MANHEIM, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (2-0, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 2 in the latest InterMat Tournament Power Index (TPI), rolled to a 32-7 win over Oregon State (1-2) in the second dual of the evening for the Nittany Lions. The dual was the last of two for the Lions at the Spooky Nook Sports Complex in Manheim, Pa.
The Nittany Lions won eight of ten bouts, including three Nittany Lions who grabbed victories over ranked opponents. Penn State downed Sacred Heart 47-3 immediately preceding the dual with the Beavers.
The dual began at 125 where sophomore Baylor Shunk (Centre Hall, Pa.) dropped the opening bout of the dual, losing a 16-9 decision to Brandon Kaylor as the Beavers took an early 3-0 lead. Senior Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 1 at 133, used three takedowns to post an 8-3 win over Jason Shaner to tie the dual at 3-3. Senior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 2 at 141, then dominated No. 10 Grant Willits, controlling the action in an 11-4 victory to give the Lions a 6-3 lead.
Sophomore Beau Bartlett (Tempe, Ariz.) used a third period rideout to post an impressive 1-0 win over No. 24 Cory Crooks at 149 to give the Nittany Lions a 9-3 lead. Senior Joey Blumer (Leechburg, Pa.) moved up to 157 and dropped a 19-6 major decision to No. 15 Hunter Willits. The Oregon State win cut Penn State's lead to 9-7 at the midway point of the dual.
Junior Creighton Edsell (Wyalusing, Pa.) picked up another win at 165, posting a strong 7-3 decision over Matthew Olguin. Sophomore Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 174, picked up a strong 17-2 technical fall over Mateo Olmos, getting the tech at the 4:49 mark. Junior Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md.), ranked No. 1 at 184, picked up a quick first period fall in his bout, pinning Jackson McKinney at the 1:03 mark. Junior Max Dean (Lowell, Mich.), ranked No. 4 at 197, was dominant at in his second bout as a Nittany Lion, rolling to a 16-3 major over J.J. Dixon. Sophomore Greg Kerkvliet (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), ranked No. 5 at 285, then dominated No. 24 Gary Traub in the dual's final bout. Kerkvliet posted a 16-0 technical fall at the 5:58 mark and cemented Penn State's 32-7 victory.
Penn State racked up a 24-9 edge in takedowns. The Nittany Lions rolled up eight bonus points off a pin (Brooks), two tech falls (Starocci, Kerkvliet) and a major (Dean).
Penn State is now 2-0 after two lopsided wins on the opening day of dual action for the Lions. Oregon State falls to 1-2. The Nittany Lions will host Army West Point on Thursday, Nov. 18, in the home opener for Penn State. The dual begins at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall.
All rankings listed by Penn State wrestling are InterMat individual and team TPI. The 2021-22 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by the Family Clothesline. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via 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.
#2 Penn State 32, Oregon State 7
November 13, 2021 – Spooky Nook -- Manheim, Pa.
125: Brandon Kaylor ORST dec. Baylor Shunk PSU, 16-9 0-3
133: #1 Roman Bravo-Young PSU dec. Jason Shaner ORST, 8-3 3-3
141: #2 Nick Lee PSU dec. #10 Grant Willits ORST, 11-4 6-3
149: Beau Bartlett PSU dec. #24 Cory Crooks ORST, 1-0 9-3
157: #15 Hunter Willits ORST maj. Dec. Joey Blumer PSU, 19-6 9-7
165: Creighton Edsell PSU dec. Matthew Olguin ORST, 7-3 12-7
174: #1 Carter Starocci PSU 17-2 tech fall Mateo Olmos ORST, 17-2 (TF; 4:49) 17-7
184: #1 Aaron Brooks PSU pinned Jackson McKinney ORST, WBF (1:03) 23-7
197: #4 Max Dean PSU maj. Dec. J.J. Dixon ORST, 16-3 27-7
285: #5 Greg Kerkvliet PSU tech fall #24 Gary Traub ORST, 16-0 (TF; 5:58) 32-7
Attendance: 1,350 (sold out)
Records: Penn State (2-0, 0-0 B1G); Oregon State (1-2)
Up Next for Penn State: Home vs. Army West Point, Thursday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m. – Rec Hall
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Penn State sophomore Baylor Shunk (Centre Hall, Pa.) met Oregon State's Brandon Kaylor at 125. Shunk scored quickly, working a low single into a takedown and an early 2-0 lead. Kaylor escaped to a 2-1 score with 2:20 on the clock. The duo battled in the center circle as the clock hit the 1:30 mark before Shunk got in on a single leg. Kaylor scrambled his way through for a counter takedown before turning Shunk for four back points and a 7-2 lead. He added another four point turn and led Shunk 11-2 after one. Kaylor chose neutral to start the second period and took Shunk down to open up a 13-2 lead with 1:10 on the clock. Shunk worked his way to an escape and a 13-3 score with 1:20 on the clock. The Lion sophomore took a couple low shots as the period ended but Kaylor was able to fight off the moves and Shunk trailed 13-3 after two. Shunk worked his way into a quick takedown to cut the lead to 14-5 after a Kaylor escape. Shunk quickly took Kaylor down again and cut the lead to 15-7 after another cut. Shunk muscled his way to another takedown and cut the lead to 16-9 with :20 left. The Lion fought off Kaylor's late shots and dropped the 16-9 decision.
133: Senior Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 1 at 133, took on Jason Shaner. The duo battled evenly for nearly two minutes before Bravo-Young turned a low shot into waist control, taking Shaner down for a 2-0 lead at the :56 mark. Shaner escaped and action resumed in the center circle. The remaining seconds were contested in neutral, and Bravo-Young led 2-1 after one. The Lion senior chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. He took Shaner down and cut him loose to a 5-2 lead with 1:35 left in the middle period. Bravo-Young forced a scramble at the 1:15 mark but Shaner was able to work to a stalemate and a reset with :50 on the clock. Bravo-Young caried the 5-2 lead into the final period. Shaner chose down to start the third period. Bravo-Young controlled the action from the top position until his riding time moved over 1:00. He cut Shaner loose and forced the Beaver into a stall warning. Bravo-Young fought off a Shaner shot and then took him down with :07 left. With riding time, Bravo-Young posted the 8-3 win.
141: Senior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 2 at 141, faced off against No. 10 Grant Willits. Action moved from the center circle to the outside edge before Lee took injury time at the 2:32 mark. Oregon State chose down on the restart after time. Willits escaped quickly to a 1-0 lead. Lee turned a high shot into a takedown, and, after a quick Willits escape, the match was tied 2-2 with 2:00 on the clock. Lee worked Willits to the edge of the mat and then, after a reset, turned a quick low shot into a takedown and a 4-2 lead with 1:15 left. Willits escaped but Lee quicky hit a low shot and finished off a takedown to up his lead to 6-3. The Lion senior finished on top and led 6-3 with 1:15 in time after one. Willits chose down to start the second period and Lee went to work on top. He briefly turned Willits but the Beaver rolled through for an escape and a 6-4 Lee lead. Lee countered a Willits show and took him down again to up his lead to 8-4 with 1:10 on the clock. Willits got hit with a stall warning at the :30 mark and Lee finished the period on top to lead 8-4 with 2:46 in time after two periods. Lee chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 9-4 lead. Lee continued to work on offense as Willits continued to move his way to the outside circle. With riding time clinched, Lee picked up a stall point and rolled to the 11-4 win over the ranked Beaver.
149: Sophomore Beau Bartlett (Tempe, Ariz.) battled No. 24 Cory Crooks at 149. The duo battled evenly for nearly two minutes. Bartlett worked the center circle, keeping action in the middle of the mat while each man looked for a chance to score. Bartlett stepped back from a fast Crooks shot at the :30 mark and the duo moved to the second period knotted in a 0-0 scoreless tie. Bartlett chose down to start the second period. Crooks was able to control the action on top for over a minute. Bartlett worked his way to an escape and a 1-0 lead with :23 on the clock. With Bartlett leading 1-0, Crooks chose down to start the third period with 1:31 in riding time in hand. Bartlett maintained control of Crooks and killed his riding time edge as the clock hit the 1:15 mark. Bartlett continued to control action on top, looking for a chance to turn the Beaver. With the clock moving to the :46 mark, action moved out of bounds, forcing a reset. Bartlett broke Crooks down off the whistle and continued to work the clock down with a strong ride. The Nittany Lion sophomore maintained control for the entirety of the third period and walked away with the impressive 1-0 victory.
157: Junior Joe Blumer (Leechburg, Pa.) moved up a weight and met No. 15 Hunter Willits at 157. Willits notched a quick takedown and led 2-0. He turned Blumer for four back points to open up a 6-0 lead. The Lion senior was unable to break free of Willits' control and trailed 6-0 after the opening period. Willits chose neutral to start the second period and Willits took him down to an 8-0 lead. Blumer escaped but Willits was able to take him down again and led 10-2 with :40 on the clock. Willits added another takedown and led 12-2 with clinched riding time after two periods. Blumer chose down to start the third and escaped but Willits added two more quick takedowns to open up a 16-5 lead.
165: Junior Creighton Edsell (Wyalusing, Pa.) faced off against Matthew Olguin in the bout at 165. Edsell fought off an early Olguin shot about a minute into the bout. Edsell then went to work on the edge of the mat, turning a low shot into a takedown and a 2-1 lead after a quick Oregon State escape. Edsell nearly scored again on a counter move with 1:10 on the clock but Olguin was able to force a reset. The Nittany Lion continued to pressure Olguin, but the Beaver grappler was able to defend his way to the end of the period. Leading 2-1, Edsell chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Olguin forced a scramble with a high shot and tied the bout at 3-3 with a takedown at the 1:01 mark. Edsell was not able to break free of Olguin's ride and the bout moved to the third period tied 3-3. Olguin chose down to start the third period and Edsell went to work on top. He turned Olguin for four back points, nearly pinning him in the process. The four-point move gave Edsell a 7-3 lead as the clock slid below the :45 mark. Edsell finished off the full period ride with strong work on top and posted the 7-3 victory.
174: Sophomore Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 174, battled Mateo Olmos. Starocci scored quickly, taking Olmos down just seconds into the bout. He then went to work on top and built up a :41 time edge before Olmos escaped. Starocci's offensive pressure was relentless as the Lion turned a scramble in the center circle into a second takedown and a 4-1 lead with 1:23 on the clock. He turned Olmos for four back points and opened up an 8-1 lead. The Lion sophomore added one more four point turn and lead 12-1 after one. Starocci chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 13-1 lead. He scrambled his way to a third takedown and led 15-1. Olmos escaped after a reset and Starocci ended the bout with a takedown with :11 left, posting the 17-2 technical fall at the 4:49 mark.
184: Junior Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md.), ranked No. 1 at 184, met Oregon State's Jackson McKinney. Brooks worked the middle of the mat for the first minute, and then quickly locked up McKinney's head. He wrapped McKinney's shoulders, took him down and finished off a first period pin at the 1:03 mark.
197: Junior Max Dean (Lowell, Mich.), ranked No. 4 at 197, took on J.J. Dixon. Dean scored quickly, taking Dixon down with a low double to open up a 2-0 lead with 2:30 on the clock. The Nittany Lion junior worked his riding time up over 1:00 and then worked for a turning combination. Dixon was able to fight off the turning efforts, but Dean carried the 2-0 lead with 2:17 in riding time into the second period. Dean chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Dean quickly used a high single for a second takedown and a 5-0 lead. He cut Dixon loose and went back to work on offense. Dean rolled through a third takedown with 1:10 on the clock. Dean cut Dixon loose once more and used a low single for another takedown to up his lead to 9-2 with :40 on the clock. Dean finished the period on top and led 9-2 with 3:25 in time. Dixon chose neutral to start the third period and Dean continued to take him down. Dean got the takedown just seconds into the period. He added another takedown and two back points. Dean, with nearly 5:00 in riding time, rolled to the 16-3 major decision.
285: Sophomore Greg Kerkvliet (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), ranked No. 5 at 285, met No. 24 Gary Traub. The duo battled evenly for :40 before Kerkvliet used a high single to take the Oregon State big man down for a 2-0 lead with 2:06 on the clock. Kerkvliet dominated Traub on top, working his riding time up well over 1:00 while looking for a turning combination. Traub was able to keep from giving up back points, but Kerkvliet finished the period on top and led 2-0 with 2:07 in riding time after one. Traub chose down to start the second period and Kerkvliet made him pay for the choice. The Lion turned Traub for four back points, reset, then turned him again with :52 on the clock. Leading 10-0, Kerkvliet finished the period on top and carried that lead with 4:07 riding time into the third period. Kerkvliet chose top to start the third period and began the process of turning Traub once more. He picked up a quick two point turn and then finished the match off with a final turn to post the 16-0 tech fall at the 5:58 mark.
