Penn State Notches First Ever Big Ten Dual Shutout

MADISON, Wis.; January 15, 2012 – The third-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions put on a clinic against Wisconsin on Sunday in Madison, hammering the home-standing Badgers to the tune of a 43-0 shutout. The shut out marked the first time Wisconsin had been shut out in over half a century and was the first shutout for Penn State in a Big Ten dual meet.

Coming off a 38-3 dismantling of Northwestern in Evanston two days ago, Penn State continued its dominating road wrestling. True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrsyville, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 125, once again gave Penn State a bolt of energy out of the gates, pinning Wisconsin’s Austin Hietpas at the 6:05 mark. Sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) followed that up with a 14-6 major decision over Shane McQuade at 133 and junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) downed UW’s Thomas Glenn 4-2 at 141, giving Penn State an early 13-0 lead.

All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, had no trouble with No. 9 Cole Schmitt of Wisconsin, posting a 12-0 major decision. The shutout was Molinaro’s second of the weekend and his tenth of the year. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 157, closed out the first half with a solid 11-4 win over Shawn Perry, giving Penn State a 20-0 lead at intermission.

All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, opened up the second half with a quick pin of Wisconsin’s Alex Yde. Taylor got the fall at the 2:28 mark in the first period. Fellow All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, followed that pin up with a 17-2 technical fall over Scott Liegel, getting the TF at 5:37. Defending National Champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184, then pinned UW’s Timmy McCall, getting the fall at the 6:05 mark.

True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 12 at 197, was then dominant in a 7-3 decision over UW’s Jackson Hein. Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at heavyweight, closed out the dual and secured the shut out with a 6-4 win over Cole Tobin, giving the Nittany Lions the 43-0 victory.

The Nittany Lions move to 7-1 on the year, 3-1 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin is now 5-5, 0-3 in the league. Penn State dominated the dual from start to finish, amassing a 31-2 takedown advantage and picking up 13 bonus points off three pins, one technical fall and two majors. The shut out of Wisconsin was the first for the Badgers since Iowa turned the trick 30-0 in 1958. It was Penn State’s second shutout of the year and marks the first time Penn State notched a shutout in a Big Ten dual.

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 (670 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.

#3 Penn State 43, Wisconsin 0

January 15, 2012 – Madison, Wis.

125: #10 Nico Megaludis PSU pinned Austin Hietpas UW, WBF (6:05) 6-0

133: Frank Martellotti PSU maj. dec. Shane McQuade UW, 14-6 10-0

141: Bryan Pearsall PSU dec. Thomas Glenn UW, 4-2 13-0

149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU maj. dec. #9 Cole Schmitt UW, 12-0 17-0

157: #9 Dylan Alton PSU dec. Shawn Perry UW, 11-4 20-0

165: #1 David Taylor PSU pinned Alex Yde UW, WBF (2:28) 26-0

174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU tech fall Scott Liegel UW, 17-2 (TF; 5:37) 31-0

184: #2 Quentin Wright PSU pinned Timmy McCall UW, WBF (6:05) 37-0

197: #12 Morgan McIntosh PSU dec. Jackson Hein UW, 7-3 40-0

285: #6 Cameron Wade PSU dec. Cole Tobin UW, 6-4 43-0