By: Pat Donghia
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestlers (0-0, 0-0 B1G), under the guidance of head coach Cael Sanderson, open up dual meet action this weekend, hosting Lehigh (0-1) on Sunday, Dec. 3. The dual meet, a 2 p.m. start in Rec Hall, is a Big Ten Network national telecast. All rankings listed are InterMat/InterMat TPI.
Penn State did not compete last weekend and was last in action at the Black Knight Invite on Nov. 19 and the NWCA All-Star Classic Exhibition on Nov. 21 in Rec Hall. Five Nittany Lions won titles at the Black Knight. True freshman Braeden Davis went 4-0 to win at 125, sophomore Aaron Nagao went 4-0 to win at 133 in his Lion debut, senior Beau Bartlett went 4-0 to win at 141, redshirt freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink went 4-0 to win at 165 and true freshman Josh Barr went 4-0 to win at 184. Five All-Americans competed at the All-Star exhibition in bouts that were not official NCAA results. Shayne Van Ness (149), Carter Starocci (174), Aaron Brooks (197) and Greg Kerkvliet (285) came way with big wins while Bernie Truax (184) dropped a close bout to the top-ranked wrestler at his weight class.
The Nittany Lion line-up features nine ranked wrestlers. Sophomore Aaron Nagao is 4-0, ranked No. 3 at 133 and will make his Rec Hall dual debut. Senior Beau Bartlett is 7-0 and ranked No. 2 at 141. Sophomore Shayne Van Ness is 3-0 and ranked No. 2 at 149. Sophomore Levi Haines is 3-0 and ranked No. 1 at 157. Freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink is 7-0 and ranked No. 16 at 165. Senior Carter Starocci is 3-0 and ranked No. 1 at 174. Graduate Bernie Truax is 3-0 and ranked No. 2 at 184. Senior Aaron Brooks is 3-0 and ranked No. 1 at 197. Senior Greg Kerkvliet is 3-0 and ranked No. 1 at 285.
Lehigh, ranked No. 20 in InterMat’s TPI, is coming off a loss to Pitt on Nov. 19. The Mountain Hawks are being led by seven ranked wrestlers. Luke Stanich is No. 33 at 125; Ryan Crookham is No. 5 at 133; Malyke Hines is No. 10 at 141; Max Brignola is No. 24 at 157; Jake Logan is No. 32 at 165; Michael Beard is No. 10 at 197; and Nathan Taylor is No. 12 at 285.. Penn State leads the all-time series with Lehigh 73-34-3, including a 24-12 win last year at Lehigh on Dec. 4, 2022. Penn State won the last meeting in Rec hall, 23-16, on Dec. 5, 2021.
The Nittany Lions continue dual meet action next weekend, hosting Hofstra in Rec Hall on Sunday, Dec. 10, for a 1 p.m. dual.
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 (0-0, 0-0 B1G)
125 Robert Howard So. Cranford, N.J./Bergen Catholic 3-4
Gary Steen So. Hermitage, Pa./Reynolds 6-2
Braeden Davis Fr. Belleville, Mich./Dundee 7-0
133 #3 Aaron Nagao So. La Habra, Calif./Esperanza 4-0
141 #2 Beau Bartlett Sr. Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) 7-0
149 #2 Shayne Van Ness So. Somerville, N.J./Blair Academy 3-0
157 #1 Levi Haines So. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 3-0
165 #16 Mitchell Mesenbrink Fr. Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead 7-0
174 #1 Carter Starocci Sr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 3-0
184 #2 Bernie Truax Gr. Oceanside, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista 3-0
197 #1 Aaron Brooks Sr.+ Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown 3-0
285 #1 Greg Kerkvliet Sr. Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley 3-0
20 LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (0-1)
125 #33 Luke Stanich Fr. Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury 5-0
133 #5 Ryan Crookham Fr. Hellertown, Pa./Saucon Valley 7-0
Connor McGonagle Jr. Danville, N.H./Timberlane 2-0
141 #10 Malyke Hines Jr. Kissimmee, Fla./Osceola 7-1
149 Matt Repos Fr. Palmyra, Pa./Central Dauphin 3-3
157 #24 Max Brignola Jr. Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven 6-1
165 #32 Jake Logan Jr. New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle 6-2
174 Thayne Lawrence So. Perryopolis, Pa./Frazier 2-3
184 Caden Rogers Fr. Lancaster, Pa./Malvern Prep 4-2
197 #10 Michael Beard Jr. Reading, Pa./Malvern Prep 7-1
285 #`12 Nathan Taylor So. Brookville, Pa./Brookville 7-2
Individual Rankings listed are InterMat and Team Rankings are
Intermat Tournament Power Index (as of 11/28/23)
THIS WEEK
1 Penn State (0-0, 0-0 B1G) opens up dual meet competition by hosting #20 Lehigh (1-0) on Sunday, Dec. 3, in Rec Hall. The dual, a 2 p.m. start, is a Big Ten Network national telecast.
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions will host Hofstra on Sunday, Dec. 10, in Rec Hall. The dual meet starts at 1 p.m.
ON THE AIR
TV – Big Ten Network
Radio online – Free all year via Lionvision at GoPSUsports.com
Live Web Video – Fox Sports App
