Penn State Upset 18-17 at Minnesota

AdminFebruary 10, 2014Last Updated: February 10, 2014

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MINNEAPOLIS – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team was upset 18-17 on Sunday by No. 3 Minnesota in the Big Ten dual finale for both teams.

Sophomore Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) took down previously unbeaten and top-ranked Scott Schiller at 197 in the dual’s marquee match-up as each team won five bouts with the Gophers winning the dual on bonus points.

All-American Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 125, opened up the dual with a 19-5 major decision over Jordan Kingsley. Minnesota got on the board next when No. 8 David Thorn posted a 2-0 win over No. 16 Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.), cutting Penn State’s lead to 4-3. True freshman Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 2 nationally, stayed unbeaten by dominating No. 6 Chris Dardanes 4-0 with 2:35 in riding time.

At 149, Zack Beitz nearly upset No. 3 Nick Dardanes, dropping a 6-4 (SV2) decision. Beitz got called for a contested fleeing call that was upheld upon review in the third period, sending the bout into extra time. Dardanes connected on a takedown with:04 left in the second sudden victory period to grab the win. Minnesota took the lead at the break when No. 8 Dylan Ness of Minnesota pinned No. 4 Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) at the 5:57 mark, giving the Gophers a 12-7 lead at the break.

Top-ranked David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) dominated Danny Zilverberg for a 13-3 major to pull Penn State to within one point, 12-11. Minnesota, however, picked up an upset win at 174 when No. 6 Logan Storley downed No. 3 Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), 8-4. All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184, beat No. 8 Kevin Steinhaus 7-1 to bring Penn State back to within a point, 15-14.

McIntosh then dominated previously unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Schiller at 197, notching three takedowns and a reversal to roll to an 8-4 win, putting Penn State up 17-15 with one bout remaining. Junior Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) battled No. 5 Tony Nelson but the defending national champion posted the 5-0 win and sent Penn State to its first dual meet loss of the year, 18-17.

The Nittany Lions 7-1 dual meet record gives Penn State a share of its second Big Ten dual title in the last three years, sharing the crown with at least two other teams. The seven wins also ties a Penn State record for Big Ten dual wins in a season. Penn State owned a slim 12-8 edge in the takedown battle as well. The five-five dual meet split was broken as Minnesota got three bonus points to Penn State’s two.

Penn State is now 13-1 on the year overall and ends the Big Ten dual meet season with a 7-1 mark. The Nittany Lions claimed a share of their second Big Ten dual meet crown in the last three years. Minnesota is now 10-1 overall and ends its Big Ten season with a 7-1 mark to share the conference title with Penn State and at least one other team. Penn State will host Oklahoma State in Rec Hall next Sunday, Feb. 16, at 2 p.m.

(1) Penn State 17, (3) Minnesota 18

February 9, 2014 – Minneapolis, Minn.

125: #2 Nico Megaludis PSU maj. dec. Jordan Kingsley MINN, 19-5 4-0

133: #8 David Thorn MINN dec. #16 Jimmy Gulibon PSU, 2-0 4-3

141: #2 Zain Retherford PSU dec. #6 Chris Dardanes MINN, 4-0 7-3

149: #3 Nick Dardanes MINN dec. (SV2) Zack Beitz PSU, 6-4 (SV2) 7-6

157: #8 Dylan Ness MINN pinned #4 Dylan Alton PSU, WBF (5:57) 7-12

165: #1 David Taylor PSU maj. dec. Danny Zilverberg MINN, 13-3 11-12

174: #6 Logan Storley MINN dec. #3 Matt Brown PSU, 8-4 11-15

184: #2 Ed Ruth PSU dec. #8 Kevin Steinhaus MINN, 7-1 14-15

197: #5 Morgan McIntosh PSU dec. #1 Scott Schiller MINN, 8-4 17-15

285: #5 Tony Nelson MINN dec. Jon Gingrich PSU, 6-0 17-18