B1G Championships Preview: Top-ranked Penn State targets fifth Big Ten title in six years

Penn State senior Morgan McIntosh leads the Nittany Lions in search of the programs fifth B1G title in the past six seasons. Photo: Tony Rotundo.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Carver-Hawkeye Arena, one of wrestling’s most formidable and raucous venues, plays host to always thrilling Big Ten Championships this Saturday and Sunday.

Five of the nation’s top 10 teams will descend upon Iowa City, Iowa with nothing but a conference championship on their minds.

The top-ranked and undefeated Penn State Nittany Lions (16-0, 9-0) are once again the front runners to take the Big Ten tournament title. It would be the fifth win in six years for the program should they emerge victorious in Iowa City.

“Everything kind of leads up to this,” said Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson. “This is the fun part of the year. As a competitor you should be really excited.”

Four Nittany Lions, Zain Retherford (149), Jason Nolf (157), Bo Nickal (174) and Morgan McIntosh (197), boast No. 1 seeds in their respective weight classes at the Big Ten Championships. All four wrestlers are ranked No. 1 in the NCAA heading into postseason competition with Retherford, Nolf and McIntosh all holding undefeated records.

Penn State expects big points from its contingent of past lightweight All-American’s Nico Megaludis (125), Jordan Conaway (133) and Jimmy Gulibon (141). Megaludis and Conaway enter the tournament as No. 3 seed’s while Gulibon enters at No. 8.

“We’ve got a team full of guys that love to compete and the bigger the match, the better they’re going to wrestle, so we are excited. It’s a great opportunity for us,” said Sanderson.

Penn State just capped off a NWCA National Dual’s championship after dismantling No. 5 Oklahoma State 29-18 in the title match held at Rec Hall. The win secured Penn State’s first undefeated regular season since 1972.

The blend of experienced leaders and emerging, young talent has catapulted Penn State to the top of the pack in both the Big Ten and NCAA races. The question remains as to who will give the Nittany Lions a run for their money in March.

Many believe the answer to this question comes in the form of Big Ten Championships host school and Big Ten regular season co-champions, No. 4 Iowa (16-1, 9-0).

Like Penn State, the Hawkeyes posted an undefeated regular season record. However, Iowa suffered a setback in the NWCA National Duals Series, falling to North Carolina State 21-17 two weeks ago in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The Hawkeyes enter the Big Ten Championships with two undefeated wrestlers in past NCAA All-American’s Thomas Gilman (125) and Brandon Sorensen (149). However, neither man holds a No. 1 seed.

Two additional past All-American’s for Iowa, Cory Clark (133) and Nathan Burak (197), will look to be big point scorers this weekend. Gilman, Clark and Sorensen enter the Big Ten’s as No. 2 seeds and Burak slots in as a No. 3 seed.

“It’s a big deal being an individual champion. It’s a catapult to what’s next and it’s a title that defines their career. That’s what they’re gearing up for right now,” said Iowa head coach Tom Brands.

For the Hawkeyes to make serious run at defending its team title from one year ago, they will lean heavily on less proven commodities like Alex Meyer (174), Sammy Brooks (184) and Sam Stoll (285), all of whom are seeded in the top three in their weight class.

“This is it, this weekend. Wherever we go we’re going to be ready, but being in your home arena, it is time to put on a show a little bit more, maybe. It just adds to the pageantry of the Big Ten Championships,” said Brands.

Iowa has won 35 conference championships as a team, claiming 195 individual conference titles. This is the first time Carver-Hawkeye Arena has hosted the Big Ten Championships since 2005.

Last year, Iowa and eventual NCAA champions Ohio State tied for the Big Ten Championships crown.

The No. 7 Buckeyes (11-3, 7-2) have seen a year of high’s and low’s with several individuals shining, but dropping a couple key dual meets throughout the season.

NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello (125) and World champion Kyle Snyder (285) lead the Buckeyes into battle at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The top seed at 125 pounds, Tomasello has put together an undefeated season since winning Big Ten and NCAA title’s as a freshman last year.

After originally planning to take an Olympic red-shirt this year following his spectacular run to a World title last September, Snyder has returned to collegiate competition winning his only three matches to this point. Last year, Snyder was a Big Ten and NCAA runner-up at 197 pounds, but has since moved up to 285 pounds for this season.

The Big Ten Championships will be the first big test for Snyder at heavyweight where he slots in as the No. 2 seed behind NCAA runner-up Adam Coon of Michigan. He has competed and won bronze medals internationally at the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix and Alexander Medved International in the past month, splitting time between folkstyle and freestyle competition.

“We have a high-talent, hardworking group overall. We’re likely a better tournament team than a dual meet team right now because we have guys that can score big points and move through the bracket. What matters is in crunch situations you’re attacking. If we do that this team can win it. No doubt about it,” said Ohio State head coach Tom Ryan.

The brothers Jordan will likely play a key role in the Ohio State outcome this weekend. Micah holds a 20-1 record in this his freshman campaign and is the top seed at 141 pounds. Bo comes in as the No. 2 seed at 165 pounds behind cousin Isaac Jordan of Wisconsin. Isaac defeated Bo in the Big Ten finals last year and won convincingly in the dual meet between Ohio State and Wisconsin this season.

After entering the season with title-contending expectations, Michigan (13-3, 8-1) has taken a dip in the NCAA rankings to No. 8 overall. The Wolverines have the firepower necessary to threaten for the Big Ten championship this weekend.

Defending Big Ten champion Domenic Abounader (184) and NCAA runner-up Adam Coon (285) hold No. 1 seeds for the Wolverines. Past All-Americans Conor Youtsey (125), Rossi Bruno (133), Brian Murphy (157) and Max Huntley (197) will be key if Michigan is to claim the program’s first Big Ten championship since 1973.

Michigan finished in third place, behind Penn State and Iowa, in the Big Ten regular season standings.

Rutgers (16-5, 5-4) rounds out the top ten teams for the Big Ten heading into postseason play coming in at No. 10.

The Scarlet Knights are led by a pair of past All-American’s, Anthony Ashnault at 141 pounds and Anthony Perrotti at 165 pounds.

No. 13 Illinois (13-5, 4-5) brings a strong team to the Big Ten Championships with top seed Zane Richards (133) and defending Big Ten and NCAA champion Isaiah Martinez (157) leading the way. A strong outing by Richards and Martinez, in addition to No 3 seeds Steven Rodrigues (165) and Zach Brunson (174), could place Illinois in the team race mix come Sunday afternoon.

To purchase tickets to the Big Ten Championships either visit hawkeyesports.com or call the University of Iowa Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-IA-HAWKS.

Fans not in attendance can watch a live webcast of the Big Ten Championships on BTN2GO. The championship finals will air on Big Ten Network at 4 p.m. (ET) on Sunday.

2016 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
March 5-6 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, Iowa

Event Schedule (All Times Central)
March 5
10:00 a.m. – Session I
6:00 p.m. – Session II

March 6
12:00 p.m. – Session III
3:00 p.m. – Finals

Webcast: BTN2GO

Big Ten NCAA Automatic Qualifiers (71)
125 (7), 133 (9), 141 (7), 149 (6), 157 (7), 165 (6), 174 (9), 184 (7), 197 (6), 285 (7)

Big Ten Championships Pre-Seeds by Weight Class
125 lbs. 
1. Nathan Tomasello, OSU
2. Thomas Gilman, IOWA
3. Nico Megaludis, PSU
4. Tim Lambert, NEB
5. Elijah Oliver, IND
6. Johnny Jimenez, WIS
7. Conor Youtsey, MICH
8. Sean McCabe, RU

133 lbs.
1. Zane Richards, ILL
2. Cory Clark, IOWA
3. Jordan Conaway, PSU
4. Geoff Alexander, MD
5. Eric Montoya, NEB
6. Ryan Taylor, WIS
7. Johnni DiJulius, OSU
8. Rossi Bruno, MICH
9. Dom Malone, NU
10. Anthony Giraldo, RU
11. Luke Welch, PUR
12. Garth Yenter, MSU
13. Alonzo Shepherd, IND
14. Sam Brancale, MINN

141 lbs.
1. Micah Jordan, OSU
2. Tommy Thorn, MINN
3. Anthony Ashnault, RU
4. Jameson Oster, NU
5. Javier Gasca III, MSU
6. Anthony Abidin, NEB
7. Danny Sabatello, PUR
8. Jimmy Gulibon, PSU

149 lbs.
1. Zain Retherford, PSU
2. Brandon Sorensen, IOWA
3. Jake Sueflohn, NEB
4. Jason Tsirtsis, NU
5. Alec Pantaleo, MICH
6. Alex Griffin, PUR
7. Andrew Crone, WIS
8. Jake Short, MINN

157 lbs.
1. Jason Nolf, PSU
2. Isaiah Martinez, ILL
3. Richie Lewis, RU
4. Jake Ryan, OSU
5. Edwin Cooper, Jr., IOWA
6. Brian Murphy, MICH
7. Tyler Berger, NEB
8. Lou Mascola, MD

165 lbs.
1. Isaac Jordan, WIS
2. Bo Jordan, OSU
3. Steven Rodrigues, ILL
4. Anthony Perrotti, RU
5. Chad Welch, PUR
6. Austin Wilson, NEB
7. Geno Morelli, PSU
8. Patrick Rhoads, IOWA

174 lbs.
1. Bo Nickal, PSU
2. Alex Meyer, IOWA
3. Zach Brunson, ILL
4. Myles Martin, OSU
5. Nathan Jackson, IND
6. Micah Barnes, NEB
7. Nick Wanzek, MINN
8. Ricky Robertson, WIS
9. Phil Bakuckas, RU
10. Mitch Sliga, NU
11. Aaron Calderon, MICH
12. Josh Snook, MD
13. Shane Shadaia, MSU
14. Andrew Hoselton, PUR

184 lbs. 
1. Dom Abounader, MICH
2. Matt McCutcheon, PSU
3. Sam Brooks, IOWA
4. TJ Dudley, NEB
5. Nick Gravina, RU
6. Kenny Courts, OSU
7. Jeff Koepke, ILL
8. Ryan Christensen, WIS

197 lbs.
1. Morgan McIntosh, PSU
2. Brett Pfarr, MINN
3. Nathan Burak, IOWA
4. Max Huntley, MICH
5. Aaron Studebaker, NEB
6. Mark Martin, OSU
7. Hayden Hrymack, RU
8. Jacob Cooper, MSU

285 lbs.
1. Adam Coon, MICH
2. Kyle Snyder, OSU
3. Sam Stoll, IOWA
4. Billy Smith, RU
5. Michael Kroells, MINN
6. Collin Jensen, NEB
7. Brooks Black, ILL
8. Nick Nevills, PSU

2015 Big Ten Championships Results
Team Standings
1. Iowa 120.0
1. Ohio State 120.0
3. Minnesota 108.0
4. Michigan 102.5
5. Penn State 96.5
6. Illinois 96.0
7. Nebraska 85.5
8. Wisconsin 73.0
9. Northwestern 70.0
10. Purdue 37.5
11. Rutgers 20.5
12. Indiana 16.0
13. Michigan State 12.5
14. Maryland 10.5

125 Pounds
1st: Nathan Tomasello (Ohio State) dec. Thomas Gilman (Iowa), 3-2
3rd: Jordan Conaway (Penn State) forfeit Jesse Delgado (Illinois)
5th: Conor Youtsey (Michigan) dec. Tim Lambert (Nebraska), 2-1
7th: Ethan Lizak (Minnesota) maj. dec. Garrison White (Northwestern), 11-0

133 Pounds
1st: Chris Dardanes (Minnesota) dec. Ryan Taylor (Wisconsin), 7-2
3rd: Cory Clark (Iowa) dec. Johnni DiJulius (Ohio State), 2-1
5th: Zane Richards (Illinois) dec. Jimmy Gulibon (Penn State), 4-3
7th: Rossi Bruno (Michigan) fall Eric Montoya (Nebraska), 2:45

141 Pounds
1st: Logan Stieber (Ohio State) tech. fall Josh Dziewa (Iowa), 16-1
3rd: Nick Dardanes (Minnesota) dec. Anthony Abidin (Nebraska), 8-6
5th: Anthony Ashnault (Rutgers) dec. Nick Lawrence (Purdue), 3-2
7th: Jameson Oster (Northwestern) forfeit Jesse Thielke (Wisconsin)

149 Pounds
1st: Jason Tsirtsis (Northwestern) dec. Brandon Sorensen (Iowa), 2-1
3rd: Kyle Langenderfer (Illinois) dec. Alec Pantaleo (Michigan), 9-7 SV1
5th: Zack Beitz (Penn State) forfeit Hunter Stieber (Ohio State)
7th: Brandon Nelsen (Purdue) dec. Nicholas Trimble (Michigan State), 9-3

157 Pounds
1st: Isaiah Martinez (Illinois) dec. Dylan Ness (Minnesota), 12-5
3rd: James Green (Nebraska) dec. Josh Demas (Ohio State), 8-2
5th: Brian Murphy (Michigan) dec. Doug Welch (Purdue), 8-3
7th: Anthony Perrotti (Rutgers) dec. Lou Mascola (Maryland), 4-1

165 Pounds
1st: Isaac Jordan (Wisconsin) dec. Bo Jordan (Ohio State), 3-2
3rd: Taylor Walsh (Indiana) dec. Pierce Harger (Northwestern), 6-2
5th: Jackson Morse (Illinois) dec. Garrett Sutton (Michigan), 2-0
7th: Austin Wilson (Nebraska) dec. Pat Robinson (Purdue), 4-0

174 Pounds
1st: Robert Kokesh (Nebraska) dec. Matt Brown (Penn State), 7-3
3rd: Mike Evans (Iowa) dec. Logan Storley (Minnesota), 2-1 TB1
5th: Mark Martin (Ohio State) dec. Zach Brunson (Illinois), 3-1 SV1
7th: Taylor Massa (Michigan) fall Frank Cousins (Wisconsin), 1:46

184 Pounds
1st: Domenic Abounader (Michigan) dec. Brett Pfarr (Minnesota), 7-6
3rd: Sam Brooks (Iowa) forfeit Matt McCutcheon (Penn State)
5th: Ricky Robertson (Wisconsin) dec. TJ Dudley (Nebraska), 4-3
7th: Nikko Reyes (Illinois) dec. Kenny Courts (Ohio State), 7-3

197 Pounds
1st: Morgan McIntosh (Penn State) dec. Kyle Snyder (Ohio State), 4-1
3rd: Scott Schiller (Minnesota) dec. Nathan Burak (Iowa), 3-2
5th: Max Huntley (Michigan) maj. dec. Jeff Koepke (Illinois), 10-1
7th: Braden Atwood (Purdue) forfeit Alex Polizzi (Northwestern)

285 Pounds
1st: Mike McMullan (Northwestern) dec. Bobby Telford (Iowa), 4-3
3rd: Adam Coon (Michigan) dec. Connor Medbery (Wisconsin), 5-2
5th: Michael Kroells (Minnesota) forfeit Jimmy Lawson (Penn State)
7th: Spencer Myers (Maryland) dec. Brooks Black (Illinois), 3-2