COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Penn State Nittany Lions (9-0, 1-0 B1G), ranked No. 1 in the latest InterMat Tournament Power Index (TPI), opened Big Ten action with a dominating 46-0 shutout win at Maryland (3-3, 0-1 B1G) on Friday. The lopsided victory is Penn State's second-straight shutout win over the Terrapins and keeps the Nittany Lions unbeaten on the year at 9-0.
The dual featured two Penn Staters getting their first wins as Nittany Lions, including All-American transfer Drew Hildebrandt (Granger, Ind.) at 125 and junior Tony Negron (North Babylon, N.J.) at 157.
Hildebrandt made his Penn State Nittany Lion debut at 125 and did it in style by pinning Zach Spence at the 1:38 mark in the first period. Senior Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 1 at 133, followed that up with a dominating 16-1 technical fall over Maryland's King Sandoval, ending the match at the 3:26 mark to give the Nittany Lions an 11-0 lead.
Senior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 1 at 141, picked up Penn State's second straight tech fall, controlling Danny Bertoni throughout on his way to an 18-1 tech at the 4:14 mark. Sophomore Beau Bartlett (Tempe, Ariz.), ranked No. 20 at 149, notched Penn State's second pin of the dual, getting the fall over Michael North at the 4:48 mark in the second period. Negron picked up his first win as a Nittany Lion, rolling to an 11-2 major over Lucas Cordio at 157. Negron's win gave Penn State a 26-0 lead at the dual's midway point.
Junior Creighton Edsell (Wyalusing, Pa.), ranked No. 24 at 165, kept Penn State rolling to start the second half, posting a 7-1 win over Gaven Bell with a whopping 5:07 in riding time. Sophomore Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 174, followed that up with an 8-3 win over Maryland's Dominic Solis to give Penn State a 32-0 lead. Junior Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md.), ranked No. 1 at 184, dominated No. 12 Kyle Cochran, notching a 19-7 major decision with 3:27 in riding time.
Penn State finished off the dual with two technical falls. Junior Max Dean (Lowell, Mich.), ranked No. 2 at 197, rolled to a 20-5 tech over Kevin Makosy with riding time at the 7:00 mark. Sophomore Greg Kerkvliet (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), ranked No. 4 at 285, then controlled No. 26 Zach Schrader on his way to an 18-3 tech fall at the 4:42 mark. Kerkvliet's tech fall finished off Penn State's 46-0 shutout win.
Penn State had a 34-3 edge in takedowns and all but two of the bouts were for bonus points. The Loins picked up 14 bonus points off two pins (Hildebrandt, Bartlett), four technical falls (Bravo-Young, Lee, Dean, Kerkvliet) and two majors (Negron, Brooks). The shutout win is the second straight for Penn State over Maryland, having shut the Terps out 46-0 last year in Rec Hall on Feb. 22, 2021.
One extra bout was contested as well. Extra bouts do not count towards the dual meet's score but are official NCAA results for the individuals. Penn State sophomore Terrell Barraclough (Kaysville, Utah) posted a 6-0 decision over Maryland's Conner Decker.
Penn State is now 9-0 overall, 1-0 in Big Ten action. Maryland falls to 3-3, 0-1 B1G. Penn State hosts Indiana in Rec Hall on Sunday, Jan. 9, 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.
#1 Penn State 46, Maryland 0
January 7, 2022 – College Park, Md.
125: Drew Hildebrandt PSU pinned Zach Spence MD, WBF (1:38) 6-0
133: #1 Roman Bravo-Young PSU tech fall King Sandoval MD, 16-1 (TF; 3:26) 11-0
141: #1 Nick Lee PSU tech fall Danny Bertoni MD, 18-1 (TF; 4:14) 16-0
149: #20 Beau Bartlett PSU pinned Michael North MD, WBF (4:48) 22-0
157: Tony Negron PSU maj. dec. Lucas Cordio MD, 11-2 26-0
165: #24 Creighton Edsell PSU dec. Gaven Bell MD, 7-1 29-0
174: #1 Carter Starocci PSU dec. Dominic Solis MD, 8-3 32-0
184: #1 Aaron Brooks PSU maj. dec. #12 Kyle Cochran MD, 19-7 36-0
197: #2 Max Dean PSU tech fall Kevin Makosy MD, 20-5 (TF; 7:00) 41-0
285: #4 Greg Kerkvliet PSU tech fall #26 Zach Schrader MD, 18-3 (TF; 4:42) 46-0
Extra bouts (official NCAA contests, do not count in dual score):
157: Terrell Barraclough (Kaysville, Utah) dec. Conner Decker MD, 6-0
Records: Penn State (9-0, 1-0 B1G); Maryland (4-2, 0-1 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: vs. Indiana, Rec Hall, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2 p.m.
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Nittany Lion Drew Hildebrandt (Granger, Ind.) made his Penn State debut at 125 and took on Maryland's Zach Spence. Hildebrandt scored quickly for Penn State, taking Spence down for an early 2-0 lead. He worked Spence down to the mat and began to build up a riding time edge. Hildebrandt turned Spence to his back for four near fall points and a 6-0 lead. He then used a half nelson, turned Spence one more time and picked up the first period pin at the 1:38 mark.
133: Senior Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 1 at 133, faced off against King Sandoval. Sandoval got in on an early single leg that Bravo-Young worked his way out of. He then moved in on a high shot, took Sandoval down for a takedown and a 2-0 lead at the 2:10 mark. Bravo-Young then turned Sandoval for four back points and a 6-0 lead at the 1:40 mark. The Lion senior reset himself, turned Sandoval once again for four and led 10-0 at the :58 mark in the first. Bravo-Young turned Sandoval a third time and upped his lead to 14-0 with :15 left in the period. Sandoval chose down to start the second period and Bravo-Young allowed him up to start the period. Sandoval once again connected on a high single. Bravo-Young moved out of his grasp and ended the bout with a takedown for a 16-1 tech fall at the 3:26 mark.
141: Senior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 1 at 141, met Maryland's Danny Bertoni. Lee countered an early Bertoni shot, took him down and turned him to his back for a near fall to lead 6-0 right out of the gates. Lee reset himself, turned Bertoni for four more back points and let 10- at the 2:00 mark. Lee cut Bertoni loose and went back to work on offense in the middle of the mat. Lee drove through a shot to up his lead to 12-1 at the :40 mark. He finished the period on top and carried the 12-1 lead into the second period. Lee chose down to start the second period and quickly reversed Bertoni to up his lead to 14-1. Lee ended the bout with a final four-point turn at the 4:14 mark, posting the 18-1 technical fall.
149: Sophomore Beau Bartlett (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 20 at 149, battled Michael North. North took the first shot of the bout early but Bartlett countered and finished off his own takedown to take a 2-0 lead just :30 into the bout. North escaped to cut the lead to 2-1 and took a brief lead with a takedown of his own. But Bartlett quickly reversed North to take a 4-3 lead the :45 mark of the opening stanza. Bartlett chose down to start the second period and quickly worked his way to his feet for an escape and a 5-3 lead. North used a low double to take Bartlett down for a 5-5 tie before Bartlett escaped to a 6-5 edge with1:10 on the clock. Bartlett worked his way into control of North's shoulders, worked him to the mat and to his back, and finished off the match with a fall at the 4:48 mark.
157: Junior Tony Negron (North Babylon, N.Y.) took on Terrapin Lucas Cordio. Negron worked the middle of the mat but had his first shot defended. Cordio then used a strong double leg to take Negron down to open up a 2-1 lead after a quick Negron escape. Negron used a slick low ankle pick to take Cordio down for a 3-2 lead at the 1:00 mark. He then turned Cordio to his back for four near fall points and a 7-2 lead as the period ended. Cordio chose down to start the second period. Negron worked his riding time edge up over 1:00 with a strong ride and looked to turn the Terrapin for back points once more. Negron's riding time point moved over 2:00 as the second period clock ticked below 1:00. The Nittany Lion junior finished the period on top and led 7-2 with 2:44 in time. Negron chose down to start the third period. Cordio was able to control the action for :50 before Negron escaped to an 8-2 lead. Negron immediately got in on a low single, forcing a scramble in the middle of the mat that ended with a Negron takedown and a 10-2 lead with :28, with a riding time point clinched. Negron posted the 11-2 major decision with 2:24 in riding time for his first win as a Nittany Lion.
165: Junior Creighton Edsell (Wyalusing, Pa.), ranked No. 24 at 165, faced Gaven Bell. Edsell struck first, using a low shot and follow through for the opening takedown at the 2:28 mark of the opening stanza. Edsell went to work on top, looking for a turning combination. The Lion junior controlled the action on offense for two minutes-plus while. Edsell settled for a strong rideout and led 2-0 with 2:28 in time after the first period. Edsell chose down to star the second period and Edsell quickly worked a reversal for a 4-0 lead less than :15 into the period. Edsell cut Bell loose and quickly worked his way into a high single leg. Bell was able to force a scramble, but Edsell steadily worked his way into control and a takedown to lead 6-1 with :20 on the clock. Edsell carried a 6-1 lead with clinched time into the third period. Bell chose down to start the third period. Edsell spent the first minute working to turn Bell, but the Terrapin was able to fight off each effort. Edsell finished the period on top and posted the 7-1 win with a whopping 5:07 in riding time.
174: Sophomore Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 174, met Dominic Solis. Starocci engaged quickly and forced a scramble that lasted nearly 1:00 and ended with a Starocci takedown and a 2-1 lead after cutting Solis loose. Starocci continued to press on offense, forcing Solis to the outside circle. With action returned to the center of the mat, Starocci forced a first stall warning as Solis backed out of bounds yet again. Starocci took the Terrapin down a second time to open up a 4-1 lead. Starocci finished the period on top and led 4-1 with :53 in time after one. Starocci chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. Starocci took a high shot, turned in on Solis and settled in for another takedown to lead 7-1 with :35 on the clock. Solis scrambled his way to an escape with :18 on the clock and Starocci led 7-2 with 1:02 in riding time after two. Solis chose down to start the third period. Starocci built his time edge up to 1:22 before Solis escaped to a 7-3 score. Starocci turned a low single into a scramble that ended in a stalemate with :20 on the clock. Starocci settled for an 8-3 win with 1:22 in riding time.
184: Junior Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md.), ranked No. 1 at 184, battled No. 12 Kyle Cochran. Brooks scored quickly, taking Cochran down for an early 2-1 lead. Brooks stayed on attack. The Lion used a head outside single for a second takedown and a 4-2 lead with 1:30 on the clock. Brooks picked up a third takedown with 1:08 to wrestle and went to work on top with a 6-2 lead. Brooks finished the period on top and led 6-2 with 1:27 in time after the opening stanza. Brooks chose neutral to start the second period. Brooks used a high single to notch a fourth takedown and an 8-2 lead with 1:23 on the clock. Cochran escaped but Brooks quickly took him down once more to lead 10-3 with :55 left in the period. Brooks finished the period on top and led 10-3 with 2:38 in time after two periods. Cochran chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 10-4 score. Brooks' relentless pressure through a low double led to another takedown and a 12-5 lead. Brooks took a 14-5 lead with a seventh takedown and cut Cochran loose once more. Brooks added an eight takedown and led 16-6. Brooks cut Cochran loose at the :50 mark and took Cochran down again for an 18-7 lead with :20 on the clock. Brooks finished on top and, with 3:27 in time, rolled to the 19-7 major.
197: Junior Max Dean (Lowell, Mich.), ranked No. 2 at 197, took on Kevin Makosy. Dean fought off an early Makosy shot, forcing a scramble in the center of the mat. Dean finished off the counter takedown and led 2-1 at the 2:10 mark. Dean added a second takedown with 1:15 on the clock and led 4-2 after cutting Makosy loose. The Nittany Lion junior picked up a quick third takedown and led 6-2. He worked a bow and arrow into a turning combination. Dean picked up the four near fall points and led 10-2 after one. Dean chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to an 11-2 lead. Dean continued to pile up the points with a fourth takedown at the 1:15 mark. He cut Makosy loose with :50 left in the period and quickly countered a slight Makosy shot for a fifth takedown and a 15-3 lead. He carried that lead into the third period and Makosy chose down to start the final stanza. Dean tried to tilt Makosy, but the Terrapin fought off the turn. Dean cut him loose and then took him down twice. With a rideout and 3:35 in riding time, Dean posted the 20-5 tech fall at the 7:00 mark.
285: Sophomore Greg Kerkvliet (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), ranked No. 4 at 285, faced No. 26 Zach Schrader. Kerkvliet quickly took the Terrapin big man down for an early 2-1 lead. The Lion sophomore went back to work on offense after the Maryland escape and took him down once more. This time, Kerkvliet worked the Terrapin to his back for four near fall points to lead 8-1 at the 1:10 mark. Kerkvliet continued to work on top until he cut Schrader loose at the :55 mark. Kerkvliet skipped away from a Maryland shot for his own takedown and took Schrader down once more. He added four more back points and led 14-2 with 2:31 in riding time after the first period. Schrader chose down to start the second period and Kerkvliet tacked on a quick two point near fall. Kerkvliet cut Schrader loose at the :40 mark and finished off the bout with a final takedown to post the 18-3 technical fall at the 4:42 mark.
