MANHEIM, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (3-0, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 2 in the latest InterMat Tournament Power Index (TPI), dominated Army West Point (0-1) in the home opener for head coach Cael Sanderson's squad. Penn State won eight of ten bouts to post the 32-7 victory.
The dual meet was wrestled in front of nearly 6,500 fans in a sold-out Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions have wrestled in front of 56 straight sellouts in Rec Hall and 62 of 64 including six of eight sellouts at the 16,000-seat Bryce Jordan Center). The dual also marked the first time Penn State wrestled in front of its home fans since Feb. 23, 2020, when Penn State beat American in Rec Hall.
The dual began at 125 where sophomore Baylor Shunk (Centre Hall, Pa.) made his Rec Hall debut at 125 and posted an 8-4 win over Army's Ryan Chauvin, putting Penn State up 3-0 early. Senior Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 1 at 133, put on a takedown show, reeling off 13 takedowns on his way to a 26-11 technical fall over Dominic Carone at the 6:36 mark.
With No. 1 Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.) given the night off, junior Brandon Meredith (Limerick, Pa.) moved up a weight to 141 and battled No. 29 Corey Shie tough before losing 5-2. Sophomore Beau Bartlett (Tempe, Ariz.), ranked No. 27 at 149, used a takedown late in extra time to post a thrilling 3-1 (SV) win over No. 20 P.J. Ogunsanya. Sophomore Terrell Barraclough (Kaysville, Utah) made his season debut at 157 and dropped a 9-0 major to No. 32 Markus Hartman. Hartman's win cut Penn State's lead to 11-7 at the break.
Junior Creighton Edsell (Wyalusing, pa.), ranked No. 32 at 165, used a late takedown to post a hard-fought 4-3 win over Army's Christian Hunt to begin the second half. Sophomore Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 174, was dominant once again, rolling to a 23-5 technical fall over Clayton Fielden at the 6:56 mark.
Junior Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md.), ranked No. 1 at 184, picked up nine takedowns in a dominating 21-7 major decision over No. 28 Brad Laughlin to put Penn State up 23-7. Junior Max Dean (Lowell, Mich.), ranked No. 4 at 197, made his Rec Hall debut as a Nittany Lion and thrilled the sold-out Rec Hall crowd, posting a 17-1 tech fall at the 3:13 mark. Sophomore Greg Kerkvliet (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), ranked No. 5 at 285, capped off the outing by amassing over 5:00 in riding time in a lopsided 14-3 major over Army West Point's Brandon Phillips. Kerkvliet's win finished off Penn State's 32-7 victory
The Nittany Lions rolled up a 41-4 margin in takedowns. Penn State picked up eight bonus points off three tech falls (Bravo-Young, Starocci, Dean) and two majors (Brooks, Kerkvliet).
Penn State is now 3-0 overall while Army falls to 0-1. The Nittany Lions return to action in two weeks when they travel to Philadelphia, Pa. to battle the Penn Quakers on Friday, Dec. 3. The dual begins at 7 p.m. in The Palestra. Two days later, Penn State hosts Lehigh in Rec Hall on Sunday, Dec. 5, at 2 p.m.
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, Army West Point 7
November 18, 2021 – Rec Hall – University Park, Pa.
125: Baylor Shunk PSU dec. Ryan Chauvin AWP, 8-4 3-0
133: #1 Roman Bravo-Young PSU tech fall Dominic Carone AWP; 26-11 (TF; 6:36) 8-0
141: #29 Corey Shie AWP dec. Brandon Meredith PSU, 5-2 8-3
149: #27 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. #20 P.J. Ogunsanya AWP, 3-1 (SV) 11-3
157: #32 Markus Hartman AWP maj. dec. Terrell Barraclough PSU, 9-0 11-7
165: #32 Creighton Edsell PSU dec. Christian Hunt AWP, 4-3 14-7
174: #1 Carter Starocci PSU tech fall Clayton Fielden AWP, 23-5 (TF; 6:56) 19-7
184: #1 Aaron Brooks PSU maj. dec. #28 Brad Laughlin AWP, 21-7 23-7
197: #4 Max Dean PSU tech fall #21 J.T. Brown AWP, 17-1 (6:49) 28-7
285: #5 Greg Kerkvliet PSU maj. dec. Brandon Phillips AWP, 14-3 32-7
Attendance: 6,472 (56th-straight sellout in Rec Hall, 62nd of 64 at home, inc. 6 of 8 in BJC)
Records: Penn State (3-0, 0-0 B1G); Army West Point (0-1)
Up Next for Penn State: at Penn, Friday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m. in The Palestra
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Sophomore Baylor Shunk (Centre Hall, Pa.) made his Rec Hall debut at 125 and met Army's Ryan Chauvin. The duo battled evenly for nearly a minute before Chauvin got in on a single leg. Shunk fought the move off and then worked out of another Black Knight shot at the 1:10 mark. Shunk then rolled through a low single and opened up a 2-0 lead at the 1:04 mark. Shunk then controlled the action from the top position, keeping Chauvin's stomach to the mat. He rolled Chauvin once but did not pick up any back points and led 2-0 after one. Shunk chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. The Lion freshmen then took Chauvin down with a low shot, rolling through for another takedown and a 5-0 lead. Chauvin escaped to a 5-1 score and Shunk fought off a late Army shot to carry a 5-1 lead into the second period with 1:45 in time. Chauvin chose down to start the final period and worked his way to an escaped and a 5-2 score. Chauvin took Shunk down on the edge of the mat, but the Lion quickly reversed him to lead 7-4. Shunk finished on top and, with 3:24 in riding time, rolled to the 8-4 win.
133: Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 1 at 133, took on Dominic Carone. The Lion senior opened up a quick lead, rolling up three takedowns in the first minute to lead 6-3 with 1:47 on the clock. He continued with his fast pace and forced Carone into a stall warning before taking him down a fourth time to lead 8-3 with 1:05 left. Bravo-Young used a low ankle pick and finished off a fifth takedown to lead 10-4 with :35 on the clock. Bravo-Young finished the period on top and led 1-4 with 1:23 in riding time after the first period. Bravo-Young chose neutral to start the second period. Carone got in on a shot at the 1:25 mark but Bravo-Young countered it, took him down and added another takedown seconds later to lead 14-5. He continued to score, adding two more takedowns in the second to lead 18-8 and then finished off the period with a rolling takedown to carry a 20-8 lead with 1:43 in time into the third period. Carone chose down to start the third period. Bravo-Young cut him loose and ended the match with three more takedowns to roll to the 26-11 tech fall at the 6:36 mark.
141: With No. 1 Nick Lee given the night off, junior Brandon Meredith (Limerick, Pa.) moved up to 141 and battled No. 29 Corey Shie. Shie got in on a quick single that Meredith was able to turn into a scramble and stalemate. Shie locked Meredith's head and nearly turned the junior to his back but Meredith was able to roll through and only gave up the takedown with 1:45 left in the period. Shie was able to stay on top as the clock moved under a minute. Shie finished on top, and Meredith trailed 2-0 after the opening period. Shie chose down to start the second period and Meredith controlled the action long enough to kill the Knight's riding time edge and the kept Shie on the mat for the rest of the period, riding Shie out. Trailing 2-0, Meredith chose neutral to start the third period. He countered a Shie shot with 1:20 on the clock and worked his way into a takedown to tie the bout at 2-2. Shie quickly escaped with :50 left to take a 3-2 lead. The Knight then worked into a low double, forcing a scramble in the middle of the mat. Meredith fought off each effort until the last second when Shie scored once more to post the 5-2 win.
149: Sophomore Beau Bartlett (Tempe, Ariz.), ranked No. 27 at 149, met No. 20 P.J. Ogunsanya. The duo battled evenly for the opening minute-plus. Ogunsanya worked his way into a high single at the 1:40 mark but Bartlett fought it off and forced a stalemate. The first period ended in a scoreless tie. Bartlett chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Action resumed in neutral. Ogunsanya shot low, gaining control of Bartlett's right foot but the Lion once again forced a stalemate. As the clock moved below the 1:00 mark, Bartlett got hit for a stall warning and carried a 1-0 lead into the third period. Ogunsanya chose down to start the third period. Bartlett went to work on top, controlling the Knight until the 1:06 mark before Ogunsanya escaped to a 1-1 tie. Neither man threatened offensively over the bout's final minute and action moved into a 2:00 sudden victory period. The wrestlers traded shots in the first :30. Each wrestler worked the center circle until Bartlett worked his way into a solid single with :45 on the clock. The Lion sophomore lifted Ogunsanya's leg up, pulled him back into the circle and finished off a takedown with :26 left in extra time to post the 3-1 (sv) win.
157: Sophomore Terrell Barraclough (Kaysville, Utah) made his season debut at 157 and battled No. 32 Markus Hartman. Barraclough and Hartman battled evenly for the first minute-plus, with neither wrestler threatening on offense. The next minute continued with each wrestler working the center circle and looking for a chance to score. The defenses held for the rest of the period and action moved to the second stanza tied 0-0. Barraclough chose down to start the second period and Hartman locked up a cradle, turning the Lion for four back points. Barraclough was unable to break free of Hartman's strong ride and trailed 4-0 after two period. Hartman chose top to start the third period. Barraclough worked to get to his feet, but each time Hartman was able to return the action to the mat. He turned the Lion sophomore for four more back points to open up an 8-0 lead with a clinched riding time point. Barraclough was unable to work his way free and lost the 9-0 major decision.
165: Junior Creighton Edsell (Wyalusing, Pa.), ranked No. 32 at 165, took on Christian Hunt. Edsell almost turned a low shot at the 2:30 mark into a takedown but Hunt slipped out of his grasp to keep the bout scoreless. Hunt shot on the edge of the mat and picked up a quick takedown to lead 2-1 after a quick Edsell escape with 1:40 on the clock. Edsell turned a high double into a scoring opportunity as the clock hit the 1:00 mark. Hunt locked up Edsell's arm and forced a stalemate and a reset. Edsell trailed 2-1 after one and chose down to start the second period. The Nittany Lion worked his way to an escape and a 2-2 tie. Neither wrestler challenged on offense as the clock moved to :45. Edsell forced Hunt to the outside circle and shot low but the Knight was able to work his way out of bounds each time the Nittany Lion shot. The bout moved to the third period tied 2-2. Hunt chose neutral to start the third period. Edsell shot at Hunt's waist, worked his way down into a single and scrambled his way into near scoring position for the next :45. The wrestlers battled until the clock hit the :20 mark when Edsell worked his way out from under Hunt and finished off the takedown for a 4-2 lead. Hunt escaped late but Edsell's final work on offense carried him to a 4-3 victory.
174: Sophomore Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 174, took on Clayton Fielden. Starocci went to work quickly, setting a fast tempo from the opening whistle. He pressured Fielden back and gained control of his left leg before taking him down for a 2-0 lead at the 2:10 mark. Starocci cut Fielden loose and went back to work leading 2-1. He quickly picked up another takedown to up his edge to 4-1. Fielden escaped to a 4-2 score with 1:00 on the clock and Starocci turned a low double into a third takedown and a 6-2 lead. He then rolled Fielden to his back for four back points and led 10-2 with 1:18 in riding time after one. Fielden chose down to start the second stanza and escaped to a 10-3 score. Starocci countered a slight Fielden shot for another takedown and led 12-3 with 1:25 left in the middle period. Starocci was tough on top, working his time edge up over 2:00 while forcing an Army stall warning. The Lion rode Fielden out and led 12-3 with 2:57 in time after two periods. Starocci chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 13-3 lead. He then took Fielden down to open up a 15-3 margin. Starocci cut Fielden loose and looked to score. He added two more takedown and finished off the bout with four back points, posting the 23-5 tech fall at the 6:56 mark.
184: Junior Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md.), ranked No. 1 at 184, met No. 28 Brad Laughlin. Brooks and Laughlin battled evenly for the first minute-plus. The Lion fought off a solid Laughlin shot at the 1:45 mark and went back to work in neutral. He used a high single for his first takedown with 1:20 on the clock, opening up a 2-0 lead. He cut Laughlin loose to a 2-1 score with 1:00 on the clock and used a high single to finish off another takedown and open up a 4-1 lead. Brooks finished the period on top to lead 4-1 with 1:00 in riding time after one. Brooks chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 5-1 lead. He quickly took Laughlin down again to lead 7-2 after cutting him loose. The Lion junior was relentless on offense, taking the Knight down again to lead 9-2 with 1:00 left in the period. Brooks added another takedown with :27 left in the period and finished the second stanza on top to lead 11-3 with 1:51 in time after two. Laughlin chose down to start the third period and Brooks let him up to an 11-4 score. Brooks added two more quick takedowns to lead 15-5 with 1:08 left to wrestle. Brooks picked up a stall point and then took Laughlin down two more times in the final seconds to roll 21-7 major decision with 2:47 in riding time.
197: Junior Max Dean (Lowell, Mich.), ranked No. 4 at 197, made his Rec Hall debut as a Lion against No. 21 J.T. Brown. Dean took Brown down quickly, opening up a 2-0 lead with 2:26 on the clock. He then went to work on top, building up :45 in time before Brown escaped to a 2-1 score. The duo battled evenly in the middle of the mat for the next minute and action moved to the second period with Dean up 2-1. Dean chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 3-1 lead with 1:24 on the clock. Brown took a slight shot and Dean countered for another takedown and a 5-1 lead with 1:10 left in the period. Dean locked Brown's leg with his, turned his shoulders to the mat, and picked up a four-point fall at the :20 mark for a 9-1 lead. Trailing 9-1, Brown chose down to start the third period. Dean controlled the action from the top, looking to turn the Knight for more back points. Dean locked Brown up again and turned him for four more near fall points to lead 13-1 with :30 on the clock. The Lion finished off the match with a final four-point turn, posting the 17-1 tech fall at the 6:49 mark.
285: Sophomore Greg Kerkvliet (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), ranked No. 5 at 285, took on Brandon Phillips. Kerkvliet scored in seconds, opening up a quick 2-0 lead off the opening whistle. He picked up his second takedown with 1:55 on the clock to lead 4-1. He built up over 1:00 in riding time and forced Phillips into a stall warning as the clock hit 1:00. Phillips got hit for another stall, giving Kerkvliet a point as the Nittany Lion continued to try and turn the Knight. While not managing any back points, Kerkvliet rode Phillips out to lead 5-1 with 2:18 in time after one. Kerkvliet chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 6-1 lead. He then took Phillips down again, leading 8-1, and went back to work looking for back points. Kerkvliet cut Phillips loose with :30 on the clock and finished off the second period with a slick low double for a takedown and a 10-2 lead with 3:24 in time after two. Phillips chose down to start the final period. With the riding time point clinched, Kerkvliet picked up another stall point, cut Phillips loose and then countered an Army shot for another takedown and a 13-3 lead. Kerkvliet finished the period on top to post the dominating 14-3 major with 5:03 in riding time.
