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Yesterday, Illinois' Isaiah Martinez had never been beaten in attached collegiate competition. He finished his freshman season unbeaten - and really, unchallenged - as he rolled to a national championship at 157lbs. He looked even better this year. Until today.
Jason Nolf matched Martinez's speed, explosion, and intensity. He took Martinez down in the first. He escaped in the second, got in on another shot - and boom. Nolf - unmatched in scrambles - won another for a second takedown, sank a "Navy ride", and decked a flailing I-Mar at 4:55, on I-Mar's mat.
This pair will meet again - at least once, and probably twice. I-Mar remains an outstanding wrestler, and maybe he gets Nolf back in the future. But today, the king is dead. Long live the king.
ICYMI: Jason Nolf notched a gigantic victory in No. 1 @pennstateWREST's win at No. 13 Illinois. https://t.co/wMXEpybpCI
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) January 23, 2016
Box Score
| WT | Penn State | Result | Illinois | Team Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 141 | #13 Jimmy Gulibon | DEC 6-1 | Jodeh | PSU 3, ILL 0 |
| 149 | #1 Zain Retherford | WBF 2:10 | Langenderfer | PSU 9, ILL 0 |
| 157 | #3 Jason Nolf | WBF 4:55 | #1 Martinez | PSU 15, ILL 0 |
| 165 | #16 Shakur Rasheed | L, DEC 9-10 | #6 Rodriguez | PSU 15, ILL 3 |
| 174 | #1 Bo Nickal | WBF 6:49 | #5 Brunson | PSU 21, ILL 3 |
| 184 | #10 Matt McCutcheon | L, INJ DEF | Koepke | PSU 21, ILL 9 |
| 197 | #1 Morgan McIntosh | MAJ 14-3 | Lee | PSU 25, ILL 9 |
| 285 | Jan Johnson | L, DEC 2-6 | #20 Black | PSU 25, ILL 12 |
| 125 | #4 Nico Megaludis | TF 24-7 | Edelen | PSU 30, ILL 12 |
| 133 | #5 Jordan Conaway | L, DEC 2-8 | #2 Richards | PSU 30, ILL 15 |
Total Takedowns
PSU 20, Illinois 11
BSD Wrestler of the Meet
Take a guess.
Three Completely Random, Probably Useless Thoughts
1) Daggoneit. Mouse was rolling, and now twisted his knee, defaulting from his match with Illinois' Koepke. Kid can't catch a decent break. As SWHA noted in the open thread - let's bubble wrap him until Big Tens. Heal up, Mouse. The podium will be waiting for you when you get back.
2) Watching Morgan McIntosh bend 200lb dudes in half the wrong way is a lot of fun.
3) Snow. We had some more (a lot, actually). Enjoy it.