By Pat Donghia gopsusports.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (6-0, 0-0 B1G) dominated Missouri (2-5) 41-3 in its third and final dual meet of the day at the 2024 Journeymen Collegiate Duals in Nashville, Tenn. The Nittany Lions won nine of ten bouts to sweep the three duals at the event. All rankings listed are InterMat/InterMat Tournament Power Index (TPI).
The dual began at 125. Penn State true freshman Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 12 at 125, opened up Penn State’s final dual of the day with a 5-4 win over Gage Walker. Sophomore Braeden Davis, ranked No. 10 at 133, built up over 4:00 in riding time during a convincing 14-3 major over Missouri’s Kade Moore to give the Nittany Lions and early 7-0 lead. Senior+ Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 3 at 141, had to use extra time to beat No. 16 Josh Edmond. Bartlett scored early in the extra period to post the 4-1 (sv) win.
Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 2 at 149, continued Penn State’s hot streak. Van Ness turned a first period takedown into a pin at the 1:57 mark, it was Van Ness’ third pin of the day and gave the Lions a 16-0 lead. Sophomore Tyler Kasak, ranked No. 4 at 157, controlled James Conway for three periods and rolled to an 11-3 major decision to give Penn State a 20-0 lead at the midway point of the dual.
Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, won by forfeit (his second of the day) and Penn State led 26-0. Junior Levi Haines, ranked No. 2 at 174, took on No. 1 Keegan O’Toole in a much-anticipated match-up. The duo battled through regulation even. A wild scramble in sudden victory ended with an O’Toole takedown, with Haines dropping the thrilling 4-1 (sv) decision.
Graduate Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 184, dominated No. 10 Colton Hawks in another top ten match-up. Starocci used a six-point third period to roll to a 10-1 major with over 2:00 in riding time to put Penn State up 30-3. Redshirt freshman Josh Barr, ranked No. 7 at 197, blitzed Tiger Jesse Cassatt. Barr opened up an 11-0 lead before pinning Cassatt at the 1:45 mark. Senior+ Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 2 at 285, finished off Penn State’s day with a final technical fall. Kerkvliet rolled to a 15-0 tech fall at the 5:57 mark over Missouri’s Jarrett Stoner. The Nittany Lions won the dual 41-3, closing out the day with a third win.
Penn State owned a 15-2 takedown advantage and picked up 14 bonus points off a forfeit (Mesenbrink), two pins (Van Ness, Barr), a tech fall (Kerkvliet) and three majors (Davis, Kasak, Starocci).
The Nittany Lions are now 6-0 on the year while Missouri falls to 2-5. Penn State returns to action in the new year, hosting Michigan State to open up Big Ten action on Friday, Jan. 10. The dual meet, a B1G Network national telecast, is set for 8 p.m. in 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 41, #8 Missouri 3
December 22, 2024 – Journeymen Collegiate Duals – Nashville, Tenn.
125: #12 Luke Lilledahl PSU dec. Gage Walker UM, 5-4 3-0
133: #10 Braeden Davis PSU maj. dec. Kade Moore UM, 14-3 7-0
141: #3 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. #16 Josh Edmond UM, 4-1 (sv) 10-0
149: #2 Shayne Van Ness PSU pinned Zeke Seltzer UM, WBF (1:57) 16-0
157: #4 Tyler Kasak PSU maj. dec. James Conway UM, 11-3 20-0
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU win by forfeit 26-0
174: #1 Keegan O’Toole UM dec. #2 Levi Haines PSU, 4-1 (sv) 26-3
184: #1 Carter Starocci PSU maj. dec. #10 Colton Hawks UM, 10-1 30-3
197: #7 Josh Barr PSU pinned Jesse Cassatt UM, WBF (1:45) 36-3
285: #2 Greg Kerkvliet PSU tech fall Jarrett Stoner UM, 15-0 (TF; 5:57) 41-3
Records: Penn State (6-0, 0-0 B1G); Missouri (2-5)
Up Next for Penn State: Home vs. Michigan State, Friday, Jan. 10, 8 p.m. in Rec Hall.
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: True freshman Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 12 at 125, faced Gage Walker. Lilledahl used a fast low shot to force a scramble early in the first period, but Walker was able to counter his way through for control and a 3-1 lead after a quick Lilledahl escape at 1:30. Lilledahl then moved in on offense. He shot to Walker’s left leg and muscled through for a takedown and a 4-3 lead with :40 on the clock. He finished the period on top and carried that lead into the second. Walker chose down to start the second period. Walker escaped to a 4-4 tie but not until Lilledahl built his riding time up to 1:08. Lilledahl shot Walker to the outside circle for the entire second period but could not break through for a score and the match moved to the third tied 4-4. Lilledahl chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-4 lead. Lilledahl shot Walker backwards for the first minute of the third before the Tiger took a slight shot that Lilledahl easily evaded. Action continued in neutral as the clock moved towards :30. Lilledahl finished the bout on his feet and walked away with a 5-4 win.
133: Sophomore Braeden Davis, ranked No. 10 at 133, battled Kade Moore. Moore came out quickly, trying to throw Davis off the whistle. But Davis was able to scramble out of control and return action to neutral. Davis then initiated contact, worked through a brief Moore counter, and took a 3-0 lead with the bout’s first takedown at the 1:39 mark. Davis then turned Moore to his back, looking for a fall. Davis settled for four back points and finished the period on top to lead 7-0 after one. Moore chose down to start the second period. Davis controlled the action on top, building his riding time up over 2:00. Davis gave up a penalty point during his ride but maintained control of Moore through the 1:30 mark. Davis continued to work Moore to the mat, looking for back points again. Davis finished the period on top and led 7-1 after two with 3:39 in riding time. With riding time clinched, Davis chose neutral to start the third period and quickly took Moore down for a 10-1 lead. Moore escaped to a 10-2 score at 1:15. Davis scrambled behind Moore for another takedown to lead 13-3 at :45 after a Moore escape. The action ended with both wrestlers on their feet and, with 4:03 in riding time, Davis rolled to a 14-3 major.
141: Senior+ Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 3 at 141, took on No. 16 Josh Edmond. The duo worked the middle of the mat in neutral through the first two minutes. Neither wrestler was able to find a solid opening, but Bartlett was able to force a first stall warning at :50. Bartlett stepped back from an Edmond shot with :25 on the clock and the match moved to the second period tied 0-0. Bartlett chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Bartlett held position in the center circle while Edmond kept his back to the outside circle as the clock moved below the 1:00 mark. Bartlett used a high double to force a scramble on the edge of the mat, shifted to a single and tried to pull Edmond back into play as the period ended. Edmond was able to defend to zeroes and Bartlett led 1-0 after two. Edmond chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Bartlett continued to take shots, forcing Edmond into defense. Bartlett owned the center of the mat while Edmond kept Bartlett at arm’s length defensively and the bout moved to sudden victory. Bartlett moved in quickly, taking a high shot and getting the takedown at 1:17 to post the thrilling 4-1 (sv) win.
149: Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 2 at 149, wrestled Zeke Seltzer. Van Ness battled through an even first minute and then took a 3-0 lead with a takedown at the 2:01 mark. Van Ness then turned Seltzer to his back, working his way to a first period pin at the 1:57 mark.
157: Sophomore Tyler Kasak, ranked No. 4 at 157, met James Conway. The duo battled through the first two minutes evenly with neither wrestler threatening. Kasak moved through a high single at 1:15, forcing a scramble in front of the Missouri bench as he tried to pull Conway back onto the mat. Kasak finished off the takedown to lead 3-0 at :46. Kasak finished the period on top, giving up one stall warning in the process, and led 3-0 with :46 in time after one. Kasak chose down to start the second period. He quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead and went back on offense. Kasak’s pressure paid off as he connected on a high shot for a second takedown and a 7-0 lead with :48 left in the period. Conway scored on an escape, but Kasak continued to connect on offense as he notched another takedown late in the period and led 10-2 after two. Conway chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 10-3 score. Kasak worked the middle of the mat as Conway played defense through the 1:00 mark. Kasak fought off a late Conway shot and, with 1:17 in riding time, walked away with a strong 11-3 major decision.
165: Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, won by forfeit, his second forfeit victory of the day.
174: Junior Levi Haines, ranked No. 2 at 174, took on No. 1 Keegan O’Toole. The top two wrestlers at the weight class battled in neutral through nearly 2:00 before Haines forced a scramble with a single shot at O’Toole’s right leg. The Tiger was able to force a stalemate and action weas reset with :45 on the clock. Haines maintained position in the center circle, but O’Toole defended throughout the rest of the period and the bout moved to the second tied 0-0. Haines chose down to start the middle stanza and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. O’Toole took a low shot at 1:40, Haines countered, and O’Toole skipped out of trouble to keep the bout at 1-0. The duo worked the middle of the mat through the 1:00 mark with. O’Toole got in on a high single, but Haines was able to force a stalemate with :28 left, still leading 1-0. Trailing by one, O’Toole chose down to start the third period. O’Toole turned in and muscled his way to an escape and a 1-1 tie with 1:30 left to wrestle. Haines took a low shot and worked O’Toole into a scramble that nearly ended in a takedown. But O’Toole countered his way to a stalemate with :45 on the clock. The period ended in neutral and the bout moved to extra time tied 1-1. Haines took a shot that O’Toole countered, nearly taking Haines down. Haines scrambled out of trouble, but O’Toole continued to work for the takedown. He eventually got the takedown and downed Haines 4-1 (sv) at 1:01 of extra time.
184: Graduate Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 184, faced No. 10 Colton Hawks. Starocci set a high tempo to start the bout, forcing Hawks backwards as the first two minutes rolled by. Starocci’s pressure led to a first stall warning and then a late takedown. Starocci led 3-0 after one. Trailing by three, Hawks chose down to start the second period. Starocci controlled the action on top. The Nittany Lion built his riding time up over 1:15. Starocci then finished off the period with a full rideout and led 3-0 with 2:18 in time after two. Starocci chose down to start the third period. He forced a stall warning for a point and then reversed Hawks to lead 6-0. He cut the Tiger loose, took him down and finished on top. With 2:33 in riding time, Starocci posted the 10-1 major decision.
197: Redshirt freshman Josh Barr, ranked No. 7 at 197, met Jesse Cassatt. Barr scored quickly, taking Cassatt down for an early 3-0 lead, adding two back points for a 5-0 lead. He cut Cassatt loose, took him down quickly and cut him once more to open up a bigger lead. Barr continued to pressure the Tiger, notching a third takedown to open up an 11-2 lead with 1:45 on the clock. He finished off the bout by turning Cassatt and pinning him at the 1:45 mark.
285: Senior+ Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 2 at 285, took on Jarret Stoner. Kerkvliet battled through an even two minutes before notching his first takedown at the 1:01 mark. Kerkvliet then worked Stoner’s shoulders to the mat, picking up four back points to lead 7-0 with :20 on the clock. Kerkvliet finished the period on top and led 7-0 with 1:01 in riding time after one. Stoner chose down to start the second period. Kerkvliet went to work and quickly turned him for more back points. He picked up another four-point turn and reset with 1:10 on the clock, leading 11-0. Kerkvliet forced a stall warning at :40, another at :25 to lead 12-0, and then finished the period on top to lead 12-0 with clinched riding time (3:01) after two. Kerkvliet chose neutral to start the third period. He ended the match with a takedown, rolling to a 15-0 tech fall at 5:57.
