Nittany Lions win nine of ten, post 21-1 takedown edge, in front of nearly 10,000 fans.
By Pat Donghia gopsusports.com
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (2-0, 0-0 B1G) took down Lehigh (1-2) in a Pennsylvania intra-state dual meet on Sunday in Allentown, Pa. Penn State won nine of ten bouts in a lopsided 36-3 victory.
The dual was wrestled in Allentown’s PPL Center in front of a sold-out crowd of 9,769. All rankings listed are InterMat/InterMat Tournament Power Index (TPI).
The dual began at 125. Penn State true freshman Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 16 at 125, opened up the dual with a 4-1 win over No. 15 Sheldon Seymour, notching a late counter takedown for the victory. Sophomore Braeden Davis, ranked No. 10 at 133, battled No. 1 Ryan Crookham tough, forcing two late stalls but dropping a tough 4-2 decision.
Senior+ Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 3 at 141, gave Penn State a 6-3 lead in the dual meet with a 5-0 win over Mountain Hawk Carter Bailey, using a first period takedown, an escape and riding time to grab the victory. Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 2 at 149, followed that up with a strong 17-3 major decision over Matt Repos, working up five takedowns in the win. Sophomore Tyler Kasak, ranked No. 4 at 157, used a second period takedown as the edge in a hard fought 5-2 win over Logan Rozynski to close out the first half for Penn State. The Nittany Lions led 13-3 at the midway point.
Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, opened up the second half for Penn State with a dominant 18-1 tech fall over Lehigh’s Thayne Lawrence. Mesenbrink used three takedowns, and two four-point turns to give Penn State an 18-3 lead. Junior Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, followed that up with more bonus points. Haines turned a second period takedown into a pin, getting the fall at 4:12.
Graduate Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 184, dominated Jack Wilt in the next bout. Starocci picked up four takedowns in a 15-1 major decision. Penn State lost a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct as the bout ended and the Nittany Lions led 27-3. Redshirt freshman Josh Barr, ranked No. 23 at 197, controlled No. 6 Michael Beard from start to finish at 197, rolling up three takedowns on his way to a convincing 11-3 major decision. Senior+ Greg Kerklviet, ranked No. 2 at 285, closed out the dual meet with a first period technical fall. He took Calvin Lachman down early in the opening period and then turned him for three four-point turns to notch the 15-0 tech at 2:07. Kerkvliet’s final win gave Penn State the 36-3 win.
Penn State tallied a 21-1 lead in takedowns, winning nine of ten bouts. The Nittany Lions amassed ten bonus points off a pin (Haines), two tech falls (Mesenbrink, Kerkvliet) and three majors (Van Ness, Starocci, Barr). The Nittany Lions lost one team point for the unsportsmanlike call after 184.
Penn State returns to action next weekend when it hosts Wyoming. The Nittany Lions and Cowboys will battle at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15. Due to the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament being held in Rec Hall, the dual will be wrestled in the Bryce Jordan Center instead of Rec Hall.
Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via X/twitter 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 36, #14 Lehigh 3
December 8, 2024 – PPL Center – Allentown, Pa.
125: #16 Luke Lilledahl PSU dec. #15 Sheldon Seymour LEH, 4-1 3-0
133: #1 Ryan Crookham LEH dec. #10 Braeden Davis PSU, 4-2 3-3
141: #3 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. Carter Bailey LEH, 5-0 6-3
149: #2 Shayne Van Ness PSU maj. dec. Matt Repos LEH, 17-3 10-3
157: #4 Tyler Kasak PSU dec. Logan Rozynski LEH, 5-2 13-3
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU tech fall Thayne Lawrence LEH, 18-1 (TF; 4:37) 18-3
174: #2 Levi Haines PSU pinned Rylan Rogers LEH, WBF (4:12) 24-3
184: #1 Carter Starocci PSU maj. dec. Jack Wilt LEH, 15-1 27-3*
197: #23 Josh Barr PSU maj. dec. #6 Michael Beard LEH, 11-3 31-3
285: #2 Greg Kerkvliet PSU tech fall Calvin Lachman LEH, 15-0 (TF; 2:07) 36-3
* One team point deduction, unsportsmanlike conduct
Attendance: 9,769
Records: Penn State (2-0, 0-0 B1G); Lehigh (1-2)
Up Next for Penn State: Home vs. Wyoming, Sunday, Dec. 15, 1 p.m. (moved to Bryce Jordan Center)
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: True freshman Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 16 at 125, took on No. 15 Sheldon Seymour. Lilledahl worked the middle of the mat over the first minute-plus, working for position and trading shots with the Lehigh senior. Lilledahl took a series of early low shots, but Seymour stepped back from each and the bout moved to the second period tied 0-0. Lilledahl chose down to start the second period. He quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead and went to work on his feet. He continued to take fast low shots, forcing Seymour into a defensive posture as the clock hit 1:00. The period ended in neutral, and Lilledahl led 1-0 after two. Seymour chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 1-1 tie at 1:45. Riding time was not a factor. Seymour got in on a high single at the 1:15 mark but Lilledahl quickly fought if off, forcing a stalemate at 1:08. Seymour connected on another high shot at :30 and Lilledahl countered the shot for a late takedown with :15 left, securing the 4-1 win.
133: Sophomore Braeden Davis, ranked No. 10 at 133, met No. 1 Ryan Crookham. Davis and Crookham battled in neutral through the 2:00 mark before Davis worked a low single into a scramble. But a potentially dangerous call forced a reset at 1:40. Davis continued to press forward, forcing a scramble. Crookham countered his way to control, rolling through for a takedown and a 3-0 lead after the opening period. Crookham chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 4-0 lead at 1:40. Davis got in on another single and Crookham worked his way to another potentially dangerous call, stopping the action at 1:00. Trailing 4-0, Davis chose down to start the third period. The sophomore escaped to a 4-1 score at 1:15. Davis forced Crookham into a stall warning at :30 as he looked to close the gap for a late takedown. He picked up a late stall point, but Crookham was able to work the sidelines and get the 4-2 win.
141: Senior+ Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 3 at 141, met Carter Bailey. Bartlett and Bailey worked in neutral though the first two minutes. Bartlett turned a low single into a scramble at the :50 mark and steadily worked his way into control and a takedown with :13 on the clock. He finished the period on top to lead 3-0 after one. Bartlett chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead. He worked on his feet through the period, forcing Bailey into defense and led 4-0 after two. Bailey chose down to start the third period. Bartlett controlled the action on top, building up over 1:00 in riding time with strong work on top. Bartlett finished off the bout with a rideout and, with 1:54 in riding time, rolled to the 5-0 win.
149: Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 2 at 149, battled Matt Repos. Van Ness took a quick shot in the opening minute, but Repos was able to escape his grasp to keep the bout scoreless. Van Ness continued to press the Hawk towards the outside circle through the 1:30 mark, with a reset bringing action back to the middle of the mat. Van Ness’ constant offensive pressure pained off with a takedown at the :47 mark for a 3-0 lead. Van Ness worked on top, looking to turn Repos for back points as the clock wound down. Repos was able to defend the turn, but Van Ness took a 3-0 lead into the second stanza. Van Ness chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead. He then locked Repos’ shoulders and scrambled through for a second takedown to open up a 7-0 lead at the 1:20 mark. Van Ness cut Repos loose at :30 and went back to work on offense, scrambling around the Hawk for a third takedown and a 10-1 lead after two. Repos chose down to start the third period and Van Ness cut him loose to a 10-2 score. Repos was hit for stalling early in the third, took a slight shot at 2:00, only to have Van Ness counter for control and a 13-2 lead with another takedown. He cut Repos loose again and had a cradle locked on the edge of the mat, but Repos was able to work out of bounds for a reset with :16 left. Van Ness continued to press and picked up a final takedown. He added 1:57 in riding time and rolled to the 17-3 major.
157: Sophomore Tyler Kasak, ranked No. 4 at 157, met Logan Rozynski. Kasak quickly turned a low shot into a scramble. He pulled a fleeing Rozynski back onto the mat, but the Hawk was able to flee out of bounds and force a reset at 1:55 with no score in the books. Van Ness continued to shoot and Rozynski continued to back out of bounds as the clock hit :55. Rozynski was finally called for a first stall at :50. Kasak forced another stall and took a 1-0 lead at :13. Trailing 1-0, Rozynski chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 1-1 tie. Kasak continued to press Rozynski towards the outside circle, but Kasak was called for stalling as he pushed the Hawk out of bounds. Kasak forced a scramble at the :50 mark and steadily worked his way to control and a takedown at the :30 mark, opening up a 4-1 lead. Kasak maintained control for the rest of the period and carried that 4-1 lead into the third. Leading by three, Kasak chose down to start the third period. He was unable to escape until after a restart at the :42 mark, opening up a 5-1 lead. Kasak gave up a stall point at :14 and settled for a 5-2 win.
165: Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, faced off against Thayne Lawrence. Mesenbrink scored a quick takedown just :08 into the bout to open up an early 3-0 lead. He cut Lawrence loose and quickly took him down once more for a 6-1 lead at the 1:20 mark. Mesenbrink went to work on top, building up over 1:00 in riding time while looking to turn the Mountain Hawk for back points. Lawrence was able to fight off Mesenbrink’s efforts but gave up a stall warning at :20. Leading 6-1, Mesenbrink chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-1 lead. He then turned in on a high shot and finished off the takedown to open up a 10-1 lead. He turned Lawrence to his back for four back points and a 14-1 lead at 1:00. Mesenbrink finished off the tech fall at 4:37 with another four-point turn for the 18-1 win (TF; 4:37).
174: Junior Levi Haines, ranked No. 2 at 174, met Rylan Rogers. Haines worked neutral for the opening minute before Rogers got in on a low shot, forcing a scramble until a stalemate stopped action at 1:32. Haines and Rogers traded shots late in the period. Haines turned a high single into a takedown at the :25 mark to open up a 3-0 lead. Leading by three, Haines chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-0 score. Haines took a 7-0 lead with another high shot and then turned Rogers to his back, getting the fall at the 4:12 mark.
184: Graduate Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 184, battled Jack Wilt. Starocci took a 3-0 lead early in the match with a takedown in the opening minute. After an injury timeout for Wilt, Starocci took down on the reset and escaped to a 4-0 lead with 1:38 on the clock. He then fought off a Wilt shot through the 1:15 mark and went back to work on his feet. Starocci bulled through a high shot for a second takedown and a 7-0 lead. He finished the period on top and led 7-0 after one. Starocci chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to an 8-0 lead. Wilt turned a low shot into a scramble at 1:30 but Starocci easily forced a stalemate with 1:08 on the clock. Starocci bulled his way through a low double for a third takedown and an 11-0 lead late in the period. Trailing by 11, Wilt chose down to start the third period. Starocci worked his time edge up to 2:13 before cutting Wilt loose. With riding time clinched, Starocci continued to shoot as the clock hit :30. Starocci added a late takedown and 2:13 in riding time to roll to the 15-1 major. He was called for unsportsmanlike conduct as the bout ended (one team point deduction).
197: Redshirt freshman Josh Barr, ranked No. 23 at 197, met No. 6 Michael Beard. Barr was active in the center of the mat, setting a fast tempo through the first minute-plus with Beard. The ranked duo battled in neutral for the entirety of the opening period and moved to the second stanza knotted in a 0-0 tie. Beard chose down to start the second period and, after :20 of work, reversed Barr for a 2-0 lead. Barr worked his way to his feet for an escape and cut the lead to 2-1 at :50. Barr continued to press forward on his feet, turned a low single into a late takedown on the edge of the mat, taking a 4-2 lead into the third period. Leading by two, Barr chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-2 lead. Barr continued to shoot, taking a low shot and picking up a second takedown to open up an 8-2 lead at 1:40. Beard worked his way to an escape at the 1:00 mark to cut the lead to 8-3. Barr moved in on a high single and took Beard down once again, opening up an 11-3 lead at :20. Barr finished the period on top and rolled to a strong 11-3 major decision over the sixth-ranked Beard.
285: Senior+ Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 2 at 285, met Calvin Lachman. Kerkvliet opened up a 3-0 lead early in the bout with a quick takedown. He then turned Lachman to his back for four nearfall points at 1:40 to lead 7-0. Kerkvliet reset, turned Lachman again and led 11-0 at 1:07. Kerkvliet finished off the match with a final turn and picked up the 15-0 tech fall at the 2:07 mark in the first period.
