By Pat Donghia gopsusports.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; February 18, 2024 – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (11-0, 8-0 B1G) took care of visiting Nebraska (11-2, 6-2 B1G) to claim its 10th Big Ten Regular Season Championship under head coach Cael Sanderson. Penn State downed the Cornhuskers 22-13 to win the regular season crown outright.
The Nittany Lions wrestled in front of nearly 6,600 fans, the 71st-straight sellout in Rec Hall. Penn State has won 10 B1G dual titles since 2012, with this year’s marking the fourth straight for the Nittany Lions. Penn State has shared four of those titles (2012, 2014, 2016, 2021).
The dual meet began at 125. True freshman Braeden Davis, ranked No. 6 at 125, dropped a tough 11-3 major to No. 12 Caleb Smith, giving Nebraska an early lead. With No. 11 Aaron Nagao out at 133, Baylor Shunk got the call to take on No. 17 Jacob Van Dee. Shunk dropped a tough 6-2 decision and the visitors led 7-0 after two bouts. Senior Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 1 at 141, used takedowns in the first and second periods to notch a strong 9-6 win over No. 7 Brock Hardy. Bartlett’s win got Penn State on the board, cutting the Nebraska lead to 7-3.
True freshman Tyler Kasak, ranked No. 9 at 149, nearly took down No. 1 Ridge Lovett. But the Husker notched a last second takedown to steal a 7-3 win (with riding time). Sophomore Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 157, dominated No. 7 Peyton Robb in a 10-3 win. Haines notched three takedowns and an escape to cut the Nebraska team lead to 10-6 heading into halftime.
Redshirt freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 6 at 165, came back from an early takedown deficit to beat No. 15 Antrell Taylor. Mesenbrink rallied for a 9-5 victory, cutting the Husker lead to 10-9. Senior Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, then put Penn State on top with a dominant 20-4 technical fall over No. 33 Bubba Wilson. Starocci notched six takedowns and finished off the tech at the 5:58 mark. His win put Penn State on top 14-10.
Graduate Bernie Truax, ranked No. 6 at 184, nearly came back from a two-takedown deficit. But his last second takedown effort finished just too late, and he dropped an 8-6 decision to No. 3 Lenny Pinto. Senior+ Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 197, rolled to a convincing 17-4 major with nearly 4:00 in riding time over No. 13 Silas Alred. Brooks picked up five takedowns in the win and gave Penn State an 18-13 lead heading into the last bout. Senior Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 1 at 285, capped off the Nittany Lion win by rolling to a 10-0 major over Nash Hutmacher, piling up 5:21 in riding time in the process. Kerkvliet’s major made the final score 22-13 in Penn State’s favor.
Penn State rolled up a 21-9 edge in takedowns. The Nittany Lions picked up four bonus points off two majors (Brooks, Kerkvliet) and a tech fall (Starocci).
Penn State is now 11-0, 8-0 B1G. Nebraska falls to 11-2, 6-2 B1G. Penn State closes out its dual meet schedule next Sunday, Feb. 25, by hosting Edinboro in Rec Hall at 2 p.m. on B1G+.
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/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 22, #8 Nebraska 13
February 18, 2024 – Rec Hall – University Park, Pa.
125: #12 Caleb Smtih NEB maj. dec. #6 Braeden Davis PSU, 11-3 0-4
133: #17 Jacob Van Dee NEB dec. Baylor Shunk PSU, 6-2 0-7
141: #1 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. #7 Brock Hardy NEB, 9-6 3-7
149: #1 Ridge Lovett NEB dec. #9 Tyler Kasak PSU, 7-3 3-10
157: #1 Levi Haines PSU dec. #7 Peyton Robb NEB, 10-3 6-10
165: #6 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU dec. No. 15 Antrell Taylor NEB, 9-5 9-10
174: #1 Carter Starocci PSU tech fall No. 33 Bubba Wilson NEB, 19-4 (TF; 5:58) 14-10
184: #3 Lenny Pinto NEB dec. #6 Bernie Truax PSU, 8-6 14-13
197: #1 Aaron Brooks PSU maj. dec. #13 Silas Alred NEB, 17-4 18-13
285: #1 Greg Kerkvliet PSU maj. dec. Nash Hutmacher NEB, 10-0 22-13
Attendance: 6,585 (Penn State has wrestled in front of 80 sellouts in its last 83 home events, including 71-straight in Rec Hall and 9 of 12 in the BJC).
Records: Penn State (11-0, 8-0 B1G; Nebraska (11-2, 6-2 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: Home vs. Edinboro, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2 p.m. (B1G+)
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: True freshman Braeden Davis, ranked No. 6 at 125, met 12th-ranked graduate student Caleb Smith. Davis defended two quick Smith shots off the opening whistle and action settled down on the Nittany Lion logo. Davis had his first shot defended by Smith as the clock hit 2:00. Davis shot a second time forcing Smith backwards at 1:45, still knotted 0-0. Davis shot Smith into a stall warning at 1:00 and then got in deep on a single leg. The Lion freshman nearly finished off the move, but Smith was able to flee out of bounds, keeping the score tied at 0-0. The duo finished the period in neutral and moved to the second period in a scoreless tie. Smith chose down to start the second period. Davis maintained control of the Husker through 1:30 and to a reset at 1:18. Davis worked his riding time edge to 1:01 before Smith escaped to a 1-0 lead. Davis continued to shoot Smith backwards through :30. He withstood a Smith shot attempt at :10 and trailed 1-0 after two periods. Davis chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. With riding time not a factor, action was neutral at 1:25. Davis shot twice before Smith countered. Davis continued to fight through, but Smith notched a takedown and tacked on four back points to take an 8-2 lead. Davis got a point on a penalty, but the Husker finished off the major decision with a late takedown, posting the 11-3 win.
133: With No. 11 Aaron Nagao out and not wrestling at 133, Baylor Shunk got the call and took on No. 17 Jacob Van Dee. Van Dee took a quick shot and got in on a low double, finishing off the takedown to lead 3-0 at 2:25. Shunk escaped to a 3-1 score and action resumed in neutral. Van Dee picked up a second takedown midway through the period and Shunk escaped to a 6-2 score at :50. Shunk connected on a low single, but Van Dee countered his way out of trouble and led 6-2 after one. Van Dee chose down to start the second period and Shunk went to work on top, he controlled action on top through the 1:00 mark. Shunk’s strong rideout allowed the Nittany Lion to finish off the period on top. Shunk, trailing 6-2 but with 1:13 in time, chose down to start the third period. Shunk nearly reversed the Husker to his bac at 1:30 but Van Dee was able to continue the roll and stayed on top. The Husker was able to finish the period on top and notched a hard-fought 6-2 win.
141: Senior Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 1 at 141, faced off against No. 7 Brock Hardy. Bartlett shot off the opening whistle, gaining control of Hardy’s right leg and, after a bit of work, finishing off the takedown for a 3-0 lead at the 2:28 mark. Hardy escaped to a 3-1 score at 2:03 and action returned to the Nittany Lion logo. Bartlett stalked the center of the mat, looking to break through Hardy’s defense as the clock moved below 1:00. The match moved to the second stanza with Bartlett leading 3-1. Bartlett chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-1 lead. Hardy shot low on Bartlett and the Nittany Lion senior countered, worked his way into control of Hardy’s foot, and scrambled his way to a second takedown and a 7-1 lead at :55. Bartlett maintained control to the :12 mark, giving up a stall warning in the process. Bartlett led 7-2 with 1:10 in time after two. Hardy chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 7-3 score; Bartlett maintained 1:18 in riding time. Hardy worked his way through a double leg for a takedown, cutting the lead to 7-6. Bartlet escaped to an 8-6 lead. He fought off another Hardy shot, with action stopped on potentially dangerous. Hardy chose down on the reset off injury time and took neutral with :28 on the clock. Bartlett countered a late Hardy shot and finished the match in neutral. With 1:11 in riding time, Bartlett notched the hard fought 9-6 win.
149: True freshman Tyler Kasak, ranked No. 9 at 149, took on No. 1 Ridge Lovett. Kasak worked the middle of the mat toe-to-toe with Lovett. He bulled his way through a high double for a takedown to open up a 3-0 lead. Lovett was able to work his way through a reversal, cutting the Nittany Lion freshman’s lead to 3-2. Lovett finished the period on top. Trailing 3-2, Lovett chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-3 tie. Kasak was hit for stalling at 1:05 as he fought off Lovett on the outside circle. The Nittany Lion battled in neutral through :30 and took the bout to the third period tied 3-3. Kasak chose neutral to start the third period as Lovett had :47 in riding time to his side. A reset was called at 1:34 after action moved out of bounds. Kasak nearly connected on two quick low shots, but Lovett was able to skip away each time, with time moving down below :30. Lovette nearly connected on a low shot and Kasak scrambled through the move. A takedown was given, and Penn State challenged the call. The takedown was awarded after review and Lovett escaped with a last second 7-3 win (with riding time).
157: Sophomore Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 157, met No. 7 Peyton Robb. Robb took an early high double and Haines fought the move off to keep action in neutral. The clock moved through the 2:00 mark and Haines turned a low single into a scramble on the Lion logo. Haines fought for the takedown for over a minute before a stalemate was called at :50. The first period ended in a 0-0 tie. Robb chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Haines took a high single and worked action to the mat again. A quick stalemate ended the scramble with 1:20 on the clock. Robb took a slight shot and Haines blocked off the effort at 1:10. Haines continued to shoot Robb backwards on the Lion logo as the second period wound down with :20 on the clock, Haines worked Robb into neutral danger and picked up a takedown off the move as time expired to lead 3-1 after two. Haines chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 4-1 lead. Haines fought off a solid Robb shot at the 1:30 mark, then scrambled his way to control of both Robb’s feet for another takedown and a 7-1 lead at 1:10. Looking for bonus points, Haines used a high double to lift Robb off the mat and took him down to up his lead to 10-2. Robb escaped at :25 to avoid the major but Haines rolled to the convincing 10-3 win.
165: Freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 6 at 165, faced No. 15 Antrell Taylor. Mesenbrink took a quick shot and Taylor quickly countered for a fast takedown and a 3-0 lead. Mesenbrink escaped to a 3-1 score and then turned a high single into a scoring opportunity. He lifted Taylor’s right leg off the mat and worked for a takedown as the clock moved through the 1:00 mark. Taylor was able to fight off the move and keep his lead as the clock hit :41. Mesenbrink kept the pressure on Taylor as the first period ended and trailed 3-1 after one. Mesenbrink chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 3-2 score at 1:36. The Nittany Lion paced worked his way into control of Taylor at the waist, lifted him off the mat and took a 5-3 lead with a thunderous takedown with 1:00 on the clock. Taylor escaped to a 5-4 score with :20 on the clock. Trailing 5-4, Taylor chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-5 tie. Mesenbrink scored with a fast low single, then grabbing the second foot to take an 8-5 lead at 1:40. He then controlled the action on top, building up over 1:00 in riding time while trying to turn the Husker. Taylor did not give up any back points, but Mesenbrink’s strong ride out allowed him to finish with 1:36 in riding time and post the 9-5 win.
174: Senior Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, battled No. 33 Bubba Wilson. Starocci battled for position on the Nittany Lion logo for the opening minute, looking to set up his offense. He pushed Wilson backwards through the 2:00 mark and then turned a high single into a takedown and a 3-0 lead at 1:23. Wilson escaped to a 3-1 score after a reset and action resumed in neutral. Starocci picked up a second takedown off a fast high single to lead 6-1 at :40. He finished the first period on top and carried that lead, plus :45 in riding time, into the second stanza. Wilson chose down to start the second period and Starocci cut him loose to a 6-2 score. Wilson gave up a stall warning, Starocci quickly took him down again and cut him loose to a 9-3 lead. Another Starocci high single and takedown gave the Lion senior a 12-3 lead at :50. Starocci built his riding time up over 1:00 as he looked to turn Wilson. He picked up a stall point during the rideout and led 13-3 with 1:38 in time after two. Starocci chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 14-3 lead. He continued to shoot Wilson backwards and picked up another takedown to lead 17-3 at 1:21. Starocci cut Wilson loose at 1:10 and immediately moved in for another takedown, finishing off the 20-4 technical fall at the 5:58 mark.
184: Graduate Bernie Truax, ranked No. 6 at 184, took on No. 3 Lenny Pinto. Pinto took an early 3-0 lead with a high double in the opening seconds. Truax quickly escaped to a 3-1 score and went to work in neutral. He nearly connected on a low shot at 2:10 but Pinto was able to fight off the effort and keep his two-point lead. Truax circled Pinto in the middle of the mat through the 1:00 mark. He took another low shot, but Pinto countered, worked his way into control of Truax and took a 6-2 lead after a quick Truax escape at :30. Truax nearly scored as the period ended but Pinto was able to defend to the end of the period and the Lion trailed 6-2 after one. Truax chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 6-3 score. Truax continued to take low shots, forcing pinto backwards through the 1:00 mark. The Nittany Lion was unable to break through Pinto’s defense and trailed 6-3 after two. Pinto chose down to start the third period and Truax cut him loose to a 7-3 score at 1:40. Needing a pair of takedowns, Truax shot repeatedly, forcing Pinto backwards. He picked up a takedown at 1:10 and cut Pinto loose to an 8-6 score. After a reset at :35, Truax fought to a near takedown as the bout ended. He nearly finished off the move, but time ran out and Pinto escaped with an 8-6 win.
197: Senior+ Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 197, faced No. 13 Silas Alred. Brooks scored quickly, taking Alred down for an early 3-0 lead with 2:27 on the clock. Brooks cut Alred loose to a 3-1 score. He worked the center of the mat and turned a fast high shot into another takedown and a 6-1 lead with 1:30 left in the opening period. Brooks controlled action on top, building up nearly 2:00 in riding time with the rideout, leading 6-1 at the end of the first. Alred chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 6-2 score. Brooks continued to go to work on offense. He picked up his third takedown to take a 9-2 lead with 1:07 left in the second. Brooks worked to turn Alred as the period ended but the Husker was able to stay flat. Brooks finished on top and led 9-2 with 9:14 in riding time after two. Brooks continued to pressure Alread and turned a high shot into a fourth takedown to lead 12-2 with 1:10 left. Brooks picked up a stall point and another takedown to lead 16-4 with :20 left. Alred was able to fight off Brooks’ late shots, but the Nittany Lion rolled to a 17-4 major decision with 3:28 in riding time.
285: Senior Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 1 at 285, met Nash Hutmacher. Kerkvliet worked the center of the mat steadily for the first minute-plus and took a 3-0 lead with a strong takedown the 1:31 mark. He then went to work on top, building up 1:31 in riding time with the rideout. Leading 3-0, Kerkvliet chose down to start the second period and swiftly reversed Hutmacher to open up a 5-0 lead. He continued to work on top, looking to turn him. Kerkvliet picked up a sixth point on two stall calls and rode Hutmacher out once more to lead 6-0 with 3:21 in riding time after two. Hutmacher chose down to start the third period and Kerkvliet picked up a seventh point on a third stall warning. With clinched riding time, Kerkvliet was called for stalling on top. He broke Hutmacher down on the reset with :35 left in the bout. He took a 9-0 lead with another Nebraska stall and, with 5:21 in time, rolled to the 10-0 major decision.
