UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (5-0, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 2 in the latest InterMat Tournament Power Index (TPI), took care of visiting Lehigh (3-2) by a 23-16 score in non-conference action. Once again, a shorthanded Penn State squad won six of nine contested bouts, this time in sold out Rec Hall as senior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.) picked up his 100th career win.
The dual was wrestled in front of 6,496 fans in Rec Hall, marking the 57th-straight sell-out in the building. Penn State has wrestled in front of sold-out crowds in 63 of its last 65 home dates, including six of eight in the near 16,000-seat Bryce Jordan Center.
The dual began at 125 where senior Jake Campbell (Pottstown, Pa.) made his Penn State dual debut. Campbell battled No. 12 tough before dropping a 11-3 bout. Senior Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 1 at 133, dominated Sheldon Seymour, running away to a 19-7 major decision to tie the dual meet at 4-4 after two bouts. Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 1 at 141, took care of Lehigh's Connor McGonagle, posting a 13-6 win to put the Lions on top 7-4. The victory was the 100th of Lee's illustrious Penn State career. The Nittany Lion is now 100-13 overall, including a 4-0 record this year.
Sophomore Beau Bartlett (Tempe, Ariz.), ranked No. 20 at 149, gave up a late takedown and suffered a 6-5 upset loss to Manzona Bryant. Junior Tony Negron (North Babylon, N.Y.) made his Penn State dual meet debut at 157 and nearly upset No. 10 Josh Humphreys in the process. Negron appeared to take a 6-5 lead with :09 left in the match, but the move was reviewed by the officials and overturned, giving Humphreys the 5-4 win. The result sent Lehigh into halftime leading 10-7.
Junior Creighton Edsell (Wyalusing, Pa.), ranked No. 32 at 165, notched a critical win over No. 27 Brian Meyer. Edsell turned 1:23 in riding time into the bout's crucial point in a 2-1 win, tying the dual at 10-10. Sophomore Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 174, put Penn State on top for good with a strong 13-3 major over Lehigh's Jake Logan, giving the Lions a 14-10 lead.
With No. 1 Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Pa.) also not wrestling, sophomore Donovon Ball (New Cumberland, Pa.) took to the mat at 184 once again and for the second time in three days came away with a critical victory. Ball posted a thrilling 5-3 win over Lehigh's A.J. Burkhart to give Penn State a 17-10 advantage. Junior Max Dean (Lowell, Mich.), ranked No. 4 at 197, clinched the Penn State victory with a rousing first period pin. Dean turned Lehigh's J.T. Davis late in the period to get the fall at the 2:58 mark to put Penn State up 23-10. With No. 4 Greg Kerkvliet (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) still ill, No. 10 Jordan Wood got the forfeit victory at 285 making the dual final 23-16 in Penn State's favor.
The Nittany Lions posted a gaudy 24-5 edge in takedowns. Penn State picked up five bonus points off a pin (Dean) and two majors (Bravo-Young, Starocci).
Two extra matches were contested after completion of the dual meet. While the bouts do not count towards the dual's score, they are official NCAA matches. At 149, Nittany Lion Joey Blumer (Leechburg, Pa.) posted a 5-1 win over Steven Storm, including 4:23 in riding time. At 157, sophomore Terrell Barraclough (Kaysville, Utah) notched a 7-2 decision with 4:14 in riding time over Lehigh's Luca Frinzi.
Penn State is now 5-0 overall while Lehigh falls to 3-2. The Nittany Lions venture to Niceville, Fla., for the Collegiate Wrestling Duals on Dec. 20-21. The Nittany Lions battle Northern Iowa on Monday, Dec. 20, at 12 p.m. Eastern and Cornell immediately after at 2 p.m. Eastern. Penn State will then have one dual on Tuesday, Dec. 21, opponent and time to be determined. Penn State opens up Big Ten action on Friday, Jan. 7, when the Nittany Lions visit the Maryland Terrapins for a 7 p.m. dual in College Park, Md.
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 23, Lehigh 16
December 5, 2021 – Rec Hall – University Park, Pa.
125: #12 Jaret Lane LEH maj. dec. Jake Campbell PSU, 11-3 0-4
133: #1 Roman Bravo-Young PSU maj. dec. Sheldon Seymour LEH, 19-7 4-4
141: #1 Nick Lee PSU dec. Connor McGonagle LEH, 13-6 7-4
149: Manzona Bryant LEH dec. #20 Beau Bartlett PSU, 6-5 7-7
157: #10 Josh Humphreys LEH dec. Tony Negron PSU, 5-4 7-10
165: #32 Creighton Edsell PSU dec. #27 Brian Meyer, 2-1 10-10
174: #1 Carter Starocci PSU maj. dec. Jake Logan LEH, 13-3 14-10
184: Donovon Ball PSU dec. A.J. Burkhart LEH, 5-3 17-10
197: #4 Max Dean PSU pinned J.T. Davis LEH, WBF (2:58) 23-10
285: #10 Jordan Wood LEH win by forfeit 23-16
Extra bouts (official NCAA contests, do no count in dual score):
149: Joey Blumer PSU dec. Steven Storm LEH, 5-1
157: Terrell Barraclough PSU dec. Luca Frinzi LEH, 7-2
Attendance: 6,496 (57th-straight sellout in Rec Hall, 63rd of 65 at home, inc. 6 of 8 in BJC)
Records: Penn State (5-0, 0-0 B1G); Lehigh (3-2)
Up Next for Penn State: Collegiate Wrestling Duals, Dec. 20-21, Niceville, Fla.
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Senior Jake Campbell (Pottstown, Pa.) made his Penn State dual debut at 125 and took on No. 14 Jaret Lane of Lehigh at 125. The duo battled evenly for the two minutes. Lane took the first shot of the bout at the 1:00 mark and connected for a 2-0 lead. Campbell quickly escaped to a 2-1 score and the clock hit :30. The first period finished with the wrestlers on their feet and Campbell trailed 2-1 after one. Lane chose down to start the second period and escaped with 1:33 on the clock to take a 3-1 lead. Campbell took two los shots, but Lane countered the second and locked Campbell's shoulders for a four-point turn. Campbell fought off the pin attempt and quickly reversed the Hawk to cut the lead to 9-3. Lane added a late escape and led 10-3 after two. Campbell chose down to start the third period. Lane maintained control long enough to build up over 1:00 in riding time. Campbell was unable to escape, and, with the riding time point, Lane notched the 11-3 major.
133: Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 1 at 133, took on Sheldon Seymour. Bravo-Young scored quickly, taking Seymour down for an early 2-1 lead. Bravo-Young added a second quick takedown to up his lead to 4-2 at the midway point of the opening period. Seymour got in on a single at the 1:10 mark and Bravo-Young immediately countered, working his way into control of the Mountain Hawk's shoulders, then moving around for a takedown and a 6-2 lead with :30 on the clock. Bravo-Young chose neutral to start the second period and quickly went on attack. The Nittany Lion senior pulled Seymour's shoulders to the mat, picked up another takedown, and led 8-3 with 1:15 on the clock. Bravo-Young added a fifth takedown seconds after a reset and worked his riding time up over 1:00. Bravo-Young finished on top and led 10-3 with 2:02 in time after two. Bravo-Young rolled through the third period, picking up four takedowns and a riding time point on 2:23 in time to post the 19-7 major decision.
141: Senior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 1 at 141, met Connor McGonagle. Lee scored quickly, taking McGonagle down at the 2:35 mark for an early 2-0 lead. The Lion senior then muscled McGonagle's shoulders over, picking up two back points to lead 4-0. Lee continued to work on top, dominating the action as his riding time edge hit 2:00 and he picked up a stall point to lead 5-0. McGonagle chose down to start the second period and Lee tried to turn the Hawk off the whistle. But McGonagle countered and reversed Lee to briefly cut the lead to 5-2. Lee answered with a reversal of his own, upping his lead to 7-3 after cutting McGonagle loose. Lee picked up another quick takedown with a high shot and finished the period on top to lead 9-3 with 3:46 in time after two. Lee chose down to start the third period and worked his way to an escaped and a 10-3 lead. Lee fought off a slight high shot from McGonagle at the 1:10 mark and added another takedown with :55 on the clock to lead 12-3. McGonagle scored on a high double with :20 left to cut the lead to 12-6 and Lee settled for the 13-6 decision with 3:20 in riding time. The win was the 100th of Nick Lee's Penn State career.
149: Sophomore Beau Bartlett (Tempe, Ariz.), ranked No. 20 at 149, took on Manzona Bryant. The duo battled evenly on the Nittany Lion logo for the first minute-plus. Bartlett drew first blood with a lightning quick duck-under for a takedown with 1:20 on the clock. Bryant escaped to a 2-1 score and action resumed with 1:00 left in the period. Bartlett chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. The Lion sophomore turned shoulder control into a high single and a takedown with :50 on the clock to lead 5-1. Bryant was able to reverse Bartlett before the period ended and the Lion sophomore led 5-3 after two. Bryant chose down to start the third period and Bartlett controlled him long enough to build his riding time point up to 1:08 before he escaped to a 5-4 score. Bartlett worked the center of the mat as the clock moved under :45. Brant took the Lion down with :25 left, and Bartlett appeared to escape with :03 on the clock. But the escape was not awarded, and Bartlett dropped the 6-5 bout.
157: Junior Tony Negron (North Babylon, N.Y.) made his Penn State dual debut and battled No. 10 Josh Humphreys at 157. Negron scored first, using a low double to gain control of both Humphrey's feet, getting the takedown to lead 2-0 with 1:49 on the clock. Humphreys escaped to a 2-1 at the 1:25 mark and action resumed in the center of the mat. The duo battled evenly for the next minute-plus. Negron worked a low single into a near takedown as the period ended. The move was reviews and no takedown was awarded with Negron leading 2-1 after one. Humphreys chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. Negron fought off a Humphreys shot, forcing a scramble in the middle off the mat that lasted over 1:00 before the Mountain Hawk was awarded a takedown to lead 4-2 with :40 left in the period. Humphreys finished the period on top and led 4-2 after two. Negron chose neutral to start the third period. The Lion junior worked in neutral, looking for an opening to tie the bout up. He appeared to have another takedown, and nothing was awarded again. The officials reviewed the effort once more and this time the takedown was awarded. Negron tied the bout at 4-4 with 1:11 left in the period. Negron cut Humphreys loose to a 5-4 score and immediately went to work on offense, looking for another takedown. Negron got in on a high single and forced a scramble with :20 left in the period. He rolled his way to a takedown and a 6-5 lead with :07 left in the bout. The move was reviewed and overturned, and Negron's upset was taken away in the final seconds, falling 5-4.
165: Junior Creighton Edsell (Wyalusing, Pa.), ranked No. 32 at 165, faced No. 27 Brian Meyer. Meyer came out and quickly got in on a high single, but Edsell forced a stalemate and action resumed in neutral with 2:44 on the clock. Meyer connected on a low single and Edsell fought off the shot, forced a scramble then a stalemate with 1:42 left in the period. The wrestlers traded shots as the clock hit 1:00. The rest of the period was contested in neutral, and the bout moved to the second stanza tied 0-0. Edsell chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Meyer took a quick shot and Edsell nearly countered but the Hawk was able to slide away, and the bout continued in neutral with 1:05 on the clock. Trailing 1-0, Meyer chose down to start the third period. Edsell controlled the action and maintain top position long enough to build his time edge up over 1:00. Meyer broke free of the Lion's control with :30 left to tie the bout at 1-1, but Edsell had 1:23 in riding time. Edsell was able to fight off Meyer's final shots and, with the riding time point, posted the impressive 2-1 win.
174: Sophomore Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 174, battled Jake Logan. Starocci picked up the first takedown at the 2:21 mark and led 2-1 early. The Lion sophomore countered a low Logan shot and worked his way into control of the Hawk grappler, getting another takedown to lead 4-1 with :35 on the clock. Starocci finished on top to lead 4-1 with 1:23 in time after one. Starocci chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. Starocci added a third takedown to up his lead to 7-1 and then went to work on top, looking for a chance to turn Logan for back points. Logan got hit for a stall warning and Starocci cut him loose to a 7-2 score with :45 left in the period. Starocci countered another Logan shot and took a 9-2 lead with :20 left in the period, carrying that lead with 2:17 in time into the third period. Logan chose down to start the third period and Starocci cut him loose to a 9-3 score. Starocci rolled through a scramble to take an 11-3 lead with 1:10 on the clock. He clinched the riding time point with control and picked up a stall point at the :25 mark. He finished the period on top and, with 3:36 in riding time, posted the dominant 13-3 major decision.
184: With No. 1 Aaron Brooks out, sophomore Donovon Ball (New Cumberland, Pa.) battled A.J. Burkhart at 184. The duo traded shots over the first minute of the bout. Ball nearly connected on a counter with 1:40 on the clock but Burkhart was able to slide out of trouble and keep the bout scoreless. Ball turned a low single into a takedown on the edge of the mat with :36 on the clock, taking a 2-0 lead. Burkhart was able to escape to a 2-1 score and the bout moved to the second stanza with Ball leading by one. Burkhart chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. Ball continued to press on offense, circling the Lion logo until he snapped through a low single to take a 4-2 lead with 1:30 left in the period. Burkhart got hit with a stall warning during the flurry as well. Ball maintained control long enough to build up a 1:00 riding time edge before Burkhart escaped to a 4-3 Ball lead. Ball nearly turned a high shot into a late takedown, but the clock ran out in the period. Leading 4-3, Ball chose down to start the third period. Ball nearly gave up back points as the period started but fought off the effort. He broke free of Burkhart's control for an escape and a 5-3 lead with :50 on the clock. Ball fought off late shots from Burkhart and held on for the thrilling 5-3 victory.
197: Junior Max Dean (Lowell, Mich.), ranked No. 4 at 197, met J.T. Davis. Dean controlled the action in the center of the mat, setting the pace while trying to break through Davis' defense. Dean countered a slight Davis shot and took a 2-0 lead with 1:10 left in the opening period. He then began looking for a chance to turn the Mountain Hawk grappler for back points, picking up four near fall points at the :30 mark to lead 6-0. Dean finished the match off with a final turn and picked up the first period fall at the 2:58 mark.
285: With No. 4 Greg Kerkvliet (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) still ill, Lehigh's tenth-ranked Jordan Wood picked up the forfeit victory.
