#1 Penn State Hammers #19 Indiana 36-6 for Big Ten Road Win

Three tech falls highlight lopsided road victory for unbeaten Nittany Lions

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.; January 17, 2014 – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 1 nationally, took care No. 19 Indiana 36-6 in the team’s first Big Ten road dual.  Penn State won eight of ten bouts, including three technical falls and three majors, to coast to victory.

 

The dual began at 197, where sophomore Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 7 nationally at 197, rolled to a 14-4 major over Indiana’s Garret Goldman. The next bout was one of the most anticipated of the dual meet.  Lion junior Jimmy Lawson (Tom’s River, N.J.), ranked No. 12 at 285, took on No. 8 Adam Chalfant of Indiana. Chalfant connected on an early five-point move and was able to hold off a late Lawson flurry to post the 9-4 win.

 

Nittany Lion All-American Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 2 nationally at 125, received a forfeit, putting Penn State up 10-3.  Red-shirt freshman Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 15 at 133, put on an offensive show, rolling to a first-period technical fall over Chris Caton.  Gulibon had one takedown and five separate near falls for the 15-0 tech fall at the 2:57 mark.  True freshman Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), unbeaten and ranked No. 2 at 141, remained that way with a strong 15-5 major over Trevor Moody, including 4:12 in riding time.  Penn State led 19-3 at the midway point.

 

At 149, Penn State red-shirt freshman Zack Beitz (Mifflintown, Pa.), used an escaped and a full third period ride-out to post a 2-0 win over Hoosier Eric Roach.  Senior James Vollrath (Richboro, Pa.) was strong against No. 5 Taylor Walsh of Indiana but dropped a tough 5-4 decision.  Nittany Lion All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the nation at 165, took care of the nation’s leader in wins, IU senior Ryan LeBlanc (who had a 28-8 mark heading into the dual). Taylor turned Walsh five different times to roll to a 15-0 technical fall at the 7:00 mark, with 6:14 in riding time. 

 

Junior All-American Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 3 at 174, was strong once again, rolling to a 12-3 major over Indiana’s Matt Irick with over 3:00 in riding time. Penn State All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184, capped off the lopsided win with an 18-3 tech fall over No. 18 Luke Sheridan.  Ruth turned Sheridan for back points twice and tacked on four takedowns and a reversal.  The lopsided win, at the 5:12 mark, cemented the 36-6 final score.

 

Penn State remains unbeaten with a 9-0 mark, 3-0 in Big Ten duals while Indiana falls to 7-5, 0-4.  Taylor improves to 19-0 on the year with 10 pins, five tech falls and four majors.  He is 119-3 for his career, 27-0 all-time in Big Ten duals and 48-0 all-time against Big Ten competition.  Ruth moves to 18-1 on the year with six pins, seven tech falls and five majors.  He is 120-3 for his career, is 27-0 all-time in Big Ten duals and 49-0 all-time against Big Ten competition.

 

Retherford remains unbeaten with a 19-0 mark, including three pins, two techs and five majors. Brown improves to 19-1 with six pins, two techs and six majors.  McIntosh improves to 18-2 on the year as is Megaludis. Lawson falls to 16-3 on the year.  Penn State won the takedown battle as well, 24-2.

 

 

Penn State will trek back to State College tomorrow (Saturday) and prepare for Sunday’s home dual with No. 14 Northwestern in sold out Rec Hall.  The Nittany Lions and Wildcats tangle at 2 p.m.

 

With the full season of Rec Hall duals sold out prior to the start of the campaign, a very limited number of standing room only tickets are available to a few of the remaining Rec Hall duals.  People may purchase tickets by calling 1-800-NITTANY or by visiting the Penn State Athletics ticket office located in the BJC. Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstateWREST and on Penn State Wrestling’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling.   The 2013-14 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

 

#1 Penn State 36, #19 Indiana 6

January 17, 2014 – Bloomington, Ind.

 

197: #7 Morgan McIntosh PSU maj. dec. Garret Goldman IU, 14-4                                    4-0

285: #8 Adam Chalfant dec. #12 Jimmy Lawson PSU, 9-4                                      4-3

125: #2 Nico Megaludis PSU win by forfeit                                                              10-3

133: #15 Jimmy Gulibon PSU tech fall Chris Caton IU, 15-0 (TF; 2:57)                  15-3

141: #2 Zain Retherford PSU maj. dec. Trevor Moody IU, 15-5                              19-3

149: Zack Beitz PSU dec. Eric Roach IU, 2-0                                                           22-3

157: #5 Taylor Walsh IU dec. James Vollrath PSU, 5-4                                            22-6

165: #1 David Taylor PSU tech fall Ryan LeBlanc IU, 15-0 (TF; 7:00)                    27-6

174: #3 Matt Brown PSU maj. dec. Matt Irick IU, 12-3                                           31-6

184: #2 Ed Ruth PSU tech fall #18 Luke Sheridan IU, 18-3 (TF; 5:12)                    36-6

Attendance: 1,288

Records: Penn State 9-0, 3-0 B1G; Indiana 7-5, 0-4 B1G

Up Next for Penn State: home vs. Northwestern, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2 p.m.

 

BOUT-BY-BOUT:

 

197:  Sophomore Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 7 at 197, battled IU sophomore Garret Goldman. McIntosh scored quickly, notching a takedown just :10 into the bout.  He nearly locked up a cradle but Goldman was able to move out of bounds keep the score at 2-0.  McIntosh put together a strong ride after the reset, controlling the Hoosier for well over a minute.  McIntosh cut Goldman loose and began working his offense again.  McIntosh rolled through a high double with just :08 left and led 4-1 after one. Goldman chose down to start the second stanza and McIntosh tacked on more riding time while working for a chance to turn the Hoosier. McIntosh cut Goldman loose again at the :50 mark and action resumed in the center circle with the Lion up 4-2.  A quick McIntosh takedown gave the Lion a 6-3 lead after another cut with :28 left.  After a reset with :15 left, McIntosh blew through a low single for another takedown and an 8-3 lead with almost 3:00 riding time. McIntosh chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 9-3 lead.  Another text book high single led to another takedown and an 11-4 McIntosh lead with a clinched riding time point. McIntosh tacked on one more takedown and rolled to the 14-4 major with 3:12 in riding time.

 

285:  Junior Jimmy Lawson (Tom’s River, N.J.), ranked No. 12 at 285, took to the mat against Indiana senior Adam Chalfant, ranked No. 8, in another marquee match-up. Lawson looked to score early on a headlock to single leg but Chalfant was able to fight off the move, quickly counter and notch the first takedown with 1:27 on the clock.  He then turned Lawson for three near fall points and a 5-0 lead at the :28 mark.  The Hoosier rode Lawson out and led 5-0 with 1:27 riding time after one. Chalfant chose down to start the middle period and steadily worked to an escape and a 6-0 lead with 1:30 on the clock.  Neither wrestler was able to connect on a shot over the final minute-plus and Chalfant led 6-0 after two. Lawson chose down to start the third and quickly reversed Chalfant.  He cut the Hoosier loose immediately and, trailing 7-2, began looking for offense.  Lawson quickly tacked on a takedown and cut, cutting the lead to 8-4.  Lawson nearly picked up a second takedown with :08 left but the move ended out of bounds and Chalfant grabbed a 9-4 win (with 1:04 riding time).

 

125:  Junior Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 125, received a forfeit, improving his overall record to 18-2 and putting Penn State up 10-3.

 

133:  Red-shirt freshman Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 15 at 133, tangled with Hoosier freshman Chris Caton.  Gulibon wasted no time on offense, taking Caton down for a 2-0 lead.  The Lion freshman then turned Caton for three near fall points, reset himself after getting the call, and turned him for two more.  The early burst put Gulibon up 7-0 just over 1:00 into the bout.  Looking to end his night early, Gulibon maintained control and turned Caton three more times.  The first for three, the second for two and the last for three at the 2:57 mark.  The offensive burst gave Gulibon the 15-0 technical fall (2:57).

 

141:  True freshman Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 141, took on IU’s Trevor Moody.  Retherford scored just under a minute into the bout and began a dominant ride, controlling the Hoosier while looking for a chance to turn him.  After building up 1:17 in time, Retherford cut Moody loose.  Retherford used control of Moody’s arm to pull the Hoosier close, work into a low single and take a 4-1 lead with :28 on the clock.  A short ride out and Retherford led 4-1 with 1:15 in time after one. Moody chose down to start the second period and was allowed up by Retherford.  The Lion fought off a solid Moody shot, forcing a stalemate and then worked the Hoosier’s head to the mat, moved behind him for another takedown and led 6-2 with 1:20 left.  Retherford added three more takedowns in a dominating period and led 12-5 with 3:02 in time after two. Retherford chose down to start the final period and reversed Moody for a 14-5 lead.  With riding time and a major secured, the Lion freshman began looking for a tilt and back points.  Retherford was not quite able to turn the Hoosier but walked away with a dominant 15-5 major with 4:12 in riding time.

 

149: Red-shirt freshman Zack Beitz (Mifflintown, Pa.) faced IU sophomore Eric Roach at 149.  Beitz got in on an early single, nearly connecting for two.  But Roach was able to work his way out of bounds and keep the bout scoreless early.  The duo traded shots with each man able to fight off the other’s until Roach got in deep on a single leg late.  Beitz nearly turned it into a five point move of his own but time ran out and the bout moved to the second scoreless. Beitz chose down to start the second period and steadily worked to an escape and a 1-0 lead.  Beitz continued to set the tempo, shooting consistently and forcing Roach into defense through most of the second period.  Trailing 1-0, Roach chose down to start the third period. Beitz made him pay for the decision with a dominant ride.  The Lion freshman maintained control of the Hoosier sophomore well into the final period.  With :51 on the clock and Beitz still in control, a reset was called and Beitz had :43 in riding time.  Beitz once again kept control of Roach and worked his riding time over 1:00.  The Lion freshman maintained control for the entirety of the period and posted the impressive 2-0 win with 1:34 in time.

 

157:  Senior James Vollrath (Richboro, Pa.) took on No. 4 Taylor Walsh of Indiana in one of the dual’s most anticipated match-ups at 157.  Vollrath quickly got in on a single leg, forcing a scramble that eventually led to a Vollrath takedown and a 2-0 lead at the 1:50 mark.  Vollrath maintained control for :42 before Walsh escaped to a 2-1 Vollrath lead.  The Lion senior fought off a Taylor takedown attempt that was not called a takedown.  But the Hoosier coaching staff called for a video replay at the :14 mark of the first period.  The call was reversed and Walsh led 3-2.  Trailing by one, Vollrath chose neutral to start the second period.  Vollrath controlled the action early in the second period, forcing Walsh backwards for over a minute while looking for a chance to score himself.  Vollrath connected on a single leg and nearly scored at the buzzer but the takedown was not called and the Lion trailed by one after two.  Walsh chose down to start the third.  Vollrath maintained control for :30 but Walsh reversed him for a 5-2 lead with 1:20 on the clock.  Vollrath reversed Walsh with :10 on the clock but could not turn the Hoosier at the end and dropped a hard-fought 5-4 decision.

 

165:  Senior David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, met IU senior Ryan LeBlanc.   Early on in the action, LeBlanc called for an injury timeout, giving Taylor the positional choice.  Taylor chose top and began working for a chance to turn the Hoosier.  He picked up a quick two point near fall and then forced LeBlanc into a first stall warning. Taylor picked up another three-point near fall and led 5-0 with 2:41 in time after one.  LeBlanc chose neutral to start the second period but Taylor was quick to score.  The Lion senior worked his way around the Hoosier for his first takedown of the bout and a 7-0 lead with 1:10 on the clock. Taylor turned LeBlanc for two more point to lead 9-0, added another two point turn and led 11-0 with 4:14 after two. Taylor chose top to start the third and began working for another tilt.  Taylor countered a LeBlanc reversal attempt, scrambling through for two more back points.  He tacked on a point for another Hoosier stall and, with the riding time point off 6:14 riding time, posted the 15-0 tech fall at the 7:00 mark. 

 

174:  Junior Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 3 at 174, took on Hoosier freshman Matt Irick.  Brown got on the board first, steadily working his offense and connecting on a shot with 1:39 on the clock to lead 2-0.  Irick escaped to a 2-1 score and then fought off a Brown cradle on the edge of the mat.  But with :07 left, Brown blew through a double leg off the reset and led 4-1 after one. Irick chose down to start the second period but Brown controlled the action.  He built up a 1:46 riding time edge before the Hoosier escaped, then quickly took him down again for a 6-2 lead with :50 left.  Brown rode Irick out and led 6-2 with 2:28 in time heading into the third period. Brown chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead.  He fought off a solid Irick shot early in the period, forcing a stalemate at the 1:12 mark.  The Lion junior took Irick down for a 9-2 lead, cut him loose and then connected on a swift single leg for an 11-3 lead with a clinched riding time point.  Brown then rode Irick out and posted the 12-3 major with 3:19 in time.

 

184:  Senior Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184, met Indiana’s Luke Sheridan, who entered the dual ranked No. 18 nationally. Ruth rolled threw a low double early, gaining control of Sheridan quickly and locking up a cradle.  The Lion picked up three quick near fall points, almost getting the pin, and led 5-1 after cutting Sheridan loose. Ruth connected on another low single and upped his lead to 7-1 midway through the period.  After a Sheridan escape, Ruth notched another takedown with a nice low move and upped his lead to 9-2 with :50 left in the opening period.  Sheridan escaped with :30 left and Ruth led 9-3 with 1:35 in time after one. Ruth chose down to start the second and quickly reversed Sheridan for an 11-3 lead.  He then used arm control to pull Sheridan down and turn him for two back points and led 13-3 with 1:10 on the clock. Ruth gained control of Sheridan’s shoulders, turning him for three back points to lead 16-3 after two periods with a clinched riding time point. Sheridan chose neutral to start the third period and Ruth ended the bout, and the dual, quickly.  A swift takedown gave the Lion an 18-3 technical fall at the 5:12 mark and cemented the 36-6 final.

 

 

 

Patrick Donghia

Penn State Wrestling Twitter:  http://twitter.com/pennstateWREST

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Assistant Director of Athletics Communication

Ph: 814 865 1757 -- email: pad11@psu.edu