THIS WEEK'S ACTION:
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lions (11-0, 3-0 B1G), ranked No. 1 in InterMat's tournament power index (TPI), hit the road for two Big Ten dual meets this weekend. The Nittany Lions are at No. 3 Michigan (5-0, 1-0 B1G) on Friday, Jan. 21. The dual is set for 6 p.m. and is a B1G national telecast. Penn State then visits Michigan State (*7-1, 2-1 B1G) on Sunday, Jan. 23, at 1 p.m. The dual is a B1G+ production. Michigan State hosts Rutgers on Friday while PSU is at Michigan, post-press.
Penn State is coming off a 27-11 win over visiting Rutgers on Sunday, Jan. 16, in Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions won seven of the ten bouts, including Aaron Brooks and Max Dean getting wins over top-ten foes. The victory improved Penn State to 11-0 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten.
Penn State features nine ranked wrestlers in its line-up. Drew Hildebrandt is 3-0 at 125 and ranked No. 7; Roman Bravo-Young is 9-0 at 133 and ranked No. 1; Nick Lee is No. 1 at 141 with an 8-0 mark; Beau Bartlett is 8-3 and ranked No. 19 at 149; Tony Negron is 1-5 at 157 and Terrell Barraclough is 6-4; Brady Berge is now ranked No. 16 at 165 with a 1-0 mark; Carter Starocci is ranked No. 1 at 174 and is 11-0; Aaron Brooks is 9-0 and ranked No. 1 at 184; Max Dean is 11-0 at 197 and ranked No. 2; and Greg Kerkvliet is 9-0 at 285 and ranked No. 4.
Michigan will enter the dual with a 5-0 record, 1-0 in the Big Ten. Ten Wolverines are ranked by InterMat, allowing for the possibility that 19 of 20 competitors during the dual could be ranked. Nick Suriano is No. 1 at 125; Dylan Ragusin is No. 8 at 133; Stevan Micic is No. 4 at 141; Kanen Storr is No. 16 at 149; Will Lewan is No. 15 at 157; Cameron Amine is No. 10 at 165; Logan Massa is No. 6 at 174; Myles Amine is No. 2 at 184; Patrick Brucki is No. 8 at 197; and Mason Parris is No. 2 at 285. Penn State leads the all-time series with Michigan 33-24, including 10 straight wins. The Nittany Lions won the last meeting, an 18-13 on Feb. 14, 2021 in Michigan.
Michigan State, which hosts Rutgers on Friday while Penn State is in Ann Arbor, enters the weekend 7-1 overall, 2-1 in B1G action. The Spartans downed both Purdue and Indiana last weekend. Michigan State has four ranked grapplers. Rayvon Foley is No. 12 at 133; Chase Saldate is No. 19 at 157; Layne Malczewski is No. 27 at 184; and Cameron Caffey is No. 15 at 197. The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series with the Spartans 22-9, including 13 straight victories. Penn State won the last meeting, a 37-10 win on Feb. 15, 2019 in Rec Hall. The Lions won the last time in East Lansing, 48-3, on Jan. 14, 2018.
Penn State visits Michigan on Friday, Jan. 21, in its next outing. The dual starts at 6 p.m. and is a B1G Network national telecast. Two days later, Penn State visits Michigan State on Sunday, Jan. 23, at 1 p.m. for another Big Ten road dual.
All rankings listed are InterMat individual/InterMat 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.
#1 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (11-0, 3-0 B1G)
125 #7 Drew Hildebrandt Sr.+ Granger, Ind./Penn 3-0
133 #1 Roman Bravo-Young Sr. Tucson, Ariz./Sunnyside 9-0
141 #1 Nick Lee Sr.+ Evansville, Ind./Homeschooled 8-0
149 #19 Beau Bartlett So. Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) 8-3
157 Tony Negron Jr. North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon 1-5
Terrell Barraclough So. Kaysville, Utah/Layton 6-4
165 #16 Brady Berge Sr. Mantorville, Minn./Kasson-Mantorville 1-0
Creighton Edsell Jr. Wyalusing, Pa./Wyalusing 7-3
174 #1 Carter Starocci So. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 11-0
184 #1 Aaron Brooks Jr. Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown 9-0
197 #2 Max Dean Jr. Lowell, Mich./Lowell 11-0
285 #4 Greg Kerkvliet So. Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley 9-0
#3 MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (5-0, 1-0 B1G)
125 #1 Nick Suriano Gr. Paramus, N.J./Bergen Catholic 3-0
133 #8 Dylan Ragusin Fr. Elk Grove Village, Ill./Montini Catholic 12-3
Jack Medley Sr. Chesterfiled, Mich./Anchor Bay 8-4
141 #4 Stevan Micic Gr. Cedar Lake, Ind./Hanover Central 2-1
149 #16 Kanen Storr Gr. Leslie, Mich./Leslie 3-1
Cole Mattin So. Delta, Ohio/Delta 10-5
157 #15 Will Lewan Jr. Chicago, Ill./Montini Catholic 8-2
165 #10 Cameron Amine So. Brighton, Mich./Detroit Central Catholic 7-2
174 #6 Logan Massa Gr. St. Johns, Mich./St. Johns 2-0
184 #2 Myles Amine Gr. Brighton, Mich./Detroit Central Catholic 7-0
197 #8 Patrick Brucki Gr. Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sanburg 12-2
285 #2 Mason Parris Sr. Lawrenceburg, Ind./Lawrenceburg 7-0
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (*7-1, 2-1 B1G)
125 Tristan Lujan So. Selma, Calif./Selma 8-6
133 #12 Rayvon Foley Sr. Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer 19-2
141 Jordan Hamdan So. Hudson, Mich./Hudson 8-8
Matt Santos Gr. Saginaw, Mich./Swan Valley 7-7
149 Peyton Omania So. Concord, Calif./De La Salle 7-5
157 #19 Chase Saldate So. Gilroy, Calif./Gilroy 20-3
165 Caleb Fish So. Eaton Rapids, Mich./Eaton Rapids 17-6
174 Nathan Jimenez Jr. Elburn, Ill./Marmion Academy 7-10
184 #27 Layne Malczewski Jr. Macomb, Mich./Dakota 17-6
197 #15 Cameron Caffey Sr. Carbondale, Ill./Carbondale 19-4
285 Brad Wilton Sr. Mason, Mich./Mason 8-10
Rankings listed are InterMat (as of 1/18/22)
*MSU hosts Rutgers on 1/21 while PSU is at Michigan, post-press.
THIS WEEK
#1 Penn State (11-0, 3-0 B1G) travels to the state of Michigan for two duals next weekend. The Nittany Lions visit #3 Michigan (5-0, 1-0) on Friday, Jan. 21, for a 6 p.m. B1G Network national telecast. Two days later, the Lions visit Michigan State (7-1, 2-1 B1G) on Sunday, Jan. 23, at 1 p.m. in a B1G+ stream.
UP NEXT
Penn State heads to #2 Iowa for a Friday night showdown in Iowa City. The Nittany Lions and Hawkeyes meet at 9 p.m. Eastern (8 p.m. Central) in the B1G Network national telecast.
ON THE AIR
TV - Michigan B1G national // Michigan State B1G+
Radio online - Free all year via Lionvision at GoPSUsports.com
Live Web Video - Michigan State B1G+
NOTES:
#FUNSTATS
// Most Individual NCAA Titles Since 2011 -- PENN STATE 27, Cornell 10, Oklahoma State 10, Ohio State 9, Iowa 7
// Penn State National Finalists Since 2011 -- 40
// Penn State in NCAA Finals Since 2011 -- 27-13 (Penn State's winning percentage in NCAA finals is .675)
// Penn State in NCAA Semifinals Since 2011 -- 40-4 (Penn State's winning percentage in NCAA semis is .901)
// Penn State Team Championships Since 2011 -- 8 (of 10, no NCAA tournament in 2020)
// Penn State Percentage of Team Titles Won Since 2011 - .800 (no NCAA tournament in 2020)
BROOKS AND DEAN DOWN TOP-10 FOES, BERGE DEBUTS AT 165 AS LIONS ROLL PAST #14 RUTGERS
Aaron Brooks and Max Dean each took care of top-ten ranked opponents and senior Brady Berge made his season debut at 165 as Penn State rolled past #14 Rutgers 27-11 in Rec Hall. Brooks posted his third straight major over a top-12 ranked Big Ten opponent, this time downing #5 John Poznanski 10-2. Max Dean took care of #7 Greg Bulsak 9-6 at 197 as well. Brady Berge returned to action for the first time since an injury ended his NCAA tournament run last March. Wrestling up at 165 for the first time, Berge posted a 5-1 win over Andrew Clark.
BROOKS' MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS PSU'S WIN OVER INDIANA; NAMED B1G WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
Junior Aaron Brooks majored #8 D.J. Washington 13-4 in the marquee match-up in Penn State's 29-11 victory over Indiana. Brooks' win was one of five straight to close out the dual for the Nittany Lions in Rec Hall. Drew Hildebrandt took down #25 Jacob Moran in his Rec Hall debut at 125 as well. He was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for th week ending Jan. 11, his second honor of the season to that date.
DREW HILDEBRANDT'S DEBUT PIN STARTS PENN STATE'S RUN IN 46-0 SHUTOUT AT MARYLAND
All-American transfer Drew Hildebrandt pinned Maryland's Zach Spence in the first period (1:38) in his debut match for Penn State at 125. Hildebrandt's initial win started a perfect run for the Nittany Lions in a 46-0 shutout victory on the road in College Park. Aaron Brooks majored #12 Kyle Cochran 19-7 at 184 and Greg Kerkvliet teched #26 Zach Schrader at 285 in bouts between ranked opponents.
LUCAS COCHRAN TAKES 4TH AT F&M OPEN
Freshman Lucas Cochran went 3-2 at the Lehman/F&M Open on Friday, Jan. 7. Cochran picked up three wins with a major and advanced to the semifinals. Gary Steen (125), Brian Borden (165) and Levko Higgins (197) all picked up solo wins at the event as well.
BEARD TAKES SECOND AT SOUTHERN SCUFFLE TO LEAD 10-MAN PENN STATE CONTINGENT
Sophomore Michael Beard was the No. 2 seed at 197 at the Southern Scuffle and took second at the two-day event. Beard began the tournament with three wins on Saturday. He posted technical falls over Duke's Kaden Russell (18-2; 2:36) and Eli Sheeren of Buffalo (17-2; 5:36) to begin the tournament and closed out Saturday with a 9-2 win over Navy's XJaxon Smith in the quarterfinals. Beard beat No. 20 Cameron Caffey of Michigan State in the semifinals and then took an injury default loss during the first period of the finals to No. 4 Rocky Elam of Missouri. Junior Brandon Meredith competed at 133 and advanced to the quarterfinals before losing his first match. He went 3-1 overall plus one loss to a non-collegiate wrestler. Sophomore Joe Lee wrested at 157 and won his first two matches to advance to the quarterfinals. He ended the tournament with a 2-2 mark overall. Junior Seth Nevills took to the mat at 285 for the first time this year. Nevills went 3-2 overall with a pin in his first action of the season.
BARTLETT'S WIN OVER #5 PARCO HIGHLIGHTS LOPSIDED 29-10 WIN OVER #3 ARIZONA STATE
Sophomore Beau Bartlett posted a thrilling 3-1 sudden victory decision over #5 Kyle Parco to spark Penn State in a 29-10 win over #3 Arizona State in the Blue Pool Final of the Collegiate Duals in Niceville, Fla. Bartlett's takedown in extra time was one of many highlights as Penn State dominated the Sun Devils, winning seven of ten bouts. Roman Bravo-Young beat #14 Michael McGee 6-2 at 133, Nick Lee majored #15 Jesse Vasquez 14-3 at 141, and Max Dean majored #8 Kordell Norfleet at 197 in other ranked victories for Penn State.
NITTANY LIONS OUTLAST #9 CORNELL
Penn State won six of ten bouts to outlast #9 Cornell 26-11 at the Collegiate Duals in Niceville, Fla. Penn State got four straight wins over ranked wrestlers to close out the dual for the victory. Carter Starocci beat #12 Chris Foca 3-2 at 174, Aaron Brooks majored #155 Jonathan Loew 15-3 at 184, Max Dean downed #19 Jacob Cardenas 4-2 at 197 and Greg Kerkvliet shutout #18 Lewis Fernandes 5-0 at 285.
BROOKS TAKES DOWN #4 KECKEISEN AS LIONS TOP UNI; NAMED B1G W.O.W. (12/29)
Junior Aaron Brooks downed #4 Parker Keckeisen to lead Penn State to a 29-9 win over #22 Northern Iowa in the first of three duals for Penn State at the Collegiate Duals in Niceville, Fla. Brooks' win was one of seven for Penn State in the win, which included Roman Bravo-Young pinning #31 Kyle Biscoglia, Nick Lee majoring #26 Cael Happel and Beau Bartlett beating #28 Triston Lara. Brooks won three matches in Florida overall and was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week (12/29).
LEE'S 100TH CAREER WIN SPARKS WIN OVER LEHIGH
Senior Nick Lee dominated Lehigh's Connor McGonagle, rolling to a 13-6 win with 3:36 in riding time to earn the 100th victory of his illustrious Nittany Lion career. Lee's win helped spark a short-handed Penn State team to a 23-16 victory over the visiting Mountain Hawks in sold out Rec Hall on Dec. 5.
EDSELL, BALL COME UP BIG IN WIN OVER LEHIGH
With multiple starters out in Penn State's dual vs. Lehigh on Dec. 5, junior Creighton Edsell and sophomore Donovon Ball came up with big wins as Penn State outlasted visiting Lehigh 23-16 in Rec Hall. Edsell used a riding time point to notch a 2-1 win over No. 27 Brian Meyer at 165 and Ball downed J.T. Burkhart 5-3 at 184 for his second win in three days.
STAROCCI AND BARTLETT GRAB RANKED WINS AS LIONS WIN AT PENN
With three starters out in Penn State's dual at Penn on Dec. 3, Sophomores Carter Starocci and Beau Bartlett notched big ranked wins to lead Penn State to a hard-fought 20-16 win in Philadelphia. Starocci dominated #21 Nick Incontrera 13-3, adding 2:53 in riding time during his major decision victory at 174. Bartlett used an escape in extra time to notch a 4-3 (TB) win over #23 Anthony Artalona at 149 as well.
BEAU BARTLETT DOWNS #20 P.J. OGUNSANYA TO LEAD
LIONS TO 32-7 WIN OVER ARMY WEST POINT
Sophomore Beau Bartlett posted a thrilling 3-1 (sv) win over #20 P.J. Ogunsanya to help lead Penn State to a rousing 32-7 win over Army West Point on Nov. 18 in sold out Rec Hall. 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.
GREG KERKVLIET NAMED BIG TEN W.O.W. (11/16)
Sophomore Greg Kerkvliet was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending Nov. 14, 2021. Kerkvliet went 2-0 in Penn State's season-opening action at Spooky Nook in Manheim, Pa., on Nov. 13. The Lion heavyweight picked up a pin in Penn State's 47-3 win over Sacred Heart and then dominated No. 24 Gary Traub of Oregon State, rolling to a 16-0 tech fall (4:15) in Penn State's 32-7 victory over the Beavers.
LEE, BARTLETT, KERKVLIET NOTCH RANKED WINS IN 32-7 WIN OVER OREGON STATE
Senior Nick Lee dominated #10 Grant Willits in Penn State's 32-7 win over Oregon State on Nov. 13, rolling to an 11-4 victory at 141. Lee's win was one of three ranked victories for the Lions in the win. Sophomore Beau Bartlett posted a 1-0 win over #24 Cory Crooks at 149 and sophomore Greg Kerkvliet rolled to a 16-0 tech fall (5:58) over #24 Gary Traub at 285. Penn State won eight bouts in the dual. Aaron Brooks had a pin and Max Dean had a major as well.
SHUNK, DEAN WIN PENN STATE DEBUTS IN 47-3 SEASON-OPENING WIN OVER SACRED HEART
Sophomore Baylor Shunk and junior Max Dean each won their Penn State dual meet debuts in Penn State's 47-3 win over Sacred Heart on Nov. 13, the dual opener for the Lions. Shunk posted an 18-0 tech fall (4:15) over Kyle Randall and Dean rolled to an identical 18-0 tech fall (3:00) over Dante Del Bonis. Penn State won nine of ten bouts in the victory. Roman Bravo-Young, Nick Lee, Carter Starocci, and Greg Kerkvliet all had pins; Shunk, Dean, and Aaron Brooks had tech falls; and Beau Bartlett and Creighton Edsell had majors.
BEARD GOES 3-0 AT JOURNEYMEN COLLEGIATE
Sophomore Michael Beard posted a 3-0 record to win his round-robin pool at the Journeymen Collegiate in Manheim, Pa., on Nov. 14. Beard majored JT Davis of Lehigh 22-8, teched Lock Haven's Parker McClellan 15-0 and majored #20 JT Brown of Army.
MATT LEE RUNNER-UP AT BEARCAT OPEN
Freshman Matt Lee led a contingent of seven wrestlers at the Bearcat Open in Binghamton, N.Y., on Nov. 14. Lee went 3-1 (plus one victory over a non-collegiate wrestler) with a tech fall to place second at 165. David Evans went 3-0 at 133 and placed fourth while Jack Kelly posted a 4-2 mark to finish sixth at 174. Aurelius Dunbar went 4-2 at 157, Brian Borden with 2-2 at 165 and Levko Higgins went 2-2 at 197.
EVANS TAKES 2ND AT CLARION OPEN; THREE OTHER LIONS PLACE
Eight members the Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team took part in the Clarion Open on Nov. 6 in the first open tournament of the 2021-22 season. For Penn State, the Clarion Open is the first open tournament in almost two years after last season's abbreviated campaign. Redshirt freshman David Evans led the way with a second-place finish at 133. Evans went 3-1 with a pin, advancing to the finals before dropping his first match. True freshman Alex Facundo rolled up five wins with three majors and two pins and placed fifth. The true freshman's only loss was a tie-breaker defeat. Classmate Brian Borden placed sixth at 165, going 5-1 as well with a pin and three majors. True freshman Lucas Cochran finished fifth at 197, posting a 5-1 record with two majors and a pin. True freshman Shayne Van Ness began the tournament with two wins at 149. Van Ness picked up a major and a pin in just :54 before taking a medical forfeit (not a loss) and ending his action with a 2-0 mark. True freshman Sean Wang went 2-2 with a major at 141. True freshman Jack Kelly went 1-2 at 174. True freshman Gary Steen also competed at 125.
PARKING CHANGES
Parking for Penn State Wrestling duals in Rec Hall will be available at the following locations beginning two hours prior to the start of each event.
• Nittany Deck, West Deck (No charge with a valid Penn State parking permit; $5.50 prepaid through ParkMobile (season package available for $5 per game; Note: does not include BJC Dual) - https://psu.parkmobile.io/rec-hall; $10 day-of-event without a valid permit or prepayment (must use ground level or in-lane pay station after the event)
• Rec Hall and Lion Shrine ADA Parking; Available on a first-come, first-served basis with a valid Penn State permit, ParkMobile prepayment ($5.50) or day-of-event ParkMobile app payment ($10 – zone no. 95105); Note: The Rec Hall and Lion Shrine parking areas are not selectable prepayment options. Fans must elect Nittany Deck or West Deck.
REC HALL PARKMOBILE PREPAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS
• Visit https://psu.parkmobile.io/rec-hall; Select game or season package at the bottom of the page; Select parking area; Enter the license plate information for the vehicle being driven to the event; Note: If a different vehicle must be driven than the one registered at purchase, users must contact ParkMobile Member Support through the ParkMobile website or app (Settings – Chat Support) to request a vehicle change for that reservation.; Purchase parking for the event
• Note: Prepayment is required by 11:59 p.m. the night before each event or the day-of-event rate will apply; If the Rec Hall and Lion Shrine ADA parking areas are not available upon arrival, fans must park at the lot selected on the ParkMobile website at the time of purchase; Guests must scan their ParkMobile QR code (from mobile device or printed copy) at Nittany Deck and West Deck in-lane machines to enter and exit.; Head-in parking is required at the Nittany and West decks.
MILESTONES
Individual records and milestones that are in play as of now:
* 100 Career victories
Nick Lee, 104
* 200 Career coaching wins (overall career)
Cael Sanderson, 213
* 100 Career Big Ten coaching wins
Cael Sanderson, 91
* 175 Career coaching wins at Penn State
Cael Sanderson, 169
