By: Pat Donghia
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State wrestling (10-0, 7-0 B1G) hosts Nebraska (11-1, 6-1 B1G) in the Big Ten finale for both teams on Sunday, Feb. 18. The dual is set for 4 p.m. in Rec Hall and is a B1G Network national telecast. All rankings listed are InterMat individual/InterMat TPI.
The Nittany Lions are coming off two Big Ten wins last weekend. Penn State won eight of ten bouts in Iowa City on Feb. 9, rolling to a 29-6 win over the Hawkeyes. Five of Penn State’s eight wins were major decisions. Three days later, head coach Cael Sanderson and company dominated Rutgers 35-3 in the 2024 BJC Dual.
Penn State’s line-up features ten ranked wrestlers. True freshman Braeden Davis is 15-1 and ranked No. 6 at 125. Sophomore Aaron Nagao is 9-4 and No. 11 at 133. Senior Beau Bartlett is 16-0 and No. 1 at 141. True freshman Tyler Kasak is 12-2 and No. 9 at 149. Sophomore Levi Haines is 13-0 and No. 1 at 157. Freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink is 17-0 and No. 6 at 165. Senior Carter Starocci is 10- and No. 1 at 174. Graduate Bernie Truax is 10-2 and No. 6 at 184. Senior+ Aaron Brooks is 12-0 and No. 1 at 197. Senior Greg Kerkvliet is 10-0 and No. 1 at 285.
Nebraska will enter the dual with an 11-1 overall record, 6-1 in Big Ten action, and coming off a strong 25-7 win over Michigan last Friday night. The Cornhuskers have nine ranked grapplers. Caleb Smith is No. 12 at 125, Jacob Van Dee is No. 17 at 133, Brock Hardy is No. 7 at 141, Ridge Lovett is No. 1 at 149, Peyton Robb is No. 7 at 157, Antrell Taylor is No. 15 at 165, Bubba Wilson is No. 33 at 174, Lenny Pinto is No. 3 at 184 and Silas Alred is No. 13 at 197. Penn State leads the all-time series with Nebraska 11-7-1, including a 21-3 win on Feb. 6, 2022, in Rec Hall.
The Nittany Lions will host Edinboro in the regular season dual finale on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m. in Rec Hall.
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 (10-0, 7-0 B1G)
125 #6 Braeden Davis Fr. Belleville, Mich./Dundee 15-1
133 #11 Aaron Nagao So. La Habra, Calif./Esperanza 9-4
141 #1 Beau Bartlett Sr. Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) 16-0
149 #9 Tyler Kasak Fr. Doylestown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic 12-2
157 #1 Levi Haines So. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 13-0
165 #6 Mitchell Mesenbrink Fr. Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead 17-0
174 #1 Carter Starocci Sr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 10-0
184 #6 Bernie Truax Gr. Oceanside, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista 10-2
197 #1 Aaron Brooks Sr.+ Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown 12-0
285 #1 Greg Kerkvliet Sr. Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley 10-0
8 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (11-1, 6-1 B1G)
125 #12 Caleb Smith Gr. High Point, N.C. 17-5
133 #17 Jacob Van Dee Fr. Union City, Pa. 16-6
141 #7 Brock Hardy So. Brigham City, Utah 14-5
149 #1 Ridge Lovett Jr. Post Falls, Idaho 20-0
157 #7 Peyton Robb Sr. Owatonna, Minn. 16-4
165 #15 Antrell Taylor Fr. Millard, Neb. 16-4
174 #33 Bubba Wilson Jr. Manhattan, Kan. 11-9
184 #3 Lenny Pinto So. Stroudsburg, Pa. 17-3
197 #13 Silas Alred So. Anderson, Ind. 19-4
285 Harley Andrews Fr. Tuttle, Okla 10-9
Nash Hutmacher Jr. Oacoma, S.D. 4-2
Individual Rankings listed are InterMat and Team Rankings are
Intermat Tournament Power Index (as of 2/13/24)
THIS WEEK
Penn State (10-0, 7-0 B1G) hosts Nebraska (11-1, 6-1 B1G) on Sunday, Feb. 18, in the Big Ten finale for both teams. The dual is set for 4 p.m. in Rec Hall and is a B1G Network national telecast.
UP NEXT
Penn State closes out the regular season by hosting Edinboro on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m. in Rec Hall.
ON THE AIR
TV – B1G Network
Radio online – Free all year via Lionvision at GoPSUsports.com
Live Web Video – none
