NO. 4 PENN STATE DEFEATS HUSKERS WRESTLERS, 22-12

University Park, Pa.--After winning at Lock Haven Friday evening, the 15th-ranked Nebraska wrestling team was defeated by No. 4 Penn State, 22-12, Saturday evening in front of 3,836 spectators at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Penn State, who returned four All-Americans and eight starters from last year's squad that finished fourth at the NCAA Championships, won six of the ten match-ups.

Nebraska struck first, as Brad Vering moved to 2-0 on the season with a 6-5 decision over Penn State's Ross Thatcher at 184 pounds. The Nittany Lions' Brett Calabretta tied the dual at 3-3 with a 6-3 decision over Scott Munson at 197 pounds. Sophomore J.R. Plienis (2-0) put the Huskers back up with an 11--5 decision over Mark Janus in the heavyweight contest, but Penn State went up again following Jeremy Hunter's 14-3 major decision over Paul Gomez (1-1) in the 125-pound dual. Hunter was an NCAA Championship finalist last season at 118 pounds for the Nittany Lions.

Todd Beckerman (1-1) put Nebraska up 9-7 with a 6-2 decision over Nate Parker at 133 pounds, and teammate Jose DeAnda (2-0) followed with an 8-4 decision over Biff Walizer at 141 pounds to extend the Huskers' lead to five, 12-7.

Penn State won the meet's final four matches to preserve the victory.

Jamarr Billman, currently ranked second in the nation at 149 pounds, earned a 9-3 decision over Dustin Morris (0-1) to pull Penn State within two. At 157 pounds, Clint Musser gave the Nittany Lions a one-point edge with a 7-4 decision over Bryan Snyder (1-1). Alex Leykikh followed by edging Nebraska's Josh Henson (1-1) with an 8-7 decision at 165 pounds to give the Lions a 16-12 lead heading into the final match of the evening.

Still within striking distance, Nebraska would need a strong performance from sophomore Charles McTorry (0-2) in his 174-pound match-up with No. 2 Glenn Pritzlaff. With Pritzlaff leading McTorry 13-2, the referee declared a default for excessive stalling to Pritzlaff, making the final score, 22-12.

The Huskers, who move to 1-1 on the season, travel next to Oklahoma State on Friday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. and host Wyoming in the first home dual of the season next Sunday, Dec. 13 at the Devaney Sports Center at 2 p.m.

No. 4 PENN STATE 22, No. 15 NEBRASKA 12
125 Jeremy Hunter, PS maj. dec. Paul Gomez (1-1), NU 14-3
133 Todd Beckerman (1-1), NU dec. Nate Parker, PS 6-2
141 Jose DeAnda (2-0), NU dec. Biff Walizer, PS 8-4
149 Jamarr Billman, PS dec. Dustin Morris (0-1), NU 9-3|
157 Clint Musser, PS dec. Bryan Snyder (1-1), NU 7-4
165 Alex Leykikh, PS dec. Josh Henson (1-1), NU 8-7
174 Glenn Pritzlaff, PS win by default Charles McTorry (0-2), NU
184 Brad Vering (2-0), NU dec. Ross Thatcher, PS 6-5
197 Brett Calabretta, PS dec. Scott Munson (1-1), NU 6-3
Hwt. J.R. Plienis (2-0), NU dec. Mark Janus, PS 11-5
Attendance: 3,836