By Pat Donghia gopsusports.com
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (7-0, 4-0 B1G) hammered homestanding Maryland (3-5, 1-4 B1G) 42-6 in Big Ten wrestling road action on Sunday. Penn State tallied four pins in the lopsided Big Ten Network national telecast.
Action began at 125. Penn State true freshman Braeden Davis, ranked No. 4 at 125, opened up the dual meet with a technical fall over Maryland’s Tommy Capul. Davis used a quick takedown, and three four-point turns for the 15-0 win at 2:47 of the first period. With No. 5 Aaron Nagao not wrestling, senior Baylor Shunk got the nod at 133. Shunk battled No. 21 Braxton Brown tough but dropped an 8-3 decision, cutting Penn State’s lead to 5-3.
Senior Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 2 at 141, dominated No. 17 Kal Miller in the next bout. Bartlett used a first period takedown, a second period rideout and two takedowns in the third to roll to an 11- 1major with 2:30 in riding time. With No. 12 Tyler Kasak not wrestling, freshman Connor Pierce got the call at 149. Pierce fought No. 14 Ethan Miller through a high paced seven minutes but dropped the 5-0 decision. Sophomore Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 157, closed out the first half with a strong win over No. 33 Michael North. Haines notched takedowns in the first two periods and turned North twice in the third period to roll to a 15-0 tech fall at 5:58. The Nittany Lions lead 14-6 at the break.
Redshirt freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 7 at 165, ended his match against Ryan Money quick. Mesenbrink took the Terrapin down in the opening seconds and then turned him to his back for a fast first period fall, getting the pin at 0:50 to put Penn State up 20-6. Senior Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, followed suit at 174 against Mason Stein. Starocci blazed through six first period takedowns to lead 18-6 after the first. Stein chose down to start the second period and Starocci turned him for a pin at 4:26 to give the Lions a 26-6 lead.
Graduate Bernie Truax, ranked No. 5 at 184, continued Penn State’s pin parade against Chase Mielnik. Truax picked up a quick takedown, turned Mielnik twice, and then finished off the first period pin at 1:43 to give the Lions a 32-6 lead. Senior+ Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 197, dominated No. 5 Jaxon Smith in the dual’s marquee match-up. Brooks tallied four takedowns, two in the third period, and rolled to a 13-4 major decision. Senior Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 1 at 285, capped off the dual meet by pinning Maryland’s Jordan Gabriel. Kerkvliet took his foe down early, turned him quickly, and notched the fast fall at 0:55 in the first. His pin was Penn State’s fourth of the dual and the Nittany Lions rolled to a 42-6 win.
Penn State posted a 19-3 takedown edge. The Nittany Lions won eight of ten bouts, picking up 18 bonus points off four pins (Mesenbrink, Starocci, Truax, Kerkvliet), two tech falls (Davis, Haines) and two majors (Bartlett, Brooks).
Penn State is now 7-0, 4-0 B1G. Maryland falls to 3-5, 1-4 B1G. The Nittany Lions return home next Friday, Feb. 2, hosting Ohio State in another B1G Network telecast. Penn State welcomes the Buckeyes to Rec Hall for a 6:30 p.m. dual meet.
The 2023-24 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by the Family Clothesline. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via X/twitter at @pennstateWREST, on Penn State Wrestling’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.
1 Penn State 42, Maryland 6
January 28, 2024 – College Park, Md.
125: #4 Braeden Davis PSU tech fall Tommy Capul MD, 15-0 (TF; 2:47) 5-0
133: #21 Braxton Brown MD dec. Baylor Shunk PSU, 8-3 5-3
141: #2 Beau Bartlett PSU maj. dec. #17 Kal Miller MD, 11-1 9-3
149: #14 Ethan Miller MD dec. Connor Pierce PSU, 5-0 9-6
157: #1 Levi Haines PSU tech. fall #33 Michael North MD, 15-0 (TF; 3:58) 14-6
165: #7 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU pinned Ryan Money MD, WBF (0:50) 20-6
174: #1 Carter Starocci PSU pinned Mason Stein MD, WBF (4:26) 26-6
184: #5 Bernie Truax PSU pinned Chase Mielnik MD, WBF (1:43) 32-6
197: #1 Aaron Brooks PSU maj. dec. #5 Jaxon Smith MD, 13-4 36-6
285: #1 Greg Kerkvliet PSU pinned Jordan Gabriel MD, WBF (0:55) 42-6
Records: Penn State (7-0, 4-0 B1G); Maryland (3-5, 1-4 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: home vs. Ohio State, Friday, Feb. 2, 6:30 p.m., Rec Hall (B1G Network)
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: True freshman Braeden Davis, ranked No. 4 at 125, met Tommy Capul. Davis pressured Capul from the opening whistle, forcing the Terrapin to the edge of the mat and then working around him for a takedown and a 3-0 lead early. He then turned Capul for four back points and a 7-0 lead at 2:14. Davis maintained control of Capul for over 1:00 as the first period hit its midway point. He then turned him for another four count and led 11-0. Davis continued to work on top and finished off the bout with a final nearfall, posting the 15-0 technical fall at 2:47 of the first period.
133: With No. 5 Aaron Nagao not wrestling, senior Baylor Shunk took on No. 21 Braxton Brown at 133. Brown worked an early single leg into a takedown and a 3-0 lead at the 2:20 mark of the opening period. Brown was able to control action on top through the 1:00 mark of the opening period, building up a riding time advantage. After a reset at :40, Shunk reversed the Terrapin to cut the lead to 3-2 and then finished the period on top to trail by one after one. Brown chose down to start the second period. Brown escaped to a 4-2 lead and still held 1:00 in riding time at the 1:40 mark. Brown connected on a low single that forced a scramble at 1:00 and finished off the takedown for a 7-2 lead with :45 left. Brown finished the period on top and led 7-2 with 1:49 in time after two. Shunk chose down to start the third period. Brown maintained control through the 1:00 mark and clinched his riding time point. Shunk fought off Brown’s efforts to turn him and then escaped to a 7-3 score with :10 on the clock. Brown added a riding time point to post the 8-3 win.
141: Senior Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 2 at 141, met No. 17 Kal Miller. Bartlett worked a low single into an early scramble at 2:10. He worked to finish off the takedown for well over a minute. Bartlett finished off the move for a late takedown at :12 and led 3-0 after one. Miller chose down to start the second period. Bartlett went to work on top, breaking Miller down and forcing him into a stall warning. Bartlett dominated action on top, working through the 1:00 mark while looking for a turn. Bartlett gave up a first stall on top but finished the period on top to lead 3-0 with 2:12 in time. Bartlett chose neutral to start the third period. He continued to shoot Miller backwards through 1:30, then fought off a slight Maryland shot, countering for a second takedown and a 6-1 lead after cutting him loose. Bartlett then picked up a point on a technical violation to lead 7-1 with riding time clinched. Bartlett turned another high single into a scoring chance with :30 left in the bout. Bartlett zipped behind Miller in the final seconds to secure the major, winning 11-1 with 2:30 in riding time.
149: With No. 12 Tyler Kasak not wrestling, freshman Connor Pierce battled No. 14 Ethan Miller at 149. Miller turned a single into a takedown and a 3-0 lead midway through the opening period. Pierce worked to escaped from Miller’s hold, but the Terrapin was able to work his riding time edge up over 1:00 with a rideout. Leading by three, Miller chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 4-0 lead. Pierce worked the center of the mat after Miller’s escape. He defended two quick Miller shots and trailed 4-0 after two. Pierce chose neutral to start the second period. He fought off a Miller shot through the 1:35 mark, forcing a reset. Pierce began to shoot Miller backwards as the third period hit the 1:00 mark. The Lion sophomore continued to pressure the Terrapin, nearly connecting on a late single. But Miller defended the late shots and, with riding time, posted the 5-0 win.
157: Sophomore Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 157, faced No. 33 Michael North. Haines fought off an early North shot thirty seconds into the bout and forced a stalemate at 2:10. Haines worked the center of the mat through the 1:30 mark and traded shots through North. He continued to shoot and turned a high single into a scramble. Haines finished off the takedown to lead 3-0 and then went to work, looking to turn North. North fought off Haines’ efforts, but Haines finished the rideout to lead 3-0 with :43 in time after one. Haines chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead. Haines remained centered on the Maryland logo and turned a high shot into a second takedown and a 7-0 lead at 1:05. Haines built his time edge up over 1:00. He looked to turn North, forced him into a stall, and finished the period on top again to lead 7-0 with 1:43 in time. North chose down to start the third period. Haines then turned the Terrapin for four back points to up his lead to 11-0. The Nittany Lion sophomore finished off the tech fall with a final four point near fall to post the 15-0 win at the 5:58 mark of the third period.
165: Redshirt freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 7 at 165, battled Ryan Money. Mesenbrink shot repeatedly off the opening whistle, chasing through Money for an early takedown and a 3-0 lead. Mesenbrink quickly worked Money’s shoulders to the mat and picked up the fast fall at 0:50.
174: Senior Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, met Mason Stein. Starocci put on a first period takedown clinic. Starocci shot quickly off the opening whistle and took Stein down for an early lead. The Nittany Lion senior then rolled up six takedowns in just over 2:00 to open up an 18-6 score, cutting Stein loose each time. He carried that lead into the second period. Stein chose down to start the second period and Starocci went to work on top, looking for the pin. Starocci was patient on top and eventually turned Stein to his back, pining up the fall at the 4:26 mark.
184: Graduate Bernie Truax, ranked No. 5 at 184, took on Chase Mielnik. Truax burst through a quick takedown to open up an early 3-0 lead. He then turned Mielnik for four back points right away, opening up a 7-0 lead. He reset, turned him again and lead 11-0. Truax set himself once more, working his time edge over 1:00 and looking for a pin. Truax rolled Mielnik’s shoulders flat, notching Penn State’s third straight fall, this one at 1:43.
197: Senior+ Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 197, met No. 5 Jaxon Smith. The duo battled evenly for the opening minute, trading early barbs. Brooks turned a low single into a takedown and a 3-0 lead off a reset with 2:00 on the clock. After a Smith escape, Brooks continued to shoot Smith to edge of the mat, forcing a stall warning at the 1:10 mark. Brooks pressed Smith backwards, forcing him out of bounds again with :40 on the clock. Brooks nearly scored again as the period ended but Smith was able to flee out of bounds as the clock expired. Leading 3-1, Brooks chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 4-1 lead. Brooks worked to break through Smith’s defense and picked up a second takedown at :32, pulling a fleeing Smith back onto the mat for a 7-1 lead. Smith escaped to a 7-2 score as the second period ended. Smith chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 7-3 score. Brooks continued to take shots and Smith continued to back away as the clock moved to the 1:25 mark. Smith took a slight shot at :55, but Brooks deftly countered for a takedown and a 10-4 lead after cutting Smith loose. Brooks finished off the dominant with a final takedown, finishing on top, for the 13-4 major decision.
285: Senior Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 1 at 285, met Jordan Grabriel. Kerkvliet took Gabriel down quickly, opening up a 3-0 lead. He quickly turned the Terrapin, looking to end the dual with a pin. Kerkvliet settled himself and got the fast fall at the 0:55 mark, notching Penn State’s fourth pin of the dual (all in the second half).
