Penn State Dominates Michigan 32-9; Altons Split

ANN ARBOR – The top-ranked Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team handled No. 11 Michigan 32-9 in a Super Bowl Sunday showdown, a battle between the conference’s final two unbeaten teams.  By virtue of the win, Penn State clinched at least a share of the 2014 Big Ten regular season title, riding three straight technical falls to a lop-sided win.

With two-time All-American Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 125, not making the weekend trip due to illness, sophomore Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) got the nod at 125 and controlled Conor Youtsey for a 9-4 win.  16th-ranked Jimmy Gulibon (Latrobe, Pa.) then silenced a raucous sell-out crowd with a 9-0 major over Rossi Bruno at 133.  True freshman Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 141, remained unbeaten with a 7-1 win over No. 13 Steve Dutton, rolling up 2:20 in riding time in the process and putting Penn State up 10-0

At 149, junior Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) nearly pulled off an upset of No. 7 Eric Grajales.  Alton bolted out to an 8-5 lead and led by two late.  But a last second Grajales takedown ended with a Michigan fall at the 6:56 mark, briefly cutting into Penn State’s lead.  But All-American Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 4 at 157, responded with a 3-1 (SV2) decision over No. 14 Brian Murphy, sending Penn State into halftime with a 13-6 lead.

After intermission, three-time All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, defeated No. 6 Dan Yates, a 17-2 tech fall at the 5:13 mark.  All-American Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), ranked No. 3 at 174, posted a tech fall of his own, notching a 21-6 win at the 5:35 mark over UM’s Collin Zeerip.  At 184, three-time All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 nationally, made it three straight tech falls, rolling to a 17-2 win over No. 20 Domenic Abounader at the 5:39 mark to put Penn State up 28-6.

Seventh-ranked sophomore Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) continued the bonus point parade at 197, majoring Chris Heald 17-1.  Junior Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) nearly upset No. 2 Adam Coon, but the Wolverine heavyweight fought off a late Gingrich shot to escape with a 2-1 win.  Still, the Lions’ eight wins led to a 32-9 victory and kept Penn State unbeaten on the year.

Penn State is now 13-0 on the year, 7-0 in Big Ten duals, clinching at least a share of the Big Ten regular season (dual meet) crown. Michigan moves to 9-3, 5-1 B10. The Nittany Lions continue a three-game Big Ten road swing when they trek to Minneapolis on Sunday, Feb. 9, for a 2 p.m. (Eastern) match-up with No. 3 Minnesota.

 

(1) Penn State 32, (11) Michigan 9

 

125: Jordan Conaway PSU dec. Conor Youtsey MICH, 9-4                                     3-0

133: #16 Jimmy Gulibon PSU maj. dec. Rossi Bruno MICH, 9-0                             7-0

141: #2 Zain Retherford PSU dec. #13 Steve Dutton MICH, 7-1                            10-0

149: #7 Eric Grajales MICH pinned Andrew Alton PSU, WBF (6:56)                     10-6

157: #4 Dylan Alton PSU dec. #14 Brian Murphy MICH, 3-1 (SV2)                       13-6

165: #1 David Taylor PSU tech fall #6 Dan Yates MICH, 17-2 (TF; 5:13)              18-6

174: #3 Matt Brown PSU tech fall Collin Zeerip MICH, 21-6 (TF; 5:35)                 23-6

184: #2 Ed Ruth PSU tech fall #20 Domenic Abounader MICH, 17-2 (TF; 5:39)   28-6

197: #7 Morgan McIntosh PSU maj. dec. Chris Heald MICH, 17-7                         32-6

285: #2 Adam Coon MICH dec. Jon Gingrich PSU, 2-1                                           32-9

Attendance: 1,504

Records: Penn State 13-0, 7-0 B10; Michigan 9-3, 5-1 B10