Vallimont, who lost in the semifinals in 2008 then wrestled back for third, finally has a shot at the top of the podium. “I feel great right now,” he said. “It’s just another step toward my main goal of winning a national title. It’s all coming together. I feel like I’m wrestling great and I’m ready to go out there and wrestle (today).” Howe has beaten Vallimont twice this season: 7-2 in a regular- season dual meet and 3-1 at Big Tens. “I’ve wrestled him twice this year,” Howe said. “He’s tough. He’s a smart wrestler. I just want to stay on him, get a couple takedowns and seal the match.” While not exactly dominant, Vallimont nevertheless was never in trouble in his 5-2 quarterfinal win over Stanford’s Nick Amuchastegui. Vallimont, who improved his record to 31-7, said he’s wrestling at his peak. “I’ve felt great since (Thursday), I feel like I’ve been wrestling well,” Vallimont said. “I feel like I’ve been wrestling better than I ever have in my career and it’s a great way to finish it out (today) with a championship. I felt great wrestling in the semifinals and I’m hoping to be able to wrestle even better (today).
Molinaro dropped a 2-0 decision to No. 1 seed Lance Palmer of Ohio State. A second-period escape and a point for riding Molinaro the entire third period was the difference for the Buckeye. “I feel like I kind of cheated myself,” Molinaro said. “I was thinking it was going to be 1-1. My original game plan was to take it 1-1 into the third period and start fighting for the takedown in the third period. In the third period, I got ridden and didn’t give myself a chance to win the match.” Assistant coach Casey Cunningham, who was in Molinaro’s corner, said it was the “little things” that beat Molinaro. “If Palmer comes out and gets on top right away that builds his confidence and he gets strong,” Cunningham said. “We tried to slow him down at first and give ourselves a chance, which we did. You’ve got to get that escape in the third. “He had a chance and he didn’t get it done. He got to his feet really nice, but he didn’t cut low enough. Just small, technical things make a big difference when it comes to the national tournament, being a national champ, national finalist and being in the top six.” Molinaro was never challenged in an 8-0 quarterfinal win over unseeded Torsten Gillespie of Edinboro. Molinaro will meet Big Ten rival Kyle Ruschell of Wisconsin in the consolation semifinals and the right to wrestle for third place.
Sanderson could just never mount any offense in his 9-4 quarterfinal loss to a much thicker Steve Fittery of American University. Fittery, a two-time NCAA Division II runner-up at Shippensburg, rebounded from Sanderson’s opening takedown and controlled the match the rest of the way. In an All-America round match, Sanderson met a familiar foe, Michigan State’s Anthony Jones. Against Jones, Sanderson converted a couple take-downs in a 6-3 win. Then in the fifth round of consolations against Northern Colorado’s Justin Gaethje, Sanderson won 9-6 to earn a consolation semifinal showdown with Justin Lister of Binghamton. Pataky’s upset run came to a screeching halt in a quarterfinal matchup with Indiana No. 1 seed Angel Escobedo. The Hoosier rolled up a 15-0 technical fall in 6:27. Escobedo had defeated Pataky 14-1 at the Big Ten Championships. In the All-America round, Pataky was paired with upset victim Troy Nickerson of Cornell, the defending 125-pound champion and No. 2 seed. Against Nickerson, Pataky forged a 5-3 lead but Nickerson emerged from a scramble on top and put Pataky on his back for a five-point move in what would be a 9-5 win.
Erwin, who had been seeded 11th, started Friday morning’s consolation round by presenting coach Cael Sanderson with a unique situation — coaching against one of his former Iowa State Cyclones. Erwin put together a solid 7-3 win over Jerome Ward. In the next round of consolations, however, the Nittany Lion senior butted heads with three-time All- American and former NCAA champion Mike Pucillo of Ohio State. The Buckeye senior was too much for Erwin in a 6-2 decision. Like Erwin, Wade started with a win before being bounced. The Nittany Lion sophomore displayed his prowess on top by turning Pitt’s Ryan Tomei twice in an 8-3 win. But against Cal State Bakersfield’s Mitch Monteiro, Wade could mount no offense in a 7-0 loss.
Penn State maintained its place in the top 10 at the end of the night, currently residing in ninth place with 47 points. Iowa is well on its way to a third consecutive title with five finalists and 120.5 points. Cornell has two finalists and 75 points. In third, with three finalists and 67 points is Iowa State. Wisconsin has one finalist and 62 points and is in fourth. Oklahoma State rounds out the top five with a finalist and 60.5 points.
Thanks to Andy Elder and the "Centre Daily Times" (State College, Pa.) for the article