By: Pat Donghia

Penn State is coming off a 30-10 win over Lehigh in the dual opener for head coach Cael Sanderson’s Nittany Lions last Sunday. Five Nittany Lions made their dual debuts in the win as Penn State began the year with the resounding victory and is 1-0 heading into the battle with Hofstra in Rec Hall.

The Nittany Lion line-up features nine ranked wrestlers this week. Aaron Nagao is ranked No. 4 at 133 and is 4-1, Beau Bartlett is No. 2 at 141 and is 7-0, Shayne Van Ness, who is now out for the season, is No. 2 at 149 and is 3-0, Levi Haines is No. 1 at 157 and is 4-0, Mitchell Mesenbrink is No. 14 at 165 and is 8-0, Carter Starocci is No. 1 at 174 and is 4-0, Bernie Truax is No. 2 at 184 and is 4-0, Aaron Brooks is No. 1 at 197 and is 3-0, and Greg Kerkvliet is No. 1 at 285 and is 4-0.

Hofstra enters the dual meet coming off competing at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational last weekend. The Pride are 0-1 overall, having lost to Ohio State in a dual on Nov. 19. Hofstra is led by heavyweight Keaton Kluever who is ranked No. 21 by InterMat and is 3-1 overall. Penn State leads the all-time series 5-2. The Nittany Lions lost the last meeting, an 18-15 setback on Nov. 16, 2008 in Rec Hall.

Penn State returns to dual meet action on Friday, Jan. 5, at Oregon State. The dual is an 8 p.m. Eastern start (5 p.m. local). Many Nittany Lions will also prepare for the 2023 Senior Nationals/2024 US Olympic Trials Qualifier in Fort Worth, Tex., on Dec. 15-17. The Nittany Lions are led by head coach Cael Sanderson.

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 (1-0, 0-0 B1G)

125 Robert Howard So. Cranford, N.J./Bergen Catholic 3-4
Gary Steen So. Hermitage, Pa./Reynolds 6-3
Braeden Davis Fr. Belleville, Mich./Dundee 7-0
133 #4 Aaron Nagao So. La Habra, Calif./Esperanza 4-1
141 #2 Beau Bartlett Sr. Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) 8-0
149 Tyler Kasak Fr. Doylestown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic 4-1
157 #1 Levi Haines So. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 4-0
165 #14 Mitchell Mesenbrink Fr. Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead 8-0
174 #1 Carter Starocci Sr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 4-0
184 #2 Bernie Truax Gr. Oceanside, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista 4-0
197 #1 Aaron Brooks Sr.+ Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown 3-0
285 #1 Greg Kerkvliet Sr. Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley 4-0

HOFSTRA PRIDE (0-1)

125 Dylan Ryder Sr. Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West 3-4
133 Dylan Acevedo Jr. Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville 0-4
Ryan Arbeit Fr. Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh 0-3
141 Alex Turley So. St. Louis, Mo./Webster Groves 2-6
149 Noah Tapia Fr. Moline, Ill./Moline 3-7
157 Frank Volpe Fr. Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge 0-3
165 Joe McGinty Sr. Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury 4-4
Matt Rogers Jr. Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh 0-1
174 Ross McFarland Jr. Pennellville, N.Y./Massapequa 3-4
184 Will Conlon Fr. Hoover, Ala./Spain Park 3-6
197 Nikolas Miller Jr. Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain 2-4
285 #21 Keaton Kluever Gr. Kaukauna, Wis./Kaukauna 3-1

Individual Rankings listed are InterMat and Team Rankings are
Intermat Tournament Power Index (as of 12/5/23)

THIS WEEK

1 Penn State (1-0, 0-0 B1G) hosts Hofstra (0-1) on Sunday, Dec. 10. The dual meet is a 1 p.m. start in Rec Hall.

UP NEXT
Penn State returns to dual meet action on Friday, Jan. 5, at Oregon State. The dual is an 8 p.m. Eastern start (5 p.m. local). Many Nittany Lions will also prepare for the 2023 Senior Nationals/2024 US Olympic Trials Qualifier in Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 15-17.

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