Northwestern wrestling (2-5, 0-2 B1G) faced No. 1 Penn State Friday night and the match got off to an incredible start for the Wildcats. No. 1 Sebastian Rivera dominated his 125 pound matchup with Devin Schnupp to continue his undefeated campaign (15-0) and keep his status as the top-ranked member of his weight class. He earned a technical fall with six seconds left in the first period to earn bonus points in eight of his last nine matches.
125 | Back-to-back four-point near-falls for Rivera. He's up 10-1. #B1GCatspic.twitter.com/GLEYwjLrDV
— Northwestern Wrestling (@NUWrestle) January 12, 2019
Unfortunately for the Wildcats, Rivera’s win was only one of two for Northwestern in the 33-8 loss. Their only other win came in the 165 lb. weight class as Tyler Morland earned his first career win in an 11-9 win over Bo Pipher.
Morland. Winner. 🙌#B1GCatspic.twitter.com/sNg0YhQcSh
— Northwestern Wrestling (@NUWrestle) January 12, 2019
Morland’s win raised the Wildcats point total to 8 on the match, the most scored on Penn State this season. The Nittany Lions’ score of 33 was also their lowest of the season. Northwestern was able to capitalize by winning the only two matchups against unranked Penn State wrestlers.
The Wildcats (2-5, 0-2 B1G) return to action in a dual meet at Wisconsin at 7 p.m. on January 18. The Wildcats will look for their first conference win of the season against the tenth-ranked Badgers (6-3, 1-3 B1G).