In its 26^th straight home sell out, Penn State wrestling posted a dominating 30-3 win over Rider Sunday in Rec Hall. While most of the buzz in State College centered on THON in the Bryce Jordan Center, the Nittany Lions still drew swarms of fans for their Senior Day.

How It Happened

After Jordan Conaway and Jimmy Gulibon grinded out victories for Penn State to begin the match, Rider picked up its only three points when Chuck Zeisloft pulled out a 3-2 win over Kade Moss at 141 pounds to bring the score to 6-3.

Zach Beitz defeated Rider’s BJ. Clagon at 149 pounds, then Penn State’s Luke Frey posted a 10-4 win over Chad Walsh at 157 pounds and Garett Hammond turned in a dominant 13-4 major. Hammond’s match proved tough until he put on a surge in the third round to take over.

With Penn State up 16-3, on stepped senior Matt Brown for his final home match as a Nittany Lion. Brown ignited the crowd with a 14-3 major over Rider’s Ryan Wolfe. The victory put PSU up 20-3 and launched Brown into 17^th place on the Lions’ all-time win list.. Matt McCutcheon then pulled out a 6-4 win at 184 before Morgan McIntosh stepped up at 197 and wrestled his way to a 12-5 win. Finally, senior Jimmy Lawson closed out the match with a 12-4 major in his bout against Greg Velasco, his last home match in Rec Hall, to put the final score at 30-3.

Man of the Match

Matt Brown. In his last match at Rec Hall, the senior All-American and NCAA Finalist put on a show to earn yet another major decision, his fifth of the season. Brown will seek his second Big Ten title in two weeks before heading to Indianapolis to end his stellar career with an NCAA individual title.

Final Results

125: #9 Jordan Conaway PSU dec. J.R. Wert RID, 8-4 / 3-0
133: #5 Jimmy Gulibon PSU dec. Robert Deutsch RID, 4-1 / 6-0
141: Chuck Zeisloft RID dec. Kade Moss PSU, 3-2 / 6-3
149: #14 Zack Beitz PSU dec. B.J. Clagon RID, 6-3 / 9-3
157: Luke Frey PSU dec. Chad Walsh RID, 10-4 / 12-3
165: #18 Garett Hammond PSU maj. dec. (TB1) Conor Brennan RID, 13-4 / 16-3
174: #2 Matt Brown PSU maj. dec. Ryan Wolfe RID, 14-3 / 20-3
184: #19 Matt McCutcheon PSU dec. Clint Morrison RID, 6-4 / 23-3
197: #4 Morgan McIntosh PSU dec. Donald McNeil RID, 12-5 / 26-3
285: #7 Jimmy Lawson PSU maj. dec. Greg Velasco RID, 12-4 / 30-3

What’s Next?

Penn State will head to the Big Ten Wrestling Championships on March 7. The Lions will use the next two weeks to rest and prepare before heading to Columbus, Ohio.

Photo: GoPSUsports