A year ago this week, the Penn State wrestling team began its momentous push to a surprising NCAA Championship win in Philadelphia. Now, the squad will try to recapture that magic as the second semester and second half of the season gets underway.

After winning the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Penn State won its first dual match of the season yesterday, defeating Michigan State in East Lansing in a dominating 36-6 fashion, scoring two falls in the process.

If you haven’t been following the team thus far, here’s what you may have missed:

• Penn State is 5-1 on the season, with the only loss coming in the team’s second dual match of the season against number third ranked Minnesota. Penn State is ranked fourth by the NCAA, but first by wrestling powerhouse InterMat.

• Penn State’s youth was a major talking point a year ago, and it is again this season, as freshmen Nico Megaludis at 125 pounds and Morgan McIntosh at 197 pounds have come exactly as advertised, combining for 28 wins thus far.

• Frank Martelloti made his return to the team at Michigan State, and will fill a consistently inconsistent spot in the line-up at 133 pounds that was formerly filled by Bucknell transfer Derek Reber. Bryan Pearsall is now the full time starter at 141 pounds after season starter Sam Sherlock was dismissed from the team. Otherwise, the roster is intact from the team’s first dual meet against Bloomsburg.

• Due to scheduling conflicts brought about by the team’s trip to the Scuffle, Penn State’s two biggest dual matches of the season are still to come. The Nittany Lions will host number one ranked Iowa January 22nd, which is already sold out. Have no worries, though, because 10th ranked Pittsburgh comes to town on February 19th, and tickets are still available.