Jan. 13, 2012
Watch Match Highlights on Wildcats All Access!
Site: Evanston, Ill. (Welsh-Ryan Arena)
Score: No. 1 Penn State 38, No. 21 Northwestern 3
Records: No. 21 Northwestern (5-2, 1-2 Big Ten), No. 1 Penn State (6-1, 2-1 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: Sunday, Jan. 15 at Iowa • 1 p.m.
EVANSTON, Ill. – No. 3 Jason Welch improved to a perfect 13-0 on the year and No. 21 Northwestern battled hard in the final bouts of the evening but No. 1 Penn State won Friday’s Big Ten dual at in front of a big crowd Welsh-Ryan Arena, 38-3. NU’s tough weekend of conference dual action continues at 1 p.m. Sunday when the Wildcats visit No. 4 Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.
Penn State won the first four bouts of the evening. At 141 lbs., Colin Shober jumped out to a 2-0 lead on PSU’s Bryan Pearsall and stayed competitive through the second period, but forfeited the match due to injury default.
No. 3 Jason Welch stepped up for Northwestern, defeating No. 9 Dylan Alton 2-1 at 157 lbs. After a scoreless first period, Welch chose bottom to start the second and escaped at the 1:55 mark. Alton began the third period down and escaped with five seconds remaining in the match, but Welch racked up 1:55 of riding time to secure the 2-1 victory. With the win, Welch remains undefeated on the season at 13-0.
Penn State then won its next three bouts by bonus points but Northwestern wrestled in two close matches to finish the dual. At 197 lbs., John Schoen met No. 12 Morgan McIntosh and a McIntosh takedown with four seconds remaining proved to be the difference in the 6-4 decision. At heavyweight, No. 19 Mike McMullan scored the first takedown against No. 6 Cameron Wade and had the 2-1 lead heading into the second period. Wade then took the lead in the second period with two nearfall points and a takedown and added one more escape for the 6-3 win.
Fans can watch Sunday’s dual vs. No. 4 Iowa on the Big Ten Digital Network on Wildcat All-Access.
No. 1 Penn State 38, No. 21 Northwestern 3
125: #10 Nico Megaludis (PSU) dec #7 Levi Mele (NU), 7-3 (3-0 PSU)
133: Frank Martellotti (PSU) dec Jameson Oster (NU), 10-4 (6-0 PSU)
141: Bryan Pearsall (PSU) inj def Colin Shober (NU) (12-0 PSU)
149: #1 Frank Molinaro (PSU) maj dec Kaleb Friedley (NU), 10-0 (16-0 PSU)
157: #3 Jason Welch (NU) dec #9 Dylan Alton (NU), 2-1 (16-3 PSU)
165: #1 David Taylor (PSU) tech fall Pierce Harger (NU), 20-5, 7:00 (21-3 PSU)
174: #2 Ed Ruth (PSU) tech fall #9 Lee Munster (NU), 5:37, 18-3 (26-3 PSU)
184: #2 Quentin Wright (PSU) pins Marcus Shrewsbury (NU), 2:41 (32-3 PSU)
197: #12 Morgan McIntosh (PSU) dec John Schoen (NU), 6-4 (35-3 PSU)
Hwt.: #6 Cameron Wade (PSU) dec #19 Mike McMullan (NU), 6-3 (38-3 PSU)
