No victory was bigger than Molinaro’s 6-5 decision over Ruschell. Molinaro entered the meet 0-3 against top-5 opponents, but he stunned Ruschell with a counter takedown and two nearfall points in the first period. Ruschell staged a comeback, reversing Molinaro in the first and third periods. But Molinaro fought off multiple shot attempts in the final minute to improve to 22-3. Molinaro defeated Ruschell two days after losing to top-ranked Brent Metcalf of Iowa by fall. “For Frank, that’s obviously the big match,” Sanderson said. “That’s a big confidence booster for him.”
Molinaro’s victory followed another strong showing by Adam Lynch, who defeated No. 20 Cole Schmitt 5-4 at 141. Lynch allowed the initial takedown, but reversed Schmitt and rode him out to leave the first period tied 2-2. A second-period escape and takedown helped Lynch take control of the bout. Schmitt trimmed the gap with a reversal in the third. The victory marked Lynch’s third over a ranked opponent in four Big Ten duals. Lynch earned an 8-6 overtime victory over fifth-ranked Montell Marion of Iowa on Friday. He opened the conference schedule by pinning 11th-ranked Ryan Prater of Illinois. “Lynch is doing an awesome job,” Sanderson said. “He’s just soaking it up and getting better every match. His match was obviously a big part of the win. He’s doing a phenomenal job.”
Brad Pataky rebounded from a loss to Iowa’s Matt McDonough by opening the meet with an 11-3 major over Drew Hammen at 125. Pataky took Hammen down three times and tilted him for two nearfall points in the second period. Cyler Sanderson increased Penn State’s lead to 16-5 by pinning Greg Burke in 6:39 at 157. Sanderson took Burke down seven times and led 15-5 when he decked Burke. The Badgers trimmed the lead to 16-11 by winning the next two bouts. No. 1 Andrew Howe halted Penn State’s momentum by defeating Dan Vallimont 7-2 at 165. After a scoreless first period, Howe, an NCAA runner-up as a true freshman last year, took Vallimont down in the second and third periods. “He’s right there,” Cael Sanderson of Vallimont. “He knows he can compete. We just don’t want him kind of waiting until Big Tens to be beating one of those guys. He can beat them. We know he can.”
True freshman Brendan Ard followed Howe’s victory by using a late takedown to defeat Justin Ortega 6-4 at 174. David Erwin and Cameron Wade were Penn State’s only winners during the final five bouts. Erwin beat his second ranked opponent of the weekend by edging Travis Rutt 2-0 at 184. Erwin scored on a second-period escape and riding time point. Trevor Brandvold trimmed Penn State’s lead to 19-15 by majoring Dave Crowell 11-3 at 197, but Wade sealed the victory by defeating Eric Bugenhagen 4-0 at heavyweight. Wisconsin registered its biggest victory at 133, where Tyler Graff took Bryan Pearsall down 10 times to earn a 23-8 technical fall. Graff, a redshirt freshman, also had 14 takedowns during the Badgers’ loss last Friday at Minnesota.
Notes:The Badgers are the fourth ranked opponent Penn State has defeated this season. The Nittany Lions also defeated No. 15 Edinboro, No. 13 Kent State and No. 19 Illinois. ... Vallimont went 0-2 this weekend and will enter next Friday’s match against Michigan at Rec Hall with 97 career victories. Penn State has three straight home matches, including duals against Michigan next Sunday and Michigan State on Feb. 12, so Vallimont, whose parents attended Bald Eagle Area High School, has a chance to reach 100 victories at Rec Hall. ... Crowell and Clay Steadman both received starts at 197 this weekend. The coaching staff hasn’t determined a starter for the final four duals.
Thanks to the "Centre Daily Times" (State College, Pa.) for the article