Josiah Hritsko 1/31/18 Josiah Hritsko 1/31/18

Penn State vs. Ohio State: By the Numbers

The biggest collegiate dual of the year is approaching as #2 Ohio State takes on #1 Penn State at Rec Hall this weekend in what some are calling the “Super Bowl of College Wrestling.” PSU has a 42 match winning streak with two undefeated seasons in 2016 and 2017, the longest since Iowa’s “unbeaten” 84-0-1 win streak from 2008-2012. Their last loss came from Oklahoma State in February of 2015, which was also the last season that the Buckeyes beat the Nittany Lions by a score of 22-15. Both PSU and OSU have phenomenal teams this year, and that is shown by the stats of their head coaches, individuals, and teams

Head Coaches

Since 2009 the two head coaches of these prestigious programs have faced off against each other. Tom Ryan joined Ohio State’s staff in 2006, while Cael Sanderson did not head PSU until 2009. Ryan has a record at OSU of 147-49-0 to Sanderson’s 123-14-2 at PSU. From ‘09-‘17 the Nittany Lions went 6-2 against the Buckeyes, with losses in ’10 and ’15; furthermore, PSU outscored OSU 221-105 in the eight total matches. These coaches share 5 Big Ten Conference Championships and 7 NCAA Championships between them. Since 2011, the only years that Penn State did not win either a Big Ten Title or NCAA Championship, it was won by Ohio State. Also shared between the coaches are 27 individual National Champions. Ryan has coached multiple-time champions, including Logan Stieber (4X), Kyle Snyder (2X), and J Jaggers (2X). Under Sanderson’s tutelage have been greats such as Ed Ruth (3X), David Taylor (2X), Quentin Wright (2X), and Zain Retherford (2X). Of course, Sanderson is recognized for coaching 5 NCAA Champions in one year during the ‘16-’17 season. Needless to say, these two coaches are some of the best in DI college wrestling, and it will be great to see them go at it on Saturday.

Projected Lineups

#2 Ohio State

125 Natan Tomasello (#4)
133 Luke Pletcher (#2)
141 Joey McKenna (#11)
149 Ke-Shawn Hayes (#6)
157 Micah Jordan (#5)
165 Te-Shan Campbell (#14)
174 Bo Jordan (#3)
184 Myles Martin (#2)
197 Kollin Moore (#1)
Hwt Kyle Snyder (#1)

#1 Penn State

125 Devin Schnupp
133 Corey Keener
141 Nick Lee (#6)
149 Zain Retherford (#1)
157 Jason Nolf (#1)
165 Vincenzo Joseph (#1)
174 Mark Hall (#2)
184 Bo Nickal (#1)
197 Shakur Rasheed (#7)
Hwt Nick Nevills (#6)

Individual Stats

These are the two most stacked lineups in the country right now. Shared between these two teams are: 15 HS State Champions with 40 titles, 4 HS Prep Champions with 11 titles, 9 Conference Champions with 14 titles, 8 National Champions with 10 titles, and 1 Hodge Trophy winner. Only 4 of the 20 wrestlers have not qualified for the NCAA tournament; however, none of those four have even had the opportunity to qualify yet. OSU brings in 7 NCAA placers, while PSU brings in 6. Each team also brings one multiple-time NCAA Champion in Retherford and Snyder. Between these two teams there are 18 ranked wrestlers. 6 of the #1 ranked wrestlers in the country will be wrestling in the dual this weekend. Additionally, there are 5 undefeated Nittany Lions (Retherford, Nolf, Joseph, Hall, Nickal) and 4 undefeated Buckeyes (Pletcher, Martin, Moore, Snyder). After this weekend, there will be one less undefeated wrestler when #1 Bo Nickal (20-0) and #2 Myles Martin (22-0) wrestle at 184 lbs. Those two wrestlers have a strong rivalry in matches that are always close. Martin beat Nickal in the 2016 NCAA championship at 174 lbs. and in the 2017 Big Ten semifinals; however, Nickal has won every dual meet encounter. Another fun fact about the dual is that there are 7 wrestlers from Pennsylvania, with 4 of those from the WPIAL, and 4 from Ohio combined from both teams.

Team Dual Stats

As far as the teams as a whole, each is undefeated in dual meets this season. Both squads defeated Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers. Ohio State has scored an average of about 34 points per match in 12 matches to Penn State’s 37 points in 11 matches. The Buckeyes have outscored their opponents 410-88, while the Nittany Lions have scored 411 to their opponent’s 80 points. Ohio State has wrestlers than can get decisions, but Penn State has a team full of pinners. In fact, PSU has 75 pins this year -- more than half coming from Retherford, Nolf, and Nickal -- to OSU’s 29. The rest of the points scored are pretty equal: PSU has 22 tech falls, 33 majors, and 35 decisions; OSU has 34 tech falls, 34 majors, and 55 decisions. Overall, the starting roster at Penn State has a collective record of 163-27; unfortunately for them, 14 of those losses come from redshirt freshman Devin Schnupp at 125 lbs. On the flip side, Ohio State has totalled individual records of 152-16.

Overall

Penn State has had some challenges this year with Lehigh and Rutgers, but they have come out on top. The team is going to have to step it up against the Buckeyes because Coach Ryan is hungry for a dual meet win and NCAA team title. Ohio State will earn easy wins at 125, 133, and 285. Penn State will win 149 and 165. 157 should also be a win if Nolf recovers from his knee injury in last week’s match against Rutgers. If he cannot wrestle, PSU has three backup choices: 1) bump up Verkleeren (FR, PA State Champ), 2) wrestle Berge (FR, undefeated 3X MN State Champ), or 3) drop Manville (FR, World Team Member, Prep Champ). The rest of the weights are going to be tough matches that could go either way. Ohio State has a full team, from top to bottom, of high-caliber wrestlers, lead by Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder. Penn State, on the other hand, has a powerhouse of five returning NCAA Champions from 149 to 184. Both Penn State and Ohio State are incredible teams this season, and this match is going to be one for the ages. Whether you’re a Nittany Lion, Buckeye, or wrestling enthusiast, this is a great time to be a fan of college wrestling. Check out the match this Saturday, February 3 at 8:00 PM E.T. by watching on the Big Ten Network, getting live updates from FloWrestling, or listening live through Go PSU Sports.

Make your own guesses for the match with your friends and family by downloading the PSU vs. OSU Stat & Prediction Sheet found here:

Download the Sheet

Sources: FloWrestling, Penn State Wrestling, Ohio State Wrestling
Cover Photo Source: Centre Daily Times

Canon-McMillan Wrestling Alumni Association 1/19/18 Canon-McMillan Wrestling Alumni Association 1/19/18

Alumni Spotlight: Mike Hull

So far in this series, we’ve highlighted past CM wrestlers who have become college coaches and Division I wrestlers. Taking a slightly different approach this week, the Alumni Association is removing our headgears and picking up helmets as we tackle 2010 CM graduate, Mike Hull.

During his days as a Big Mac, Mike was a four-sport athlete, excelling in football, wrestling, baseball, and track. On the football team Mike played linebacker and running back as a captain. #49 helped the Big Mac football team to a winning season record, a feat which has not happened since his time under Coach Montecalvo.

To Mike, fall was for football and spring was for baseball, when the Big Mac was a part of the 2008 AAAA State Championship team and made into a captain over time. In his senior year, Mike was not satisfied with three sports, so he picked up another; in track & field, Mike competed in the 100 meter and shot put. His high school wrestling days are remembered by many wrestling fans because of the 2010 WPIAL finals match against Kiski. Coming down to the last bout, the captain put his shoulder injury aside to clinch the Big Mac’s first of four straight WPIAL AAA Team Championships.

Mike furthered his education at Penn State University, where he continued to play football, following in his father’s footsteps. After a 2010 redshirt year, the Nittany Lion played special teams in 2011. In 2012 “Hull” started to become a household name in State College as he started as an outside linebacker, eventually switching to inside linebacker in the 2014 season. The defenseman was also named a captain in his final season under Coach James Franklin, when he lead his team and the Big 10 in tackles. #43 ended his college football career on a high note after PSU sanctions were lifted and Mike became a Pinstripe Bowl Champion.

The Nittany Lion graduated with a degree in finance and signed with the Miami Dolphins after being undrafted. Cut from the lineup in 2015, Mike persevered on the practice squad. He was pulled up later that season for three games. #45 eventually earned a spot as the starting inside linebacker for Miami. During his three seasons with the team in the NFL, he has amassed 35 tackles and 1 interception.

Mike has had quite the career as a Big Mac, Nittany Lion, and now Dolphin. In 2015 he met us to discuss tips with the current wrestlers for the CM Alumni Wrestling Camp. That video can be found below:

Cover Photo Source: Dolphins Wire