By Pat Donghia gopsuports.com
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (6-0, 3-0 B1G) shut out Michigan State (7-3, 0-3) 35-0 for a Big Ten road win in East Lansing on Sunday. The victory was the second in three days for Penn State, closing out a weekend of action away from Happy Valley.
The dual began at 125. Nittany Lion true freshman Braeden Davis, ranked No. 14 at 125, notched the only two takedowns in a convincing 7-3 win over MSU junior Tristan Lujan, giving Penn State the early 3-0 lead. Sophomore Aaron Nagao, ranked No. 4 at 133, picked up Penn State’s first bonus points of the day. He tallied five takedowns and a two-point near fall in an 18-3 tech fall over Andy Hampton at 3:21. Senior Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 2 at 141, scored eight points in a furious third period to post an 8-2 win over No. 33 Jordan Hamdan to give the Nittany Lions an 11-0 lead.
With No. 12 Tyler Kasak not wrestling at 149, David Evans took to the mat once more for Penn State. The Nittany Lion junior used a first period takedown and an escape in the second to notch a tough 4-2 win over Braden Stauffenberg. Sophomore Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 157, and No. 21 Chase Saldate battled through an epic bout in the fifth match-up. Haines used a third period takedown to send the bout to extra time tied 5-5. After two scoreless sudden victory periods, Haines reversed Saldate with just seconds left to notch a 7-6 (TB2) win and put Penn State up 17-0 at the dual’s midway point.
Redshirt freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 9 at 165, rallied from an early deficit against No. 10 Caleb Fish, scoring seven points in the third period to roll to a convincing 18-9 major decision. With No. 1 Carter Starocci still out at 174, Terrell Barraclough moved up from 165 once more. Barraclough picked up the only two takedowns of the bout and rolled to an 8-1 win to give the Nittany Lions a 24-0 lead.
Graduate Bernie Truax, ranked No. 5 at 184, kept Penn State rolling with a big win at 184. He used a first period takedown to grab a hard fought 4-2 win over No. 22 Layne Malczewski for Penn State’s eight-straight win in the dual. Senior+ Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 197, stacked up seven takedowns and rolled to a 21-6 tech fall over No. 29 Kael Wisler at the 4:00 mark of the second period. With No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet not competing, sophomore 197-pounder Lucas Cochran moved up to heavyweight. Cochran was impressive and closed out the shutout, using a first period takedown, an escape and riding time to notch a 5-0 win over Spartan heavyweight Josh Terrill. His win cemented Penn State’s 35-0 win.
The Nittany Lions posted a 26-2 edge in takedowns. Penn State, winning all ten bouts, picked up five bonus points off two tech falls (Nagao, Brooks) and a major (Mesenbrink).
Penn State is now 6-0, 3-0 B1G. Michigan State falls to 7-3, 0-3 B1G. Penn State will have its third straight Big Ten road dual next weekend, travelling to Maryland on Sunday, Jan. 28, for a 12 p.m. dual live on the Big Ten Network.
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 35, Michigan State 0
January 21, 2024 – East Lansing, Mich.
125: #14 Braeden Davis PSU dec. Tristan Lujan MSU, 7-3 3-0
133: #4 Aaron Nagao PSU tech fall Andy Hampton MSU, 18-3 (TF; 3:21) 8-0
141: #2 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. #33 Jordan Hamdan MSU, 8-2 11-0
149: David Evans PSU dec. Braden Stauffenberg MSU, 4-2 14-0
157: #1 Levi Haines PSU dec. #21 Chase Saldate MSU, 7-6 (TB2) 17-0
165: #9 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU maj. dec. #10 Caleb Fish MSU, 18-9 21-0
174: Terrell Barraclough PSU dec. DJ Shannon MSU, 8-1 24-0
184: #5 Bernie Truax PSU dec. #22 Layne Malczewski MSU, 4-2 27-0
197: #1 Aaron Brooks PSU tech fall #29 Kael Wisler MSU, 21-6 (TF; 4:00) 32-0
285: Lucas Cochran PSU dec. Josh Terrill MSU, 5-0 35-0
Attendance: 1,010
Records: Penn State (6-0, 3-0 B1G); Michigan State (7-3, 0-3 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: at Maryland, Sunday, Jan. 28, 12 p.m. (B1G Network)
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: True freshman Braeden Davis, ranked No. 14 at 125, met Spartan junior Tristan Lujan. Davis wasted no time taking the lead, notching a takedown in the first five seconds. Davis kept pressure on Lujan, working a low single into a scramble. But Lujan forced a stalemate with 1:52 on the clock. Davis fought off a solid Lujan shot as the Spartan worked arm control into a near takedown as the clock moved past 1:15. Davis paced the center of the mat, holding position for the remainder of the period and led 3-1 after one. Lujan chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 3-2 score. Davis quickly worked a single leg into a scramble, but another stalemate stopped action at 1:18. Davis forced Lujan backwards through the :30 mark then the rest of the period to lead 3-2 after two. Davis chose down to start the third period, got to his feet and escaped to a 4-2 lead at 1:35. The Lion freshman then blazed through a fast low double for a second takedown to lead 7-2 with 1:20 on the clock. Lujan escaped to a 7-3 score with 1:00 to wrestle and Davis went back to work on offense. Davis finally picked up a stall warning with :30 left in the bout and walked away with a convincing 7-3 win.
133: Sophomore Aaron Nagao, ranked No. 4 at 133, faced off against Andy Hampton. Nagao scored quickly, taking Hampton to the mat for a fast 3-0 lead in the opening seconds of the bout. Nagao then countered a quick Hampton shot for a takedown to up his lead to 6-1 at the 1:55 mark. Nagao picked up a quick third takedown, cut Hampton loose, and then worked his way through a scramble for a fourth takedown and a 12-3 lead at :30. He finished the period on top and carried that lead, plus 1:42 in time, into the second. Nagao chose down to start the second period, forced a stall warning, then escaped to a 13-3 lead with 1:30 on the clock. Hampton took a low shot and Nagao forced a stalemate at :46. He shot quick off the reset and took a 16-3 lead with :32 left in the period. Nagao finished the period on top to lead 16-3 with 1:58 in time after two. Hampton chose down to start the third period and Nagao went to work on top, working his way into a nearfall, ending the bout with a two-point fall at the 3:21 mark.
141: Senior Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 2 at 141, took on No. 33 Jordan Hamdan. Bartlett and Hamdan battled through the first half of the opening period evenly, with Bartlett’s pressure forcing the Spartan backwards as the clock hit 1:00. With Bartlett holding position in the center of the mat, Bartlett forced stall warning, worked a low shot into a scramble that lasted through the period, with Hamdan fighting off the effort. The dual moved to the second period tied 0-0 and Hamdan chose down to start. The Spartan escaped to a 1-0 lead and action resumed in neutral at the 1:45 mark. Bartlett continued to chase the Spartan backwards to the 1:00 mark. Bartlett forced Hamdan out of bounds at :55, forcing a reset. The Nittany Lion senior spent the rest of the period forcing Hamdan to back way and trailed 1-0 after two. Bartlett chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Hamdan took a high shot, Bartlett countered for a takedown and took Hamdan to his back, nearly pinning him in the three-point near fall. Leading 7-1 at 1:15, Bartlett worked his riding time point over 1:00 and cut him loose with :39 left. Bartlett worked for a final takedown, but Hamdan was able to kill the clock. Bartlett poste the 8-2 win with 1:07 in riding time.
149: With No. 12 Tyler Kasak out at 149, David Evans got the call once more and battled Braden Stauffenberg. Evans opened up an early 3-0 lead with a quick takedown. Stauffenberg worked his way to an escape and a 3-1 score then forced a scramble with a low shot. But Evans countered his way to a stalemate and action resumed in neutral at 1:58. The duo battled evenly for the next minute, working on the Spartan logo in the middle of the mat. Evans shot Stauffenberg backwards, then fought off a fast counter effort by the Spartan as the period ended. Leading 3-1, Evans chose down to start the second stanza. He quickly escaped to a 4-1 lead. Davis worked off a Stauffenberg shot as the clock moved through 1:00. The second period ended with Evans up by three and Stauffenberg chose down to start the third. The Spartan escaped to a 4-2 score with 1:38 left in the bout. Evans paced the middle of the mat through the 1:00 mark, took a slight shot that Stauffenberg avoided. The Nittany Lion walked away with a 4-2 win.
157: Sophomore Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 157, faced No. 21 Chase Saldate. Haines and Saldate worked through the first part of the opening period evenly. Haines took a single leg and Saldate countered for the takedown at 1:17, leading 3-1 after a quick Haines escape. The ranked duo battled through the rest of the period in neutral and Haines trailed 3-1 after one. Haines chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 score. He then moved in on offense, looking for a chance to score on the Spartan. With the clock moving past :30, Haines took a pair of shots that Saldate was able to step away from and the Lion trailed 3-2 after two. Saldate chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 4-2 lead. Saldate snapped a low shot into a scramble and Haines worked to fight off the takedown. He then scrambled around the Spartan and finished off the counter takedown to take a 5-4 lead at 1:20. Saldate escaped to a 5-5 tie after a reset with 1:00 left in the match. That score held through regulation, sending the bout to sudden victory. The wrestlers traded quick shots at 1:40 but neutral held on the Spartan logo. With 1:00, Saldate forced a stall warning with shoulder control. Haines turned a low single into a scramble at :45, but Saldate fought off the move for a stalemate with :09 left. Moving to tiebreaker, Haines was down to start. Haines forced a stall but was unable to escape. Saldate was down next. Haines maintained control and was riding Saldate out when a locked hands was called by the second official. Penn State challenged the call, and the call was overturned, and the match went to a second sudden victory period. The second extra session was scoreless and Saldate was down to start the net tie breaker. Haines was working to keep Saldate down and was hit for stalling, giving the Spartan a point. Trailing by one, Haines worked to escape but Saldate kept control as the period wound down. Haines continued to work and scrambled his way to a reversal and thrilling a 7-6 (TB2) win.
165: Freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 9 at 165, battled No. 10 Caleb Fish. Mesenbrink quickly took Fish down, opening up a 3-0 lead. He then worked the Spartan flat and began to look for an opportunity to turn him for nearfall points. Fish was able to stay flat, but Mesenbrink worked his riding time up over 1:00. Fish countered a Mesenbrink shot and scrambled his way to a takedown and two back points to lead 6-3. Mesenbrink quickly escaped to a 6-4 score and went to work on offense. The Lion freshman bulled his way through a high shot for a late takedown and led 7-6 after one. Mesenbrink chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to an 8-6 lead. Mesenbrink continued to pressure Fish though the 1:00 mark, shooting the Spartan backwards and into a first stall warning. Mesenbrink stayed on offense through the period added a takedown at :08 to lead 11-6 with 1:05 in time after two periods. Fish chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to an 11-7 score. Mesenbrink forced a scramble that Fish nearly countered into a takedown of his own. But Mesenbrink was steady, working his way to the takedown and a 14-7 lead with :38 left. Fish escaped at :15 and Mesenbrink finished off the major with a late takedown, posting the convincing 18-9 win.
174: With No. 1 Carter Starocci still out at 174, Terrell Barraclough moved up from 165 again and met DJ Shannon. The duo battled evenly for the opening period, working neutral in the middle of the mat. Neither grappler was able to find an offensive opening and the bout moved to the second period tied 0-0. Barraclough chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Shannon worked his way in on a low shot, but Barraclough’s counter scramble led to a takedown for the Nittany Lion late, and he finished the period on top to lead 4-0 after two periods. Shannon chose neutral to start the third period. Barraclough stayed offensive, connecting on a low single and working the Spartan down for a second takedown and a 7-0 lead with 1:15 left in the bout. The Nittany Lion controlled action from the top position. Shannon managed a late escape, but Barraclough notched the strong 8-1 win up a weight.
184: Graduate Bernie Truax, ranked No. 5 at 184, faced No. 22 Layne Malczewski. The ranked duo worked through an even two minutes in neutral before Traux turned a high single into a takedown and a 3-1 lead after a quick MSU escape. Truax worked on the Spartan logo as the clock wound down and carried the 3-1 lead into the second stanza. Malczewski chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 score. Truax stayed in position in the middle of the mat and then connected on a late low single, but time ran out and the Lion settled for a 3-2 lead after two. Truax chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 4-2 lead. As the clock moved to the 1:00 mark, the wrestlers continued to work in the center of the mat. They traded slight shots at :50 but to no avail. Truax fought off a late Malczewski shot as the clock moved past :25 and held on for a hard-fought 4-2 win.
197: Senior+ Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 197, took on No. 29 Kael Wisler. Brooks scored quickly, taking Wisler down and cutting him loose for an early 3-1 lead. He then turned a low single into a second takedown to lead 6-2. Brooks’ offense was on as the Nittany Lion senior picked up a third takedown and cut at 1:40. He added a fourth, then a fifth, and finished off the period with a sixth takedown at :10 to lead 18-5 after one. Wisler chose down to start the second period. Brooks worked his time edge over 1:00 and cut Wisler loose at 1:20. He finished off the bout with a final takedown, posting the 21-6 tech fall at the 4:00 mark.
285: With No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet not competing, sophomore 197-pounder Lucas Cochran moved up to heavyweight to battle Josh Terrill. Cochran battled the bigger Spartan evenly through the opening ninety seconds. The Lion sophomore turned a high shot into a chance to score but Terrill was able to work his way out of bounds to keep things scoreless. Cochran was steady on offense, however, turning a low shot into a takedown and a 3-0 lead with :42 left in the period. He finished the period on top and led by three after one. Terrill chose down to start the second period. Cochran maintained top control of the Spartan, working his riding time up over 1:00. Cochran stayed in control on top through the entire period, finishing the rideout to lead 3-0 with 2:32 in time after two. Cochran chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead. With riding time clinched, Cochran worked the center of the mat as the clock hit 1:00. Cochran battled the rest of the match in neutral and, with 2:31 in time, posted the strong 5-0 win.
