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Penn State Wrestling’s top 25 dual meets in the Cael Sanderson era

By Chris Snyder

STATE COLLEGE, PA - JANUARY 31: A view of the sell out crowd during a match between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Michigan Wolverines on January 31, 2016 at Recreation Hall on the campus of Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State won 35-7. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - JANUARY 31: A view of the sell out crowd during a match between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Michigan Wolverines on January 31, 2016 at Recreation Hall on the campus of Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State won 35-7. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /
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Bo Nickal of the Penn State Nittany Lions (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

No. 9

January 12, 2018
Ann Arbor, Mich
No. 2 Penn State 25, No. 4 Michigan 12

Michigan’s Crisler Arena saw more than 4,000 fans pack the seating area ahead of this matchup between No. 2 Penn State Wrestling and No. 4 Michigan.

That year’s Michigan lineup had eight grapplers ranked while the Nittany Lions had seven. On paper this looked like it was going to be an epic dual between two loaded rosters.

And from the jump Michigan took the early 8-0 lead thanks to two major decisions earned by No. 15 Drew Mattin (UM) and No. 6 Steve Micic (UM).

Penn State then got on the board as an unranked (that looks weird, right?) Nick Lee (PSU) dispatched of Sal Profaci (UM) in a 9-5 decision to narrow the Wolverine’s lead to 8-3.

Then the jackhammers of the 2017-2018 Nittany Lion squad took to the mat. And boy did they not disappoint.

No. 1 Zain Retherford (PSU) pinned Malik Amine (UM), No. 1 Jason Nolf (PSU) won a decision over No. 5 Alec Panteleo (UM), No. 1 Vincenzo Joseph (PSU) crushed No. 5 Logan Massa (UM) for a major decision, No. 2 Mark Hall (PSU) clawed out a decision over No. 6 Myles Amine (UM), and No. 1 Bo Nickal (PSU) overwhelmed No. 5 Domenic Abounader (UM) for the easy decision.

When the clashes between 149 and 184 had finally finished, Penn State held a commanding 22-8 lead and the Wolverines* were running with their tails between their legs.

No. 10 Shakur Rasheed (PSU) continued the winning streak grabbing a decision over No. 11 Kevin Beazley (UM), however No. 8 Nick Nevills (PSU) fell in the final match of the evening to No. 2 Adam Coon (UM).

So there you have it. The No. 2 team in the nation going up against the No. 4 team in the nation in their building. Fifteen total ranked wrestlers with the final six matches featuring ranked matchups.

And Michigan still got their butts handed to them.

Shocking, right?

* – I’m assuming Wolverines have tails

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