Penn State Wrestling travelled to Iowa City last night riding a 78 dual meet winning streak, including the last 4 against the Iowa Hawkeyes and came away with a dominating 32-3 team score winning 9 of the 10 individual bouts. As always, the Hawkeyes fought tooth and nail, five of the decisions were decided by a single take down and one on an overtime tie breaker ride out. You’ve got to credit this overmatched Iowa team, no matter the gap in talent they will make you earn those wins.
Recap
125 #2 Luke Lilledahl dec. #6 Dean Peterson, 11-5
In typical fashion
for these two teams the wrestling started out with heavy collar ties and hand fighting before Peterson attempted a headlock with the wrestlers going out of bounds. Luke sprinted back to center while Peterson needed some prodding from the ref to restart. Luke then went to work and got to Peterson’s knee for a takedown, Peterson scored on a quick reversal and then Luke busted out for the escape and the score was 4-2 after one period.
Luke got back to his offense again in the second getting to Peterson’s leg, Peterson tried to lock up for a stalemate but Luke worked through for the score. 2nd ends with Luke up 7-4.
The third period was more of the same, Peterson escapes from bottom and Luke shoots and scores, a single take in each of the 3 periods. Desperation shots by Peterson followed and Luke damn near countered for the major decision at the end but Peterson hung out at the edge of the match as time expired.
This was a great response to Peterson’s win from their meeting last season and about as dominating a regular decision as you’re going to see. This is the difference between these two teams, Iowa is willing to claw and scrape but PSU wrestlers are better at scoring. Rinse and repeat.
133 #4 Marcus Blaze dec. #8 Drake Ayala, 4-2
There is currently a big knock on the TnT Brands-Iowa style of training. Those in the know claim that Iowa works endlessly on perfecting that one move that they can execute for a score. In Ayala’s case it’s that sweet slide-by that allows him to get behind his opponent and get the takedown. The problem is that a better team with better wrestlers, PSU, will take advantage of this and shut down those scoring opportunities. Ayala came close on one of those attempts but Blaze was able to kick out of the takedown attempt.
After a scoreless first period and a stall warning against Ayala Blaze was able to get to an ankle, shelf the leg, and secure the only takedown of the match. Ayala continued to look for that slide by and Blaze would have none of it. The match ends with Blaze up 4-2 and PSU up on the team score 6-0.
141 #11 Nassir Bailey dec. #7 Braeden Davis, 3-2
This is the one that got away for both teams, Davis could have kept the shut out in tact and Bailey came oh so close to getting the fall when he locked up a cradle after the only takedown of the match. Davis fought hard and avoided getting stuck. That takedown was enough as Davis pursued with a good ride in the 2nd period but a lot of desperation shots in the 3rd. Bailey held off a number of sloppy shots by Davis but didn’t have the juice or the ambition to counter. This loss leaves Davis with some work to do in the remaining B1G schedule as he works to the post season. That was the highlight of Iowa’s evening and the team score was 6-3 after 3 matches.
149 #1 Shayne Van Ness maj. dec. #17 Ryder Block, 13-4
Ryder Block came out swinging and got Iowa’s 2nd and final takedown of the evening and then reality set in. SVN took the lead with a nasty double leg. Block escapes and then there’s heavy handfighting with SVN trying to take space and Block fighting to get back to center. 4-4 after one period.
Block chose down to start the 2nd and that was probably a mistake. SVN put on a brutal ride, working for wrist control and a turn. The few times Block got up to his knees SVN would break him back down to his belly and rode out the entire period. After a quick escape by SVN to start the 3rd period Block shot and SVN countered by grabbing Blocks ankle and putting him on his back for a TD3 and 4 nearfall points. Add a RT point and SVN secures the 13-4 major decision. Credit Block though, he took his best shot(s) but SVN is a much better wrestler. Team score is 10-3 and Iowa will not score another offensive point for the remainder of the evening.
157 #3 PJ Duke dec. #12 Jordan Williams, 4-2
PJ Duke is just brutalizing opponents so far this season. He’s not doing anything dirty or taking cheap shots but he has a habit of putting his opponents in positions where they are unable to defend themselves. Fortunately the ref saved Williams with a quick potentially dangerous stoppage and there was no scoring in the first period.
Williams got a quick escape to start the second and took a 1-0 lead. After more collar ties and handfighting Duke got to a leg and took Williams to his back, Williams was able to roll through and avoid the takedown. This is something that PJ will learn, Mitchell and Levi see these all the time and they’re able to stop that roll through. PJ will get there soon. Coach Cody did throw the brick though to no avail after review.
Duke gets his escape from bottom to start the 3rd and follows with a strong throw by to get behind Williams and secure the only takedown of the match and the 4-2 victory.
Team score is 13-3 at the break.
165 #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink maj. dec. #3 Michael Caliendo, 11-2
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, Caliendo scraps and claws to try to keep it close with Mitchell but the onslaught never ends and Mitchell comes away with bonus points. This time Mitchell got right to work off the whistle and scored on a double leg takedown 12 seconds into the match. Caliendo never got anything going, was hit with a couple of stall calls and Mitchell ends up with 3 takedowns to none and an 11-2 major decision pushing the team score to 17-3.
174 #1 Levi Haines dec. Gabe Arnold, 4-2
Iowa says Patrick Kennedy needed some rest, after all, he’s wrestled one match since December 12. The reality is that Levi always scores bonus points on Kennedy and, as expected, Gabe Arnold would fight off Levi to avoid the major. And so it goes. Levi worked, Gabe hand fought, blocked and defended without looking to score on his own. Everybody yawned and Levi wins by decision 4-2 to make the Team Score 20-3.
184 #4 Rocco Welsh dec. #1 Angelo Ferrari, 2-1 (tie breaker)
Repeat after me, dropping to your knee when not engaged is avoid wrestling. Avoid wrestling, by definition, is stalling. The refs refuse to make that call by cowardice or incompetence. So here we are, Ferrari avoids wrestling, Rocco can’t get in on a shot and we do this for 7 minutes with each wrestler scoring a period opening escape. Sudden victory period is more of the same. But, as our friend bveo pointed out in the preview comments, Rocco is a PA wrestler. That gives Rocco the advantage in ride outs and that’s how it went. Rocco got the ride out in the tie breaker for a 2-1. Someday we’ll find a ref that will enforce the stalling rule, maybe.
197 #1 Josh Barr win by fall Brody Sampson, 3:42
With Mo Endene taking, or being given, his leave from Iowa there were no good options to face Josh Barr. The freshman was severely overmatched giving up two takedowns to none in the first before Barr throws him to his back and secures the fall early in the second period. Not much more to say about this one other than I was hoping to see what Mo had for Barr had he been available.
Team score is 29-3 with heavyweight remaining, coincidently, the betting lines were right that at the 26 points and the degenerates were on the edge of their seats.
285 #13 Cole Mirasola dec. #5 Ben Keuter, 4-3
Both of these young heavy weights are working on their craft and both are undersized but Keuter came in with a ten pound advantage. As expected the guy that wins the scrambles would win the match. Sure enough, Cole held on to an ankle as they hit the mat in the 2nd period and came out on top for the only takedown of the match. These two will most certainly meet again and the matches may go either way but Cole got it this time for a 4-3 decision.
Your final team score: Penn State 32 Iowa 3, the largest margin of victory over a Hawkeye team in 60 years. Next year we need that shut out.
Your Takeways
The Penn State starters came in at 91 wins to 2 losses and leave with a mark of 100 up and 3 down.
Penn State wins the takedown battle in a lopsided 17-2 margin. That is the marked difference between these two programs. One works to score and the other can’t or won’t.
Iowa will be looking to survive the dual season and try to find a way to a team trophy in March while the Penn State train continues to roll.
One other notable statistic from last night, the reported attendance was 12,530 and far from a sell out. Unfortunately, it seems many Iowa fans have seen enough of this movie and don’t want to sit through it again.
Up next for Penn State is Northwestern on Sunday afternoon. For Iowa, they’re off until a dual with Nebraska on Friday evening. That will be a challenge for them.
