By Pat Donghia gopsusports.com

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (4-0, 1-0 B1G) opened up Big Ten dual meet action by shutting out Indiana (3-2, 0-2 B1G) 46-0 on Sunday in Rec Hall. Four Nittany Lion freshmen picked up wins for head coach Cael Sanderson’s squad. All rankings listed are InterMat/InterMat TPI.

The Nittany Lions broke the dual open early with three technical falls before halftime and tacked on two more in the second half as five of Penn State’s ten wins were techs. Nearly 6,500 fans packed Rec Hall for the venue’s 69th-straight sellout.

The dual meet began at 125 where true freshman Braeden Davis thrilled the Rec Hall to open up the dual. Davis rolled to a 16-3 major over Indiana senior Michael Spangler. Sophomore Aaron Nagao, ranked No. 4 at 133, dominated Hoosier Isaac Thornton, notching a quick takedown in the third period to cap off a 19-4 tech fall (5:24) and put Penn State up 9-0 early. Senior Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 2 at 141, turned a 1-1 third period tie into an 8-1 win with a late takedown and four back points as the clock expired.

True freshman Tyler Kasak took to the mat at 149 against No. 14 Graham Rooks and dominated the ranked Hoosier. Kasak led 14-0 after two periods, using two takedowns and two four-point turns. He finished off a 15-0 tech fall over Rooks at the 6:59 mark with a last second escape. Sophomore Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 157, notched Penn State’s third tech fall of the first half, notching 17-0 tech fall at the 6:06 mark over Indiana’s Zack Rotkvich. Penn State led 22-0 at halftime.

Freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 10 at 165, opened up a big lead early on No. 23 Tyler Lillard, leading 7-1 before an injury to Lillar stopped the match. Mesenbrink received the injury default at the 1:48 mark to put Penn State up 28-0. Senior Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, notched yet another technical fall. Starocci rolled up five takedowns in the first period and finished the match with a four-point turn early in the second, capping off the 19-4 tech fall over Robert Major at 3:42.

With No. 5 Bernie Truax not wrestling at 184, true freshman Josh Barr made his Penn State and Rec Hall dual debut. Barr came up big for Penn State, notching four takedowns on his way to a 14-4 major decision over IU’s Roman Rogotzke to give Penn State a 37-0 lead. Senior+ Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 197, grabbed Penn State’s fifth technical fall, rolling to a 19-4 tech over Gabe Sollars on the back of six takedowns. Senior Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 1 at 285, closed out the dual by majoring Nick Willham 14-2. Kerkvliet tallied three takedowns and over 4:00 in riding time (4:43). Kerkvliet’s major secured the 46-0 shutout for the Nittany Lions.

Brooks was honored before the match, receiving his U23 World Championship ring from USA Wrestling. The ring was presented to him by Nittany Lion Wrestling Club coach Jake Varner. Penn State did not give up a takedown in the dual, rolling up a 35-0 advantage. The Nittany Lions tallied 16 bonus points off five tech falls (Nagao, Kasak, Haines, Starocci, Brooks), three majors (Davis, Barr, Kerkvliet) and one injury default (Mesenbrink). The shutout is the first for Penn State since a 46-0 win over Rider on Feb. 20, 2022. It is the team’s first Big Ten shutout since a 46-0 win at Maryland on Jan. 7, 2022.

Penn State is now 4-0 on the year, 1-0 in Big Ten duals. Indiana falls to 3-2, 0-2 B1G. The Nittany Lions continue Big Ten action next weekend with two road duals. Penn State visits Michigan on Friday, Jan. 19, for a 6 p.m. dual live on the Big Ten Network. Two days later on Sunday, Jan. 21, the Nittany Lions invade East Lansing, Mich., to battle Michigan State at 1 p.m. on B1G+.

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 46, Indiana 0

January 14, 2024 – Rec Hall – University Park, Pa.

125: Braeden Davis PSU maj. dec. Michael Spangler IU, 16-3 4-0
133: #4 Aaron Nagao PSU tech fall Isaac Thornton IU, 19-4 (TF; 5:24) 9-0
141: #2 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. #23 Danny Fongaro IU, 8-1 12-0
149: Tyler Kasak PSU tech fall #14 Graham Rooks IU, 15-0 (TF; 6:59) 17-0
157: #1 Levi Haines PSU tech fall Zack Rotkvich IU, 17-0 (TF; 6:06) 22-0
165: #10 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU inj. def. #23 Tyler Lillard IU, inj. def. (1:28) 28-0
174: #1 Carter Starocci PSU tech fall Robert Major IU, 19-4 (TF; 3:41) 33-0
184: Josh Barr PSU maj. dec. Roman Rogotzke IU, 13-4 37-0
197: #1 Aaron Brooks PSU tech fall Gabe Sollars IU, 19-4 (TF; 3:56) 42-0
285: #1 Greg Kerkvliet PSU maj. dec. Nick Willham IU, 14-2 46-0
Attendance: 6,466 (69th-straight sellout in Rec Hall; 78th in last 80 events, including 9 of 11 in BJC)
Records: Penn State (4-0, 1-0 B1G); Indiana (3-2, 0-2 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: at Michigan, Friday, Jan. 19, 6 p.m. (B1G Network).
at Michigan State, Sunday, Jan. 21, 1 p.m. (B1G+)

DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:

125: True freshman Braeden Davis battled senior Michael Spangler at 125. Davis gained control of Spangler’s right leg with a high shot and took him down for a 3-0 lead at the 2:35 mark. Spangler escaped to a 3-1 score and action continued through the 2:00 in neutral. Davis worked for a second takedown in the final minute of the opening period, but Spangler was able to defend his way to the end of the period. Leading by two, Davis chose down to start the second period. The Lion freshman steadily worked his way into control of Spangler’s arm and used it to control the action, reversing the Hoosier. Spangler escaped to a 5-2 score at the :40 mark. Spangler used a low shot to work Davis’ leg in the air, but the Nittany Lion countered the move and turned it into a takedown of his own to up his lead to 8-2 as the second period ended. Spangler chose down to start the third period and Davis nearly turned him for back points off the opening whistle. Davis maintained control long enough to work his riding time edge over 1:00 before Spangler escaped to an 8-3 score. Spangler worked a shot into a scramble and nearly took Davis down. But Davis rolled through the move from his back and took Spangler down, adding four back points and a rideout. Davis, with riding time added, rolled to the 16-3 major decision.

133: Sophomore Aaron Nagao, ranked No. 4 at 133, met Isaac Thornton. Nagao took Thornton down quickly, rolling through a scramble to take an early 3-0 lead. He controlled the action on top, turning Thornton for a quick two-point nearfall to up his lead to 5-0 as his riding time topped the 1:00 mark. Nagao cut Thornton loose at the 1:10 mark and immediately went on attack. He worked Thornton’s head to the mat and moved behind him for another takedown and an 8-1 lead. Leading by seven, Nagao chose down to start the second period and quickly reversed Thornton to up his lead to 10-2 after cutting the Hoosier loose. Nagao added another quick takedown to lead 13-2 at the 1:00 mark. Nagao tacked on one more takedown before the second period ended and led 16-3 with over 3:00 in riding time after two periods. Thornton chose down to start the third and Nagao allowed neutral to start. Nagao ended the match with a quick takedown, posting the 19-4 tech fall at the 5:24 mark.

141: Senior Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 2 at 141, took on No. 23 Dan Fongaro. The duo battled through an even first period, with Bartlett having the best shot when he connected on a single with 1:00 on the clock. But Fongaro fought through the move and the bout moved to the second stanza tied 0-0. Bartlett chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Bartlett gained control of Fongaro’s left ankle with 1:10 on the clock and lifted the Hoosier to the mat, forcing a scramble. A stalemate was called, however, at the :10 mark and the match moved to the third period with Bartlett leading 1-0. Fongaro chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. The duo battled through the 1:00 mark in neutral. Fongaro took a low shot that Bartlett turned into a scramble as the clock hit :30. Bartlett worked his way to a counter takedown, taking a 4-1 lead. He nearly pinned the Hoosier as the clock hit 0:00 but settle for four back points and an 8-1 decision.

149: True freshman Tyler Kasak battled graduate student Graham Rooks, ranked No. 14 at 149 for Indiana. Kasak and Rooks were steady in neutral to start the bout and then Kasak struck quickly, taking Rooks to his shoulders, nearly pinning the Hoosier in the opening minute. Kasak settled for four back points and led 7-0 before the midway point of the opening stanza. Kasak added another four-point turn and carried an 11-0 lead into the second period. Rooks chose neutral to start the second period and Kasak worked his way into a single and another takedown to lead 14-0. Kasak maintained control, building his riding time edge up to the 3:00 mark as the second period ended. Kasak chose down to start the third period. The Nittany Lion freshman was able to break free from a strong Rooks ride with just one second left to secure the 15-0 tech fall at the 6:59 mark.

157: Sophomore Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 157, faced off against Zack Rotkvich. Haines took a 3-0 lead with a single leg at the 2:17 mark. The Lion sophomore controlled the Hoosier for over a minute, looking to turn him. He forced a first stall warning at the :40 mark and kept control through the entirety of the first period to carry the 3-0 lead and 2:17 in riding time into the second period. Haines chose neutral to start the second stanza. He shot low off the whistle and finished off a takedown for a 6-0 lead with 1:41 on the clock. He then worked Rotkvich over to his back, securing the four point turn to lead 10-0 with :50 left in the period. Haines worked the Hoosier over once again, finishing the period with Rotkvich’s shoulders to the mat to lead 14-0 after two. Rotkvich chose neutral to start the third period. Haines finished off the match with a final takedown, posting the 17-0 tech fall at the 6:06 mark.

165: Freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 10 at 165, took on No. 23 Tyler Lillard. Mesenbrink quickly took Lillard down for an early 3-0 lead and then worked top control into a chance for back points. But a potentially dangerous hold stopped the turn and Mesenbrink cut Lillard loose for a 3-1 lead. He turned in and added a second takedown to up his lead to 6-1 and then Lillard took injury time to halt the action. Lillard took injury time once again and could not continue in the match. Mesenbrink won by injury default at 1:48.

174: Senior Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, met IU’s Robert Major. Starocci opened up an early 6-2 lead with two takedowns in the opening minute, then a third to lead 9-2 at 1:40. The Lion senior continued to roll up takedowns, taking a 12-3 lead with a fourth takedown at the 1:05 mark. Starocci cut Major loose again and took him down a fifth time late in the period to lead 15-4 after one. Starocci chose top to start the second period and quickly ended the bout by turning Major to his back for one final four-point turn. Starocci grabbed the 19-4 tech fall at the 3:41 mark.

184: With No. 5 Bernie Truax not competing at 184, true freshman Josh Barr made his Penn State and Rec Hall dual debut against IU’s Roman Rogotzke. Barr took an early 3-0 lead with a takedown in the opening minute. Rogotzke managed an escaped, cutting the Lion lead to 3-1 and action resumed on the Lion log. Barr continued to shoot, forcing a scramble with a low single. A stalemate halted action with :48 on the clock. Rogotzke chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 3-2 score, but Barr quickly turned in on a low shot, scrambling his way to a takedown and a 6-3 lead after an IU escape with 1:15 on the clock. Barr scrambled his way to leg control and finished off another takedown with :14 on the clock. He maintained control until the period ended and led 9-3 with 1:15 in time after two. Barr chose neutral to start the third period. He pressed forward on the Hoosier and wrangled his feet for another takedown and a 12-4 lead with 1:00 on the clock. Barr fought off a Rogotzke shot late in the match, forcing a stalemate with :19 on the clock. He tacked on a riding time point with 1:30 in time to roll to a 13-4 major in his Rec Hall debut.

197: Senior+ Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 197, met Gabe Sollars. Brooks took a quick 3-1 lead with a takedown and a cut and then tacked on a second takedown at the 2:00 mark. He led 6-2 with 1:30 left in the period after cutting Sollars loose and then picked up a third at :55 to lead 9-2. Brooks built his riding time edge through the 1:00 mark with a strong ride as he looked to turn the Hoosier. He forced a stall warning at :10 and led 9-2 with 1:27 in time after one. Brooks chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 10-2 lead. The Nittany Lion senior added two more takedowns to lead 16-5 and then finished off yet another tech fall with a final takedown. Brooks walked away with a 19-4 tech fall at 3:56.

285: Senior Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 1 at 285, took on Nick Willham. Kerkvliet lifted the Hoosier off the mat for a quick 3-0 lead in the opening seconds and then controlled action on top through the 2:00 mark. He turned Willham for a two-point turn to up his lead to 5-0. Still in control, the Nittany Lion senior continued to look for a chance to turn the Hoosier as the clock moved below the 1:00 mark and forced a first stall warning. Kerkvliet finished on top and led 5-0 with 2:41 in time after one. Kerkvliet chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 6-0 lead. Kerkvliet turned a fast shot into a second takedown to up his lead to 9-0 before the 1:00 mark in the second. He picked up a point on another stall and led 10-0 with over 4:00 in riding time after two. Willham chose down to start the third and Kerkvliet cut him to a 10-1 score. Kerkvliet connected on a fast high single for a 13-1 lead with his riding time point clinched. He cut Willham loose to a 13-2 score with just :28 on the clock, with a riding time point, posted the 14-2 major with 4:43 in riding time.