Defeating Ohio State has turned into a difficult task for the Penn State wrestling team. The Nittany Lions dropped six bouts, including both matchups involving top-10 wrestlers, as they fell to the third-ranked Buckeyes 21-14 before 3,000 fans Sunday at St. John Arena. The loss was Penn State’s fourth straight against Ohio State, which finished second at last year’s NCAA Championships. The meet was closer than last season’s 33-7 shellacking at Rec Hall, but the Nittany Lions (9-4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) squandered multiple opportunities to upset a Buckeye team missing 2008 NCAA champion Mike Pucillo at 184 pounds. “It was definitely within our grasp and we chose not to take it,” Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said during his post-meet radio show. “It’s a little frustrating and something we need to figure out.”

Penn State suffered its most frustrating losses at 149 and 165 pounds. Fifth-ranked sophomore Frank Molinaro surrendered a take-down, reversal and 1:28 of riding time in a 5-3 loss to third-ranked senior Lance Palmer at 149. Molinaro (22-2) trimmed the gap to 4-3 when Palmer (18-2) received his second stall call in the third period, but he couldn’t solve Palmer’s defense to register a takedown. Ohio State (12-1, 1-0) won the other marquee bout as No. 7 Colt Sponseller edged No. 8 Dan Vallimont 4-2 at 165. Vallimont started quick, taking Sponseller down 1:20 into the bout to snag a 2-0 lead. Escapes in the first and second periods helped Sponseller tie the bout. Sponseller received the decisive point when Vallimont received his second stall call and added another point by compiling 1:34 of riding time.

Penn State won the other two bouts between ranked wrestlers. No. 12 Brad Pataky opened the meet by edging No. 19 Nikko Trig-gas 9-7 at 125. No. 11 Cameron Wade ended the meet by handling No. 20 Corey Morrison 10-4 at heavyweight. Two takedowns, a three-point near-fall and escape helped Wade take an 8-0 lead, but two third-period takedowns helped Morrison prevent the major decision. Cyler Sanderson and David Erwin gave Penn State two bonus points by earning major decisions. After allowing the initial takedown, Sanderson converted a four-point move in the first period to seize control on his way to a 10-2 major of Tony Jameson at 157. Erwin received a surprise when Ohio State sent out T.C. Pendleton instead of Pucillo at 184. Erwin responded with a 15-2 major, although Pendleton fought off multiple shots in the closing seconds to prevent a technical fall.

True freshman Ian Paddock helped the Buckeyes take a 4-3 lead by majoring redshirt freshman Bryan Pearsall 13-2 at 133. Returning NCAA finalist Reece Humphrey increased Ohio State’s lead by earning a 22-7 technical fall over Adam Lynch at 141. Ohio State also received victories from Penn State transfer Dave Rella and freshman Cody Mangrum. Rella defeated Justin Ortega 12-5 at 174 while Mangrum defeated Dave Crow-ell 10-6 at 197. “I’m looking for fight and we’re not getting it,” Sanderson said during the radio interview. “We need to make some changes. We’re not fighting. We’re looking like we feel sorry for ourselves.”

Notes:The Buckeyes trimmed the Nittany Lions’ lead in the all-time series to 13-11. Ohio State coach Tom Ryan, who replaced Russ Hellickson after the 2005-06 season, improved to 4-1 against Penn State. ... Ohio State quarterback and Jeanette native Terrelle Pryor served as the Buckeyes’ honorary captain. ... Sunday’s loss keeps Vallimont’s career win total at 97. Vallimont is 19-4 this season and 97-41 for his career. ... Penn State returns to action Friday at No. 1 Iowa. The Hawkeyes pounded Michigan 36-0 and Purdue 41-6 this past weekend.

Thanks to the "Centre Daily Times" (State College, Pa.) for the article