FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Taylor Miller (taylor.miller11@okstate.edu)
Feb. 16, 2014

Cowboys Fall to No. 2 Penn State, 23-12

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The No. 7 Oklahoma State wrestling squad is now 9-5 on the season after falling to No. 2 Penn State on the road, 23-12.

In a dual that seemed to go back and forth through the first seven bouts, the Pokes picked up wins in four of the day's 10 matches, including a top-five matchup at 174 pounds.

Eddie Klimara quieted the crowd of more than 6,500 in the first match of the day, taking down No. 2 Nico Megaludis twice in the first period. However, Klimara gave up three takedowns in the second period and another in the third to drop the bout, 11-7.

No. 4 Jon Morrison tied up the team score, 3-3, when he shut out No. 17 James Gulibon for the second time this year. This time the score was 2-0, where the only points scored was a double-leg takedown by Morrison in the first period.

At 141 pounds, Anthony Collica, ranked 19th in the country, took on second-ranked and undefeated Zain Retherford. Collica held off the freshman phenom, allowing no scoring until the third period when Retherford escaped, giving PSU a lead in the team score.

No. 11 Josh Kindig balanced it out once again for the Cowboys, taking out No. 19 Zack Beitz, 5-3, at 149 pounds. Kindig scored the only takedowns of the match, picking up one in the second and third periods.

A win at 157 pounds gave OSU its first lead of the day. No. 2 Alex Dieringer took on No. 11 Dylan Alton. Alton struck first with a quick takedown in the first period, but it was Dieringer's takedown and back points shortly after that gave the sophomore the advantage and the win.  

The Nitanny Lions tied the team score with a 5-2 decision from No. 1 David Taylor over No. 5 Tyler Caldwell in the day's first top-five matchup.

No. 2 Chris Perry and No. 5 Matt Brown met up for a rematch and the second top-five bout of the dual. Similar to that of the 2013 NCAA 174-pound final between the two, the match went into overtime with the bout tied, 2-2, at the end of regulation. With no scoring in the first one-minute sudden victory period, the match went into a tiebreaker with neither guy getting up from the bottom. After another scoreless sudden victory period, Perry rode Brown out in the 30-second tiebreaker and tallied a quick escape in the second period of the tiebreaker to walk away with the 3-2 win.

That would be the final win for the Cowboys as the Nitanny Lions went on to pick up bonus points in the remaining three matches and secure the team victory.

 

The Cowboys return to Stillwater, Okla., to take on the Arizona State Sun Devils on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in Gallagher-Iba Arena.

 

No. 2 Penn State 23, No. 7 Oklahoma State 12
Feb. 16, 2014 :: Rec Hall (State College, Pa.) :: Attendance – 6,571

125: No. 2 Nico Megaludis (PSU) dec. No. 19 Eddie Klimara (OSU), 11-7
133: No. 4 Jon Morrison (OSU) dec. No. 17 James Gulibon (PSU), 2-0
141: No. 2 Zain Retherford (PSU) dec. No. 19 Anthony Collica (OSU), 2-0
149: No. 11 Josh Kindig (OSU) dec. No. 19 Zack Beitz (PSU), 5-3
157: No. 2 Alex Dieringer (OSU) dec. No. 11 Dylan Alton (PSU), 6-4
165: No. 1 David Taylor (PSU) dec. No. 5 Tyler Caldwell (OSU), 5-2
174: No. 2 Chris Perry (OSU) dec. No. 5 Matt Brown (PSU), 3-2 TB2
184: No. 1 Ed Ruth (PSU) fall Nolan Boyd (OSU), 5:41
197: No. 4 Morgan McIntosh (PSU) MD Kyle Crutchmer (OSU), 16-2
285: No. 12 Jon Gingrich (PSU) MD Ethan Driver (OSU), 14-5

-OSU-