By: Pat Donghia

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Penn State (12-0, 5-0 B1G) Nittany Lion wrestling team downed homestanding Ohio State (11-2, 5-1 B1G) 29-9 in a dominating Big Ten road win. Penn State won eight of ten bouts and gave up only three takedowns in the victory. All rankings listed are InterMat/InterMat Team TPI (Jan. 31, 2023).

The dual meet began at 125 where No. 10 Malik Heinselman of Ohio State pinned Nittany Lion Gary Steen, one of Penn State’s four freshmen in the line-up, at 1:56. Roman Bravo-Young, ranked No. 1 at 133, dominated No. 9 Jesse Mendez in the next bout. Bravo-Young tallied three takedowns and built up 1:04 in riding time to roll to an 8-2 win, cutting the early Buckeye lead to 6-3. Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 5 at 141, notched the only takedown of the bout against No. 19 Dylan D’Emilio and posted a strong 4-2 win. Bartlett’s victory tied the dual at 6-6.

Freshman Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 13 at 149, picked up the first takedown in his match with No. 3 Sammy Sasso but Sasso was able to come back and grab a hard-fought 6-3 win. True freshman Levi Haines, ranked No. 9 at 157, dominated No. 25 Paddy Gallagher in the dual’s fifth bout. Haines scored early and often, picking up four takedowns, a four-point turn, and 4:10 in riding time to roll to a 14-2 major. His win gave Penn State a 10-9 lead at halftime.

Freshman Alex Facundo, ranked No. 8 at 165, controlled the action in his match with No. 12 Carson Kharchla. He picked up the only takedown of the bout in a 4-1 win to put Penn State up 13-9. Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, dominated No. 7 Ethan Smith in the next bout. Starocci rolled up four takedowns and 1:32 in riding time to down Smith 11-5.

Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 184, chased down No. 5 Kaleb Romero for a late takedown in a top match-up at 184. His late offensive effort allowed Brooks to post the 3-2 win and give the Nittany Lions a 19-9 lead.

Max Dean, ranked No. 4 at 197, then picked up the dual meet’s first pin. Dean carried a 2-0 lead over No. 17 Gavin Hoffman into the second period before Hoffman chose down. Dean took advantage of the decision and worked Hoffman over to his back for the fall at 4:17. Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 2 at 285, built up nearly 5:00 in riding time during a dominant and lopsided 9-0 major over No. 18 Tate Orndorff to close out the dual meet. Kerkvliet’s major closed out Penn State’s 29-9 dual meet win.

The Nittany Lions worked up a lopsided 19-3 margin in takedowns. Penn State’s last two opponents (Iowa and Ohio State) secured only five combined takedowns against the Nittany Lions. Penn State picked up five bonus points off a pin (Dean) and two majors (Haines and Kerkvliet).

The Nittany Lions are now 12-0 overall, 5-0 B1G. Ohio State falls to 11-2, 5-1 B1G. Penn State continues its weekend road trip when the Lions visit Indiana on Sunday, Feb. 5, for a 2 p.m. battle.

The 2022-23 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by the Family Clothesline. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via 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 29, #10 Ohio State 9

February 3, 2023 – Columbus, Ohio

125: #10 Malik Heinselman OSU pinned Gary Steen PSU, WBF (1:56) 0-6
133: #1 Roman Bravo-Young PSU dec. Jesse Mendez OSU, 8-2 3-6
141: #5 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. #19 Dylan D’Emilio OSU, 4-2 6-6
149: #3 Sammy Sasso OSU dec. #13 Shayne Van Ness PSU, 6-3 6-9
157: #9 Levi Haines PSU maj. dec. Paddy Gallagher OSU, 14-2 10-9
165: #8 Alex Facundo PSU dec. #12 Carson Kharchla OSU, 4-1 13-9
174: #1 Carter Starocci PSU dec. #7 Ethan Smith OSU, 11-5 16-9
184: #1 Aaron Brooks PSU dec. #5 Kaleb Romero OSU, 3-2 19-9
197: #4 Max Dean PSU pinned #17 Gavin Hoffman OSU, WBF (4:17) 25-9
285: #2 Greg Kerkvliet PSU maj. dec. #18 Tate Orndorff OSU, 9-0 29-9
Attendance: 4,585
Records: Penn State (12-0, 5-0 B1G); Ohio State (11-2, 5-1 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: at Indiana, Sunday, Feb. 5, 1 p.m.

DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:

125: Gary Steen met No. 10 Malik Heinselman. Heinselman got in on a quick low single and quickly scrambled his way to a takedown and a 2-0 lead. Steen worked to get off the bottom but Heinselman was able to turn him for four back points and a 6-0 lead at 1:48. Steen was called for stalling at 1:11 and then Heinselman turned him for four back points and pinned him at the 1:56 mark.

133: No. 1 Roman Bravo-Young took on No. 9 Jesse Mendez at 133. Bravo-Young and Mendez worked the middle of the mat to start the bout. Mendez took a slight shot that Bravo-Young nearly countered for a takedown at 2:20 but Mendez was able to slide back and keep the bout scoreless at the 2:00 mark. The action continued in neutral past the 1:00 mark, still tied 0-0. Bravo-Young turned a fast high single into a slick takedown and a 2-0 lead at the :33 mark. He then controlled the action from top for the rest of the period, finishing with a rideout, and led 2-0 after one. Trailing 2-0, Mendez chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 2-1 score at the 1:41 mark (Bravo-Young had :50 in riding time). Bravo-Young continued to shoot Mendez backwards deep into the second period, forcing the Buckeye into defense. He worked his way through a low scrambling shot for a second takedown in the final seconds of the period and led 4-1 after two. Bravo-Young chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. Bravo-Young continued to dominated on his feet, using a high shot for a third takedown and a 6-1 lead with 1:12 on the clock. Bravo-Young built his riding time up over 1:00 and then cut Mendez loose to a 7-2 lead. Mendez took a high double and Bravo-Young nearly locked up a throw at :20. But Mendez worked out of trouble and, with 1:04 in riding time, rolled to the 8-2 win.

141: Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 5 at 141, met No. 19 Dylan D’Emilio. Bartlett took a flurry of quick shots in the opening minute-plus, forcing D’Emilio into defense on the middle of the mat. Bartlett’s pressure paid off with a fast takedown at the 1:26 mark, giving the Nittany Lion a 2-0 lead. Bartlett then put together a strong ride, maintaining offensive control deep into the period, building his riding advantage up over a minute. After a reset at :26, Bartlett gave up one stall warning and finished the period on top to lead 2-0 after one. D’Emilio chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-1 score. Bartlett paced the center of the mat, controlling the tempo as he looked to work his offense. With the clock dipping below 1:00, Bartlett defended a D’Emilio shot and nearly connected on a low single. D’Emilio was able to defend the shot and action continued in neutral for the rest of the period. Bartlett chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead, maintaining his riding time. He forced D’Emilio into a stall warning then fought off a Buckeye shot as the clock hit 1:30. Bartlett got in on another low shot but D’Emilio forced a stalemate with :35 left to wrestle. Bartlett gave up a stall point, but picked up the riding time point, and posted the 4-2 win.

149: Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 13 at 149, took on No. 3 Sammy Sasso. Van Ness came out and nearly connected on a quick low single off the whistle. But Sasso defended the early shot, worked his way out of trouble, and kept the bout scoreless in the opening seconds of the match. Sasso took a shot, forcing a scramble at 1:45 and Van Ness countered the action, rolling through the move for a takedown and a 2-1 lead. Van Ness continued to set the offensive tempo, controlling position in the middle of the mat. He worke4d his way in on a low single and nearly took Sasso down again. But Sasso countered the move and forced a scramble that led to a Sasso takedown with :15 left. Sasso carried the 3-2 lead into the second period. Leading by one, Sasso chose down to start the second period. He scrambled his way to a reversal and a 5-2 lead before Van Ness escaped to a 5-3 score with 1:10 on the clock. Van Ness continued to pressure on offense but Sasso’s defense allowed him to kill the clock and the bout moved to the third period with Van Ness trailing 5-3. Van Ness chose down to start the third period. He fought off a quick cradle from Sasso but could not work his way free of the Buckeye’s ride as the clock moved below 1:00. Sasso finished the period with a rideout and Van Ness dropped the 6-3 decision.

157: No. 9 Levi Haines battled No. 25 Paddy Gallagher at 157. Haines took a quick 2-0 lead with a takedown at the 1:52 mark. He then went to work on top, controlling the action as the clock moved to 1:00. Haines maintained position until Gallagher escaped to a 2-1 score with 1:00 left in the period. Haines continued to work on offense, turning a low shot into a takedown and a 4-1 lead with :45 left in the period. Haines turned Gallagher for a handful of seconds but never got the near fall call and led 4-1 with 1:30 in riding time after one. Gallagher chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 4-2 score at 1:40. Haines had 1:48 in riding time. Haines continued to press forward as the Buckeye backed away from the Lion. Haines notched his third takedown at the 1:10 mark and then built his riding time over 2:00 while trying to turn the Buckeye for back points. Haines lifted Gallagher and returned him to the mat with :20 left and then broke the Buckeye down for the rest of the period to finish on top. Haines chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. With riding time clinched, Haines went to work on offense, took Gallagher down once more to up his lead to 9-2 and then turned Gallagher for four back points as the clock hit :50. Leading 13-2, Haines looked for one more turn to secure a tech fall. But Gallagher was able to fight off the late swipes and Haines settled for a dominating 14-2 major with 4:10 in riding time.

165: No. 8 Alex Facundo took on No. 12 Carson Kharchla at 165. The bout started with a high tempo on the Buckeye logo. Facundo stepped back from a quick Ohio State shot at 2:15 in the first real threat of the opening period. After a reset at 2:08, Kharchla got in on a high single but Facundo quickly settled his hips to force a stalemate and action continued in neutral. The Lion began to set up his offense over the next minute and nearly worked a counter move for a takedown at :56. Facundo worked two quick shots that Kharchla had to defend at :30 and nearly turned a blast double into a late takedown. But Kharchla defended the shot and the bout moved to the second period tied 0-0. Facundo chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The Nittany Lion freshman continued to shoot Kharchla backwards as the clock hit 1:20. Kharchla gave up a penalty point with another slap at Facundo’s face and the Nittany Lion led 2-0 at :47. Facundo defended a late Kharchla shot and carried the 2-0 lead into the third period. Kharchla chose down to start the third period. Facundo went to work on top, working the clock down to 1:16 with a strong ride before Kharchla escaped to a 2-1 Facundo lead. Facundo continued to take low shots that forced Kharchla into defense for the rest of the match and the Nittany Lion added a final counter takedown in the final seconds. He walked away with a strong 4-1 win.

174: Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, faced off against No. 7 Ethan Smith. Starocci set a high tempo, taking a series of quick shots. Smith took a shot at the 2:15 mark but Starocci quickly countered, gained control of the Buckeyes leg and notched the counter takedown with 1:53 on the clock to lead 2-0. Smith worked his way to an escaped to cut the Lion lead to 2-1 with 1:10 on the clock. Starocci continued to shoot Smith backwards as the clock moved below 1:00. He worked his way through a high single to a takedown and a 4-1 lead in the latter seconds of the period. Smith managed a late escape and Starocci led 4-2 after one. Smith chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 4-3 score with 1:45 on the clock (Starocci had 1:10 in riding time). Starocci continued to take shot after shot as Smith worked to defend each effort. The Nittany Lion blitzed through a lightning quick single for a third takedown at the :35 mark to open up a 6-3 lead. Starocci finished the period on top and led 6-3 with 1:49 in riding time after two. Starocci chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-3 lead. Smith managed a low double to take Starocci down at 1:30, cutting the Nittany Lion’s lead to 7-5). Starocci scrambled to an escape and an 8-5 lead after a reset, maintaining his riding time edge. The Lion took Smith down one more time and finished on top. With 1:32 in riding time, Starocci rolled to the 11-5 win.

184: Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 184, battled No. 5 Kaleb Romero. Brooks set the offensive tempo off the opening whistle, forcing Romero towards the outside circle in the first minute of the bout. Romero took a shot on the edge of the mat but Brooks was able to quickly defend it and forced a stalemate at 1:49. Brooks chased Romero around the mat for the next minute-plus. Romero was able to back way out of trouble and the first period ended in a 0-0 tie. Brooks chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The Nittany Lion continued to press the Buckeye backwards as the clock hit 1:10. Romero connected on a high shot with 1:05 left but Brooks once again forced a stalemate and a reset. Brooks chased Romero around the mat once again but the Buckeye was able to kill the clock and Brooks led 1-0 after two. Romero chose down to start the third period, trailing by one, and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Brooks was finally able to chase Romero down, collecting his ankle, and then pulling the fleeing Buckeye back onto the mat for a takedown and a 3-1 lead with 1:10 left to wrestle. Brooks controlled the action on top, working the block down to :30. Action moved out of bounds, forcing a reset and Romero was able to escape to a 3-2 score with :25 on the clock. Brooks’ third period takedown gave the Nittany Lion a 3-2 win.

197: No. 4 Max Dean met No. 17 Gavin Hoffman at 197. Dean connected on a low single quickly, forcing Hoffman to defend the shot over the next minute. Dean continued to work the single and was awarded the takedown with 1:55 on the clock, but the officials reviewed the action and took the takedown away. Dean continued to work on his feet and forced another scramble late in the period. Dean worked his way into control and picked up the late takedown to lead 2-0 after one. Hoffman chose down to start the second period and Dean went to work on top. The Lion senior built up a over 1:00 in riding time with strong offense, breaking Hoffman down in the middle of the mat. Dean eventually worked the Buckeye over to his back, turning him for a four-swipe before settling in for the fall at the 4:28 mark.

285: No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet took on No. 18 Tate Orndorff at 285. Kerkvliet scored quickly, taking Orndorff down in the opening seconds to lead 2-0. Kerkvliet then went to work on top, looking for a chance to turn the Ohio State big man. Kerkvliet’s riding time moved over 1:00 as the clock hit 1:40. He continued to work on top, looking to turn Orndorff. Kerkvliet was unable to turn Orndorff but finished the period on top to lead 2-0 with 2:44 in riding time after one period. Kerkvliet chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 3-0 lead at 1:22. Kerkvliet then turned a quick high single into another takedown and a 5-0 lead. Kerkvliet once again went to work on top, trying to turn Orndorff for back points. The Nittany Lion big man finished the period on top and led 5-0 with 3:26 in riding time after two. Orndorff chose neutral to start the third period and Kerkvliet quickly turned a single into a lift and a takedown with 1:20 on the clock. Leading 7-0 with riding time clinched, Kerkvliet worked on offense. He picked up a stall point and finished the match on top to post the 9-0 major with 4:53 in riding time.