Wrestling: Ohio State falls to Penn State
The fifth-ranked Ohio State wrestling team knew it would have its hands full for yesterday’s match at No. 2 Penn State. After all, the Nittany Lions’ top four wrestlers entered with a combined 75-2 record.
Penn State proved to be just as good as advertised, overcoming a 9-3 deficit to win the final seven matches and defeat Ohio State 34-9.
Logan Stieber (20-1), who is ranked third in the nation at 133 pounds, got Ohio State’s first victory of the match when he pinned Frank Martellotti.
Stieber’s brother, Hunter (19-3), who is No. 6 at 141 pounds, followed with a victory by decision over Bryan Pearsall.
But Penn State (9-1, 5-1 Big Ten) surged past Ohio State (9-3, 3-3) behind its top four wrestlers: Frank Molinaro, ranked No. 1 in the nation at 149 pounds; David Taylor, No. 1 at 165 pounds; Ed Ruth, No. 2 at 174 pounds; and Quentin Wright, No. 2 at 184 pounds.
Molinaro (21-0) won a majority decision over Alex Gordon; Taylor (19-0) defeated Derek Garcia on a technical fall; Ruth (21-0) pinned Nick Heflin, and Wright (18-2) pinned Craig Thomas.
Ohio State next plays at 6 p.m. Friday against No. 11 Michigan in St. John Arena.
