by Pat Donghia gopsusports.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (6-0, 0-0 B1G) will open up Big Ten action on Friday, Jan. 10, when it hosts Michigan State (2-1). The B1G Network national telecast is set for Rec Hall at 8 p.m. All rankings listed are InterMat/InterMat Tournament Power Index (TPI).
The Nittany Lions are coming off a dominant performance at the 2024 Journeymen Collegiate Duals in Nashville, Tenn. Penn State went 3-0 at the event on Sunday, Dec. 22. The Nittany Lions shutout Binghamton 52-0 and No. 15 Little Rock 44-0 (giving the team three straight shutouts including its 54-0 shutout of Wyoming on Dec. 12 in the Jordan Center). Penn State closed out the event with a 41-3 win over No. 8 Missouri. Penn State went 29-1 overall in the three dual meets.
Penn State’s line-up features ten ranked wrestlers. True freshman Luke Lilledahl is ranked No. 12 at 125. Sophomore Braeden Davis is No. 5 at 133. Senior+ Beau Bartlett is No. 3 at 141. Sophomore Shayne Van Ness is No. 2 at 149. Sophomore Tyler Kasak is No. 3 at 157. Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink is No. 1 at 165. Junior Levi Haines is No. 2 at 174. Graduate Carter Starocci is No. 1 at 184. Redshirt freshman Josh Barr is No. 4 at 197. Senior+ Greg Kerkvliet is No. 2 at 285.
Michigan State enters the new year with a 2-1 dual meet record. The Spartans last competed at Midlands on Dec. 29-30 in Evanston, Ill. Michigan State’s line-up features one ranked wrestler. Remy Cotton is currently ranked No. 25 at 197. Penn State leads the all-time series with the Spartans 25-9. The Nittany Lions have won 16 straight, including a 35-0 win at Michigan State last year on Jan. 21, 2024.
Penn State continues Big Ten dual meet action next weekend, visiting Nebraska on Friday, Jan. 17, for another B1G Network national telecast set for 9 p.m. Eastern.
The 2024-25 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 (6-0, 0-0 B1G)
125 #12 Luke Lilledahl Fr. Weldon Spring, Mo./Wyoming Seminary 8-0
133 #5 Braeden Davis So. Belleville, Mich./Dundee 5-1
141 #3 Beau Bartlett Sr.+ Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary 9-0
149 #2 Shayne Van Ness So. Somerville, N.J./Blair Academy 9-0
157 #3 Tyler Kasak So. Doylestown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic 8-0
Alex Facundo So. Essexville, Mich./Davison 5-0
165 #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink So. Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead 10-0
174 #2 Levi Haines Jr. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 8-1
184 #1 Carter Starocci Gr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 9-0
197 #4 Josh Barr R-Fr. Davison, Mich./Davison 7-0
Lucas Cochran Jr. Perry, Utah/Box Elder 4-0
285 #2 Greg Kerkvliet Sr.+ Inver Grove Heights, Min../Simley 9-0
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (2-1)
125 Caleb Weiand Fr. Macomb, Mich./Dakota 7-6
133 Tristan Lujan Sr. Selma, Calif./Selma 3-4
141 Evan Herriman Fr. Flint, Mich./Davidson 3-3
149 Jaden Crumpler Fr. Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls 4-7
157 Braden Stauffenberg So. Yorkville, Ill./Aurora Christian 3-7
165 Jay Nivison Gr. Davison, Mich./Davison 7-6
DJ Shannon Sr. Madison, Ill./Christian Brothers 3-3
174 Ceasar Garza So. Oakdale, Calif./Oakdale 9-6
184 Luke Daly Jr. Carbondale, Ill./Carbondale 10-6
197 #25 Remy Cotton Fr. Traverse City, Mich./Davidson 8-4
285 Max Vanadia Fr. Brecksville, Ohio/Brecksville 9-9
Individual rankings listed are InterMat as of 1-7-25 // Team ranking InterMat TPI
THIS WEEK
The Penn State Nittany Lions (6-0, 0-0 B1G) open up Big Ten action by hosting Michigan State (2-1, 0-0 B1G) on Friday, Jan. 10. The dual meet with the Spartans is a B1G Network national telecast and begins at 8 p.m. in Rec Hall.
UP NEXT
Penn State visits Nebraska on Friday, Jan. 17, for another B1G Network dual meet at 9 p.m. in Lincoln.
ON THE AIR
Television – B1G Network
Streamed TV – Fox Sports App
Radio online – Free all year via Lionvision at GoPSUsports.com
