WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Penn State wrestling team was dominating on Sunday, crowning three repeat champions and rolling to the team's second straight Big Ten championship.
Penn State was nearly perfect throughout the Sunday session and ran away from both Minnesota and Iowa in the team title race. Penn State has also qualified nine wrestlers for NCAAs with a 10th alive for an at-large bid.
PSU three-time all-American Frank Molinaro became a two-time Big Ten champion at 149 pounds with a technical fall over Minnesota's Dylan Ness, all-American David Taylor majored Iowa's Mike Evans at 165, and all-American Ed Ruth majored Minnesota's Logan Storley at 174.
The morning began with the consolation quarterfinals and seventh-place bouts, with seven Lions looking for very important team points. True freshman Nico Megaludis opened up Penn State's day and was upset by fifth-seed Levi Mele of Northwestern, getting pinned in sudden victory at the 7:35 mark.
Red-shirt Dylan Alton was up next for Penn State in the consy semis at 157. Alton worked his way to a 3-2 win over No. 18 Josh Demas of Ohio State to move into the third place bout later in the day.
Two-time all-American Quentin Wright picked up important bonus points with a 9-0 major over Michigan State's Ian Hinton in the consy semis at 184. True freshman Morgan McIntosh mounted a serious comeback against top-seed Sonny Yohn of Minnesota at 197 in the consy semis before dropping a 4-2 decision. Senior Cameron Wade picked up more bonus points by pinning Indiana's Adam Chalfant in the consy semis at 285 at the 2:09 mark.
Two Nittany Lions wrestled for seventh place. Sophomore Frank Martellotti took on No. 18 Ridge Kiley of Nebraska for seventh at 133 and rode out Kiley in the third for a 4-3 win. Junior Bryan Pearsall earned an 8-2 win over Purdue's Brandon Nelson for seventh at 141 and will be considered for an at-large bid on Wednesday.
Later, Megaludis posted a 4-1 win over Purdue's Camden Eppert and took fifth place. Alton posted a 2-1 tiebreaker win over Michigan State's Anthony Jones for a third-place finish.
Wright posted an 8-7 win to finish third at 184, and McIntosh received a forfeit win in the fifth-place bout at 197. Senior Wade closed out Penn State's championship run with a 4-3 win over No. 12 Mike McMullan of Northwestern to take third at 285.
Penn State won the team title with 149.0 points to second-place Minnesota's 134.0. Iowa was in third with 126.0.
Penn State coach Cael Sanderson was named 2012 Big Ten Coach of the Year, earning his second straight nod, Taylor was named 2012 Big Ten Wrestler of the Year, earning his second straight Wrestler of the Year award, and Molinaro was named 2012 Big Ten Championships Co-Outstanding Wrestler with Michigan's Kellen Russell.
Team standings
1. Penn State 149; 2. Minnesota 134; 3. Iowa 126; 4. Illinois 105.5; 5. Ohio State 91; 6. Northwestern 75; 7. Michigan 66; 8. Nebraska 65; 9. Purdue 51.5; 10. Indiana 41; 10. Michigan State 41; 12. Wisconsin 9.
