Feb. 2, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern wrestling team dropped its fourth Big Ten conference matchup, falling to 3-9-1 overall. The Penn State Nittany Lions hosted the Wildcats at Rec Hall in State College and defeated NU, 21-12.
Dave Heckard of PSU defeated Will Marcantel (NU) by a score of 5-2 to start the match at 197 pounds. Josh Saul, ranked 16th nationally in the heavyweight class, took a 5-2 decision over Nittany Lion heavyweight Bob Jones to put Northwestern on the board.
Justin Kast defeated Rob Potashnick at 125 pounds by a score of 7-4. NU then forfeited the 133-pound weight class, giving Penn State a 12-3 advantage. But NU came right back as Josh Ballard defeated Eric Narkiewicz, 8-5, closing the gap to 12-6. Penn State's Nate Watcher responded by taking down Ryan Cumbee, 5-1.
Northwestern won the next two weight classes, as Jason Erwinski won 8-4 and Ryan Kane -- in just his second match since Dec. 29 -- held on for an 8-7 decision to put NU just three points behind Penn State (15-12).
The Nittany Lions won the next two matches, though, to take the dual 21-12. Penn State improves to 7-8 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten.
NORTHWESTERN WRESTLING vs. #21 Penn State
Friday, February 2, 2001
University Park, Pa. (Rec Hall)
197-- Dave Heckard (PSU) DEC. Will Marcantel (NU), 5-2
Hwt. -- #16 Josh Saul (NU) DEC. Bob Jones (PSU), 5-3
125 -- Justin Kast (PSU) DEC. Rob Potashnick (NU), 7-4
133 -- Marat Tomaev (PSU) winner by forfeit
141 -- Josh Ballard (NU) DEC. Eric Narkiewicz (PSU), 8-5
149 -- Nate Wachter (PSU) DEC. Ryan Cumbee (NU), 5-1
157 -- Jason Erwinski (NU) DEC. Aaron Wright (PSU), 8-4
165 -- Ryan Kane (NU) DEC. Jeremy Sauve (PSU), 8-7
174 -- Cliff Wonsettler (PSU) DEC. J.P. Boulus (NU), 13-6
184 -- #15 Jeff Knupp (PSU) DEC. Andrew Curran (NU), 8-3
FINAL SCORE
Penn State 21, Northwestern 12
UPDATED RECORDS
Northwestern (3-9-1, 0-4-0 Big Ten)
Penn State (7-8-0, 1-2-0 Big Ten)
NEXT NORTHWESTERN MATCH
Sun., Feb. 4 * @ Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio) * 2 p.m.