Top-ranked Penn State keeps Hoosiers winless in Big Ten

Despite opening the meet with a win, the IU wrestling team fell to No. 1 Penn State 36-8 Sunday afternoon at University Gym as the Nittany Lions took eight of 10 matches, notching bonus points in six of them.

“Some of our guys competed hard even in their losses,” IU coach Duane Goldman said. “I think in a couple areas, guys got discouraged as the matches went on and didn’t maintain their focus.”

Redshirt freshman Justin Brooks recorded his first career Big Ten win in the opening match against Penn State’s Eric Caschera with a 5-1 decision. Caschera was a late addition to the lineup after No. 11 Brad Pataky was scratched.

IU had some lineup changes of its own as sophomore Geno Capezio filled in at 141 pounds for true freshman Mitchell Richey and sophomore Ryan Konz replaced redshirt freshman Ryan LeBlanc at 165 pounds. Goldman said following the match that both starters simply had minor nagging injuries and were withheld as a precaution.

Following Brooks’ win, IU lost seven straight matches, clinching the match with a 33-3 margin before junior Matt Powless, ranked sixth nationally, gave the Hoosiers their second and final win of the meet with a 19-4 tech fall at 197 pounds. His record now stands at 29-2.

The team will look to bounce back and record its first Big Ten win of the year when No. 13 Michigan comes to town next Sunday.

“We just have to go back and try to get each guy ready,” Goldman said. “A lot of it is in the individual matchup and who they’re going to compete against. We’re just going to continue to move forward and see what happens.”

— Max McCombs