UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lions (17-0, 8-0 B1G) ranked No. 1 in the latest InterMat Tournament Power Index (TPI), shut out visiting Rider (4-10) 45-0 to close out the 2021-22 dual meet season unbeaten. Penn State ended the year with a 17-0 record. The win was Penn State's second dual shutout of the season.
Senior Brady Berge (Mantorville, Minn.), ranked No. 11 at 165, made the move down to 157 and dominated Cole McComas. Berge totaled six takedowns in a 14-4 major decision. Junior Creighton Edsell (Wyalusing, Pa.) picked up another win at 165, using a riding time point to post a hard-fought 7-6 win over Michael Wilson to give Penn State a 7-0 lead. Sophomore Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 174, put on a takedown clinic in a 22-9 major over Rider's Shane Reitsma. Starocci had 10 takedowns in the win.
With No. 1 Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md.) not competing, Donovon Ball (New Cumberland, Pa.) got the nod at 184. Ball kept the Nittany Lions rolling, rolling to a 12-3 major over Corey Connelly. Junior Max Dean (Lowell, Mich.), ranked No. 1 at 197, made if five straight in the first half with a fast fall. Dean took Azeem Bell down quickly and turned him to his back for the pin at the 0:54 mark. Dean's pin put Penn State up 21-0 at halftime.
Sophomore Greg Kerkvliet (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), ranked No. 5 at 285, made short work of Rider's David Szuba to start the second half, taking him down, locking up a cradle and getting the fall at the 1:11 mark. Senior Drew Hildebrandt (Granger, Ind.), ranked No. 5 at 125, made it three straight first period pins for Penn State. Hildebrandt turned an early takedown into a long ride. With just :01 left in the first period, Hildebrandt flattened Tyler Klinksy's shoulders for the fall at the 2:59 mark to put Penn State up 33-0.
Senior Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 1 at 133, dazzled the sold-out Rec Hall crowd with 13 takedowns in a 26-11 tech fall over Richie Koehler, getting the tech at the 6:08 mark to put Penn State up 38-0. Senior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 1 at 141, picked up the only three takedowns in a 6-3 victory over No. 25 Quinn Kinner in the dual's marquee bout. Sophomore Beau Bartlett (Tempe, Ariz.), ranked No. 19 at 149, closed out Penn State's shutout. Bartlett rolled to a 12-4 major with over 2:00 in riding time over Bryan Miraglia. Bartlett's win cemented Penn State's 45-0 win.
One extra bout was contested after the scoring portion of the dual meet. While not counting towards the team score, the bouts is an official NCAA contest. Looking to get an extra match in at his new weight, Berge took on Cole McComas a second time in the extra contest at 157. Berge once again dominated McComas, connecting for seven takedowns in a 16-5 major.
Penn State ends its dual meet season with a 17-0 record. Rider falls to 4-10. The Nittany Lions won the 2022 Big Ten Regular Season title with an 8-0 mark. This marks the sixth time that head coach Cael Sanderson has led Penn State through an unbeaten dual meet season. Penn State owns the nation's longest Division I dual meet win streak, which stands at 28 dating back to January of 2020. Penn State will now prepare for the 2022 Big Ten Championships on Saturday and Sunday, March 5-6. The two-day event will be hosted by the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., and will serve as the NCAA qualifier for the conference. Session 1 begins at 11 a.m. Eastern on Saturday with Session 2 set for 6:30 p.m. Eastern. Sunday's action begins at 12 p.m. Eastern with the finals set for 4:30 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 45, Rider 0
February 20, 2022 – Rec Hall – University Park, Pa.
157 #11 (165) Brady Berge PSU maj. dec. Cole McComas RID, 14-4 4-0
165: Creighton Edsell PSU dec. Michael Wilson RID, 7-6 7-0
174: #1 Carter Starocci PSU maj. dec. Shane Reitsma RID, 22-9 11-0
184: Donovon Ball PSU maj. dec. Corey Connolly RID, 12-3 15-0
197: #1 Max Dean PSU pinned Azeem Bell RID, WBF (0:54) 21-0
285: #5 Greg Kerkvliet PSU pinned David Szuba RID, WBF (1:11) 27-0
125: #5 Drew Hildebrandt PSU pinned Tyler Klinksy RID, WBF (2:59) 33-0
133: #1 Roman Bravo-Young PSU tech fall Richie Koehler RID, 26-11 (TF; 6:08) 38-0
141: #1 Nick Lee PSU dec. #25 Quinn Kinner RID, 6-3 41-0
149: #19 Beau Bartlett PSU maj. dec. Bryan Miraglia RID, 12-4 45-0
Extra Matches (Official NCAA bouts, do not count towards dual score):
157: #11 (165) Brady Berge PSU maj. dec. Cole McComas RID, 16-5
Attendance: 6,442 (61st-straight sellout in Rec Hall, 68th of 70 home sellouts, including 7 of 9 in BJC)
Records: Penn State (17-0, 8-0 B1G); Rider (4-10)
Up Next for Penn State: at 2022 Big Ten Championships, Lincoln, Neb., Sat.-Sun, March 5-6
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
157: Senior Brady Berge (Mantorville, Minn.), ranked No. 11 at 165, moved down to 157 and took on Cole McComas. McComas forced an early scramble with a low single, but Berge deftly forced a stalemate and action resumed in neutral. Berge worked his way in on a low shot of his own and took a 2-0 lead with a takedown at the 2:00 mark. The Lion senior went to work on top, building up over 1:00 in riding time before cutting McComas loose. Berge used a fast ankle pick to pull McComas into play and took a 4-1 lead with a second takedown. Berge finished the period on top to lead by three with 1:53 in riding time after one. He took down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. Berge countered a slight McComas shot at the 1:00 mark and moved around for a takedown to lead 7-1. With over 2:00 in riding time, Berge cut McComas loose and rolled through a high single for a fourth takedown to lead 9-2 after two. McComas chose down to start the third period and Berge cut him loose to a 9-3 score. Berge worked McComas's shoulder to the mat and then muscled him aside for an 11-4 lead after cutting him loose. The Nittany Lion added one more takedown and, with 3:43 in riding time, posted a 14-4 major.
165: Junior Creighton Edsell met Michael Wilson at 165. Edsell used a fast low single to take a 2-0 lead at the 2:16 mark in the opening stanza. He put together a strong ride after the opening takedown, working his riding time advantage over 1:00 while working for a chance to turn the Bronc for back points. He notched a two-point turn before Wilson escaped to a 4-1 lead. Wilson took Edsell down after the escape to cut Edsell's lead to 4-3. Edsell escaped after a reset with :15 left and led 5-3 after one. Edsell chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 6-3 lead. Wilson controlled the action with shoulder control over the next minute but picked up a stall warning with a push out. The Bronc finished the period with a takedown, however, and Edsell led 6-5 after two. Trailing by one, Wilson took down to start the third period. Edsell controlled the action on top as the clock moved towards 1:20 mark. The Nittany Lion worked his riding time edge up over 1:00 with the ride but gave up a first stall warning at the :55 mark. Edsell broke Wilson down flat with :35 on the clock. Wilson escaped to briefly tie the match at 6-6 but Edsell's 1:58 in riding time gave the Nittany Lion a 7-6 win.
174: Sophomore Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 174, met Shane Reitsma. Starocci took a 2-0 lead at the 2:12 mark, using a low shot to lift Reitsma's leg off the ground and, after pulling him back on to the mat, notching a takedown. He cut Reitsma loose on the reset then took him down again on the edge of the mat for a 4-2 lead. Starocci muscled his way to a third takedown with 1:10 on the clock and led 6-3 after a Bronc escape. The Lion sophomore blew through a high double for an 8-3 lead and finished the period on top to carry that lead and 1:04 in riding time, into the second period. Reitsma chose down to start the second period and Starocci cut him loose to an 8-4 score. Starocci quickly gained control of Reitsma's foot again and notched his fifth takedown of the bout with 1:31 on the clock. After Starocci cut the Bronc loose, Reitsma took a low shot that ended in a stalemate with :55 left in the middle period. Starocci forced Reitsma into a stall warning and then scored on a low double at the :20 mark. He once again finished the period on top and led 12-5 with 1:33 in time after two. Starocci chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 13-5 lead. Starocci then countered a Rider shot for another takedown and led 15-5, cut Reitsma loose, and took him down again to open up a 17-6 lead. Starocci added two more takedowns and, with 1:38 in riding time, rolled to a 22-9 major decision.
184: With No. 1 Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md.) not wrestling, Donovon Ball got the nod at 184 and took on Corey Connolly. Ball scored quickly, taking a low shot, working Connolly's right foot up and tripping the Bronc to the mat for a 2-0 lead at the 2:13 mark. After a Rider escape, Ball continued to press on offense and worked his way through a high double for a second takedown and a 4-1 lead. Ball worked his riding tie up over 1:00 with a strong ride as the clock moved below the :30 mark. He finished the period on top and led 4-1 with 1:35 in riding time after one. Ball chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. Ball continued to work his offense, controlling the middle of the mat as the period hit its midway point. Ball took a fast shot but slipped and was nearly taken down by Connolly. But the Lion was able to slip out of trouble before giving up a takedown and finished off the period with a takedown of his own to lead 7-1 after two. Connolly chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 7-2 score. Ball pressed the Bronc backwards and blew through a low double for another takedown and a 9-2 lead with 1:20 left in the bout. He cut Connolly loose and muscled Connolly off the mat once more, taking him down for an 11-3 lead with clinched riding time. Ball finished the bout on top and, with 2:27 in riding time, rolled to a 12-3 major.
197: Junior Max Dean (Lowell, Mich.), ranked No. 1 at 197, faced off against Azeem Bell. Dean took Bell down to an early 2-0 lead with 2:25 left and then quickly rolled the Bronc over for nearfall points. Dean settled in, reset once and picked up the fast fall with a pin at the 0:54 mark.
285: Sophomore Greg Kerkvliet (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), ranked No. 5 at 285, met David Szuba. Kerkvliet scored quickly, taking Szuba down in the first :15 for a 2-0 lead. He then went to work on top, locked up a cradle and turned the Bronc to his back. After a few seconds of work, Kerkvliet picked up the pin at the 1:11 mark.
125: Senior Drew Hildebrandt (Granger, Ind.), ranked No. 5 at 125, took on Tyler Klinsky. Hildebrandt took Klinsky down off the opening whistle, opening up a 2-0 lead at the 2:37 mark. He then went to work on top, broke the Bronc flat and worked his riding time edge up over 1:00. Hildebrandt steadily worked Klinsky over to his shoulders and picked up a four-point turn to up his lead to 6-0. He reset on top after getting the nearfall call and then turned him once more. With just :01 left on the first period clock, Hildebrandt flattened Klinsky's shoulder for a pin at the 2:59 mark.
133: Senior Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 1 at 133, met Richie Koehler. Koehler took the bout's first shot and force a scramble with a high single. But Bravo-Young steadily worked the action into a stalemate with 2:16 on the clock. Bravo-Young turned a high single into a takedown and a 2-0 lead after the reset and cut Koehler loose. He quickly added a second takedown and cut, then a third takedown, and led 6-2 with 1:20 left in the opening period. Bravo-Young added another takedown, led 8-4, and forced Koehler into a first stall warning. Bravo-Young countered a late Koehler shot for a final first period takedown and led 10-4 after one. Bravo-Young chose neutral to start the second period. He picked up his sixth takedown :30 into the period and cut Koehler loose again. Bravo-Young added two more quick takedowns to up his lead to 16-7 after a cut at the :30 mark. Bravo-Young lifted Koehler off the mat in the final seconds for a ninth takedown and led 18-7 with 1:26 in time after two. Koehler chose down to start the third period, Bravo-Young cut him loose and tacked on two quick takedowns to lead 22-9 just :30 into the period. Bravo-Young finished off the match with two more takedowns to roll to a dominant 26-11 tech fall at the 6:08 mark.
141: Senior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.) ranked No. 1 at 141, took on No. 25 Quinn Kinner Lee scored quickly, taking Kinner down in the opening seconds for a 2-1 lead. The Nittany Lion senior then controlled the action in the center of the mat, looking for a chance to score as the clock moved below the 1:30 mark. Lee upped his lead to 4-2 with a second takedown at :30 and carried that lead into the second period. Lee chose down to start the second period. Kinner was able to control the action for :55 before giving up a stall warning on the leg. Lee was unable to work his way free of Kinner's ride and the Lion led 4-2 after two. Kinner, who had 1:30 in time to his favor, chose down to start the third period. Lee controlled the action long enough to kill Kinner's time edge and then continued to maintain control on top. After a reset with 1:15 left, Lee maintained control until another stalemate with :35 on the clock. Kinner escaped to a 4-3 score with :25 left, and Lee scrambled for a final takedown in the last seconds to post a hard-fought 6-3 win.
149: Sophomore Beau Bartlett (Tempe, Ariz.), ranked No. 19 at 149, met Brian Miraglia. The duo battled evenly for the opening minute before Bartlett used a strong high double to lift Miraglia off the mat for a takedown and a 2-0 lead with 1:58 on the clock. After a Rider escape, Bartlett worked Miraglia's shoulders down, then muscled him to the mat for a 4-1 lead with :50 left in the opening period. Bartlett cut the Bronc loose on a reset and moved in for another takedown. But Miraglia was able to back away and kill the clock and the Lion led 4-2 after one. Bartlett chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-2 lead. He slid behind Miraglia for a third takedown to up his lead to 7-2 at the 1:33 mark. After cutting Miraglia loose, Bartlett worked the center of the mat and picked up his fourth takedown to lead 9-3 with :55 left in the period. Bartlett controlled the action in the top position for the remainder of the period and carried that lead, with 1:56 in riding time, into the third. Miraglia chose down to start the third period and Bartlett cut him loose to a 9-4 score. Needing one more takedown for bonus points, Bartlett worked the middle of the mat as the clock moved below :30. He turned a lows single into a takedown with :11 left on the clock to lead 11-4. With a rideout and 2:12 in time for the point, Bartlett notched the 12-4 major.
