No. 24 Penn State downs wrestlers, 28-12

Gomez, Jones, Palmieri earn wins for MSU.

EAST LANSING, Mich., 2/13/08 - The Michigan State wrestling team fell at the hands of No. 24 Penn State, 28-12, on Friday night (Feb. 13) at Jenison Field House. MSU picked up wins at the 133, 157 and 184-pound weight classes.

The Spartans fall to 6-7 this season with a 1-5 mark in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions move to 8-10-2 and earn their first conference win of the season, giving them a 1-4-2 record in the Big Ten.

"We lost some matches where they just simply out-wrestled us," said MSU head coach Tom Minkel. "If we're going to compete at this level, we have to be tougher. It's up and down the lineup, simple as that."

Action began at the 125-pound weight class, where Penn State's 13th-ranked Brad Pataky earned an 17-2 technical fall against Spartan redshirt freshman Eric Olanowski. A forfeit at 133 pounds gave sixth-ranked junior Franklin Gomez the win and MSU the 6-5 lead.

Penn State's Frank Molinaro downed MSU redshirt freshman Collin Dozier, 4-0, at 141 and No. 2 Nittany Lion Bubba Jenkins recorded a 21-5 technical fall over redshirt freshman David Cheza to help Penn State take a 13-6 advantage.

MSU sophomore Anthony Jones Jr. picked up a win at 157, defeating Penn State's Anthony Darling, 8-4, to bring the match to 13-9. The win gives Jones his 21st this season, which leads the team.

"One thing Anthony does is that he gives you everything every match," Minkel said. "He's got a good ability to adjust when he's out there. He's having a heck of a year."

Senior Rex Kendle dropped a tough 6-5 decision against No. 20 Dan Vallimont at 165 and redshirt freshman Ian Hinton lost to No. 16 Quentin Wright, 10-3, at 174 to give the Nittany Lions the 19-9 lead.

MSU junior Nick Palmieri notched the Spartans' third and final win of the night, beating Jack Decker, 7-5. Penn State 197-pounder Clay Steadman topped MSU redshirt freshman Tyler Dickenson, 4-1 and heavyweight Cameron Wade pinned MSU true freshman Steve Andrus in 3:30 in Andrus's first career dual bout.

The Spartans return to Jenison Field House this Sunday, Feb. 15, when they take on No. 12 Oklahoma at 1 p.m.

MATCH RESULTS
Penn State def. Michigan State, 28-12
125: #13 Brad Pataky (PSU) tech. fall Eric Olanowski (MSU), 17-2; PSU leads, 5-0
133: #6 Franklin Gomez (MSU) def. #9 Jake Strayer (PSU), forfeit; MSU leads, 6-5
141: Frank Molinaro (PSU) dec. Collin Dozier (MSU), 4-0; PSU leads, 8-6
149: #2 Bubba Jenkins (PSU) tech. fall David Cheza (MSU), 21-6; PSU leads, 13-6
157: Anthony Jones Jr. (MSU) dec. Tim Darling (PSU), 8-4; PSU leads, 13-9
165: #20 Dan Vallimont (PSU) dec. Rex Kendle (MSU), 6-5; PSU leads, 16-9
174: #16 Quentin Wright (PSU) dec. Ian Hinton (MSU), 10-3; PSU leads, 19-9
184: Nick Palmieri (MSU) dec. Jack Decker (PSU), 7-5; PSU leads, 19-12
197: Clay Steadman (PSU) dec. Tyler Dickenson (MSU), 4-1; PSU leads, 22-12
HWT: Cameron Wade (PSU) pins Steve Andrus (MSU), 3:30; PSU wins, 28-12