Jan. 30, 2005
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Purdue was unable to build on the momentum of Friday's Big Ten win over Ohio State, falling to Penn State 32-7 in front of a mostly paid attendance of 1,704 at Recreational Hall.
The loss drops Purdue to 7-8 overall and 1-2 in Big Ten action. Penn State is now 8-7 this year, 2-2 in conference duals.
Penn State opened the dual with a major decision at 125 pounds and a decision at 133 to build a 7-0 team lead. A fall by PSU's DeWitt Driscoll at 141 put the Boilermakers in a 13-0 hole.
Purdue jumped on the scoreboard at 149 pounds at junior Doug Withstandley (Jackson, N.J.) defeated Jack Decker by 9-0 major decision. The Boilermaker junior scored a takedown and three back points in the opening stanza to build a 5-0 lead, an advantage that would not be challenged.
PSU responded with a win at 157 as 16th-ranked Nathan Galloway outlasted freshman Colton Salazar (Midway, Utah). A late reversal by Salazar gave the Boilermaker a chance in the third period, trailing by four, but Salazar was unable to turn the Lion wrestler to narrow the score.
Sophomore John DeCeault (Tinley Park, Ill.) helped Purdue close the team score 16-7 in favor of PSU with a 9-4 decision over Jarrad Turner at 165 pounds. DeCeault took down Turner in the first period and tilted Turner for three back points, ending the opening three minutes up 5-0. Turner takedowns in the second and third periods tightened the match, but it was not enough to overcome DeCeault's quick start.
Once again Penn State had an answer for Purdue as James Yonushonis recorded a second period pin at 174 pounds, building the Nittany Lion lead to 22-7.
At 184 pounds, it was a matchup of nationally-ranked wrestlers between 14th-ranked Ben Wissel (Richmond, Ind.) and fourth-ranked Eric Bradley. The two met twice in 2003-04, with Bradley winning 7-5 at the Big Ten Championships and Wissel winning 3-2 at the NCAA Championships.
In State College, it was Bradley's turn as the Lion grappler recorded a takedown 12 seconds into overtime to defeat the Purdue junior 3-1.
Penn State iced the win with an 8-0 major decision at 197 pounds and a 6-0 decision at heavyweight.
The Boilermakers return home to West Lafayette for three consecutive Big Ten duals, beginning next Friday, Feb. 4, against Illinois. The Boilermakers and Fighting Illini will meet on the mat of the IAF at 7 p.m. Other duals in the Purdue homestand are vs. Minnesota on Saturday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. in the IAF and vs. Michigan State on Friday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. in Mackey Arena.
Dual Summary: Purdue X, Penn State X
125: [16] Adam Smith (PS) def. Brandon Tucker (PU), MD 14-6
133: Bryan Heller (PS) def. Sean Schmaltz (PU), D 8-2
141: DeWitt Driscoll (PS) def. [20] Rene Hernandez (PU), F 3:33
149: Doug Withstandley (PU) def. Jack Decker (PS), MD 9-0
157: [16] Nathan Galloway (PS) def. Colton Salazar (PU), D 8-4
165: John DeCeault (PU) def. Jarrad Turner (PS), D 9-4
174: James Yonushonis (PS) def. Dan Bedoy (PU), F 4:25
184: [4] Eric Bradley (PS) def. [14] Ben Wissel (PU), D 3-1 (sv1)
197: [16] Philip Davis (PS) def. Nathan Moore (PU), MD 8-0
285: Joel Edwards (PS) def. Jake O'Brien (PU), D 6-0