In the middle of the 10 mats sprawled across the floor of the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Va., Saturday night, one match provided very little in terms of drama.

That match was Penn State’s 24-12 victory over Big Ten-rival Michigan to win the National College Division of the 31st annual Virginia Duals.

Keyed by bonus victories by Andrew Long at 133, David Taylor at 157 pounds and Ed Ruth at 174, the second-ranked Nittany Lions cruised to its second Virginia Duals championship, the first since 1987.

Sixth-year senior Brad Pataky set the tone, getting out to a quick 5-0 lead to top Sean Boyle 8-2. Pataky looked poised to earn bonus points before he took injury time in the second period before putting the match in cruise control. 

Long, an NCAA runner-up last year at 125 pounds for Iowa State, made the most of his first appearance in a Penn State singlet, going 4-0 on the weekend. Long dominated Michigan’s Zac Stevens, scoring two third-period takedown to pick up the 12-3 major decision.

The night’s most anticipated match came at 141 pounds where Kellen Russell of Michigan topped Andrew Alton 2-1. Russell used a second-period escape and a riding time point from his third period top work to score all he needed. 

Frank Molinaro coasted past Eric Grajales at 149 pounds before freshman David Taylor put on a clinic, torching Aaron Hynes 20-4, earning the technical fall in the second period. It was his ninth technical fall of the season, and second of the tournament.

Taylor was voted the National College Division's Most Outstanding Wrestler.

James Vollrath stepped to the mat for Penn State at 165 pounds and led Michigan’s Dan Yates 2-1 heading into the second period. Yates turned the tide in the second, catching Vollrath on his back on a reversal attempt and nearly earned the fall. From there on out, it was all Yates as he got Michigan its second win of the night with a 7-2 win.

Ed Ruth ended any chances of Wolverine momentum, pinning Jon Beck at 1:06. Ruth nearly pinned Beck in the first 15 seconds of the match. Michigan would win the next two matches at 184 and 197 before Cameron Wade ended the dual with a 3-0 win over Ben Apland.

Penn State improved to 8-0 on the season.

Kent State defeated Lehigh 18-16 to finish third in the National College Division. York College got out to a big lead to hold off King College to win the American College Division. Wyoming Seminary defeated Christiansburg in a matchup of nationally-ranked high school teams to win the National High School Division. Columbia of New York beat Virginia’s Fauquier to win the American High School Division, while Ocean Lakes of Virginia Beach beat Great Bridge of Chesapeake to win the Black & Blue Division.

PENN STATE 24, MICHIGAN 12
125-Brad Pataky (PSU) dec Sean Boyle (UM) 8-2
133-Andrew Long (PSU) maj Zac Stevens (UM) 12-3 
141-Kellen Russell (UM) dec Andrew Alton (PSU) 2-1
149-Frank Molinaro (PSU) dec Eric Grajales (UM) 6-2
157-David Taylor (PSU) tech Aaron Hynes (UM) 19-4 
165-Dan Yates (UM) dec Jim Vollrath (PSU) 7-2 
174-Ed Ruth (PSU) fall Jon Beck (UM) 1:06 
184-Hunter Collins (UM) dec Nick Fischer (PSU) 8-2
197-Anthony Biondo (UM) dec Justin Ortega (PSU) 9-4 
285-Cameron Wade (PSU) dec Ben Apland (UM) 3-0