Dec. 6, 2009
Photo Gallery 
Final Bracket 
STATE COLLEGE, Pa.; December 6, 2009 - The 15th-ranked Penn State wrestling team, under the guidance of head coach Cael Sanderson, put forth a strong showing at the 2009 Nittany Lion Open. Penn State crowned three of the tournament's ten champions in a crowded field featuring many of the nation's best wrestlers.
Sophomore All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 6 at 149, blazed his way to a 5-0 mark and the title at 149. Molinaro was unstoppable in his wins, outscoring his five foes by a combined score of 36-6. Senior All-American Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah), ranked No.4 at 157, downed true freshman teammate David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) 9-7 in a thrilling final at 157 to claim the crown. Sanderson went 5-0 to take first while Taylor went 4-1 (including a pin of the 17th-ranked wrestler in the nation) to take second. Senior David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) battled his way through a rugged field at 184 to go 5-0 and claim the title. Erwin got a last-second takedown over Edinboro's Chris Honeycutt to win 9-8 in the finals. He also downed No. 10 Josh Patterson of Binghamton in the semifinals.
Other top performances for Penn State (in addition to the three champions and Taylor's second place showing) included junior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.), who was upset in the finals at 125. Pataky, ranked No. 6, was turning No. 9 Jarrod Garnett of Virginia Tech when the talented Hokie caught Pataky and pinned him at the 4:49 mark. Red-shirting sophomore All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) bounced back from an upset loss in the semifinals at 184 to take third, senior All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), bounced back from an upset loss in the semifinals to take third at 165 and Colby Pisani (Ridgway, Pa.), who took fourth at 141.
Other place winners for Penn State included freshman Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.), who was eighth at 133; freshman James Vollrath (Richboro, Pa.), who was fifth at 157; true freshman Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), who was fifth at 184; sophomore Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), who was fifth at heavyweight; and senior Brendan Herlihy (Fairfield, Conn.), who was eighth at heavyweight.
Penn State will re-visit its EWL?days next weekend, visiting West Virginia on Friday, Dec. 11, at 8 p.m., and Pittsburgh on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. The Nittany Lions' next home event will be on Jan. 22 when the Illinois Illini come to State College. Single event tickets for Nittany Lion wrestling cost $8 for adults and $6 for youth. Group sales are available once again for groups of 15 people or more. Group prices are $4 in advance and $5 walk-up. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 1.800.NITTANY between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. All Penn State events will once again air live on Forever Broadcasting's WRSC?(1390 AM), 3WZ (95.3 FM) and on GoPSUsports. com as well. The 2009-10 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
2009 NITTANY LION OPEN FINALS RECAP:
Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 - Rec Hall - State College, Pa.
125: #9 Jarrod Garnett, UA-Virginia Tech pinned #6 Brad Pataky PSU, WBF (4:49)
133: Bryan Ortenzio, Penn pinned Nathan McCormick, Missouri (4:01)
141: #18 Todd Shavrien, Missouri dec. Zack Kemmerer, Penn
149: #6 Frank Molinaro PSU 6-0 dec. Brian Stephens, Virginia Tech
157: #4 Cyler Sanderson PSU 9-7 dec. David Taylor, UA-PSU
165: #7 Nick Marable, Missouri 15-6 maj. dec. Scott Winston, UA-Rutgers
174: #4 Chris Henrich, UA-Virginia 10-3 dec. #15 Dorian Henderson, Missouri
184: David Erwin PSU 9-8 dec. Chris Honeycutt, UA-Edinboro
197: #3 Hudson Taylor, Maryland pinned #15 Brent Jones, UA-Virginia (1:51)
HWT: #6 Zach Rey, Lehigh 3-2 dec. #18 Ryan Tomei, Pittsburgh
Penn State's weight-by-weight summary:
UA - Note that UA indicates unattached collegiate wrestler
UANR - Note that UANR indicates a Non-Collegiate opponent and that result does NOT count towards individual's win/loss record.
* - Note that an (*) by a Penn State name indicates a PSU wrestler who is competing unattached.
125: Junior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.), ranked No. 6 at 125, suffered an upset loss to No. 9 Jarrod Garnett of Virginia Tech in the finals of the 2009 Nittany Lion Open. Pataky was trying to turn Garnett for back points when he got caught and pinned at the 4:49 mark. The Lion went 4-1 on the day to take second place. Also competing at 125 was senior Eric Caschera (S. Williamsport, Pa.), who went 1-1 on the day (1-2 including non-collegiate wrestlers).
Penn State's 125 agate:
#6 Brad Pataky:
W, 11-3 maj. dec. Ryan Link, Pitt-Johnstown
WBF vs. Christian Martino, UA-Brown (3:09)
W, 4-0 dec. Allen Stein, Navy
W, 6-4 dec. Bradley Wisdom, Missouri
LBF vs. #9 Jarrod Garnett, Virginia Tech (4:49)
Pataky SECOND PLACE, 4-1 overall
Eric Caschera:
W, 19-3 (TF) Tyrus Nickoli, UA-Lock Haven (7:00)
L, 1-7 dec. Mike Rhone, UANR
L, 8-11 dec. Jeremiah Austin, Michigan State
Caschera DNP, 1-1 on the day (1-2 inc. non-col.)
133: Penn State young duo of 133 pounders competed in the event, with red-shirt freshman Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) took eighth place, going 4-3 overall (with three of those wins coming against non-collegiate wrestlers giving him a 1-3 record on the day). Sophomore Tyler Saltsman (Concord, N.H.) went 0-2 on the day (1-2 including non-collegiate competition). Also competing at 133 was freshman Tom Reynolds (Skillman, N.J.), who went 0-1.
Penn State's 133 agate:
Tyler Saltsman
W, 4-3 dec. Mike Doria, UANR
L, 3-9 Nathan McCormick, Missouri
L, 7-8 Zach Grove, Pittsburgh
Saltsman DNP, 0-2 overall (1-2 incl. non-collegiate)
Bryan Pearsall
WBF vs. Jason Turpyn, UANR (2:22)
L, 4-7 dec. Garrett Morabito, Binghamton
W, default Cullen Isenberg, UA-Rutgers
W, 15-0 tech. fall Rob Vollrath, UANR (TF; 6:15)
W, 17-2 tech. fall Erik Galloway, UANR (TF; 2:50)
L, 11-16 dec. Filberto Colon, Rider
L, 0-2 dec. Garrett Morabito, Binghamton
Pearsall EIGHTH PLACE, 1-3 overall (4-3 incl. non-collegiate)
*Tom Reynolds
L, 3-6 dec. Chance Marsteller, UANR
Reynolds DNP, 0-1 overall
141: Sophomore Colby Pisani (Ridgway, Pa.) was superb at 141 for Penn State, winning his first three bouts to advance to the semifinals at 141. He downed No. 8 Tyler Nauman of Pittsburgh in the quarterfinals before losing his final two bouts to take fourth place. Pisani was 3-2 overall. Senior Adam Lynch (Mifflinburg, Pa.) went 2-0 on the day, 2-2 including non-collegiate wrestlers, and did not place.
Penn State's 141 agate:
Colby Pisani
W, 6-4 dec. (SV) A.J. Milanak, UA-Gannon
WBF vs. Collin Dozier, Michigan State (5:49)
W, 9-3 dec. No. 8 Tyler Nauman, Pittsburgh
L, 2-5 Zack Kemmerer, Penn
L, 2-8 dec. Anwar Goeres, Binghamton
Pisani FOURTH PLACE, 3-2 overall
Adam Lynch
W, 11-4 dec. Nicholas Gordon, UA-Virginia
W, 13-3 maj. dec. Donald Takagi, George Mason
LBF vs. Andrew Alton, UANR (2:03)
L, 4-12 maj. dec. Colin Shober, UANR
Lynch DNP, 2-0 overall (2-2 incl. non-collegiate)
149: Sophomore All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) blazed his way to a perfect 5-0 mark and the 2009 Nittany Lion Open crown at 149, stepping up as the first of Penn State's three champions. Molinaro outscored his opponents by a combined score of 36-6.
Also competing at 149 was freshman Jarret Freeman (Laurelton, N.Y.), who went 0-1; freshman James English (York, Pa.), who went 2-2 (3-2 including non-collegiate wrestlers); and junior Christian Harr (Hollidaysburg, Pa.), who went 2-2 overall (3-2 including non-collegiate action).
Penn State's 149 agate:
#6 Frank Molinaro
W, 8-0 maj. dec. Pierre Frazile, The Citadel
W, 6-1 dec. Brandon Weist, Missouri
W, 9-2 dec. Brian Tanen, Lehigh
W, 7-3 dec. Mike Rowe, UA-West Virginia
W, 6-0 dec. Brian Stephens, Virginia Tech
Molinaro CHAMPION, 5-0 overall
James English
WBF vs. Yichau Mark, Boston (1:46)
L, 3-5 dec. Kellon Balum, UA-Virginia
W, 6-4 Timothy Rich, UA-Edinboro
W, 7-6 dec. Jason Luster, UANR
L, 2-4 Brandon Weist, Missouri
English DNP, 2-2 overall (3-2 incl. non-collegiate)
Jarret Freeman
LBF vs. Matt Rosen, Virginia Tech (1:14)
Freeman DNP, 0-1 overall
Christian Harr
W, 11-2 maj. dec. Sean Floor, UA-Gannon
LBF vs. Donald Vinson, Binghamton (4:32)
W, 7-5 (SV) Eric Albright, Pittsburgh
W, 3-2 dec. Dylan Alton, UANR
L, 5-7 dec. Joseph McAuley, UA-Bloomsburg
Harr DNP, 2-2 overall (3-2 incl. non collegiate)
157: Senior All-American Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah) and true freshman David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) put on a thrilling show for the Rec Hall fans in the finals at 157, with Sanderson holding off a late Taylor charge to notch a hard-fought 9-7 win over the red-shirting freshman. Sanderson went 5-0 on the day to claim the crown while Taylor was 4-1, including a pin of No. 17 Patrick Wright of Missouri in the semifinals.
True freshman James Vollrath (Richboro, Pa.) was also outstanding for Penn State, taking fifth place with a 4-1 mark (5-1 including non-collegiate opponents). Freshman Nick Fischer (Unionville, Pa.) was solid at 157, winning his first three bouts before losing two close decisions. He went 3-2 on the day. Freshman Eric Resch (Lititz, Pa.) went 0-2 at 157 as well.
Penn State's 157 agate:
#4 Cyler Sanderson
WBF vs. Taylor Knapp, UA-Virginia Tech (1:32)
W, 5-4 dec. Eugene Riley, Virginia
WBF vs. Eric Hess, UANR (2:40)
W, 4-3 dec. Daryl Cocozzo, UA-Rutgers
W, 9-7 dec. David Taylor, UA-Penn State
Sanderson CHAMPION, 5-0 overall
Nick Fischer
WBF vs. Kyle Fluck, Clarion (0:53)
WBF vs. Ben Mandelbraut, Boston (1:06)
W, 3-1 dec. Corey Lear, UA-Bucknell
L, 1-6 dec. #17 Patrick Wright, Missouri
L, 0-1 dec. Mark Powell, Pittsburgh
Fischer DNP, 3-2 overall
*Eric Resch
L, 3-12 maj. dec. Mark Powell, Pitt
L, 3-5 dec. Anthony Priore, Sacred Heart
Resch DNP, 0-2 overall
*David Taylor
WBF vs. Zach Balch, Navy (2:11)
WBF vs. Myers Miller, Pitt-Johnstown (3:40)
W, 13-2 maj. dec. James Vollrath, UA-Penn State
WBF #17 Patrick Wright, Missouri (3:27)
L, 7-9 dec. #4 Cyler Sanderson, Penn State
Taylor SECOND PALCE, 4-1 overall
*James Vollrath
W, 17-2 tech. fall Zane Newton, The Citadel
W, 4-2 dec. D.J. Zarfos, UA-Edinboro
L, 2-13 maj. dec. David Taylor, UA-Penn State
W, 6-4 (SV) dec. Eugene Riley, Virginia
WBF vs. Mark Powell, Pittsburgh (1:31)
W, 4-1 dec. Eric Hess, UANR
Vollrath FIFTH PLACE, 4-1 overall (5-1 incl. non-collegiate)
165: Senior All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) came back from an upset loss in the semifinals to pin Lehigh's Dennis Galente at the 3:20 mark to take third place. Vallimont, ranked No. 9 at 165, went 4-1 on the day.
Senior Matt Dodds (Leola, Pa.) also competed at 165 and went 2-2 on the day. True freshman Jake Kemerer (Greensburg, Pa.) won his first two bouts but then dropped a tough decision in the third round before taking an injury default loss in his first consolation bout. He went 2-2 on the day.
Penn State's 165 agate:
#9 Dan Vallimont
W, 18-6 maj. dec. Mike Dessino, Bloomsburg
W, inj. def Derek Sickel, The Citadel
W, 6-5 dec. Jimmy Sheptock, UA-Maryland
L, 3-9 dec. Scott Winston, UA-Rutgers
WBF vs. Dennis Galente, Lehigh (3:20)
Vallimont THIRD PLACE, 4-1 overall
Matt Dodds
W, 8-7 dec. Josh Kassil, UA-Ohio
WBF vs. Kyle Bish, Penn State-DuBois (5:34)
L, 3-15 maj. dec. Scott Winston, UA-Rutgers
L, 3-10 dec. Kyle Bounds, Michigan State
Dodds DNP, 2-2 overall
*Jake Kemerer
W, 9-3 dec. Mason Bailey, Navy
W, 3-2 dec. C.J. Inglin, The Citadel
L, 0-4 dec. Dennis Galante, Lehigh
L, inj. def. Kyle Bounds, Michigan State
Kemerer DNP, 2-2 overall
174: Freshman Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) went 2-2 at 174 with two pins but did not place. Classmate Andrew Church (Erie, Pa.) went 1-2 on the day as well.
Penn State's 174 agate:
Justin Ortega
WBF vs. Seth Csaszar, Duquesne (3:50)
L, 4-0 dec. Bagna Tovuujav, George Mason
WBF vs. Anthony Esposito, Binghamton (6:41)
L, 4-8 (SV) dec. Michael Billings, Navy
Ortega DNP, 2-2 overall
*Andrew Church
W, 2-1 dec. Anthony Esposito, Binghamton
L, 5-12 dec. Dorian Henderson, Missouri
L, 5-13 maj. dec. Steve Makin, Pitt-Johnstown
Church DNP, 1-2 overall
184: Senior David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) continued his ascent at 184 pounds with a superb 5-0 run to claim the 2009 Nittany Lion Open crown, Penn State's third titlist of the day. Erwin's wins included a sound 5-2 victory over No. 10 Josh Patterson of Binghamton and a 9-8 victory (courtesy of a last-second takedown) over Edinboro's Chris Honeycutt in the finals. Erwin improves to 10-2 on the year, 10-0 at 184.
All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) overcame an upset loss in the semifinals to pin No. 10 Josh Patterson of Binghamton in the third place bout. Wright, wrestling unattached, posted a 3-1 mark to take the bronze. True freshman Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) was equally impressive on the day, going 5-1 to post a strong fifth place showing. Sophomore David Crowell (Easton, Pa.) was solid with a 3-2 showing on the day as well. Penn State's four talented 184-pounders combined to go 16-4 and take first, third and fifth place.
Penn State's 184 agate:
David Erwin
W, 15-0 tech. fall Brian Hurley, The Citadel (TF; 4:59)
W, 12-5 dec. Mike Cucinotta, UA-Rutgers
W, 5-3 dec. David Thompson, UA-Bucknell
W, 5-2 dec. #10 Josh Patterson, Binghamton
W, 9-8 dec. Chris Honeycutt, UA-Edinboro
Erwin CHAMPION, 5-0 overall
*David Crowell
W, 3-1 (SV) Shawn Fausey, UA-Drexel
L, 2-6 dec. Michael Salopek, UA-Virginia
W, 10-6 dec. Kevin Foley, Penn
W, 5-3 dec. Jacob Bachman, UA-Lock Haven
L, 5-10 dec. Ed Ruth, UA-Penn State
Crowell DNP, 3-2 overall
Ed Ruth
W, 20-3 tech. fall Pete Mesko, UANR (TF; 6:08)
W, 21-6 tech. fall Greg Prioleau, Navy (6:23)
L, 4-6 (SV) dec. Chris Honeycutt, UA-Edinboro
W, 10-5 dec. David Crowell, UA-Penn State
W, 4-2 dec. Jonathan Fausey, UA-Virginia
W, 6-4 dec. Matt Demichael, Navy
Ruth FIFTH PLACE, 5-1 overall
Quentin Wright
WBF vs. Patrick Walsh, Pitt-Johnstown (3:51)
W, 5-3 dec. Jonathan Fausey, UA-Virginia
L, 5-6 dec. Chris Honeycutt, UA-Edinboro
WBF 1:42 vs. #10 Josh Patterson, Binghamton
Wright THIRD PLACE, 3-1 overall
197: Sophomore Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.) won his first two bouts to get off to a hot start, but was pinned by No. 12 Brent Haynes of Missouri in the third round. Steadman then took an injury forfeit to bow out of the tournament with a 2-1 mark. True freshman Luke Macchiaroli (Tempe, Ariz.) went 0-2 on the day as well.
Penn State's 197 agate:
Clay Steadman
W, 1-0 dec. Richard Perry, UA-Bloomsburg
W, 6-2 dec. Justin Buchanan, Duquesne
LBF vs. #12 Brent Haynes, Missouri (2:26)
Steadman DNP, 2-1 overall
*Luke Macchiaroli
LBF vs. Ryan Gray, UA-Maryland (6:34)
L, forfeit vs. Timothy Lutke, UA-Edinboro
Macchiaroli DNP, 0-2 overall
285: Sophomore Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) bounced back from an upset loss in the quarterfinals to win his last three bouts with two technical falls and a pin to take fifth place at heavyweight. Wade, ranked No. 11, was upset by No. 18 Ryan Tomei of Pitt in the quarters. He went 5-1 on the day with two pins and two technical falls. Senior Brendan Herlihy (Fairfield, Conn.) went 3-3 (4-3 incl. non-collegiate) to place eighth.
Penn State's 285 agate:
#11 Cameron Wade
W, 14-6 maj. dec. Mike Landis, Navy
WBF vs. Ernest James, UA-Edinboro (2:23)
L, 1-6 #18 Ryan Tomei, Pittsburgh
W, 15-0 tech. fall vs. Corey Waite, Binghamton
W, 15-0 tech. fall vs. Brendan Herlihy, Penn State
WBF Joesiph Rizqallah, Michigan State (0:30)
Wade FIFTH PLACE, 5-1 overall
Brendan Herlihy
W, 4-1 dec. Justin Krupa, UA-Pitt Johnstown
L, 5-14 maj. dec. Daniel Bittner, Binghamton
W, inj. def. Mike Landis, Navy
W, 6-3 dec. Tyler DeMott, UANR
W, 3-2 dec. John Danilkowicz, Virginia
L, 0-15 tech. fall vs. #11 Cameron Wade, Penn State
L, 2-6 dec. Jeremy Johnson, UA-Ohio
Herlihy EIGHTH PLACE, 3-3 overall (4-3 incl. non-collegiate)
