Pins for the Win
The Nittany Lions welcomed themselves to Michigan with a 42-3 win over Michigan State on Friday night. PSU continues their reign as No.1 with a record of 12-0, 6-0 in the Big Ten. The team’s depth in the line up for each weight class gives them an exceptional edge and allows them to make last minute changes to the line up, as they did Friday night.
The team won nine of ten bouts and posted a season high of pins in one match. Sanderson put his trust in the depth of his team and the wrestling morals he instills in his wrestlers. He wasn’t disappointed.
As mentioned, not the familiar starting line up for the Lions, but the familiar domination of the mat remained. Jordan Conaway stepped in for Nico Megaludis who didn’t make the trip to Michigan due to being sick all week. In place of Zack Beitz, Andrew Alton returned to his 149-weight class after months of working back from an off-season shoulder injury. Junior Nick Ruggear got the go ahead for the 285 bout while Jimmy Lawson continues to recover from his knee injury from the Northwestern match.
125 lbs.: PSU Jordan Conaway maj. dec. over MSU Brenan Lyon, 15-4
133 lbs.: PSU Jimmy Gulibon WBD MSU Garth Yenter, 10-3
141 lbs.: PSU Zain Retherford pinned MSU Brian Gibbs, (4:42)
149 lbs.: PSU Andrew Alton WBD MSU Nick Trimble, 9-5
157 lbs.: PSU Dylan Alton WBD MSU Roger Wildmo, 8-3
165 lbs.: PSU David Taylor pinned MSU Bobby Nash, (1:53)
174 lbs.: PSU Matt Brown tech. fall over MSU Nick Kaczanowski, 18-3
184 lbs.: PSU Ed Ruth pinned MSU John Rizqallah, (0:38)
197 lbs.: PSU Morgan McIntosh pinned MSU Nick McDiarmid, (4:23)
285 lbs.: MSU Mike McClure WBD PSU Nick Ruggear, 5-1
A last minute call for Andrew Alton in the 149 match made for an action packed bout against Michigan State’s Nick Trimble. In the first, Alton took control with Trimble’s left ankle and worked a takedown within the first minute. He then lifted Trimble off the mat and took him to his back for two near fall points. Trimble escaped and the score stood 4-1 at the end of the first. Alton chose down for the second period where he found himself trapped in a strong Trimble ride. At the one-minute mark, Alton busted out of the trap for an escape and quickly went for a low single. A successful takedown gave Alton a 7-1 lead after two. Trimble chose down for the third, which started with a blur of moves. Trimble quickly escaped but fell to another Alton takedown. Going for more points, Alton let Trimble loose and shot low. Trimble reversed Alton’s attempt to get a takedown of his own. With the score at 9-5, Trimble persisted to work for back points but Alton fought with hard defense until the end. Alton’s victory pushed the team further towards victory.
PSU finishes their weekend stay in Michigan on Sunday Feb. 2 at 3:30 p.m. They face the No. 11 Michigan Wolverines this Super Bowl Sunday- coverage provided by the Big Ten Network.
The team won nine of ten bouts and posted a season high of pins in one match. Sanderson put his trust in the depth of his team and the wrestling morals he instills in his wrestlers. He wasn’t disappointed.
As mentioned, not the familiar starting line up for the Lions, but the familiar domination of the mat remained. Jordan Conaway stepped in for Nico Megaludis who didn’t make the trip to Michigan due to being sick all week. In place of Zack Beitz, Andrew Alton returned to his 149-weight class after months of working back from an off-season shoulder injury. Junior Nick Ruggear got the go ahead for the 285 bout while Jimmy Lawson continues to recover from his knee injury from the Northwestern match.
125 lbs.: PSU Jordan Conaway maj. dec. over MSU Brenan Lyon, 15-4
133 lbs.: PSU Jimmy Gulibon WBD MSU Garth Yenter, 10-3
141 lbs.: PSU Zain Retherford pinned MSU Brian Gibbs, (4:42)
149 lbs.: PSU Andrew Alton WBD MSU Nick Trimble, 9-5
157 lbs.: PSU Dylan Alton WBD MSU Roger Wildmo, 8-3
165 lbs.: PSU David Taylor pinned MSU Bobby Nash, (1:53)
174 lbs.: PSU Matt Brown tech. fall over MSU Nick Kaczanowski, 18-3
184 lbs.: PSU Ed Ruth pinned MSU John Rizqallah, (0:38)
197 lbs.: PSU Morgan McIntosh pinned MSU Nick McDiarmid, (4:23)
285 lbs.: MSU Mike McClure WBD PSU Nick Ruggear, 5-1
*maj. dec.= major decision (win by 8-14 points)
*tech. fall= technical fall (win by 15 points)
*WBD= win by decision
Final: PSU (No.1)-42, MSU- 3
A last minute call for Andrew Alton in the 149 match made for an action packed bout against Michigan State’s Nick Trimble. In the first, Alton took control with Trimble’s left ankle and worked a takedown within the first minute. He then lifted Trimble off the mat and took him to his back for two near fall points. Trimble escaped and the score stood 4-1 at the end of the first. Alton chose down for the second period where he found himself trapped in a strong Trimble ride. At the one-minute mark, Alton busted out of the trap for an escape and quickly went for a low single. A successful takedown gave Alton a 7-1 lead after two. Trimble chose down for the third, which started with a blur of moves. Trimble quickly escaped but fell to another Alton takedown. Going for more points, Alton let Trimble loose and shot low. Trimble reversed Alton’s attempt to get a takedown of his own. With the score at 9-5, Trimble persisted to work for back points but Alton fought with hard defense until the end. Alton’s victory pushed the team further towards victory.PSU finishes their weekend stay in Michigan on Sunday Feb. 2 at 3:30 p.m. They face the No. 11 Michigan Wolverines this Super Bowl Sunday- coverage provided by the Big Ten Network.
