Northwestern
Penn St
Wrestling Loses to Penn State, 25-15
2/1/2002 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 1, 2002
Evanston, Ill. - Led by three straight wins in the middle and upper weight classes, the Northwestern wrestling team came back from a nine-point deficit only to drop the final two matches and lose its fourth Big Ten Match of the year, 25-15, to Penn State. The 'Cats are now 7-9 overall and 0-4 in conference action. The Nittany Lions improve to 5-6 overall and stay undefeated at 2-0 in the Big Ten.
NU lost the first two matches of the conference dual and was down 6-0 when John Giacche (Flemington, N.J./Blair Academy) used every second of his seven minute match to pin Eric Narkiewicz and notch the match at 6-6. Giacche sat back on Narkiewicz's shoulders and earned the fall with one tick left on the clock.
Penn State went on to regain the lead with wins at 149 and 157 pounds.
Ryan Kane (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley) then got the momentum back onto the Wildcats' side with a 9-6 win over a hurting Aaron Wright at 165 pounds. Jason Erwinski (Tinley Park, Ill./Mt. Carmel) followed that up with a 10-4 win at 174 pounds. Next, Andrew Curran won a gusty battle at 184, edging Curt Thompson, 7-6. Curran's win evened the match at 15-15.
The 'Cats were unable to score in the final two matches, giving the Nittany Lions a major decision at 197 and a fall at heavyweight.
The 'Cats are home again next Friday when they host defending National Champion and top-ranked Minnesota at 7 p.m. in Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Results NU ILL125: Justin Kast (PSU) dec. Rob Potashnick, 8-4 0 3 133: Marat Tomaev (PSU) dec. Tommy Vargas (NU), 6-4 0 6 141: John Giacche (NU) FALL Eric Narkiewicz(PSU), 6:59 6 6 149: Nate Wachter (PSU) dec. Josh Ballard (NU), 9-4 6 9 157: James Woodall (PSU) FALL Mike Kimberlin (NU), 3:56 6 15 165: Ryan Kane (NU) dec. Aaron Wright (PSU), 9-6 9 15 174: Jason Erwinski (NU) dec. Todd Brennan (PSU), 10-4 12 15 184: Andrew Curran (NU) dec. Curt Thompson (PSU), 7-6 15 15 197: Pete Mielink (PSU) MD Brendan Curran (NU), 12-1 15 19 Hwt.: Pat Cummins (PSU) FALL Mike Little (NU), 4:17 15 25
