Thoughts from Penn State-Pitt dual

 

   I attended Sunday's highly-anticipated dual between Penn State and Pitt at the sold-out Bryce Jordan Center. Most wrestling events I go to are for work purposes, but I made the trip with some friends as just a spectator this time. Here are some thoughts from the day.
New Record
   The attendance was reported at 15,996, which set a new mark for both Penn State and the NCAA. The Nittany Lions, who usually wrestle home meets in Rec Hall, drew over 11,000 for a match against Iowa in the BJC in 1996. The previous NCAA record was held by the Hawkeyes, who had in the 15,500 range for a match five years ago with Ohio State.
   Needless to say, the atmosphere was electric. The arena was set up like that of the NCAA Division I finals, where the mat is placed on a platform in the center. And a sizable Penn State student section was feet from the platform in one section on the floor.
Risky Racciato
   I've said it in newspaper columns and I'm saying it here again - Pitt's Michael Racciato (some call him Mikey) is just plain fun to watch.
   Racciato was one of Pitt's prized recruits this year, and he has cracked the starting lineup at 149 pounds. As a three-time Class AA state champion from Pen Argyl, Racciato has often shown off his best wrestling in front of big crowds.
   He did so again at Penn State. Racciato, a true freshman, took on PSU's James English, who is a sixth-year senior after taking a medical redshirt. Age gaps like that can make the difference sometimes. In the end, this one didn't matter.
   Racciato lives for the scrambles on the mat. That's his main game. For most of the bout, English kept him at bay and even built up riding time enough to earn a point. But in the final seconds of the bout, a scramble for position and points ensued. English appeared to have control, yet Racciato kept his hips moving and decked English with a cement job that gave the Panthers a 9-3 lead.
   I'm glad Racciato hasn't changed his style early in his career at the next level, where the multiple-time state champions dot nearly every Division I roster and the competition is so good across the board. Racciato was one of the Pitt youngsters I was hoping to see in action, and he delivered like he has many times before.
Other observations
   Penn State 184-pounder Wes Phipps looked very good. Filling in for the suspended Ed Ruth, Phipps dominated Pitt's Aaron Rothwell from the start, eventually winning by a 13-3 major decision. He was in on a deep single several times and showed off his strength by lifting Rothwell well off the mat on two occasions.
  I'm sure Phipps, a redshirt freshman from Grove City, gets beat up pretty good in practice by Ruth, so I would guess he's been chomping at the bit to take out any frustration on people in other singlets.
  I was also looking forward to seeing Penn State true freshman Zain Retherford at 141. His opponent, Edgar Bright, was not a name I was familiar with, though the fact he is a product of Ohio high school powerhouse St. Edward says something there. This was a good bout, not a lot of great action, but Retherford pulled out a 3-2 victory.
  Many people thought Retherford would be redshirted this season, but he's ranked #11 right now and it will be interesting to see how far he goes.