UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lions (16-0, 8-0 B1G) ranked No. 1 in the latest InterMat Tournament Power Index (TPI), downed No. 7 Nebraska (5-4, 2-4 B1G) by a 21-13 score to clinch the 2022 Big Ten Regular Season (dual meet) Championship. The dual was wrestled in front of over 6,500 fans in the 60th-straight sellout crowd in Rec Hall (and the 67th of 69 home sellouts, including seven of nine in the near-16,000 seat Bryce Jordan Center).
Wrestling without three starters, head coach Cael Sanderson's squad was undaunted and finished off the conference slate with yet another win. The dual victory caps off a perfect run through the Big Ten season and Penn State has claimed its eighth Big Ten Regular Season title (outright or co-) since 2012.
Senior Drew Hildebrandt (Granger, Ind.), ranked No. 6 at 125, got Penn State off to a positive start with a 4-0 win over Jerimiah Reno, including 2;49 in riding time. Senior Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 1 at 133, rolled up ten takedowns and 4:02 in riding time to post a 23-8 technical fall at the 7:00 mark over Dominick Serrano. Bravo-Young's win put the Nittany Lions up 8-0. Senior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 1 at 141, controlled No. 8 Chad Red Jr. for seven minutes in a 4-1 victory that included 1:20 in riding time.
Sophomore Beau Bartlett (Tempe, Ariz.), ranked No. 18 at 149, lost a tough 6-0 decision to No. 8 Ridge Lovett as the Huskers cut Penn State's dual lead to 11-3. Sophomore Terrell Barraclough (Kaysville, Utah) took No. 5 Peyton Robb to the limit at 157. Barraclough battled the Husker until the final seconds, nearly scoring a winning takedown as the bout ended. But Robb fought off the Barraclough low double for the final :15 and Barraclough lost a hard-fought 3-2 decision. The Husker win cut Penn State's lead to 11-6 at halftime.
With No. 11 Brady Berge out, junior Creighton Edsell (Wyalusing, Pa.) once again got the call at 165 and came up with a huge win. Edsell rolled up nearly 3:00 in riding time in a dominant 9-2 win over Tahjae-Jenkins Taylor. Edsell's victory put the Nittany Lions up 14-6. With No. 1 Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.) not wrestling, Mason Manville (Lorton, Va.) got the nod at 174 and lost a tough 14-4 major decision to No. 5 Mike Labriola. Junior Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md.), ranked No. 1 at 184, dominated No. 9 Taylor Venz in a marquee match-up at 184. Brooks controlled the entire bout, rolling up six takedowns and 2:15 in riding time to post an impressive 14-4 major decision. His win put Penn State up 18-10.
With No. 2 Max Dean (Lowell, Mich.) out, sophomore Michael Beard (Pottstown, Pa.) got the nod at 197 and took on No. 3 Eric Schultz. Beard battled Schultz throughout the bout, appearing to grab a victory with a late takedown. But two stall calls on Beard as Schultz tried to flee the mat, with Beard holding the Husker's leg and trying to pull him in, gave the third-ranked Husker a 6-4 win. Sophomore Greg Kerkvliet (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), ranked No. 5 at 285, finished off the dual victory by controlling No. 12 Christian Lance for the full seven minutes. Kerkvliet got takedowns in each period to roll to an 8-2 win and secure the 21-13 dual victory.
Penn State rolled up a 26-9 takedown advantage, including a 10-2 margin in the third period. The Nittany Lions picked up three bonus points off a tech fall (Bravo-Young) and a major (Brooks).
Two extra bouts were contested after the scoring portion of the dual meet. While not counting towards the team score, the bouts are official NCAA contests. Brandon Meredith (Limerick, Pa.) used a late takedown to beat Edwin Thomsen 7-6 at 133. Donovon Ball (New Cumberland, Pa.) won a 197, tallying three takedowns in an 8-2 win over Brandyn Van Tassel.
Penn State is now 16-0 overall and finished the Big Ten portion of its dual season at 8-0, claiming the B1G Regular Season (dual meet) title outright. Nebraska falls to 5-4, 2-4 B1G. The Nittany Lions will host Rider on Sunday, Feb. 20, in their final dual of the regular season. The action begins at 2 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.
#1 Penn State 21, #7 Nebraska 13
February 6, 2022 – Rec Hall – University Park, Pa.
125: #6 Drew Hildebrandt PSU dec. Jerimiah Reno NEB, 4—0 3-0
133: #1 Roman Bravo-Young PSU tech fall Dominick Serrano NEB, 23-8 (TF; 7:00) 8-0
141: #1 Nick Lee PSU dec. #8 Chad Red Jr. NEB, 4-1 11-0
149: #8 Ridge Lovett NEB dec. #18 Beau Bartlett PSU, 6-0 11-3
157: #5 Peyton Robb NEB dec. Terrell Barraclough PSU, 3-2 11-6
165: Creighton Edsell PSU dec. Tahjae Jenkins-Taylor NEB, 9-2 14-6
174: #5 Mikey Labriola NEB maj. dec. Mason Manville PSU, 14-4 14-10
184: #1 Aaron Brooks PSU maj. dec. #9 Taylor Venz NEB, 14-1 18-10
197: #3 Colton Schultz NEB dec. Michael Beard PSU, 6-4 18-13
285: #5 Greg Kerkvliet PSU dec. #12 Christian Lance NEB, 8-2 21-13
Extra Matches (Official NCAA bouts, do not count towards dual score):
133: Brandon Meredith PSU dec. Edwin Thomsen NEB, 7-6
197: Donovon Ball PSU dec. Brandyn Van Tassel NEB, 8-2
Attendance: 6,520 (60th-straight sellout in Rec Hall, 67th of 69 home sellouts, including 7 of 9 in BJC)
Records: Penn State (16-0, 8-0 B1G); Nebraska (5-4, 2-4 (B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: Home Rider, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2 p.m. in Rec Hall
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Senior Drew Hildebrandt (Granger, Ind.), ranked No. 6 at 125, met Jeremiah Reno. Hildebrandt set a fast pace at the onset, forcing Reno backwards over the first minute. The Nittany Lion turned a low single int a scramble and nearly took the Husker down, but Reno was able to slide out of bounds and keep the bout scoreless. Hildebrandt forced Reno into a stall warning with his constant pressure. As the clock hit the :50 mark, Hildebrandt turned a low single into a takedown and a 2-0 lead. Hildebrandt then went to work on top, breaking Reno down to finish on top. Trailing 2-0, Reno chose down to start the second period. Hildebrandt controlled the action on toe top, working his riding time up over 1:00 with a strong ride. After a reset with :55 on the clock, Hildebrandt steadily worked Reno to his stomach and finished the second period on top. Hildebrandt led 2-0 with 2:49 in time after two periods and chose down to start the third stanza. Hildebrandt chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. With the riding time point clinched, Hildebrandt went to work on offense. Reno forced a stalemate after a Hildebrandt shot and repeated the effort after another late Hildebrandt shot. The Nittany Lion senior notched a 4-0 win with 2:41 in riding time.
133: Senior Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 1 at 133, took on Dominick Serrano. Bravo-Young scored quickly, taking the Husker down just :40 into the bout to open up a 2-0 lead. Serrano escaped to a 2-1 score with 2:00 left but Bravo-Young scored again, using a high double to open up a 4-1 lead with 1:50 on the clock. Bravo-Young built up over 1:00 in riding time with strong work on top and then cut Serrano loose to a 4-2 score. He continued to shoot offensively. Serrano shot and Bravo-Young countered for a third takedown and a 6-3 score. Bravo-Young added a fourth takedown and cut and then a fifth at the :04 mark to lead 10-4 after one period. Serrano chose down to start the second period and Bravo-Young broke the Husker down off the whistle. He forced Serrano into a stall warning as his riding time hit 2:00. Bravo-Young was relentless on top, working for a turning combination. He nearly had the turn at the :50 mark but Serrano rolled through. Bravo-Young finished the period on top and led 10-4 with a clinched riding time point (3:26) after two. Bravo-Young chose down to start the third stanza and quickly escaped to an 11-4 lead. He added another takedown and cut, then too more quick ones and led 15-6. Bravo-Young opened up a 17-7 lead with another takedown and cut with :40 on the clock. Bravo-Young finished off the match by picking up a stall point, a final takedown, and a riding time point off 4:02 for the dominant 23-8 technical fall.
141: Senior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 1 at 141, battled No. 8 Chad Red Jr. Lee controlled the center of the mat early, working on the Nittany Lion logo as he battled Red for the first minute-plus. Red got in on a high single and Lee quickly forced a stalemate. Red shot off the ensuing whistle, again getting in high on Lee. Lee scrambled, working his way out of Red's control and behind him to take a 2-0 lead with a takedown. Lee went to work on top, looking to turn the Husker for back points as his riding time moved towards 1:00. Lee, trying to turn Red, was inexplicitly hit for stalling and a reset was called. Lee finished the period on top and led 2-0 with :58 in time after one. Lee chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. The duo battled in neutral as the clock hit :45 with Lee taking a couple slight shots that kept Red backing up. With Lee up 3-0, Red chose down to start the third period. Lee maintained control long enough to build up over 1:00 in riding time and the clock moved to the 1:15 mark. Red rolled to an escaped and a 3-1 score with 1:05 left and the bout continued in neutral. Lee finished off the win on his feet, notching a convincing 4-1 victory with 1:20 in time.
149: Sophomore Beau Bartlett (Tempe, Ariz.), ranked No. 18 at 149, took on No. 8 Ridge Lovett. Lovett took a low single that Bartlett turned into a scramble, nearly countering for a takedown of his own. But the Husker was able to continue to fight through the Lion counter and picked up a takedown to open up a 2-0 lead with 1:42 on the clock. Lovett finished the period on top and carried the 2-0 lead into the second period. Lovett chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Bartlett worked the center of the mat, looking for an opening on offense, but Lovett was solid on defense and the clock moved below the 1:00 mark. Bartlett took a low shot at Lovett's foot and the Husker countered for a takedown of his own to open up a 5-0 lead. Bartlett chose down to start the third period. Lovett clinched his riding time point and then finished the period on top to post a 6-0 win.
157: Sophomore Terrell Barraclough (Kaysville, Utah) met No. 5 Peyton Robb. Robb scored, quickly, taking Barraclough down in the opening seconds for an early 2-0 lead. Barraclough escaped to a 2-1 score and action resumed in the center of the mat with 2:10 on the clock. The duo battled evenly of the next minute and Barraclough fought off a Robb shot with 1:15 left to keep the margin at one point. Barraclough took a low single that Robb defended as the period wound down and the Nittany Lion sophomore trailed 2-1 after one. Robb chose down to start the second period and scrambled to a quick escape to lead 3-1. With the clock moving below 1:00, Barraclough stepped back from a Robb shot, worked inside on a high single of his own but Robb defended the effort and the match continued in neutral with :20 left in the period. Down 3-2, Barraclough chose down to start the third period. He worked his way to his feet and escaped to a 3-2 deficit with 1:38 left in the bout. Barraclough defended a high Robb shot at the 1:10 mark and forced a reset. Barraclough continued to shoot and forced Robb into a first stall warning with :30 left. Barraclough went for the win, working in on a low double with :15 left in the bout. He nearly pulled out the victory, but Robb was able kill the clock on defense and Barraclough dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision.
165: Junior Creighton Edsell (Wyalusing, Pa.) met Tahjae Jenkins-Taylor. Edsell prowled the center of the mat, forcing Jenkins-Taylor to the outside circle for the first 1:00. The duo continued in neutral as the opening period hit its midway point with neither wrestler threatening to score. A reset was called with 1:12 and Edsell moved in on offense. He connected on a low single, working the Husker's leg up and tripping him to the mat for a takedown and a 2-0 lead with :25 left on the clock. Edsell finished the period on top and carried that lead into the second period. Jenkins-Taylor chose down to start the second period and Edsell went to work on top. He broke his opponent down, getting his stomach flat, and worked his riding time up over 1:00. Edsell continued to control the action on top. He worked Jenkins-Taylor to the mat after a reset and finished with the rideout to lead 2-0 with 2:24 in riding time after two periods. Edsell chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. As the clock hit 1:20, Edsell's riding time point was clinched. He countered a Jenkins-Taylor shot and nearly took him down on the edge of the mat. But the Husker scrambled out of bounds, giving up the stall warning. Edsell turned a low shot into a scramble and finished off the takedown for a 5-0 lead with 1:00. He cut the Husker loose and began looking for bonus points. A fast duck-under for a takedown and another cut gave Edsell a 7-1 lead. He picked up a stall point as Jenkins-Taylor escaped and, with riding time, notched a convincing 9-2 win with 2:44 in riding time.
174: With No. 1 Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.) not wrestling, Mason Manville (Lorton, Va.) took on No. 5 Mikey Labriola at 174. Manville and Labriola battled evenly for the first 1:30 with Manville countering off a Labriola shot and nearly locking the Husker up on his feet for a throw. But Labriola was able to defend the Manville effort and a stalemate was called with 1:15 on the clock. Labriola slid behind Manville for the bout's first takedown with :51 left in the opening period and carried a 2-0 lead into the second stanza. Trailing by two, Manville chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-1 deficit. The action continued in neutral until Labriola was able to notch a takedown to lead 4-2. Manville worked his way in on a low single but Labriola countered for a third takedown to open up a 6-3 lead after Manville escaped. The Husker finished the period with a final takedown and led 8-3 after two periods. Labriola chose down to start the third period and escapade to a 9-3 lead. Labriola tripped Manville to the ground and opened up an 11-4 lead with a clinched riding time point. Labriola added a final takedown and notched a 14-4 major with 1:40 in riding time.
184: Junior Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md.), ranked No. 1 at 184, wrestled No. 9 Taylor Venz. Brooks worked on offense for the opening minute-plus, steadily breaking down Venz's defense. Brooks broke through for a takedown and a 2-1 lead at the 1:00 mark. He used a low shot and trip for a second takedown with under :20 left and led 4-1 after one. Venz chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 4-2 score. Brooks continued to dominate on offense, using another low single to pick up a third takedown and led 6-3 after cutting Venz loose. Brooks forced Venz into a stall warning and then took him down a fourth time to open up an 8-3 lead. He cut Venz loose with :30, countered a slight Husker shot at the :20 mark and scrambled around for a fifth takedown to lead 10-4 with 1:23 in time after two. Brooks chose neutral to start the third period. Brooks turned another low shot into a scramble with 1:30 on the clock. Brooks scrambled his way to a sixth takedown and clinched his riding time point on top. He finished off the bout in control, picked up a stall point, and rolled to the impressive 14-4 major decision.
197: With No. 2 Max Dean (Lowell, Mich.) not wrestling, sophomore Michael Beard (Pottstown, Pa.) took on No. 3 Eric Schultz. Beard and Schultz battled evenly in the center of the mat for the first minute-plus. Beard took a couple fast low shots that forced the Husker to back away. As the clock hit the 1:00 mark, Beard turned a low single into a scramble. He lifted Schultz's foot off the mat and, as the Husker tried to skip out of bounds, Beard pulled him back into play, worked himself into control of his other foot, and notched the takedown with :40 left. Schultz was able to scramble to a late escape and Beard led 2-1 after one. Beard chose down to start the second period. Schultz was able to control the action on top, working the clock down under 1:00 and forcing Beard into a stall warning. Beard was hit for a second stall and the match was tied 2-2. Schultz finished the period on top and the bout moved to the third period tied 2-2 and Schultz had 1:22 in time. Schultz chose down to start the third period. Beard was able to control the action long enough to kill the Husker's riding time edge before cutting him loose to a 3-2 deficit with 1:25 on the clock. As the clock moved below 1:00, Beard shot low with a quick single and took the Husker to the mat for a takedown and a 4-3 lead. While Schultz was trying to flee out off bounds, Beard was called for two stalls in just seconds and trailed 5-4. He cut Schultz loose to trying to tie the match up, but Schultz was able to flee to the outside circle and was given a 6-4 win.
285: Sophomore Greg Kerkvliet (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), ranked No. 5 at 285, battled No. 12 Christian Lance. Kerkvliet controlled the center of the mat, working neutral to offense and taking a 2-0 lead with a takedown at the 1:30 mark. He then went to work on top, building up :40 in riding time before cutting Lance loose to a 2-1 score. Kerkvliet spent the next :30 chasing Lance all over the mat, but the Husker was able to work the outside circle and kill the clock. Leading 2-1, Kerkvliet chose down to start the second period. He quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. He turned a low shot into a takedown and upped his margin to 5-1 with 1:20 on the clock. Kerkvliet controlled the action on top, finishing the period with a rideout to lead 5-1 with 1:51 in time after two. Lance chose down to start the third period and Kerkvliet cut him loose to a 5-2 score. Kerkvliet finished off the bout with a lake takedown and, with 2:29 in time, rolled to the 8-2 victory.
