University Park, Pa.
Gritty Wildcats Win Three Bouts in 37-10 Loss at Penn State
Roddy improves to 2-1 in conference, Metzler now 2-2 in Big Ten
Excerpts:
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- With a crippling snowstorm blanketing the campus of Penn State and the surrounding area, Northwestern and the 12th-ranked Nittany Lions squared off in Rec Hall in front of nearly 4,000 brave wrestling fans as PSU won a 37-10 decision Friday night. NU's wins came courtesy of Eric Metzler, Brian Roddy, Jr. and John Schoen, who won by 13-4 major decision at 197.
The Nittany Lions (11-5-1, 3-2) captured six of the nine contested bouts--with Northwestern (5-9-1, 0-4) being forced to forfeit the 10th at 141 pounds--and used the bonus points from two pins and a tech fall to open up its 27-point margin of victory. All six Penn State wrestlers who won matches Friday night are ranked at least as high as No. 13 in the nation at their respective weight classes.
With the dual season entering the home stretch, the Wildcats have set their sights squarely on the goal of winning each individual match to improve their seeding at the fast-approaching Big Ten Championships on March 6-7. Metzler, Roddy and Schoen each took a big step toward accomplishing that with wins on Friday against a PSU team coached by arguably the most successful college wrestler of all time in undefeated four-time NCAA champion Cael Sanderson.
Following a tech fall win by Penn State's Brad Pataky at 125, Metzler took on Bryan Pearsall and was able to gain a 4-2 lead in the second period with a quality reversal. Pearsall tied things up at four with a takedown in the third, but Metzler scored a one-point escape before notching a critical takedown to seize a lead he would not relinquish. Metzler improves to 2-2 in conference action with the victory.
No. 12 Penn State 37, Northwestern 10
125: #13 Brad Pataky (PSU) Tech Fall Levi Mele (NU), 3:14 (PSU 5, NU 0)
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