Dual set to air live on Big Ten Network at 2 p.m. (Eastern)/1 p.m. (Central)
The No. 1- ranked Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (13-0, 7-0 B1G) will trek to Minneapolis for a Sunday showdown with the third-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers (9-1, 6-1 B1G). The dual meet begins at 2 p.m. Eastern (1 p.m. Central) and will air live on the Big Ten Network. Penn State, which has clinched at least a share of the 2014 Big Ten regular season title, can win the crown outright with a victory while Minnesota can claim regular season Co-Champion laurels with a victory of its own.
The Nittany Lions are coming off a successful trip through the state of Michigan last weekend. Penn State hit the road for two dual meets on 1/31 and 2/2 and came away with two lop-sided victories. The Nittany Lions downed Michigan State on 1/31 by a 42-3 score, winning nine of ten bouts (including four pins). Two days later, Penn State took down #11 Michigan 32-9 in front of a sold out Keen Arena crowd, winning eight of ten bouts (including three straight tech falls). In all, Penn State went 17-3 in both duals with four pins, four tech falls, three majors and six decisions. Penn State outscored MSU and UM 74-12.
Penn State’s win over previously unbeaten (in conference) Michigan last Sunday clinched a share of the regular season Big Ten title. Minnesota, this weekend’s opponent, will be looking to grab a share of the crown, however. Penn State is 7-0 in conference action while Minnesota is 6-1. The dual is the conference finale for each team.
Penn State is led by a balanced and deep line-up. All-American Nico Megaludis is 20-2 and ranked No. 2 at 125; red-shirt freshman Jimmy Gulibon is 13-9 and ranked No. 16 at 133; sophomore Jordan Conaway is 15-5 at both 133 and 125 this year; true freshman Zain Retherford is 23-0 and ranked No. 2 at 141; junior Andrew Alton is 8-1 and ranked No. 8 at 149; red-shirt freshman Zack Beitz is 11-7 and ranked at 149 in other national rankings; All-American Dylan Alton is 15-0 and No. 4 at 157; senior James Vollrath is 11-7 at 157 as well; All-American David Taylor is 23-0 and No. 1 at 165; All-American Matt Brown is 23-1 and ranked No. 3 at 174; All-American Ed Ruth is 22-1 and No. 2 at 184; sophomore Morgan McIntosh is 22-2 and No. 5 at 197; and junior Jimmy Lawson is 16-4 and No. 12 at 285. Lawson is out this weekend, giving junior Jon Gingrich (19-4 overall) the nod at 285.
The Gophers are coming off a 35-6 win over Indiana on Sunday afternoon. Minnesota won eight of ten bouts in the dual victory. Minnesota sports a talented and balanced line-up as well. Junior Scott Schiller is 24-0 and ranked No. 1 at 197 while Tony Nelson is 21-4 and No. 5 at 285. Brothers Nick and Chris Dardanes form a formidable due at 141 and 149. Chris is 15-3 and No. 6 at 141 while Nick is 18-2 and No. 3 at 149. Dylan Ness is 14-4 and No. 8 at 157 while David Thorn is 17-4 and No. 8 at 133. Logan Storley sports a 22-3 mark and is No. 6 at 174 and Kevin Steinhaus is 10-2 and No. 8 at 184.
Minnesota leads the all-time series 13-6-1, including the last meeting between the two schools, two years ago during the 2011-12 season. Minnesota downed Penn State 23-14 on 11/20/11 in Rec Hall. The two teams tied the last time they met in Minnesota, an 18-18 draw on 2/13/11 (during the 2010-11 season).
The Nittany Lions return to Rec Hall for a national showcase dual, hosting the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Sunday, Feb. 16. The sold out Rec Hall dual begins 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 for some Rec Hall duals. People may check availability and 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.
THIS WEEK
The No. 1- ranked Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (13-0, 7-0 B1G) will trek to Minneapolis for a Sunday showdown with the third-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers (9-1, 6-1 B1G). The dual meet begins at 2 p.m. Eastern (1 p.m. Central) and will air live on the Big Ten Network. Penn State, which has clinched at least a share of the 2014 Big Ten regular season title, can win the crown outright with a victory while Minnesota can claim regular season Co-Champion laurels with a victory of their own.
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions return to Rec Hall for a national showcase dual, hosting the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Sunday, Feb. 16. The sold out Rec Hall dual begins at 2 p.m.
ON THE AIR
TV – LIVE on the BTN.
Live Web Video – BTN2go
Radio – Full season live on WRSC (103.1 FM/1390 AM) State College; WBPZ 1230 AM Lock Haven; 1370 WWCB Corry; WLAK (103.5 FM) Huntingdon; WMRF (95.7 FM) Lewistown; WIEZ (670 AM) Lewistown. Also live at GoPSUsports.com as part of the All-Access package as are select home duals.
#1 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (13-0, 7-0 B1G)
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 #2 Nico Megaludis Jr. Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional 20-2
133 #16 Jimmy Gulibon Fr. Latrobe, Pa./Derry Area 13-9
Jordan Conaway So. Abbottstown, Pa./New Oxford 15-5
141 #2 Zain Retherford Fr. Benton, Pa./Benton 23-0
149 #8 Andrew Alton Jr. Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain 8-1
OR Zack Beitz Fr. Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata 11-7
157 #4 Dylan Alton Jr. Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain 15-0
James Vollrath Sr. Richboro, Pa./Council Rock South 11-7
165 #1 David Taylor Sr. St. Paris, Ohio/St. Paris Graham 23-0
174 #3 Matt Brown Jr. West Valley City, Utah/Cyprus 23-1
184 #2 Ed Ruth Sr. Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township 22-1
197 #5 Morgan McIntosh So. Santa Ana, Calif./Calvary Chapel 22-2
285 Jon Gingrich Jr. Wingate, Pa./Bald Eagle Area 19-4
OUT #12 Jimmy Lawson Jr. Tom’s River, N.J./Manchester Township 16-4
#3 MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS (9-1, 6-1 B1G) / trend it at #PSUwrMINN
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 Sam Brancale Fr. Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie 8-5
133 #8 David Thorn Sr. St. Michael, Minn./Albertville 17-4
141 #6 Chris Dardanes Jr. Chicago, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest 15-3
149 #3 Nick Dardanes Jr. Chicago, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest 18-2
157 #8 Dylan Ness Jr. Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy 14-4
165 Danny Zilverberg Sr. Wayzata, Minn./Albertville 14-8
174 #6 Logan Storley Jr. Roslyn, S.D./Webster 22-3
184 #8 Kevin Steinhaus Sr. Pennock, Minn./Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunberg 10-2
197 #1 Scott Schiller Jr. West Fargo, N.D./West Fargo 24-0
285 #5 Tony Nelson Sr. Cambridge, Minn./Isanti 21-4
Individual rankings are Intermat and team rankings are Intermat TPI as of 2/4