By: Pat Donghia

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestlers (7-0, 4-0 B1G) host Ohio State (12-1, 4-0 B1G) on Friday, Feb. 2. The Nittany Lions and Buckeyes meet at 6:30 p.m. in Rec Hall in a B1G Network national telecast. All rankings listed are InterMat/InterMat TPI.

Penn State is coming off a dominating 42-6 road win at Maryland on Sunday. The Nittany Lions tallied four pins, two technical falls and two majors in the victory, led by Aaron Brooks’ convincing 13-4 major over No. 5 Jaxon Smith at 197. Penn State improved to 7-0 overall, 4-0 in the Big Ten, with the win.

The Nittany Lions have ten wrestlers ranked by InterMat, half of which are underclassmen. True freshman Braeden Davis is 13-0 and ranked No. 3 at 125. Sophomore Aaron Nagao is 8-2 and No. 5 at 133. Senior Beau Bartlett is 13-0 and No. 2 at 141. True freshman Tyler Kasak is 10-1 and ranked No. 12 at 149. Sophomore Levi Haines is 10- and ranked No. 1 at 157. Redshirt freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink is 14-0 and ranked No. 7 at 165. Senior Carter Starocci is 8-0 and ranked No. 1 at 174. Graduate Bernie Truax is 8-1 and No. 5 at 184. Senior+ Aaron Brooks is 9-0 and No. 1 at 197. Senior Greg Kerkvliet is 8-0 and ranked No. 1 at 285.

Ohio State enters the dual meet with a 12-1 overall record, 4-0 in the Big Ten. Ohio State is coming off a win over Michigan last Friday night. The Buckeyes have ten ranked wrestlers as well. Brendan McCrone is No. 24 at 125, Nic Bouzakis is No. 12 at 133, Jesse Mendez is No. 3 at 141, Dylan D’Emilio is No. 9 at 149, Isaac Wilcox is No. 29 at 157, Bryce Hepner is No. 20 at 165, Rocco Welsh is No. 11 at 174, Seth Shumate is No. 31 at 184, splitting time with Ryder Rogotzke, Luke Geog is No. 22 at 197 and Nick Feldman is No. 12 at 285.. Penn State leads the all-time series with Ohio State 25-12, including the last eight straight. Penn state won 29-9 last season (Feb. 3, 2023) in Columbus.

Head coach Cael Sanderson and company visit Iowa on Friday, Feb. 9, for a 9 p.m. Eastern (8 p.m. local) match-up and then host Rutgers on Monday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center.

All rankings listed are InterMat individual/InterMat TPI. 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 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 NITTANY LIONS (7-0, 4-0 B1G)

125 #3 Braeden Davis Fr. Belleville, Mich./Dundee 13-0
133 #5 Aaron Nagao So. La Habra, Calif./Esperanza 8-2
141 #2 Beau Bartlett Sr. Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) 13-0
149 #12 Tyler Kasak Fr. Doylestown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic 10-1
157 #1 Levi Haines So. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 10-0
165 #7 Mitchell Mesenbrink Fr. Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead 14-0
174 #1 Carter Starocci Sr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 8-0
184 #5 Bernie Truax Gr. Oceanside, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista 8-1
197 #1 Aaron Brooks Sr.+ Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown 9-0
285 #1 Greg Kerkvliet Sr. Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley 8-0

17 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (12-1, 4-0 B1G)

125 #24 Brendan McCrone Fr. Willoughby, Ohio/Lake Catholic 15-8
133 #12 Nic Bouzakis Fr. Tampa, Fla./Wyoming Seminary 19-6
141 #3 Jesse Mendez So. Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point 19-1
149 #9 Dylan D’Emilio Sr. Curtice, Ohio/Genoa 19-6
157 #29 Isaac Wilcox Sr. Holiday, Utah/Olympus 13-6
165 #20 Bryce Hepner Jr. Avon, Ohio/St. Edward 9-2
174 #11 Rocco Welsh Fr. Waynesburg, Pa./Central 14-3
184 #31 Seth Shumate Fr. Galion, Ohio/Dublin Coffman 5-3
Ryder Rogotzke Fr. Lakeland, Minn./Stillwater 13-5
197 #22 Luke Geog Fr. Upper Arlington, Ohio/St. Edward 10-5
285 #12 Nick Feldman Fr. Quarryville, Pa./Malvern Prep 19-4

Individual Rankings listed are InterMat and Team Rankings are
Intermat Tournament Power Index (as of 1/30/24)

THIS WEEK
Penn State (7-0, 4-0 B1G) hosts Ohio State (12-1, 4-0 B1G) on Friday, Feb. 2. The Nittany Lions and Buckeyes meet at 6:30 p.m. in Rec Hall in a B1G Network national telecast.

UP NEXT
Penn State visits Iowa on Friday, Feb. 9, at 9 p.m. Eastern (8 p.m. local) and hosts Rutgers on Monday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center.

ON THE AIR
TV – B1G Network
Radio online – Free all year via Lionvision at GoPSUsports.com
Live Web Video – none