Grapplers pick up two, get Fritz's 100th win

The Penn State wrestling team, after sneaking by No. 16 Lock Haven, cruised by No. 24 Lehigh in preparation for the Big Ten tournament.

There is a belief in all sports that when rivals meet, the records are disregarded and the event usually is a fight to the end.

This was the case Friday night when No. 16 Lock Haven nearly stunned the collegiate wrestling world in dropping a 20-16 battle to No. 5 Penn State. The Nittany Lions were not about to put themselves in a similar situation Saturday, as they took seven of the 10 bouts in a 24-10 clocking of No. 25 Lehigh to end their dual-meet season at 16-4.

With the victories Lion coach John Fritz recorded his 100th career win and is now 69-30-2 in five seasons with Penn State.

"It's not my 100th win," Fritz said. "The wins are from the great wrestlers and the assistants we've had over the years."

But it looked like Fritz would have to wait for No. 100 until next season during the match against Loch Haven. The Lions controlled early, as Jeremy Hunter, Jason Betz and Biff Walizer each registered decisions, and Penn State jumped out 9-0. But at 142 pounds, Bald Eagle Cary Kolat showed why he is the No. 1 wrestler at the weight when he pinned No. 10 Clint Musser 1:25 into the match.

The Bald Eagles capitalized on the momentum swing, grabbing three of the next four matches and a 16-12 lead. Only No. 3 Glenn Pritzlaff (32-2) was able to put points up for Penn State with a 10-5 decision and pull it to within one at 13-12.

"I just get angry when my teammates lose," Pritzlaff said, "and I want to win."

After Frank Morici's loss at 177 pounds to No. 6 Mike Geurin, the Lions faced a 16-12 deficit. But the big guys, 190-pounder Rob Neidlinger and heavyweight Kerry McCoy, recorded a decision and a technical fall, respectively, to secure the win.

"Pritzlaff and McCoy looked real sharp," Fritz said. "Neidlinger is starting to get sharp. We need everybody that way."

Neidlinger and Bald Eagle Kevin Drew were tied at four after the first period, but that was all Drew would get, as Neidlinger used a second-period reverse and 1:38 in riding time for the 7-4 victory to increase his record to 20-8.

"I started slow, but I picked it up," Neidlinger said. "I rode him the rest of the match."

McCoy, who was brilliant in both meets, recorded a second technical fall Saturday over No. 12 Bill Closson of Lehigh. McCoy, now 32-0, says his wrestling is where he wants it to be at this point of the season.

"I feel great right now," McCoy said. "When I wrestle my best, no one can stop me. No one can come close to me."

For Lehigh there wasn't any stopping a Lion team determined to perform better than the night before. Hunter and Betz opened with sudden-death overtime wins for the 6-0 lead. Hunter forced his match into the extra time with a takedown of Mike Sferra with two seconds left in the bout. He then added another takedown 34 seconds into overtime.

"It was a last second go-for-it-all," Hunter said. "I had to try something."

Musser and Shad Benton rebounded from their Lock Haven losses, but Morici and John Lange were unable to comeback with wins. Lange has been hampered by torn cartilage in both knees, while Morici is simply in a slump.

"I think Frank had a couple of tough weekends lately," Fritz said. "He hasn't wrestled quite as sharp. You have to snap out of that, and I'm confident he will."

Morici and his Lion teammates will have two weeks to evaluate and work on their wrestling before the Big Ten tournament, which starts March 8 in Minneapolis.