By: Pat Donghia
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (3-0, 0-0 B1G) roared to a resounding 36-3 road win at No. 18 Oregon State (4-2) in Corvallis, Ore. Three Nittany Lion freshmen came up with big wins and the Nittany Lions tallied four second half tech falls in the road victory.
A near-capacity crowd of 8,540 filled Oregon State’s Gill Coliseum for the dual, an all-time record crowd for Oregon State wrestling.
The dual meet began at 125 where true freshman Braeden Davis opened up the dual by dominating No. 15 Brandon Kaylor. Davis notched three takedowns in an 11-6 win with 2:10 in riding time. Sophomore Aaron Nagao, ranked No. 4 at 133, then controlled the action against No. 26 Gabe Whisenhunt, winning scrambles on his way to a 9-0 major with 2:52 in riding time. Penn State led 7-0 early.
Senior Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 2 at 141, battled No. 25 Cleveland Belton through regulation and used a counter takedown late in extra time to post a hard-fought 8-5 (sv) win. True freshman Tyler Kasak got the nod at 149. Kasak battled No. 12 Nash Singleton tough and used a third period takedown to post the thrilling 4-1 victory, giving Penn State a 13-0 lead. Sophomore Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 157, used two third period takedowns for a rousing 10-8 comeback win over Oregon State’s Isaiah Crosby. Penn State lead 16-0 at halftime.
Freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 12 at 165, got Penn State off to a fast start in the second half with a convincing 17-2 technical fall over No. 10 Matthew Olguin. Mesenbrink notched four takedowns and a turn in the bout, the final takedown at 3:44. Senior Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, followed that tech up with one of his own, rolling up six takedowns in a resounding 19-3 tech fall over No. 8 Travis Wittlake at the 6:32 mark.
Graduate Bernie Truax, ranked No. 2 at 184, gave up an early takedown to No. 6 Trey Munoz and dropped a hard fought 5-2 decision as OSU picked up its first win of the dual. Senior Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 197, notched Penn State’s third tech of the second half, rolling up six takedowns in a lopsided 19-4 win over No. 30 Justin Rademacher at the 4:53 mark. Senior Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 1 at 285, capped off the dual meet with Penn State’s fourth tech fall of the second half. He rolled up seven takedowns in a 21-5 tech fall over No. 12 Boone McDermott at the 5:17 mark.
The Nittany Lions won nine of ten bouts in Corvallis. Penn State owned a 33-5 edge in takedowns and the Nittany Lions picked up nine bonus points off four tech falls (Mesenbrink, Starocci, Brooks, Kerkvliet) and a major (Nagao).
Penn State is now 3-0, 0-0 B1G. Oregon State falls to 4-2. Two true exhibition bouts that do not count towards the wrestlers’ overall records or the dual score, were contested before the dual meet. Terrell Barraclough majored Kekana Fouret 11-1 at 165. Lucas Cochran posted a 22-6 technical fall (5:51) over Mason Christiansen at 197.
The Nittany Lions return to action, and open up the Big Ten schedule, when they host Indiana on Sunday, Jan. 14. The dual, in Rec Hall, is set to begin at 1 p.m.
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 36, #18 Oregon State 3
January 5, 2024 – Corvallis, Ore.
125: Braeden Davis PSU dec. #15 Brandon Kaylor OSU, 11-6 3-0
133: #4 Aaron Nagao PSU maj. dec. #26 Gabe Whisenhunt OSU, 9-0 7-0
141: #2 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. #25 Cleveland Belton OSU, 8-5 (sv) 10-0
149: Tyler Kasak PSU dec. #12 Nash Singleton OSU, 4-1 13-0
157: #1 Levi Haines PSU dec. Isaiah Crosby OSU, 10-8 16-0
165: #12 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU tech fall #10 Matthew Olguin OSU, 17-2 (TF; 3:44) 21-0
174: #1 Carter Starocci PSU tech fall #7 Travis Wittlake OSU, 19-3 (TF; 6:32) 26-0
184: #6 Trey Munoz OSU dec. #2 Bernie Truax PSU, 5-2 26-3
197: #1 Aaron Brooks PSU tech fall #30 Justin Rademacher OSU, 19-4 (TF; 4:53) 31-3
285: #1 Greg Kerkvliet PSU tech fall #12 Boone McDermott OSU, 21-5 (TF; 5:17) 36-3
Attendance: 8,540 (new Oregon State wrestling record crowd
Records: Penn State (3-0), Oregon State (4-2)
Up Next for Penn State: home vs. Indiana, Sunday, Jan. 14, 1 p.m. – Rec Hall
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: True freshman Braeden Davis took on No. 15 Brandon Kaylor at 125. Davis took Kaylor down quickly, turning a high single into a 3-0 lead at the 2:38 mark. Davis nearly turned Kaylor for back points with a two-on-one tilt, but Kaylor managed to fight through the move. Kaylor managed an escaped at 1:20 and action resumed in neutral. Davis worked the center of the mat and blew through a fast double for a 6-1 lead at the :28 mark. Davis rode Kaylor out and led 6-1 with 1:40 in riding time after one. Kaylor chose down to start the second and escaped but not until Davis had 2:24 in riding time. The rest of the period was contested in neutral, and Davis led 6-2 after two. Davis chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 7-2 lead quickly. He added to his lead with another double, lifting Kaylor to the mat for a 10-2 lead with 1:05 left in the bout, riding time clinched. Kaylor escaped and added a late takedown, but Davis rolled to the 11-6 win with 2:10 in riding time.
133: Sophomore Aaron Nagao, ranked No. 4 at 133, met No. 26 Gabe Whisenhunt. Nagao forced a scramble a minute into the bout and Whisenhunt rolled through, nearly notching a takedown himself. Nagao fought off the counter and nearly scored himself before a potentially dangerous call halted action at 1:10. Nagao forced another scramble and steadily worked himself to a takedown and a 3-0 lead. Whisenhunt nearly countered for a reversal as the period ended but Nagao held on to lead 3-0 after one. Nagao chose down to start the second period and quickly reversed Whisenhunt to lead 5-0. Nagao controlled action on top, building up over 1:00 riding time while looking for a turn. Nagao finished the period on top and led 5-0 with 1:51 in time after two. Whisenhunt chose neutral to start the third period. Nagao countered a slight Beaver shot and rolled behind Whisenhunt for another takedown and an 8-0 lead. With riding time clinched, Nagao finished the period in neutral and, with 2:52 in riding time, rolled to a 9-0 major decision.
141: Senior Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 2 at 141, met No. 25 Cleveland Belton. The duo battled through an even first period, with all three minutes being contested on their feet. Tied 0-0 after the opening stanza, Bartlett chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. He then moved in on a low shot and took Belton down for a 4-0 lead. The second period ended with both wrestlers on their feet in the middle of the mat and Bartlett carried the 4-1 lead into the third period. Belton chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 4-2 score. Bartlett worked the center of the mat, looking for an opening to shoot. He turned a quickly low single into a scramble at 1:10 and Belton countered for a takedown. Bartlett escaped to a 5-5 tie at :49. The bout moved to sudden victory knotted at 5-5. Bartlett worked for a takedown at 1:10 but Belton was able to scramble back out of the Lion’s grip and action continued in neutral. Belton tried to connect on a late single with :15 left in extra time and Bartlett quickly countered, slid around the Beaver wrestler and ended the bout with a takedown at :08. Bartlett’s late move gave him a hard-fought 8-5 (sv) win.
149: True freshman Tyler Kasak battled No. 12 Nash Singleton at 149. Kasak worked the middle of the mat as the first minute-plus of the opening period opened up. Kasak maintained position against the ranked Beaver through the opening three minutes with neither wrestler able to score. Tied 0-0, Kasak chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Kasak had a slight opening at 1:00 but Singleton was able to back away from the Lion freshman’s high single, keeping the bout in neutral with Kasak up 1-0. Kasak carried that lead into the third period. Singleton chose down to start the third period and worked his way to an escape and a 1-1 tie with 1:35 left in the bout. Kasak forced Singelton into a first stall warning shortly after. Kasak used a low single to get control of Singleton’s right ankle with 1:00 left in the bout. He then tripped the Beaver to the mat for a takedown and a 4-1 lead with just under :40 left in the bout. Kasak finished the bout on top and posted the 4-1 win over the 12th-ranked Beaver.
157: Sophomore Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 157, faced off against Isaiah Crosby. Haines came out and looked to take Crosby down quickly, but the Oregon State grappler quickly countered Haines’ initial effort for a takedown of his own. Haines quickly escaped to a 3-1 score and action resumed in the middle of the mat. Crosby worked through a low double with 1:10 left to open up a 6-2 score in the opening period. Haines trailed 6-2 after one. Haines chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 6-3 score. Haines looked to tie the bout with a takedown at 1:00, but Crosby scrambled to counter and action moved out of bounds at :55. Leading 6-3, Crosby chose down to start the third period. Crosby escaped and Haines quickly took the Beaver down to cut the lead to 8-6 after cutting him loose. He then took a 9-8 lead with another takedown at :42. Haines then built his riding time up over 1:00, working Crosby on the Beaver logo as the clock expired, and posting a hard fought 10-8 win with 1:18 riding time.
165: Freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 12 at 165, met No. 10 Matthew Olguin. Mesenbrink worked his way into a low single early and took Olguin down for an early 3-0 lead. Mesenbrink worked on top for a turn, building up riding time in the process. Mesenbrink cut Olguin loose on a reset and quickly turned a high double into a scramble. Mesenbrink finished off the takedown to lead 6-1 at 1:00. He worked Olguin to his back for four nearfall points and led 10-1 with 2:03 in riding time after one. Mesenbrink chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to an 11-1 lead. Mesenbrink took a 14-1 lead with another takedown and, after an Olguin escape, finished off the bout with a final takedown to post the convincing 17-2 technical fall at the 3:44 mark.
174: Senior Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, took on No. 7 Travis Wittlake. Starocci notched the bout’s first takedown at 1:41, opening up a 3-0 lead. He worked top control for :41 before Wittlake escaped to a 3-1 score. Starocci added to his lead with another takedown late, finished the period on top, and led 6-1 with 1:09 in time after one. Starocci chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-1 lead. He picked up a third takedown quickly after getting to his feet and led 10-1 early in the second period. Starocci finished the period on top. and carried that lead, with 2:32 in riding time, into the third period. Wittlake chose neutral to start the third period, but Starocci quickly took him down again. He cut him loose, took him down again and cut him loose one more time. He finished off the tech fall with a sixth takedown, posting the 19-3 win at 6:32.
184: Graduate Bernie Truax, ranked No. 2 at 184, battled No. 6 Trey Munoz. Munoz notched a quick takedown, opening up a 3-0 lead at 2:23 of the first period. Truax worked his way to an escape and a 3-1 score :38 seconds later. The duo battled evenly in the center of the mat as the first period played out and Truax trailed 3-1 after one. Truax chose down to start the second period, but Munoz was able to control the Lion long enough to build his riding time over 1:00. Truax escaped to 3-2 score with under 1:30 left in the middle stanza. Truax nearly connected on a late single, but Munoz skipped out of trouble and the Beaver led 3-2 after two. Munoz chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 4-2 lead with 1:12 in time. Truax worked to break through Munoz’s defense, but the Beaver was able to break free of each Truax shot as the clock hit 1:00. Truax forced Munoz into a stall warning as the Beaver backed his way to 0:00s and held on for the 5-2 win.
197: Senior Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 197, met No. 30 Justin Rademacher. Brooks controlled the action early in the first period, taking Rademacher down for a 3-0 lead. He cut the Beaver loose and then steadily worked his way to a second takedown and a 6-1 lead. He finished the period on top and carried that margin into the second stanza. Brooks chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-1 lead. Brooks took a quick injury timeout, allowing Rademacher to choose down at the reset. Brooks cut him loose to a 10-2 score. Brooks picked up a quick fourth takedown, cut Rademacher again, and then took him down once more to lead 16-3. Brooks cut the Beaver loose one more time and then finished off the tech fall with a final takedown, posting the 19-4 tech at 4:53.
285: Senior Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 1 at 285, faced No. 12 Boone McDermott. Kerkvliet took McDermott down quickly, leading 3-1 after cutting the Oregon State wrestler loose. He then moved in on a second takedown to lead 6-1 with 1:30 on the clock. After working his time edge up over 1:00, Kerkvliet cut McDermott loose to a 6-2 score, then bulled his way through a high single to open up a 9-2 lead late in the first. He finished the period on top and led 9-2 with 1:41 in time after one. McDermott chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 9-3 score. Kerkvliet quickly took him down again and led 12-4 after another cut. The Lion big man roared through another takedown, cut McDermott loose once more, and led 15-5 at the :45 mark. Kerkvliet picked up a sixth takedown with :20 on the clock and finished the period on top to lead 18-5 with 2:28 in time after two. Kerkvliet chose neutral to start the third period and ended the match and dual meet with a final takedown at the 5:17 mark, posting the 21-5 tech fall.
