PSU Dominates 2015 Nittany Lion Open

UNIVERSITY PARK – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (4-0), ranked No. 1 on InterMat’s TPI, returned to action today for the first time since Nov. 22 by dominating the 2015 Nittany Lion Open in Rec Hall.  Head coach Cael Sanderson’s squad crowned seven champions at the event, which featured over 300 wrestlers.

Senior Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 4 at 125, notched Penn State’s first individual title of the day, posting a 15-5 major over Virginia’s Joseph Martinez.  Megaludis went 5-0 with three pins, a technical fall and a major on the day.  Red-shirt freshman Jered Cortez (Carol Stream, Ill.) used a reversal in the tie-breaker to notch a 5-4 (tb) win over teammate Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) in the finals at 133.  Cortez took the crown with a 4-0 record, including a fall.  Conaway, ranked No. 8 nationally, took second place with a 3-1 mark, including a tech and a major.

Sophomore Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 149, posted an 8-1 win over Rutgers’ Ken Theobold in the finals at 149 to win the title.  Retherford went 4-0 with a pin, a tech and a major (plus a win over a non-collegiate wrestler, which does not count as a match).  Red-shirt freshman Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), ranked No. 3 at 157, pinned Lehigh’s Drew Longo at the 1:23 mark in the finals to the NLO.  He went 5-0 with three pins, a tech and a major (plus a win over a non-collegiate, which does not count as a match).

Junior Geno Morelli (DuBois, Pa.) used riding time to post a 3-2 win over teammate Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.) in the finals at 165.  Morelli went 5-0 with two tech falls to win the championship.  Rasheed, ranked No. 20 nationally, went 4-1 with three majors and a tech to place second.  Red-shirt freshman Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas), ranked No. 6 nationally, won the NLO title at 174 with a 4-3 victory over Ohio State’s Myles Martin in the finals.  Nickal went 5-0 with three pins and a tech fall.  Senior Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 1 at 197, won the title with a 15-6 major over Army’s Rocco Caywood.  McIntosh went 3-0 with two techs and a major (plus two more wins over non-collegiate wrestlers that do not count as matches).

Red-shirt freshman Kenny Yanovich (Effort, Pa.) went 4-2 with a pin, a tech and a major to place fifth at 125. Sophomore Kade Moss (South Jordan, Utah), went 6-1 with four pins and a tech to tie for fifth at 141.  True freshman Gary Dinmore (Skillman, N.J.) went 4-2 with a tech and a major to place eighth at 141. Sophomore Cody Law (Windber, Pa.) went 4-2 with two techs and a major to finish fifth at 165.  Junior Brian Brill (Lock Haven, Pa.) went 4-2 with a pin and two majors to take seventh at 174. True freshman Kellan Stout (Pittsburgh, Pa.) went 3-2 with a pin (plus a win over a non-collegiate) to take fourth at 184.   Junior Zack Beitz (Mifflintown, Pa.) went 6-1 with a pin and two majors to take third at 157 and sophomore Garett Hammond (Chambersburg, Pa.) went 5-1 with a pin, a tech and two majors, to finish third at 165.

Junior All-American Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), ranked No. 6 nationally, went 3-0 with two technical falls at 141. The Lion did not compete in the semifinals, taking a medical forfeit (not a loss on his record). He finished tied for fifth. Sophomore Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.), ranked No. 13 at 184, went 2-1 with a pin and a tech fall at 184.  He suffered an upset sudden victory loss in round three and did not compete in consolation action. True freshman Patrick Higgins (Monroeville, N.J.) went 2-2 with a pin at 125.

True freshman Triston Law (Windber, Pa.) picked up a win at 141 before bowing out of the event. George Carpenter (Chapel Hill, N.C.) competed at 133, Francisco Bisono (Hauppauge, N.J.) competed at 165, Dylan Dailey (Danville, Pa.) competed at 184, Caleb Livingston (Drexel Hill, Pa.) competed at 285 and Dominic Giannangeli (Murrysville, Pa.) competed at 141 for Penn State as well. Penn State sent 26 wrestlers into action at the event and all were attached except Bisono, Cortez, Dinmore, Giannangeli, Higgins, Law and Stout, who all wrestled unattached.

Penn State will return to action next Sunday when it hosts Wisconsin in the Big Ten opener for the team.  The dual is the first of this year’s BJC Duals and begins at 1 p.m. in the near-16,000 seat venue.

2015 Nittany Lion Open – Championship Finals

Sunday, December 6, 2015 – Rec Hall – University Park, Pa.

WEIGHT BY WEIGHT:

125:

#4 Nico Megaludis, Murrysville, Pa. – 1^st

Rd. 1: Breandon Coughlin, Maryland – W, 19-4 TF (4:07)

Rd. 2: Keanan Bottorf, Lock Haven – WBF (5:24)

Qtrs: Josh Kramer, Arizona State – WBF (1:38)

Semis: Devin Brown, West Virginia – WBF (2:02)

Finals: Joseph Martinez, Virginia – W, 15-5 MD

Kenny Yanovich, Effort, Pa. – 5^th

Rd. 1: Peter Robinson, Maryland – W, 11-2 MD

Rd. 2: Brandon Roseborough, Army – W, 17-0 TF (1:57)

Qtrs: Josh Patrick, Rutgers – W, 7-4

Semis: Joseph Martinez, Virginia – L, 2-9

Cn Semi: Josh Kramer, Arizona State – L, 3-5

5^th Place: Devin Brown, West Virginia – WBF (2:34)

Patrick Higgins, Monroeville, N.J. – UA

Rd. 1: Joseph Martinez, Virginia – L, 1-13 MD

Cn 1: bye

Cn 2: Arick Shankles, Edinboro – WBF (2:35)

Cn 3: Frank Satriale, Bucknell – W, 2-1

Cn 4: Josh Patrick, Rutgers – L, 2-18 TF

133:

#8 Jordan Conaway, Abbottstown, Pa. – 2^nd

Rd. 1: Bye

Rd. 2: Ben Bliss, Bucknell – W, 17-2 TF (4:28)

Qtrs: Danny Martoccio, Franklin & Marshall – W, 15-1 MD

Semis: Caleb Richardson, Penn – W, 6-1

Finals: Jered Cortez, Penn State – L, 4-5 (tb)

George Carpenter, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Rd. 1: Vincent Vespa, Army – L, 0-4

Cn 1: Peter Lipari, Rutgers – L, 0-11 MD

Jered Cortez, Carol Stream, Ill. – UA – 1^st

Rd. 1: Bye

Rd. 2: Nick Ottaviano, Rutgers – WBF (0:51)

Qtrs: Scott Parker, Lehigh – W, 3-1

Semis: Geoff Alexander, Maryland – W, med. forfeit

Finals: #8 Jordan Conaway, Penn State – W, 5-4 (tb)

141:

#6 Jimmy Gulibon, Latrobe, Pa. – T-5th

Rd. 1: Bye

Rd. 2: Marc Mastropietro, Penn – W, 17-2 TF

Rd. 3: Matt Kelly, Army – W, 16-1 TF (4:55)

Qtrs: Sam Krivus, Virginia – W, 5-3

Semis: Medical Forfeit (not a loss)

Kade Moss, South Jordan, Utah – T-5^th

Rd. 1: Caleb Mariakas, West Virginia – W, 18-2 TF (4:21)

Rd. 2: Tim Rooney, Kent State – WBF (1:09)

Rd. 3: Matt Kolodzik, Princeton – L, 8-11

Cn 2: William Koll, Cornell – WBF (2:06)

Cn 3: Nick Casella, Maryland – WBF (4:29)

Cn 4: Connor Prince, Navy – WBF (2:00)

Cn Qtr: Sam Krivus, Virginia – W, 3-2 TB

Gary Dinmore, Skillman, N.J. – UA – 8^th

Rd. 1: Eric Friedman, Penn – W, 16-1 TF (5:47)

Rd. 2: Kyle Greene, Bucknell – W, 12-2 MD

Rd. 3: Jake Newhouse, Kent State —  W, 7-0

Qtrs: Jared Prince, Navy – LBF (4:49)

Cn 4: Billy Rappo, Maryland – W, 3-2

Cn Qtr: #19 Richard Durso, Franklin & Marshall – L, 4-6

Dominic Giannangeli, Murrysville, Pa. – UA

Rd. 1: Bye

Rd. 2: Anthony Tutolo, Kent State – L, 3-7

Cn 2: William Koll, Cornell – L, 3-18 TF (7:00)

Triston Law, Windber, Pa. – UA

Rd. 1: Brendan Ryan, Virginia Tech – W, 7-2

Rd. 2: Nick Casella, Maryland – L, 1-6

Cn 2: Billy Rappo, Maryland – LBF (1:01)

149:

#1 Zain Retherford, Benton, Pa. – 1^st

Rd. 1: Bye

Rd. 2: Matt Russo, NON-COLLEGIATE – WBF (4:09) result does not count

Rd. 3: Louis Colonna, West Virginia – WBF (1:21)

Qtrs: Josh Maruca, Arizona State – W, 15-0 (7:00)

Semis: Troy Heilmann, North Carolina – W, 14-4 MD

Finals: Ken Theobold, Rutgers – W, 8-1

157:

#3 Jason Nolf, Yatesboro, Pa. – 1^st

Rd. 1: Brady Mason, Pitt – WBF (3:10)

Rd. 2: Zaal Zafari, Edinboro – WBF (1:36)

Rd. 3: Dan Ritz, NON-COLLEGIATE – WBF (1:50)

Qtrs: Zach Elvin, Navy – W, 23-8 TF (6:33)

Semis: Casey Sparkman, Kent State – W, 27-14 MD

Finals: Drew Longo, Lehigh – WBF (1:23)

Zack Beitz, Mifflintown, Pa. – 3^rd

Rd. 1: Bye

Rd. 2: Jake Kaminksy, Hofstra – W, 14-3 MD

Rd. 3: Nate Russell, Pitt – WBF (2:47)

Qtrs: Maazia Bethea, Penn – W, 12-5

Semis: Drew Longo, Lehigh – L, 10-15

Cn Qtr: Taylor Simaz, Cornell – W, 12-2 MD

Cn Semi: Cole Walter, Lehigh – W, 10-5

3^rd: Maaziah Bethea, Penn – W, 8-4

165:

#20 Shakur Rasheed, Coram, N.Y. – 2^nd

Rd. 1: Sam Williams, Army – W, 17-0 TF

Rd. 2: Isaac Bast, Kent State – W, 14-2 MD

Qtrs: Derek Evanovich, Maryland – W, 14-3 MD

Semis: Cody Law, Penn State – W, 8-0 MD

Finals: Geno Morelli, Penn State – L, 2-3

Garett Hammond, Chambersburg, Pa.

Rd. 1: Mikey Simmons, Rutgers – W, 17-2 TF

Rd. 2: Max Elling, Columbia – W, 17-5 MD

Qtrs: Jared Walker, Kent State – WBF (0:22)

Semis: Geno Morelli, Penn State – L, 7-12

Cn Semi: Jordan Pagano, Rutgers – W, 14-3 MD

3rd: Dillon Artigliene, Cornell — W, 8-4

Cody Law, Windber, Pa. – 5^th

Rd. 1: Demetri Probst, Lock Haven – W, 24-7 TF

Rd. 2: Chase Gallick, Lehigh – W, 21-6 TF (5:24)

Qtrs: Jordan Pagano, Rutgers – W, 9-2

Semis: #20 Shakur Rasheed, Penn State – L, 0-8 MD

Cn Semi: Dillon Artigliere, Cornell – LBF (0:51)

5^th: Jordan Pagano, Rutgers, W, 10-2 MD

Geno Morelli, DuBois, Pa. – 1^st

Rd. 1: Gordon Bolig, Franklin & Marshall – W, 18-2 TF

Rd. 2: Paul Dunn, Lehigh – W, 18-1 TF (3:00)

Qtrs: Dillon Artigliere, Cornell – W, 4-1

Semis: Garett Hammond, Penn State – W, 12-7

Finals: #20 Shakur Rasheed, Penn State – W, 3-2

Francisco Bisono, Hauppauge, N.J. – UA

Rd. 1: Jared Walker, Kent State – L, 4-7

Cn 1: Dakota Greene, Drexel – L, 5-8

174:

#6 Bo Nickal, Allen, Texas – 1^st

Rd. 1: Graham Ratermann, Army – WBF (1:16)

Rd. 2: Nick Stephani, Bucknell – W, 23-8 (TF; 5:09)

Qtrs: Dominic Prezzia, Ohio State – WBF (1:39)

Semis: Anthony Pafumi, Rutgers – WBF (1:13)

Finals: Myles Martin, Ohio State – W, 4-3

Brian Brill, Lock Haven, Pa. – 7^th

Rd. 1: Dom Scalise, Virginia – W, 17-4 MD

Rd. 2: Dan McDevitt, Penn – W, 13-4 MD

Qtrs: Myles Martin, Ohio State – L, 6-7

Cn 4: Alex Benoit, Navy – WBF (3:18)

Cn Qtr: Dylan Wisman, Missouri – L, 3-14 MD

7^th Place: Ben Harvey, Army – W, 10-7

184:

#13 Matt McCutcheon, Apollo, Pa.

Rd. 1: Connor Route, Penn College – WBF (0:52)

Rd. 2: Corey Kerkesner, Franklin & Marshall – W, 16-0 (TF; 3:19)

Qtrs: Michael Macchiavello, North Carolina State – L, 4-6 (sv)

Dylan Dailey, Danville, Pa.

Rd. 1: Matt Valenti, NON-COLLEGIATE – W, 15-0 TF

Rd. 2: Alexander Deciantis, Drexel – L, 4-6

Cn 2: Paul Schoenberg, NON-COLLEGIATE – L, default

Kellan Stout, Pittsburgh, Pa. – UA – 4^th

Rd. 1: Josh Baker, NON-COLLEGIATE – WBF (0:58)

Rd. 2: Jon Schmisstauter, Army – WBF (0:27)

Qtrs: Anthony Messner, Rutgers – W, 8-2

Semis: #10 Lorenzo Thomas, Penn – L, 2-10 MD

Cn Semi: Tyler Askey, Virginia – W, 5-0

3^rd: Joe Heybob, Penn – L, 5-8

197:

#1 Morgan McIntosh, Santa Ana, Calif. – 1^st

Rd. 1: Ben Honis, NON-COLLEGIATE – W, 12-4 MD

Rd. 2: Jacob Lucas, NON-COLLEGIATE – WBF (2:27)

Qtrs: Reynold Maines, Clarion – W, 19-1 TF (6:55)

Semis: Owen Scott, Cornell – W, 18-2 TF (4:48)

Finals: Rocco Caywood, Army – W, 15-6 MD

285:

Caleb Livingston, Drexel Hill, Pa.

Rd. 1: Doug Vollaro, Lehigh – L, 1-10 MD

Cn 1: Austin Myers, West Virginia – L, 3-6

NON-COLLEGIATE – Unattached and a non-collegiate wrestler, does NOT count as a win or loss

UA – Unattached for Penn State

# Ranking listed is InterMat as of 12/1/15