Athletics

Wrestling hosts Purdue Sunday in sold-out Rec Hall

Freshman Zain Retherford is unbeaten on the year. Credit: GoPSUsports.comAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestlers (7-0, 1-0 B1G), ranked No. 1 in the nation, return to the friendly confines of Rec Hall for the first time in nearly a month when Purdue (*3-2, 0-2 B1G) visits for a Big Ten dual. The action takes place on Sunday, Jan. 12, at 2 p.m. 

Penn State is coming off another successful trip to Chattanooga where the team won its fourth-straight Southern Scuffle title. Senior David Taylor (165) and true freshman Zain Retherford (141) both remained unbeaten on the year with Scuffle title runs as 11 of Penn State's 17 wrestlers placed (two Lions were grappling unattached). Junior Nico Megaludis (125), red-shirt freshman Jimmy Gulibon (133), junior Matt Brown (174) and senior Ed Ruth (184) all finished in second while Jimmy Lawson (285) took third.

The Nittany Lions sport a balanced line-up featuring ten ranked wrestlers, all of whom are listed among the top 12. Megaludis continues at the No. 2 spot with a 16-2 record while Gulibon's Scuffle finals run moved him to 9-7 on the year and has him ranked No. 9 at 133. Retherford is 17-0 and No. 2 at 141 while junior Andrew Alton is 3-0 and No. 7 at 149. Twin brother Dylan Alton is 6-0 and No. 5 at 157 and Taylor's 17-0 mark has him No. 1 at 165. Brown is 17-1 and No. 3 at 174 while Ruth, coming off his first loss after an 84-match win streak, is No. 2 at 184. Morgan McIntosh is No. 8 at 197 with a 16-2 mark while Lawson's 15-1 record has him No. 12 at 285.

Purdue, which wrestles at Michigan on Friday, Jan. 10 (post-press), enters its road weekend with a 3-2 overall record, 0-2 in Big Ten action. Purdue is coming off a tough 30-3 loss on Jan. 3. The Boilermakers have also dropped a Big Ten dual to Minnesota (35-3). Purdue owns wins over Duke (27-7), SIU-Edwardsville (30-15) and Chattanooga (21-15).

The Boilermakers are being led by junior Braden Atwood. Atwood sports a 16-5 record at 197 and is Purdue's lone ranked wrestler with a No. 16 nod. Senior Camden Eppert is 7-6 at 125 while junior Patrick Kissel sports an 8-7 mark at 174.

Penn State leads the all-time series with the Boilermakers 12-1-1. The Nittany Lions won the last meeting 35-3 at Purdue on 1/20/13. Penn State also won the last meeting in Rec Hall, 33-6, on 2/17/08.

The Big Ten Network is not televising the dual, either on the main BTN or online via the BTDN. However, Penn State will be offering a live stream (married w/ Jeff Byers' audio call) via GoPSUsports.com's All-Access.

Penn State visits Indiana on Friday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. then returns home to host Northwestern in Rec Hall on Sunday, Jan. 19, at 2 p.m. With the full season of Rec Hall duals sold out prior to the start of the campaign, a very limited number of standing room only tickets are available to a few of the remaining Rec Hall duals. People may purchase tickets by calling 1-800-NITTANY or by visiting the Penn State Athletics ticket office located in the BJC. Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstateWREST and on Penn State Wrestling's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2013-14 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.

THIS WEEKNo. 1 Penn State (7-0, 1-0 B1G) will return to the friendly confines of Rec Hall for the first time in nearly a month when the team welcomes Purdue (*3-2, 0-2). The Big Ten dual meet is set for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014. *Purdue is at Michigan on Friday, Jan. 10, post-press.UP NEXTPenn State is set up for a `split' Big Ten weekend next week. The Nittany Lions visit Indiana for a 7 p.m. dual on Friday, Jan. 17. The team then returns home for a 2 p.m. dual on Sunday, Jan. 19, against Northwestern.ON THE AIRTV - NoneLive Web Video - Live video stream (married w/ Byers' audio call) via GoPSUsports.com's All-AccessRadio - Full season live on WRSC (103.1 FM/1390 AM) State College; WBPZ 1230 AM Lock Haven; 1370 WWCB Corry; WLAK (103.5 FM) Huntingdon; WMRF (95.7 FM) Lewistown; WIEZ (670 AM) Lewistown. Also live at GoPSUsports.com as part of the All-Access package as are select home duals.

Last Updated January 13, 2014

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