot in the NCAA finals at 157. Taylor was the Big Ten 157-pound titlist, the 2011Big Ten Freshman of the Year and 2011 Big Ten Wrestler of the Year.

Sophomore Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is ranked No. 2 at 174 after placing third at that weight a year ago and earning All-America laurels. Ruth, who went 38-2 overall as a freshman, won the 2011 Gorriaran Award at the NCAA Championships for most pins in the least time. Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) heads into the new season ranked No. 5 at heavyweight. Wade, who went 30-8 in '10-11, is a two-time national qualifier and finished just one win shy of All-America status at NCAAs last year, losing in the 'round of 12'.

Three freshmen are also ranked for Penn State. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), is ranked No. 12 at that weight by Intermat after red-shirt campaign a year ago. True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) is ranked No. 10 at 197 and classmate Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is ranked No. 18 at 125. McIntosh and Megaludis were both among the nation's top recruits last season coming out of high school.

The Nittany Lions will start the regular season with a home dual against Bloomsburg on Sunday, Nov. 13, which will feature the raising of Penn State's Big Ten and NCAA title banners. Match time in Rec Hall for the match-up with the Huskies is set for 2 p.m. Fans can purchase these very limited single dual tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

Penn State- Frey, Church and Conaway Place at Clarion's Knight Point Open

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 7, 2011 - Five members of Penn State's wrestling team competed unattached at the 2011 Clarion Knight Point Open on Sunday. True freshmen Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) and Luke Frey (Montoursville, Pa.) each placed at their respective weights.

Frey, a true freshman from Montoursville, took the runner-up spot at 141, advancing to the finals with three wins including a major and a tech fall before dropping a 5-1 decision in the finals to unattached Daniel Neff. Conaway, an Abbottstown native, placed third at 125 with a 4-1 mark that included two tech falls and a 13-7 loss in the semifinals to the eventual champion.

Other Nittany Lions competing included Michael Waters (Advance, N.C.), who went 2-2 at 141; Brandon Phillips (Timonium, Md.), who went 2-2 at 174; and Collin Campbell (Hurdle Mills, N.C.), who went 2-2 at heavyweight.

The Nittany Lions will start the regular season with a home dual against Bloomsburg on Sunday, Nov. 13, which will feature the raising of Penn State's Big Ten and NCAA title banners. Match time in Rec Hall for the match-up with the Huskies is set for 2 p.m.   Fans can purchase these very limited single dual tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

Over 3,000 Fill Rec Hall for #1 Penn State Wrestling's Intrasquad Exhibition

True freshmen make a splash in Rec Hall exhibition

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 3, 2011 - An amazing crowd of over 3,00 fans filled Rec Hall for a simple exhibition as the No. 1 Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team entertained the Penn State wrestling nation with its 2011 Intrasquad dual exhibition. A number of freshmen, both true and red-shirt, had fine performances in the exhibition.

True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) got the first win of the evening with a 5-1 win over fellow true freshman Jordan Conaway at 125. Megaludis is ranked No. 19 nationally. Junior transfer Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) followed that up with a 4-0 win over Cameron Kelly (Pittsford, N.Y.) at 133. Red-shirt freshman Sam Sherlock (West Mifflin, Pa.) posted an impressive 11-5 win over junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) at 141 before three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, posted an 8-1 win with 4:03 in riding time over freshman Seth Beitz (Juniata, Pa.).

At 157, red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 13 nationally, battled talented classmate Dirk Cowburn (Coudersport, Pa.) to a 5-3 decision. Top-ranked All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) then posted a convincing 21-6 technical fall over junior Nick Fischer (Unionville, Pa.) at 165. All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, posted a hard-fought 7-4 win over red-shirt freshman Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah).

No. 1 Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), last year's national champion at 184, pinned senior David Crowell (Easton, Pa.) at the 4:47 mark for the evening's first pin. The two-time All-American countered a Crowell shot in the second to work his way to the pin. True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 9 at 197, thrilled the crowd with a convincing 13-5 major over veteran junior Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.). With No. 5 Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) set to wrestle against Bloomsburg in the season opener, sophomore Nick Ruggear (Oxford, Pa.) moved up a weight to take on red-shirt freshman Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) at 285 and came away with a 5-3 win.

The Nittany Lions will start the 2011-12 campaign by hosting the Intrasquad Dual on Thursday, Nov. 3, in Rec Hall (it is free and open to the public). The regular season begins with a home dual against Bloomsburg on Sunday, Nov. 13, which will feature the raising of Penn State's Big Ten and NCAA title banners. Match time in Rec Hall for the match-up with the Huskies is set for 2 p.m.

Fans can purchase these very limited single dual tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at <http://www.GoPSUsports.com>www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at <http://www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html>www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html .  Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at <http://www.twitter.com/pennstatepat>www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at <http://www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling>www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.


Penn State Hosts 2011 Intrasquad Exhibition
November 3, 2011 - University Park, Pa. - Rec Hall

125: #19 Nico Megaludis PSUW dec. Jordan Conaway PSUB, 5-1
133: Derek Reber PSUB dec. Cameron Kelly PSUW, 4-0
141: Sam Sherlock PSUW dec. Bryan Pearsall PSUB, 11-5
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSUW dec. Seth Beitz PSUB, 8-1
157: #13 Dylan Alton PSUB dec. Dirk Cowburn PSUW, 5-3
165: #1 David Taylor PSUW tech fall Nick Fischer PSUB, 21-6 (TF; 6:38)
174: #2 Ed Ruth PSUW dec. Matt Brown PSUB, 7-4
184: #1 Quentin Wright PSUB pinned David Crowell PSUW (4:47)
197: #9 Morgan McIntosh PSUB maj. dec. Justin Ortega PSUW, 13-5
285: Nick Ruggear PSUW dec. Jon Gingrich PSUB, 5-3

Attendance: 3,000 appx.
Records: Penn State (0-0, 0-0 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: vs. Bloomsburg, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2 p.m. - Rec Hall

BOUT-BY-BOUT:

125: The night began the fans' first chance to see true freshmen Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) and Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) as the talented duo met at 125. Megaludis enters the season ranked No. 19 nationally. Megaludis got in on a single leg at the 1:20 mark and steadily worked his into a scoring position, getting the takedown and a 2-0 lead at the :35 mark. Megaludis rode Conaway out to lead 2-0 after one. The Murrysville native chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Megaludis then took Conaway down with :55 left in the middle stanza to up his lead to 5-0. Another ride out allowed the 19th-ranked Megaludis to carry a 5-0 lead into the third period. Conaway chose down to start the third and quickly escaped to a 5-1 deficit. Megaludis and Conaway battled through a scoreless third period allowing Megaludis to post a 5-1 win.

133: Junior transfer Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.), a national qualifier as a freshman at Bucknell, met red-shirt freshman Cameron Kelly (Pittsford, N.Y.) at 133. Kelly had the first real scoring chance of the period, getting in on a high double at the midway point of the opening period, but Reber was able to gain control of Kelly's legs and worked his way around for a takedown and a 2-0 lead. Reber then rode Kelly out to carry that lead into the second. Reber chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Kelly got in on a single late in the period but Reber was able to keep the red-shirt freshman from scoring and kill the clock. Trailing 3-0, Kelly chose down to start the third period. Reber began working to turn Kelly for back points and while not turning him, he clinched the riding time point. Reber maintained solid control for the entire period and ended the match with 2:49 in riding time to post a 4-0 win.

141: Junior Brian Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) took on red-shirt freshman Sam Sherlock (West Mifflin, Pa.) in a battle at 141. Sherlock scored quickly, taking Pearsall down for an early 2-1 lead after a quick Pearsall escape. Sherlock added a second takedown at the 1:10 mark to up his lead to 4-1. Pearsall escaped to a 4-2 deficit but Sherlock led 4-2 with just under 2:00 RT after one period. Pearsall chose down to start the second and quickly escaped to a 4-3 deficit. Neither man managed a takedown for the rest of the middle stanza and Sherlock maintained a one point lead heading to the final stanza. Sherlock chose down to start the third period and quickly reversed Pearsall for a 6-4 lead. Pearsall escaped but Sherlock took him down twice more to post an impressive 11-5 win with riding time.

149: Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1, met red-shirt freshman Seth Beitz (Juniata, Pa.) at 149. Molinaro scored first with a quick takedown. The three-time All-American controlled the action from the top and turned Beitz for a three-point near fall to lead 5-0 after one period. Molinaro chose down to start the second and quickly reversed Beitz to up his lead to 7-1 after a Beitz escape. The duo battled evenly for the rest of the period and Molinaro led 7-1 after two periods. Beitz chose down to start the third stanza but could not break free of a strong Molinaro ride as the Lion senior built up over 3:00 in riding time. Molinaro rode Beitz out to post a convincing 8-1 win with 4:03 in riding time.

157: Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked no. 13 at 157, took on talented classmate Dirk Cowburn (Coudersport, Pa.) at 157. Alton quickly scored, throwing Cowburn down near the edge of the mat for an early 2-1 lead after a quick Dirk escape. Alton used a low single to notch another takedown and lead 4-2 at the :30 mark. Trailing 4-2, Cowburn chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-3 deficit. The duo battled evenly for bulk of the period with neither wrestler managing a real scoring threat. Alton chose down to start the third period and steadily escaped to a 5-3 lead. Alton countered a Cowburn shot at the :35 mark and tried to turn it into a takedown, but Cowburn was able to work his way out of bounds and keep the score close. Alton would then hold on for the hard-fought 5-3 win.

165: Top-ranked All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) met junior Nick Fischer (Unionville, Pa.) at 165. Taylor took Fischer down quickly to lead 2-1 after a Fischer escape and then began working his way for another takedown. Fischer forced a stalemate, only to be taken down at the 1:38 mark to trail the All-American 4-1. Fischer escaped, but Taylor took the Lion junior down once again to up his lead to 6-2. Fischer chose down to start the second period, escaped and was quickly taken down by Taylor once again. Taylor then began looking to turn the Lion and picked up the two-point near fall at the 1:20 mark to up his lead to 10-3. Another Fischer escape led to another quick Taylor takedown and the Lion sophomore was up 12-4 with :30 left in the period. Taylor used a low ankle pick to take Fischer down and turn him to his back for three back points and a 17-5 lead after two periods. Taylor chose down to start the second period and steadily worked his way to a reversal and a 19-5 lead. Fischer escaped to a 19-6 deficit. Taylor countered a low Fischer shot and countered for a takedown and a 21-6 technical fall at the 6:38 mark.

174: All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2, met talented red-shirt freshman Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) in a match-up at 174. Ruth scored quickly with a takedown at the 2:42 mark. Brown escaped but Ruth used a low single to pull the red-shirt freshman onto the mat for another takedown and a 4-2 lead after another Brown escape. Ruth used a low ankle pick to gain control of Brown and notch a third takedown to lead 6-2 with :50 left. Brown escaped before the opening period ended to trail 6-3 after three minutes. He then chose down to start the second and escaped to a 6-4 deficit with 1:38 left in the middle stanza. Brown used a slick move on the edge of the mat to nearly tie the bout up at the :10 mark, but Ruth was able to shift the action out of bounds and keep his 6-4 lead heading into the third. Ruth chose down to start the third and Brown was able to work off the riding time edge. Ruth got hit with a stall warning at the :30 mark as Brown controlled the action from the top. The Lion All-American was not able to break free of Brown's strong ride until the :08 mark and posted a hard-fought 7-4 win.

184: Defending National Champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 1 nationally, took on senior David Crowell (Easton, Pa.) at 184. Wright notched the first takedown of the bout early and led 2-1 after a Crowell escape. The duo battled evenly for the rest of the opening period and Wright carried the one point lead into the second period. Wright chose down to start the middle stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. He then gained control of Crowell's legs and tried to work his way to another takedown but Crowell adeptly forced a stalemate to keep the bout close. But Wright was able to counter a Crowell shot and worked his way into a pin, getting the unconventional fall at the 4:47 mark, forcing Crowell's shoulders down with his right leg.

197: True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 9 in the country, met veteran junior Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) at 197. The duo battled evenly for the first three minutes with McIntosh working out of the way of a late Ortega shot to keep the bout scoreless after one. Ortega chose down to start the second, escaped and was quickly taken down and cut loose by McIntosh. McIntosh notched a second takedown and cut and led 4-3 with 1:20 on the clock. Ortega countered a McIntosh shot, nearly scored, only to be countered by McIntosh who worked his way to a 6-3 lead as the second period ended. McIntosh chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-3 lead. McIntosh used a low single to score again, leading 9-4 after cutting Ortega loose with 1:10 left on the clock. A strong high double with :40 on the clock and another cut gave the true freshman an 11-5 lead. Needing one more takedown for a major, McIntosh scrambled to a final takedown with :02 left to post the 13-5 major.

285: With No. 5 Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) on track to open the season against Bloomsburg, sophomore Nick Ruggear (Oxford, Pa.) moved up a weight to take on red-shirt freshman Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) in the heavyweight exhibition. The duo battled evenly for the first period with neither man mounting a scoring threat until Ruggear used a solid double leg to trip Gingrich to the mat at the :31 mark to lead 2-0. Gingrich escaped as the period wound down and cut Ruggear's lead to 2-1. Gingrich chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. Gingrich nearly scored with a high double leg with :45 left, but Ruggear was able to fight off the effort and keep the bout tied. Deadlocked at 2-2, Ruggear chose down to start the third. A quick escape gave the sophomore a 3-2 lead and action resumed in the center circle. Ruggear scored on a low shot with 1:13 on the clock to up his lead to 5-3 after a quick Gingrich escape. That escape was the final point and Ruggear notched the 5-3 win.

Nittany Lion Wrestling Squad Begins Campaign Ranked No. 1 in NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll

Lions, Hawkeyes and Cowboys all garner first place votes in pre-season poll

               UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 3, 2011 - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, featuring a young and talented line-up that includes four returning All-Americans, will begin the 2011-12 season ranked No. 1 in the NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll. Penn State received seven first place votes in the preseason poll.

The Nittany Lions are coming off winning their first-ever Big Ten Championship and their first NCAA national title since 1953. Four All-Americans lead a young Penn State squad including junior Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), national champ at 184; senior three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), national runner up at 149; sophomore Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), All-American and third place finisher at 174; and sophomore David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), All-American, national runner-up at 157 a year ago and now wrestling at 165.

Penn State leads the preseason poll with 244 points including seven first place votes while Big Ten rival Iowa is close behind at No. 2 with 238 points and two first place votes. Oklahoma State is ranked third with 234 points and one first place vote. Minnesota and Cornell round out the top five.

Lehigh (6), Michigan (7), Illinois (8), Missouri (9) and Oklahoma (10) comprise the rest of the top ten. Ohio State (13) and Northwestern (19) are the other Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25, giving the conference seven ranked teams. Michigan State, Nebraska and Purdue are receiving votes.

The Nittany Lions will start the 2011-12 campaign by hosting the Intrasquad Dual on Thursday, Nov. 3, in Rec Hall (it is free and open to the public). The regular season begins with a home dual against Bloomsburg on Sunday, Nov. 13, which will feature the raising of Penn State's Big Ten and NCAA title banners. Match time in Rec Hall for the match-up with the Huskies is set for 2 p.m.

Fans can purchase these very limited single dual tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

Media Reminder! New Press Arrangements!

Hello WR Media!

Just a quick reminder that with the advent of the new Rec Hall media room, ALL pre-event materials will be stored down there. Snacks and Water will still be available in our small room on the track, but guides, notes, etc., will be down in the press room.

Our post-dual system will be to get Coach Sanderson to the Rec Hall press room ASAP post-event and then shift ourselves to the hallway outside the lockerroom where my students will be holding requested wrestlers to talk with you all after Cael is done. I'm hopeful this works, we'll certainly have kinks but I will do my best to work them out as we implement this new system.

Media Blast! Get the full Penn State Wrestling Media Day Mash-Up at GoPSU!

Check out video, photos, blogs, transcripts and everything else you need form yesterday's Penn State Wrestling Media Day, attended by over 30 media in Rec Hall!

http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-wrestl/spec-rel/wrestling-media-day.html

Feel free to use as you see fit, please credit GoPSUsports and direct embed any video from our site J!

Penn State Hosts Intrasquad Thursday Night at 7 p.m.

TODAY'S ACTION

No. 1 Penn State (0-0, 0-0 B1G) heads into the 2011-12 season as one of the favorites to com