After dropping last weekend’s big home match against top-ranked Minnesota to fall to 8-2, the Penn State wrestling team needed a big win to regain its momentum.

On Friday, the No. 7 Nittany Lions got their close win, as the visitors posted a 19-15 win over the home No. 15 Michigan squad in front of 1,830 fans at Cliff Kean Arena.

How It Happened

Unlike last weekend, the strength of the order for Penn State was at the beginning. The Nittany Lions won the first four bouts, including upsets by No. 9 Jimmy Gulibon at 133 and No. 18 Zack Beitz at 149, to go up 12-0. Luke Frey dropped a close 3-1 decision at 157 to put Michigan on the board going into intermission.

The biggest surprise of the opening run was unranked Kade Moss’ win over No. 17 George Fisher at 141. After a scoreless first period, Moss rode Fisher and earned two near-fall points before Fisher could escape. A takedown gave Fisher the lead going into the third, where Moss chose down to start. He quickly earned a reversal and another two near-fall points to earn a huge 6-3 win.

The Nittany Lions would need that huge lead, because Michigan came out of intermission fired up and ready to go. Garett Hammond dropped a decision at 165 right out of the gate to cut the Penn State lead to six before senior No. 3 Matt Brown majored his opponent to put Penn State up back up by double digits, 16-6.

The next bout went perfectly for the Wolverines, as No. 10 Domenic Abounader pinned No. 17 Matt McCutcheon at 184 to give Penn State just a four point lead with two bouts to go. But No. 5 Morgan McIntosh, fresh off his upset of No. 1 Scott Schiller of Minnesota, clinched the dual for Penn State with a close 3-2 win over No. 8 Max Huntley at 197. Michigan’s No. 7 Adam Coon won at 285 over Jon Gingrich to provide the final score.

Man of the Match

Redshirt freshman Kade Moss got arguably the biggest win in a Nittany Lion singlet on Friday, pulling an upset over No. 17 George Fisher at 141. Moss provided breathing room and extra points where the Nittany Lions didn’t expect to have them, and it made a difference in the end.

Tweet of the Match

So much for heavyweight being decided. Jon Gingrich wrestling for Penn State against Michigan sophomore star Adam Coon.

— James R. Carlson (@JamesRCarlson) January 31, 2015

Last Sunday, head coach Cael Sanderson said that No. 6 Jimmy Lawson would most likely be the starter at heavyweight from here on out. But on Friday, Jon Gingrich took the mat and dropped a 5-2 decision to No. 7 Adam Coon. Hopefully this is just to give Lawson some time off before Michigan State on Sunday, and Iowa in the Bryce Jordan Center next weekend, but there is a possibility that the heavyweight spot isn’t as solidified as Sanderson implied last weekend.

What’s Next?

Penn State (9-2, 5-2) will take on Michigan State in East Lansing on Sunday afternoon. The meet starts at 2 p.m. The Spartans are 4-8 (0-5 in B1G) and most recently fell to Wisconsin last Sunday.

Results

125: #8 Jordan Conaway PSU dec. Conor Youtsey MICH, 3-2
133: #9 Jimmy Gulibon PSU dec. #8 Rossi Bruno MICH, 9-3
141: Kade Moss PSU dec. #17 George Fisher MICH, 6-3
149: #18 Zack Beitz PSU dec. #9 Alex Pantaleo MICH, 6-4
157: #13 Brian Murphy MICH dec. Luke Frey PSU, 3-1
165: Taylor Massa MICH dec. Garett Hammond PSU, 6-3
174: #3 Matt Brown PSU maj. dec. Jake Salazar MICH, 12-2
184: #10 Domenic Abounader MICH pinned #17 Matt McCutcheon PSU, WBF (3:52)
197: #5 Morgan McIntosh PSU dec. #8 Max Huntley MICH, 3-2
285: #7 Adam Coon MICH dec. Jon Gingrich PSU, 5-2

Photo: Michigan Athletics