By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - As the Nittany Lions prepare to host Ohio State for their second straight dual meet on the mat inside Rec Hall, take a look at a few significant numbers that describe just how talented the two conference teams have been this season.

2: Penn State holds the No. 2 spot in the nation according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association's poll. The Lions sit behind top-ranked and undefeated Oklahoma State.

3: Senior Frank Molinaro and sophomores David Taylor and Ed Ruth remain unbeaten heading into this weekend's competition. The trio has won 58 bouts combined this season.

4: The Lions have wrestled in nine dual meets so far this season and only three of those have been on their home mat. This weekend will mark just the fourth match that has been held in Rec Hall this season.

5: Ohio State sits at the fifth spot on the NWCA's national team ranking with a record 9-2 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten.

7: Last weekend the Nittany Lions defeated Iowa 22-12 to hand the Hawkeyes their second straight dual meet loss. Penn State shut out the Hawkeyes in the final seven bouts of the match to earn all 22 of its dual points.

7: With five true freshmen and two redshirt freshmen, the Buckeyes come to Rec Hall with seven athletes in their starting lineup that are wrestling in their first competitive season.

8: Penn State has taken eight dual meet victories so far this season, including wins over Bloomsburg, Lehigh, West Virginia, Lock Haven, Michigan State, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Iowa.

25: The Nittany Lions and the Buckeyes have competed against one another 25 times in the history of each of their individual programs. Penn State holds a slim 14-11 nod over the Buckeyes all-time.

72: Under the direction of head coach Cael Sanderson and his staff, the Penn State squad is known for its fast-paced matches and quick throws. As a team, the Lions have dealt a combined 72 pins this season. Taylor and junior Quentin Wright lead the group with nine pins each while senior heavyweight Cameron Wade has notched seven of his own.

141: Ohio State's true freshman Hunter Stieber is ranked No. 6 at 141 and will most likely face Penn State's junior Bryan Pearsall. Stieber holds an 18-3 overall record this season and Pearsall has notched a 10-7 mark, but the match should be a particular one to watch as Pearsall is no stranger to facing ranked opponents.

300: The Lions have managed to more than quadruple the dual meets scores of their opponents so far this season, scoring 300 total dual points and allowing just 65 to be scored against them. In five different instances, Penn State has given up less than six dual points to the competition.

6,846: Sunday's match against the Buckeyes marks the third meet this season that will be wrestled in front of a sold out crowd in Rec Hall. The facility holds 6,846 people at capacity, and each and every one of those spaces will surely be filled.


Last year, Penn State handed it to the Buckeyes with a 42-3 victory inside Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions and Ohio State will clash at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon for the sixth conference match of each team's season.