UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; December 11, 2011 – The fifth-ranked Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team dominated visiting West Virginia in a non-conference wrestling dual.  The Nittany Lions posted a resounding 34-6 win in front of over 6,000 fans in another packed Rec Hall.

 

                Nittany Lion freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 15 at 125, put Penn State up 3-0 early with an 8-2 win over WVU junior Shane Young.  Junior Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) then majored Jesse Schiffbauer for his first Penn State dual win, getting the 12-4 win to put the Nittany Lions up 7-0.  Junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) nearly pulled off a major upset at 141, dropping a hard fought 5-4 decision to No. 19 Nathan Pennesi of West Virginia.  The win cut Penn State’s lead to 7-3 before three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, majored George Scheffel 10-1 (with 4:25 in riding time) to put Penn State back up 11-3.  Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 157, dominated West Virginia’s Dominic Prezzia to the tune of a 16-4 major (with 4:09 RT) to give Penn State a 15-3 lead at the halftime break.

 

                Top-ranked All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) hammered WVU senior Kyle Eason at 165, picking up a 22-7 technical fall at the 4:17 mark before second-ranked All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) majored Lance Bryson 18-6.  Leading 24-3, defending national champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 184, thrilled over 6,000 Rec Hall faithful by pinning No. 17 Matt Ryan at the 1:57 mark, using a swift throw to counter a Ryan move and get the pin.  West Virginia’s Mac Mancuso picked up a 3-2 win over Lion junior Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.), who was filling in for No. 10 Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) at 197.  Nittany Lion senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 8 at heavyweight, dominated WVU senior Brandon Williamson, posting an 11-0 major with nearly 3:00 riding time to give the Lions the 34-6 final.

 

                Penn State moves to 3-1 on the year while WVU falls to 2-1.  The Nittany Lions won the takedown battle by a gaudy 35-2 margin.  Penn State picked up 10 bonus points to none for the Mountaineers.

 

                Penn State treks to Lock Haven on Sunday, Dec. 18, for a 2 p.m. dual with the Bald Eagles.  Penn State’s next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out.  The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of ‘standing room only’ tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555.  Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office.  A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

 

                The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM).  Lock Haven’s WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (690 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon.  The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State’s All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html .  Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling’s facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

 

#5 Penn State 34, West Virginia 6

December 11, 2011 – Rec Hall – University Park, Pa.

 

125: #15 Nico Megaludis PSU dec. Shane Young WVU, 8-2                                             3-0

133: Derek Reber PSU maj. dec. Jesse Schiffbauer WVU, 12-4                                     7-0

141: #19 Nathan Pennesi WVU dec. Bryan Pearsall PSU, 5-4                                         7-3

149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU maj. dec. George Scheffel WVU, 10-1                            11-3

157: #10 Dylan Alton PSU maj. dec. Dominic Prezzia WVU, 16-4                                   15-3

165: #1 David Taylor PSU tech fall Kyle Eason WVU, 22-7 (TF; 4:17)                             20-3

174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU maj. dec. Lance Bryson WVU, 18-6                                                  24-3

184: #5 Quentin Wright PSU pinned #17 Matt Ryan WVU, WBF (1:57)                      30-3

197: Mac Mancuso WVU dec. Justin Ortega PSU, 3-2                                                       30-6

285: #8 Cameron Wade PSU maj. dec. Brandon Williamson WVU, 11-0                    34-6

Attendance: 6,078

Records: #5 Penn State (3-1, 1-1 B1G), West Virginia (2-1)

Up Next for Penn State: at Lock Haven, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2 p.m.