Southern Scuffle: Results - Championship Finals

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Southern Scuffle XI: Championship Finals

(Finals for 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th will be wrestled simultaneously)

 

125 -No.1 Nahshon Garrett (Cornell) dec.  Nicholas Megaludis (Penn State), 6-4

133 - No.1 Jon Morrison (Okla State) dec. No. 7 Joey Gulibon (Penn State), 4-0

141 -  No.2 Zain Retherford (Penn State) dec. No.12 Joe Spisak (UVa.), 5-4 OT.

149 - No.2 Drake Houdashelt (Missouri) pinned No.1 Nick Dardanes (Minnesota), 2:53

157 -  No.1 Alex Dieringer (Okla State) dec. No.6 Ian Miller (Kent State), 2-1 OT

165 - No.1 David Taylor (Penn State) major dec. No.2 Tyler Caldwell (Okla State), 9-0

174 - No.1 Chris Perry (Oklahoma State) dec. No.2 Matt Brown (Penn State), 4-0

184 - No.3 Gabriel Dean (Cornell) dec.  No.1 Ed Ruth (Penn State), 7-4

197 - No.1 Scott Schiller (Minnesota) dec. No. 2 Kyven Gadson (Iowa State), 6-3

285 - No.1 Tony Nelson (Minnesota) dec. No.2 Nick Gwiazdowski (N.C. State), 1-0

Champions: Oklahoma State (3), Cornell (2), Penn State (2), Minnesota (2), Missouri (1)

 

Outstanding Wrestler: Gabriel Dean (Cornell)

 

Play by Play

125 -No.1 Nahshon Garrett (Cornell) dec. No.2 Nicholas Megaludis (Penn State), 6-4

1st - Garrett shoots and has single leg but they go out of bounds ... Garrett gets tough first takedown late , 2-0 .... 2nd: Garrett down ... escape  3-0 ..nice ankle pick up and then kicks the other leg out from under him for impressive strong td (2)... 5-0 ... Megaludis escape, 5-1 ...  3rd: Megaludis down ... escape  5-2 .. now Meg gets the ankle and td (2)  5-4 . escape Garrett  6-4 1:04 remaining ... Meg gets high single leg... but Garrett counters .. :27 ... Garrett warning time runs out

 

Nahshon Garrett champion 6-4 .  Megaludis was a defending Southern Scuffle champ and Garrett was third ... Megaludis beat Garrett, 3-1, last season in the Scuffle semis ... series is 1-1 

 

133 - No.1 Jon Morrison (Okla State) dec. No. 7 Joey Gulibon (Penn State), 4-0

1st: Morrison gains quick double leg takedown (1) 2-0 ... Morrison riding tough ... Morrison trying to gain control of arms to tilt .. gets warning (1) not 45 degrees ... Gulibon not able to get off his stomach ... 2nd: Morrison down ... Gulibon controlling  but Morrison builds to base .. now stands ... and escape  3-0 plus riding time ... 1:08 remaining ...3rd: Gulibon down ... up on feet but go out of bounds ... :58 ... Gulibon up again  tries a roll ... Morrison tilts but no points ... :21 ...

 

 Morrison wins 4-0 ... wins his second S.S. title

 

141 - No.2 Zain Retherford (Penn State) dec. No.12 Joe Spisak (UVa.), 5-4 in overtime

 Retherford gets in quick on single and gains takedown(1) ...2-0 .. blood time Spisak .. Spisak gains escape 2-1 ...   2nd: Spisak down ... tries to stand but Retherford grabs ankle and rides him out of bounds ... Spisak rolls but nothing ... Retherfod throws in legs and tries to turn ... :49 .., lots of pressure on head ... blood time ... Spisak gains escape ... 2-2 ... 3rd: Retherford down ... escape 3-2 ... and has riding time ... Spisak in deep on double and gains td  4-3 ... Retherford has 1 minute RT 

 

OT - 4-4  blood time Spisak ... Retherford in quick and gains TD :28 remaining.. wins 5-4

Retherford improves to 17-0 ... Spisak wrestled much better than a 12 seed

 

149 - No.2 Drake Houdashelt (Missouri) pinned No.1 Nick Dardanes (Minnesota), 2:53

both 2013 All-Americans and both medaled at Scuffle

2nd: Houdashelt gains takedown on edge then cradles him and shocks the top seed with a pin ...

IMMM-Pressive ... 

 

157 -  No.1 Alex Dieringer (Okla State) dec. No.6 Ian Miller (Kent State), 2-1 OT

 1st: neither can find an opening ... 0-0 .... 2nd: Dieringer down ... out in 4 seconds ... 1-0 ... ref says work the center ... Miller locks up the arms and nice throw, but countered by Dieringer ... 3rd: Miller down ... quick escape  1-1 ...  OT ... neutral ...Dieringer was in on a double but Miller used hips and countered well .. Dieringer down ... escapes with :05 left ... 2-1 ... Miller down ... blood Dieriinger ... Dieringer caution (1) ... D rides him out :12 ... Dieringer rides to a win'

 

165 - No.1 David Taylor (Penn State) major dec. No.2 Tyler Caldwell (Okla State), 9-0

1st: good countering between two talented wrestlers but no advantage ... 0-0... 2nd: Caldwell down cross body ride by Taylor ... Caldwell rolls to get out but on his back twice .. Taylor gets a pair of 2pt nea falls ... 4-0 ... 3rd: Taylor down   reverse and 3-pt cradle  8-0 ... plus riding time ... caution Taylor (1) ... Taylor throws in legs ... stalemate .. :22 ...

 

174 - No.1 Chris Perry (Oklahoma State) dec. No.2 Matt Brown (Penn State), 4-0

NCAA champ (Perry) and All-American (Brown) ... Perry won Scuffle in 2013 and Brown was third ...

1st: Brown in on single leg late but no takedown.. 0-0 ... 2nd: Brown down ... Perry able to roll him for 2-pt near fall, 2-0 ... ..warning Perry (1) ... 2rd: Perry down ... escape .. 3-0 ... nice single leg by Perry but Brown locks hands to counter ... stalemate ... Brown looks for duck under but countered

Perry wins 4-0 ...  

 

184 -  No.3 Gabriel Dean (Cornell)  dec. No.1 Ed Ruth (Penn State), 7-4

Dean in on single twice and finally gets takedown on edge of mat ... 2-0 ... Ruth stands but tripped back down ... escape ... 2-1 ... Ruth shoots but Dean counters and locks up the head ... Ruth then gets the td(1)  3-2 ... Dean escapes 3-3 ... Ruth has ankle on edge but period ends   excellent first period lots of action ... 2nd: Dean down ... Dean up .. warning Ruth (1) ... Dean still down ... Ruth warning (2) ... point for Dean ... Dean leads, 4-3 ...  Dean up again ... escape 5-3 .. :22 ... Ruth shoots ... Dean ties up the head ... Ruth in on single but nothing ... period ends  3rd: Ruth down ...  Dean riding well ...  Dean warning (1) ... Ruth escapes  5-4 ... :48 ,.. Ruth shoots  but Dean counters and huge takedown  7-4

rides him on edge .. :24   Dean caution (1) .. rides the ankle tough.. Ruth looked tired from first period on .. upset of tournament .. Dean wrestled a well, orchestrated, smart match ...

 

Ruth had an 84-match win streak over three years .. last loss was to No.7 Nick Amuchastegui (Stanford) in third match of 2011 NCAAs.  then won four straight for 3rd plus 31-0 as soph  33-0 as junior and 16-0 as senior

 

197 - No.1 Scott Schiller (Minnesota) dec.  No. 2 Kyven Gadson (Iowa State), 6-3

1st: nothing... 2nd: Gadson down escapes... 1-0 ... 3rd Schiller down reverse  Gadson escape 2-2

Schiller leads 4-2    takedown late  6-2  Gadson escape  6-3

 

285 - No.1 Tony Nelson (Minnesota) dec. No.2 Nick Gwiazdowski (N.C. State), 1-0

1st: Nick G  in on single but nothing at end of first ... 0-0 ... 2nd: Nelson down... stands Nick G has single ... Nelson escape  1-0 ... 3rd: Nick G neutral ... in on single and had good chance to gain takedown ... but flattened out and Nelson working to get behind but stalemate ... 58 seconds ...

 

Nick G shoots 2-3 times but Nelson keeps him at bay ... Nelson wins second Scuffle

 

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net

[Sommers]

A Freshman breaks a 84 winning streak?!?! Wasnt even from the largest schools in Michigan and prepferred football over wrestling...

 

Lowell senior Gabe Dean picks Cornell for wrestling

 

By Jeff Chaney | The Grand Rapids Press
on October 25, 2011 9:40 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Email

 

Gabe Dean

His father didn’t even know if his son was going to wrestle.

Now, he’ll get a chance to watch him compete at the highest level in college.

Lowell state champion Gabe Dean recently decided to continue his wrestling career at Cornell University after a visit to the school in Ithaca, N.Y.

"When I woke Sunday after visiting and hanging out with the guys on the team, I couldn’t think of anything negative about the program and the school," Dean said. "That’s when I knew I fell in love with the place. I love the campus and the people. I know I’m going to be part of a family-like program."

Dean chose Cornell over other Division I schools Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Central Michigan.

Cornell placed second at last season’s NCAA Division I national tournament in Philadelphia.

Dean joins another West Michigan wrestler at Cornell. Former Allegan state champion Cam Simaz is a three-time All-American for Cornell and the nation’s No. 1-ranked 197-pounder this year.

Simaz’s younger brother, Taylor Simaz, an Allegan senior, also recently committed to wrestle at Cornell.

Dean brings an impressive resume to Cornell that includes winning the Division 2 state championship last season at 189 pounds and a 40-0 record as a junior.

Lowell coach Dave Dean, Gabe’s father, is thrilled to see how much his son has grown in the sport.

"I’m really happy," Dave Dean said. "When I was a young dad, I didn’t know if Gabe would even wrestle. I was hoping I could get him hooked on it, but not sure. I wanted him to love it like me, and I’m fortunate because I think he does. And I think that is the key and will help him in college."

Dave Dean was a two-time state champion at Montrose High School and went on to become an NCAA Division I runner-up and two-time Big 10 Conference champion for Minnesota.

Despite his father’s wrestling success, Gabe Dean wanted to be a football player growing up.

He turned out to be good at football as well.

A three-year starter at quarterback for the Red Arrows, Dean led Lowell to a state championship as a sophomore and a runner-up finish last year.

As a junior, he was named Associated Press Division 1-2 Player of the Year.

But Dean had a feeling wrestling is where he could best compete in college.

"When I was little, like every kid, I had dreams of being a pro football player," Dean said. "And football is a sport I will always love and has given me some great memories. But I don’t think I ever had the build to play football at the next level, and that won’t be an issue in wrestling. I love them both, but I realized you can create your own destiny in wrestling."

In addition to the athletics, Dean also knows he has a great opportunity academically.

"That was definitely important in the decision," said Dean, who has a 3.8 GPA. "It would be tough to turn down an education from Cornell."

Before he heads to New York and the Ivy League, Dean has unfinished business at Lowell.

The Red Arrows host Forest Hills Central on Friday in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs.

And after football is finished, Dean still has his senior year on the mat.

"I would like to help my team win a state title in football," Dean said, "and in wrestling, I would really like to win another (individual) state title and make a run at a team state title.

"And when I get to Cornell, I want to evolve into the best wrestler I can be," Dean said. "I know I will have the support there, because the people there are great."

Edited January 3, 2014 by Sommers

[Sommers]

Nice find for Kent State, Only a Soph... may end up being better than Kilgore...

 

Ian Miller - 2012-13 Wrestling

 FULL ROSTER 

EXPAND

 

Ian Miller

Weight: 0
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Oak Harbor, Ohio
High School: Oak Harbor

 

2013-14

• Placed fourth at ASICS University Nationals (74 KG), going 5-2 with four tech falls

 

2012-13

• Won 70KG championship at 2012 ASICS University Nationals, going 5-0

• Won National Collegiate Open, going 5-0 with two pins & a major decision

• Won the 165-pound bracket at Edinboro Open, going 4-0 with a pin and a major decision

• Placed second at Buffalo Brawl Invitational with a 4-0 record and three pins

• Placed sixth at the Ken Kraft 50th Midlands Championships, going 6-2 with a pin and two major decisions

• Placed sixth at Cleveland State Open

• Finished 25-7 with eight pins and seven major decisions

 

2011-12

• Named MAC Freshman of the Year

• Named Outstanding Wrestler at Mat Town Invitational, going 4-0 with two pins and two major decisions

• Became first Kent State wrestler since 2008 to win a MAC championship as a true freshman, going 3-0 with a major decision in his final bout

• Won 149-pound title at Body Bar, going 4-0 with pin and a major decision

• Named MAC Wrestler of the Week after earning Kent State's only major decision in the team's 22-13 victory over Central Michigan...also named to PrimeTime Performers Weekly Honor Roll

• Went 4-0 at Virginia Duals with a pin and two major decisions

• Went 3-0 with two pins at the Wrestle for a Cure Duals

• Went 3-0 in MAC Duals

• Went 14-1 in Dual Meets

 

Prior to Kent State

• Rated the No. 2 recruit in the nation at 152 pounds by The Open Mat, InterMat and USA Wrestling

• Won 145-pound Division II Ohio state title as a junior

• Was a state runner-up as a senior

• Placed third at state tournament as a sophomore

• Won 2010 Walsh Iron Man Tournament and finished runner-up in 2009

• Went 41-1 as a junior at Oak Harbor

[Hamblin]

A Freshman breaks a 84 winning streak?!?! Wasnt even from the largest schools in Michigan and prepferred football over wrestling...

Lowell senior Gabe Dean picks Cornell for wrestling

 

 

 

By Jeff Chaney | The Grand Rapids Press

on October 25, 2011 9:40 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Email

 

 

Gabe Dean

His father didn’t even know if his son was going to wrestle.

 

Now, he’ll get a chance to watch him compete at the highest level in college.

 

Lowell state champion Gabe Dean recently decided to continue his wrestling career at Cornell University after a visit to the school in Ithaca, N.Y.

 

"When I woke Sunday after visiting and hanging out with the guys on the team, I couldn’t think of anything negative about the program and the school," Dean said. "That’s when I knew I fell in love with the place. I love the campus and the people. I know I’m going to be part of a family-like program."

 

Dean chose Cornell over other Division I schools Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Central Michigan.

 

Cornell placed second at last season’s NCAA Division I national tournament in Philadelphia.

 

Dean joins another West Michigan wrestler at Cornell. Former Allegan state champion Cam Simaz is a three-time All-American for Cornell and the nation’s No. 1-ranked 197-pounder this year.

 

Simaz’s younger brother, Taylor Simaz, an Allegan senior, also recently committed to wrestle at Cornell.

 

Dean brings an impressive resume to Cornell that includes winning the Division 2 state championship last season at 189 pounds and a 40-0 record as a junior.

 

Lowell coach Dave Dean, Gabe’s father, is thrilled to see how much his son has grown in the sport.

 

"I’m really happy," Dave Dean said. "When I was a young dad, I didn’t know if Gabe would even wrestle. I was hoping I could get him hooked on it, but not sure. I wanted him to love it like me, and I’m fortunate because I think he does. And I think that is the key and will help him in college."

 

Dave Dean was a two-time state champion at Montrose High School and went on to become an NCAA Division I runner-up and two-time Big 10 Conference champion for Minnesota.

 

Despite his father’s wrestling success, Gabe Dean wanted to be a football player growing up.

 

He turned out to be good at football as well.

 

A three-year starter at quarterback for the Red Arrows, Dean led Lowell to a state championship as a sophomore and a runner-up finish last year.

 

As a junior, he was named Associated Press Division 1-2 Player of the Year.

 

But Dean had a feeling wrestling is where he could best compete in college.

 

"When I was little, like every kid, I had dreams of being a pro football player," Dean said. "And football is a sport I will always love and has given me some great memories. But I don’t think I ever had the build to play football at the next level, and that won’t be an issue in wrestling. I love them both, but I realized you can create your own destiny in wrestling."

 

In addition to the athletics, Dean also knows he has a great opportunity academically.

 

"That was definitely important in the decision," said Dean, who has a 3.8 GPA. "It would be tough to turn down an education from Cornell."

 

Before he heads to New York and the Ivy League, Dean has unfinished business at Lowell.

 

The Red Arrows host Forest Hills Central on Friday in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs.

 

And after football is finished, Dean still has his senior year on the mat.

 

"I would like to help my team win a state title in football," Dean said, "and in wrestling, I would really like to win another (individual) state title and make a run at a team state title.

 

"And when I get to Cornell, I want to evolve into the best wrestler I can be," Dean said. "I know I will have the support there, because the people there are great."

[Hamblin]

I notice they mention Mr. Dean coming from a division 2 school. I will add that the Simaz brothers, also mentioned, are from a division 3 high school.

Wrestling at the Midlands at heavyweight was Adam Coon. Adam is from Fowlerville. Division 2. I will add more in a new thread when I have more time. I will name some division 4 kids who did, or do continue to wrestle at the University of Michigan.

[Sommers]

published Thursday, January 2nd, 2014

Southern Scuffle shapes up as mighty battle in Chattanooga

share email print font size by Ward Gossett

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UTC's Nick Soto (yellow) takes on Oklahoma State's Brian Crutchmer (orange) during the Southern Scuffle NCAA wrestling tournament Wednesday at McKenzie Arena. Soto won the bout 3-2.

Photo by C. B. Schmelter /Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Southern Scuffle Team Scores

1. Minnesota 53.5 points, 2. Penn State 53, 3. Oklahoma State 50.5, 4. Cornell 40, 5. Iowa State 39.5, 6. Missouri 35.5, 7. Virginia 33.5, 8. Kent State 31, 9. Oregon State 28.5, 10. Air Force 28. 11. Old Dominion 27, 12. South Dakota State 26, 13. Boston 25, Pittsburgh 25, Stanford 25, 16. UTC 23, Ohio 23, 18. Central Michigan 21.5, 19. Penn, 20. North Carolina 19.5, 21. Duke 18.5, 22. Hofstra 16, 23. Navy 15.5, 24. North Carolina State 12.5, 25. Northern Colorado 12, 26. Appalachian State 11, Drexel 11, 28. American 10, Arizona State 10, 30. The Citadel 9, 31. Army 8, Bucknell 8, 33. Cleveland State U. 7, 34. Campbell 6.5.

 

Mocs at the Scuffle

Championship round of 64

133--Nick Soto tech. fall over Austin Marsico (Army), 18-2; 141--Eli Bienstock (Cornell) dec. Mike Pongracz, 5-3; 149--Donovan Halpin (Stanford) dec. Shawn Greevy, 4-3; 149--Augustus Sako (Virginia) pinned Austin Sams, 1:34; 174--Levi Clemons major dec. Mike Vollant (Kent State), 12-3; 184--Ryan Garriner (Ohio) major de. D.J. Franklin Smith, 14-2; 184--John Lampe dec. Michael Macchiavallo (N.C. State, 5-3; 184--Michael Sojka (Stanford) dec. Ira Dent, 2-0; 197--Scottie Boykin dec. Ryan Solomon (Pittsburg), 7-3.

 

Championship round of 32

125--Caleb Richardson tech. fall over Byron Smith, 16-0; 133--Nick Soto dec. Tyler Keselring (Central Michigan), 4-0; 157--Thomas Gantt (N.C. State) dec. Michael Hooker, 4-0; 157--John Nicholson (Iowa State) dec. Alex Hudson 6-4 OT (SV-1); 165--Zach Toal (Missouri) major dec. Trey Stavrum, 10-0; 174--Scott Marmoll (North Carolina) dec. Levi Clemons, 6-2; 184--Lawrence Thomas (Penn) dec. John Lampe, 7-4; 184--Mike England (Missouri) pinned Barrett Walthall, 5:31; 197--Conner Hartmann (Duke) dec. Scottie Boykin, 9-4.

 

Championship round of 16

133--Nick Soto dec. Brian Crutchmer (Oklahoma State), 3-2.

 

Consolation round two

125--Byron Smith pinned John Martin (Cleveland State), 3;54; 141--Mike Pongracz dec. Quentin Leadbeter (Navy), 3-1; 149--Shawn Greevy major dec. Nick Montgomery (Cleveland State), 14-5; Scott Sakaguchi (Oregon State) major dec. Austin Sams, 13-4; 157--Michael Hooker dec. Andrew Romanchik (Ohio), 5-2; 157--John Nicholson (Iowa State) dec. Alex Hudson 6-4, OT (SV-1); 174--Levi Clemons dec. Samson Imonode (Army), 7-1; 184--Devin Hightower (Air Force) major dec. D.J. Fralin Smith, 9-0; John Lampe major dec. Ira Dent (UTC), 8-7; 197--Scottie Boykin tech. fall over Cole Breigel (Northern Colorado), 16-1.

 

Consolation round three

125--Tyler Dorrell (Oklahoma State) pinned Byron Smith, 3:57; 141--Mike Pongracz major dec. Xaviel Ramos (Duke), 12-3; 149--Shawn Greevy dec. Gerald McGinty (Air Force), 7-3; 157--Brandon Kingsley (Minnesota) pinned Alex Hudson, 1:55; 157--Tristan Warner (Old Dominion) dec. Michael Hooker, 7-4; 165--Alex Elder (Oregon State) pinned Trey Stavrum, 2:11; 174--Levi Clemons dec. Eric Des Lauriers (Boston), 8-1; 174--Johnny Watson (Navy) dec. Barrett Walthall, 9-2; 184--Joohn Lampe dec. Ryan Tompkins (Army), 3-2; 197--Scottie Boykin major dec. Bryce Barnes (Army), 19-7.

 

The anticipated dogfight for the Southern Scuffle wrestling championship is no pipe dream.

 

The cream of college wrestling's crop saw to that Wednesday and set the stage for some monstrous, and entertaining, individual battles beginning at 9 this morning when the Scuffle resumes at McKenzie Arena.

 

Minnesota, currently ranked No. 2 nationally, held a half-point lead over consensus national No. 1 Penn State with Oklahoma State, ranked No. 4 in the latest national rankings, three points behind the Golden Gophers.

 

"It's one of the best tournaments of the year now," Minnesota coach J. Robinson said. "It used to be the Midlands, but if you look up and down the weight classes [the Scuffle] is definitely a tougher tournament."

 

The Gophers had scored 53.5 points to 53 for defending champ Penn State, 50.5 for Oklahoma State, 40 for Cornell and 39.5 for Iowa State. Missouri was sixth with 35.5, followed by Virginia, Ken State, Oregon State and Air Force.

 

UTC, whose 133-pound Nick Soto advanced to this morning's quarterfinals, stood in 16th place.

 

Cael Sanderson's Penn State crew advanced 10 to the quarterfinals, while Minnesota had nine and Oklahoma State six. Former champ Cornell, Virginia and Missouri had five each.

 

"We're sitting right where we want to be," Robinson said. "The guys have done a good job of winning the matches they need to. Scoring bonus points is going to be huge. Penn State always puts up a ton of bonus points, and Oklahoma State's done a good job."

 

Added host coach Heath Eslinger, "I knew it wasn't going to be a one-team race. I felt there were four or five teams that could compete [for the team title]. Nobody has distanced themselves. The tournament is in a great place."

 

Of the 34 teams entered, 24 had at least one wrestler in the quarterfinals, including the Mocs, whose Soto is hoping to return to the finals appearance he had two years ago.

 

"Nick lost two close matches to top-20-type guys. One was overtime and one he led till the last five seconds of the match," Mocs assistant Jon Sioredas said. "We had some consistency issues. This year the difference is that he has been in a zone for the last several weeks. From a staff standpoint, we can't tell if he's tired, if he's winning or if he's losing. He doesn't lose his composure. He's just in a really good place right now."

 

Soto is, in fact, the newly named Southern Conference wrestler of the week after going 6-0 in the Dec. 18-31 span, with a win over No. 1-ranked Ryan Mango of Stanford and two days later earning the 133-pound title in the Reno Tournament of Champions.

 

UTC has several wrestlers coming back through the Scuffle consolation rounds, including Mike Pongracz (141), Shawn Greevy (149), Levi Clemons (174), John Lampe (184) and Scottie Boykin (197).

 

"I don't think Scottie's performance is a surprise," Sioredas said of Boykin, a true freshman. "When you have a good attitude and put forth great effort, good things will happen. He's just beginning to scratch the surface of what he can do."

 

Eslinger was disappointed in the Mocs' second-round performance but felt better later.

 

"Bouncing back is just part of sports. We are going to believe in our guys through the highs and lows," he said. "Alex Hudson (157) is going through some lows right now, and I know our guys will rally around him.

 

"I wasn't pleased with our round of 32. Other than that, I'm OK. Our effort was better every other round. Some of the guys got better as the day went on."

 

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.

[Sommers]

Penn State wrestling: Nittany Lions win fourth straight Southern Scuffle; Ed Ruth upset in finals

From CDT staff reportsJanuary 3, 2014 Updated 15 hours ago

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Penn State coach Cael Sanderson and the Nittany Lions won their fourth straight Southern Scuffle crown on Thursday with a record 189 points.

MAURA FRIEDMAN — AP photo

 

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CHATTANOOGA, TENN. — For the fourth time in as many years, Penn State began the New Year with a championship.

 

The No. 1 Nittany Lions wrestling team pulled away from the rest of the field to win the Southern Scuffle championship with 189 points inside McKenzie Arena on Thursday. No. 3 Oklahoma State finished second with 164 1/2 points while No. 2 Minnesota was third in the two-day tournament with 161.

 

In each of the previous three seasons, Penn State followed up Southern Scuffle wins with NCAA Tournament wins in March. The Nittany Lions (7-0, 1-0) continued to use the mats inside the University of Tennessee Chattanooga’s facility as early staging grounds for the postseason tournament.

 

Penn State sent six wrestlers into title bouts at their respective weights. No. 1 David Taylor won his third Scuffle crown and dominated the 165-pound weight class. Taylor notched a technical fall, fall and two major decisions and earned 28 1/2 team points.

 

While Taylor helped the Nittany Lions increase their team lead, true freshman Zain Retherford clinched the tournament crown for Penn State. In the process, Retherford earned himself his first individual Scuffle title when he beat Virginia’s Joseph Spisak 6-4 in sudden victory. Retherford twisted Spisak to the mat for the winning takedown with 28 seconds left. Retherford added a major decision and a fall to his tournament tally.

 

Meanwhile, Penn State suffered a shocking defeat in the 184-pound finale. In the championship bout, Cornell freshman Gabe Dean handed Penn State senior Ed Ruth his first loss since the 2011 NCAA tournament. Ruth was behind for much of the bout.

 

Dean earned the first takedown before Ruth escaped and shot in for one of his own. Ruth gave up a point and the lead in the second when he was called for stalling on top. Dean eventually escaped and sealed the 7-4 win with a third-period takedown. Ruth was able to push his winning streak to 84 matches with three falls and a technical fall before reaching the finals.

 

Joining Ruth as runners-up were Nico Megaludis, Jimmy Gulibon and Matt Brown.

 

At 125 pounds, No. 2 Megaludis faced No. 1 Nahshon Garrett in a possible preview of what could be the weight class’s final bout in March as both wrestlers have heavy NCAA championship aspirations. The 174-pound championship pitted No. 3 Brown against No. 1 Chris Perry of Oklahoma State in a rematch of last season’s NCAA title match.

 

And like last March, Meglaudis and Brown came up just short.

 

Garrett edged Meglaudis 6-4 before Perry turned away Brown’s offense for a 4-0 decision. Along the way, Megaludis and Brown racked up team points. Brown posted two falls and two major decisions while Megaludis picked up three majors.

 

Gulibon meandered his way into the 133-pound finals against Oklahoma State’s Jon Morrison picking up five decision on the way. Among them, No. 17 Gulibon beat a pair of Top 10 wrestlers in Stanford’s No. 5 Ryan Mango and Minnesota’s No. 10 David Thorn. But Morrison, the top seed, shut Gulibon down 4-0.

 

No. 12 Jimmy Lawson finished third at heavyweight. Lawson wrestled his way back from a 3-1 loss to Minnesota’s No. 1 Tony Nelson in the semifinals to take third when Ohio’s No. 11 Jeremy Johnson took a medical forfeit.

 

No. 3 Morgan McIntosh wound up fourth at 197 pounds. After losing to Missouri’s J’Den Cox 2-0 in the quarterfinals, McIntosh’s next two opponents, No. 13 Phillip Wellington of Ohio and No. 12 Brandon Palik of Drexel, both suffered injuries. McIntosh beat No. 16 Nick Bonaccorsi of Pittsburgh 2-1 in a tiebreaker before losing to Cox again, this time 8-2 in the third-place bout.

 

Jon Gingrich and Jordan Conaway both finished sixth at 285 and 133 pounds, respectively. Luke Frey was eighth at 149 pounds.

 

Nate Morgan, Zach Beitz, James Vollrath, Matt McCutcheon and Garrett Hammond also competed for Penn State but did not place. McCutcheon and Hammond competed unattached