By: Pat Donghia

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Jan 3, 2024 — The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestlers (2-0, 0-0 B1G) trek to the West Coast for a battle with the Oregon State Beavers (4-1) on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. The dual begins at 8 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. local). All rankings listed are InterMat/InterMat TPI as of 12/19/23.

Penn State is coming off a 43-10 win over Hofstra on Dec. 10 in Rec Hall. The Lions tallied four pins, three technical falls and a major in the win. Levi Haines, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Bernie Truax and Aaron Brooks picked up the pins for Penn State. The Lions are 2-0 heading into the second semester.

The Nittany Lion line-up features a number of ranked wrestlers. Braeden Davis is 8-0 and got the call at 125 against Hofstra. Aaron Nagao is 5-1 and ranked No. 4 at 133 while Beau Bartlett is 8-0 and No. 2 at 141. With Shayne Van Ness out for the year at 149, Tyler Kasak and David Evans, who have competed at 141 and/or 149, could get the call. Kasak is 4-1 and Evans is 7-2. Levi Haines is 5-0 and ranked No. 1 at 157 while Mitchell Mesenbrink is 9-0 and No. 14 at 165. Carter Starocci is 5-0 and No. 1 at 174, Bernie Truax is 5-0 and No. 2 at 184, Aaron Brooks is 4-0 and No. 1 at 197 and Greg Kerkvliet is 4-0 and No. 1 at 285.

Oregon State enters the dual meet with a 4-1 overall record. The Beavers last wrestled on Dec. 17, shutting out Cal-Bakersfield 48-0, and also own wins over North Carolina, Greensboro College and Queens-Charlotte. Oregon State has a line-up featuring nine ranked wrestlers. Brandon Kaylor is No. 13 at 125, Gabe Whisenhunt is No. 25 at 133, Cleveland Belton is No. 23 at 141, Nash Singleton is No. 11 at 149, Matthew Olguin is No. 12 at 165, Travis Wittlake is No. 8 at 174, Trey Munoz is No. 6 at 184, Justin Rademacher is No. 31 at 197 and Boone McDermott is No. 12 at 285. The Nittany Lions own a 3-0 lead in the all-time series, including a 31-3 victory on Dec. 11, 2022, last year in Rec Hall.

Penn State returns to the mat when it opens up Big Ten action on Sunday, Jan. 14, by hosting Indiana. The dual meet is a 1 p.m. start in Rec Hall.

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 (2-0, 0-0 B1G)

125 Braeden Davis Fr. Belleville, Mich./Dundee 8-0
133 #4 Aaron Nagao So. La Habra, Calif./Esperanza 5-1
141 #2 Beau Bartlett Sr. Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) 8-0
149 David Evans Jr. Tunkhannock, Pa./Tunkhannock 7-2
Tyler Kasak Fr. Doylestown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic 4-1
157 #1 Levi Haines So. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 5-0
165 #14 Mitchell Mesenbrink Fr. Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead 9-0
174 #1 Carter Starocci Sr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 5-0
184 #2 Bernie Truax Gr. Oceanside, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista 5-0
197 #1 Aaron Brooks Sr.+ Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown 4-0
285 #1 Greg Kerkvliet Sr. Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley 4-0

18 OREGON STATE BEAVERS (4-1)

125 #13 Brandon Kaylor Sr. Bonney Lake, Wash./Bonney Lake 11-4
133 #25 Gabe Whisenhunt So. Corvallis, Ore./Crescent Valley 7-4
141 #23 Cleveland Belton Sr. Corona, Calif./St. John Bosco 9-5
149 #11 Nash Singleton So. Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg 6-4
157 Isaiah Crosby Gr. Miami, Fla./South Date 2-2
Murphy Menke So. Parker, Colo./Ponderosa 3-1
165 #12 Matthew Olguin Jr. Fresno, Calif./Buchanan 10-2
174 #8 Travis Wittlake Gr. Coos Bay, Ore./Marshfield 4-2
184 #6 Trey Munoz Jr. Mission Viejo, Calif./Trabuco Hills 11-2
197 #31 Justin Rademacher Fr. West Linn, Ore./West Linn 8-4
285 #12 Boone McDermott Sr. Dubuque, Iowa/Dubuque Wahlert 12-3

Individual Rankings listed are InterMat and Team Rankings are
Intermat Tournament Power Index (as of 12/19/23)

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