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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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Penn State Wrestling
Sam Stoll of the Iowa Hawkeyes during his match against Nick Nevills of the Penn State Nittany Lions  (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

No. 5

January 20, 2017
Iowa City, Iowa
No. 2 Penn State 26, No. 3 Iowa 11

Here are a couple of factors and notes leading up to the biggest B1G clash in the 2016-2017 season:

-Penn State had never won back to back dual meets in Iowa City (PSU won the previous one 24-12 in 2013)
-Penn State had seven underclassmen in their lineup
-Iowa had a senior-laden team
-Penn State had a 24 dual match win streak

Not to mention this dual meet featured a total of 15 ranked wrestlers, five ranked matchups, and a total of four matchups where both grapplers were ranked in the top 5.

Wow.

Oh, and the Hawkeyes also piled 14,311 fans into Carver Hawkeye Arena to ensure Penn State would not beat them a second consecutive time in Iowa City.

The night started out with one of the most anticipated matchups of the evening as No. 1 Thomas Gilman (IOWA) squared off against No. 3 Nick Suriano (PSU). Gilman ended up pulling out the close 3-2 decision and No. 3 Cory Clark (IOWA) extended the Hawkeye’s lead to 8-0 after a technical fall in the following match.

But now it was Penn State’s turn to exert its dominance. No. 12 Jimmy Gulibon (PSU) beat No. 18 Topher Carton (IOWA) in a decision and No. 1 Zain Retherford (PSU) snuck by No. 3 Brandon Sorensen (IOWA) in an exciting 9-8 win in TB2.

No. 1 Jason Nolf (PSU) kept the momentum going by winning a decision over No. 2 Michael Kemerer (IOWA) and No. 4 Vincenzo Joseph (PSU) earned a decision of his own.

Going into the final four matches of the night, Penn State clung to a 12-8 lead. And Iowa’s hopes rested squarely on the shoulders of No. 13 Alex Meyer (IOWA) and No. 5 Sammy Brooks (IOWA) who were set to go in the next two matches.

Meyer held up his end of the bargain against an inexperienced and unranked Mark Hall to narrow the gap to 12-11.

How would Brooks fair against No. 2 Bo Nickal (PSU)? Well depending on which team you were rooting for it was either “terrible” or “awesome” because Nickal pinned Brooks 38 seconds into the match.

And just like that, those 14,311 fans magically turned into the quietest group of people on the planet.

No. 10 Matt McCutcheon (PSU) and No. 5 Nick Nevills (PSU) kept the fans from making anymore noise as they won via a decision and a technical fall.

Ball game.

Penn State won it’s second consecutive dual meet in Iowa City, and they did so in convincing fashion with a 26-11 whoopin’.

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