UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State (10-0, 3-0 B1G) rolled over visiting Michigan State (7-4, 0-4 B1G), notching a 34-6 Big Ten dual meet win in Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions won eight of ten bouts, four with bonus, in the lopsided victory. All rankings listed are InterMat/InterMat Team TPI (Jan. 17, 2023).
The dual meet, wrestled two days after a sellout crowd in the 16,000-seat Bryce Jordan Center, took place in a sold-out Rec Hall in front of over 6,500 fans. It is the 64th-straight sellout in Rec Hall for Penn State and the 72nd sellout in the last 74 home duals, including eight of ten in the BJC.
The dual meet began at 125 where Penn State freshman Gary Steen thrilled the sold out Rec Hall crowd with his first conference win of the year. Steen battled No. 24 Tristan Lujan through seven minutes tied 1-1 and then connected on a low single with :41 left in the bout to post the 3-1 (sv) win, putting Penn State up 3-0. Roman Bravo-Young, ranked No. 1 at 133, then dominated No. 16 Rayvon Foley. The Lion senior collected six takedowns before turning Foley to his back for the fall at the 6:26 mark.
Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 4 at 141, used a pair of takedowns and a dominant ride to roll to a 7-1 win over Jordan Hamdan. Redshirt freshman Shayne Van Ness, ranked no. 14 at 149, opened up a 13-3 lead late and then pinned Braden Stauffenberg at the 5:44 mark to give Penn State an 18-0 lead. Terrell Barraclough battled No. 15 Chase Saldate tough at 157, taking the bout to the final seconds tied 2-2 before Saldate used a last second shot and two nearfall points to post a 6-2 win. Saldate's hard-fought victory made the score 18-3 in Penn State's favor at halftime.
Redshirt freshman Alex Facundo, the fourth freshman in Penn State's line-up and ranked No. 16 at 165, picked up a second overtime win over a ranked opponent, using a counter move to take No. 25 Caleb Fish down in extra time for the 3-1 (sv) win. Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, continued Penn State's strong performance. Starocci posted a 19-4 technical fall at the 6:39 mark over Michigan State's Cesar Garza to give the Lions a 26-3 lead.
Donovon Ball once again got the call at 184 for Penn State and battled No. 15 Layne Malczewski tough before dropping a 6-0 decision. Max Dean, ranked No. 4 at 197, dominated No. 14 Cameron Caffey in a marquee bout. Dean used a takedown, an escape and dominant offensive control to amass nearly 2:00 in riding time to post a 4-0 decision. Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 1 at 285, finished off the dual meet portion of the day with a 19-4 technical fall (6:15) over Ryan Vasbinder. Kerkvliet used five takedowns and two four-point turns in the win to send Penn State off with a 34-6 dual victory.
Penn State posted a lopsided 29-3 edge in takedowns and had 10 bonus points off two pins (Bravo-Young, Van Ness) and two tech falls (Starocci, Kerkvliet). One extra bout, an official NCAA match-up that does not count towards the dual score, was contested at 165. Penn State's Brian Borden notched two takedowns in a 7-2 win in an extra bout at 165.
The Nittany Lions are now 10-0 overall, 3-0 B1G. Michigan State falls to 7-4, 0-4 B1G. Penn State returns to action next Friday in its second BJC Dual of the year. The Nittany Lions host Iowa on Friday, Jan. 27, at 8:30 p.m. in another B1G Network national telecast from the Jordan Center.
The 2022-23 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 34, Michigan State 6
January 22, 2023 – Rec Hall – University Park, Pa.
125: Gary Steen PSU dec. #24 Tristan Lujan MSU, 3-1 (sv) 3-0
133: #1 Roman Bravo-Young PSU pinned #16 Rayvon Foley MSU, WBF (6:26) 9-0
141: #4 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. Jordan Hamdan MSU, 7-1 12-0
149: #14 Shayne Van Ness PSU pinned Braden Stauffenberg MSU, WBF (5:44) 18-0
157: #15 Chase Saldate MSU dec. Terrell Barraclough PSU, 6-2 18-3
165: #16 Alex Facundo PSU dec. #25 Caleb Fish MSU, 3-1 (sv) 21-3
174: #1 Carter Starocci PSU tech fall Ceasar Garza MSU, 19-4 (TF; 6:39) 26-3
184: #15 Layne Malczewski MSU dec. Donovon Ball PSU, 6-0 26-6
197: #4 Max Dean PSU dec. #14 Cameron Caffey MSU, 4-0 29-6
285: #1 Greg Kerkvliet PSU tech fall Ryan Vasbinder MSU, 19-4 (TF; 6:15) 34-6
Extra matches (official NCAA bouts – do not count in dual score):
165: Brian Borden PSU dec. Miles Hoey MSU, 7-2
Attendance: 6,502 (64th-straight sellout in Rec Hall, 72nd of 74 at home, inc. 8 of 10 in BJC)
Records: Penn State (10-0, 3-0 B1G); Michigan State (7-4, 0-4 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: home vs. Iowa, Friday, January 27, 2023, 8:30 p.m. – Bryce Jordan Center
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Gary Steen battled No. 24 Tristan Lujan at 125. Steen battled Lujan through a scoreless first minute before he connected on a low single. Lujan scrambled his way out of trouble and the bout continued in neutral to the 1:10 mark. Steen continued to shoot, working a low shot into another scramble near the edge of the mat. Lujan was able to force a stalemate after this Steen effort and the bout moved to the second period tied 0-0. Lujan chose down to start the second period and worked his way to an escape and a 1-0 lead. Lujan took his first shot at the 1:15 mark of the second period, forcing a scramble. Steen rolled through scramble and forced a stalemate with :40 on the clock. Trailing 1-0, Steen chose down to start the third period. The Lion freshman worked his way to his feet and Lujan was called for stalling as action moved out of bounds. Steen, still down on the reset, once again moved to his feet but could not break free of the Spartan junior's grasp as the clock hit 1:14. Steen was able to escape to a 1-1 tie on the reset as time moved below 1:00 with riding time not a factor. Steen and Lujan finished regulation in neutral and the bout moved to sudden victory. Steen took a quick shot, forcing a scramble that nearly ended in a Lion takedown, then a Spartan takedown, before potentially dangerous forced a reset in neutral with 1:18 on the clock. Steen continued to shoot and connected on another single. This time, Steen finished off the move, getting the takedown with :41 left in sudden victory, for the 3-1 win.
133: No. 1 Roman Bravo-Young took on No. 16 Rayvon Foley at 133. Bravo-Young took Foley down off the opening whistle to open up an early 2-0 lead. He then put together a strong ride, looking to turn the Spartan for back points. Bravo-Young cut Foley loose after a reset and then turned another low single into a takedown and a 4-1 lead with 1:10 left in the period. Bravo-Young continued to dominate the action on top, trying to turn Foley for a near fall. Foley was able to avoid giving up back points but Bravo-Young ended the period on top and led 4-1 with 2:29 in riding time after the first stanza. Bravo-Young chose neutral to start the second period and moved in on offense. He connected on another single, took Foley down once again, and led 6-2 after cutting him loose. Bravo-Young continued to chase the Spartan around the mat, forcing a stall warning, then adding another takedown with :38 left to lead 8-2. Bravo-Young finished on top once more and led 8-2 with a clinched riding time point (3:27) after two. Foley chose down to start the third period and Bravo-Young cut him to an 8-3 score. He bulled through a low double, cut Foley loose, picked up a stall point and led 11-4 with 1:20 to go. Bravo-Young added one more takedown. He then wrenched Foley over to his back, flattening the Spartan's shoulders for the fall at the 6:26 mark.
141: Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 4 at 141, met Jordan Hamdan. Bartlett and Hamdan battled through a scoreless first minute contested on the Nittany Lion logo. Bartlett pushed away a Hamdan shot at :57 and then took a series of low singles that forced Hamdan into defense. Bartlett worked Hamdan's shoulders down with :25 on the clock but a stalemate ended the scramble and the first period ended in a 0-0 tie. Bartlett chose down to start the second period and rolled his way to an escape and a 1-0 lead. Bartlett forced Hamdan into a first stall warning, continued through a low shot and a scramble, and took a 3-0 lead with a takedown at :35. Bartlett controlled the action on offense for the rest of the period and carried that three-point lead into the third. Hamdan chose down to start the third period and Bartlett wen two work on top. The Nittany Lion junior worked his riding time edge towards 1:00 while looking for back points. Hamdan escaped to a 3-1 score with 1:00 left in the bout but Bartlett now at 1:11 in riding time. Bartlett muscled Hamdan to the mat for another takedown late, picked up a stall point, and with 1:26 in riding time posted the 7-1 victory.
149: Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 14 at 149, met Braden Stauffenberg. The duo battled through a scoreless opening minute by Van Ness' offensive pressure opened up the bout in the second minute. The Nittany Lion freshman tallied two quick takedowns and then went began looking for a turning combination after the second. Van Ness finished the period on top and led 4-1 with 1:40 in riding time after one. Stauffenberg chose down to start the second period and Van Ness cut him loose to a 4-2 score at 1:46. Van Ness quickly took the Spartan down again to lead 6-2. Van Ness forced a stall warning, turned the Spartan briefly for a one-count and then settled back in on top, finishing the period on top. Van Ness led 6-2 with clinched riding time, 3:27, after two. He chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. Van Ness countered a slight MSU shot, took Stauffenberg down and added to back points, reset and the pinned him at the 5:44 mark.
157: Terrell Barraclough met No. 15 Chase Saldate at 157. Barraclough battled Saldate evenly for the first minute and then turned a low single leg into an early takedown and a 2-1 lead midway through the opening period. The duo worked the neutral position as the clock hit :30 and Barraclough maintained his position on the Nittany Lion logo. Leading 2-1 after one, Barraclough chose down to start the second period. He worked his way to his feet off the whistle, but Saldate was able to work action back to the mat as the clock hit 1:20. Saldate controlled action on top for the rest of the second period and Barraclough led by one after two but Saldate had 1:46 in riding time. Saldate chose down to start the third period and Barraclough controlled the action to the 1:05 mark, killing the Spartan's riding time edge before Saldate escaped to a 2-2 tie. Saldate took a low shot at :15 and was able to finish off the takedown, adding two late near fall points, to post the hard-fought 6-2 win over Barraclough.
165: No. 16 Alex Facundo battled No. 25 Caleb Fish at 165. The ranked duo worked the center of the mat in neutral for the opening minute-plus. The action continued in neutral with neither wrestler threatening for the next minute and time moved below 1:00. The first period ended in a scoreless tie and Facundo chose down to start the second stanza. The Lion freshman worked his way to his feet and picked up an escaped at the 1:09 mark, taking a 1-0 lead. Facundo took a high single that nearly connected but action moved out of bounds with :58 on the clock. The last minute of the second period slid by with no points and Facundo led 1-0 after two. Trailing by one, Fish chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. The duo worked in neutral on the Lion logo as the clock moved under 1:00. Facundo nearly picked up a last second takedown, but time ran out and the bout moved to sudden victory tied 1-1. The first minute of extra time slid by. Fish took a slight shot, and Facundo countered with a quick duck-under and picked up the 3-1 (sv) win with :44 left in extra time.
174: Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, met Caesar Garza. Starocci scored quickly, taking a 2-0 lead in the opening :30 and then going to work on top, looking for back points. Starocci built up :50 in riding time before cutting Garza loose to a 2-1 score. He then moved in on another low single and took a 4-1 lead with a second takedown. Starocci forced Garza into a stall warning after cutting him loose, then slid behind the Spartan after a Garza shot for another takedown and a 6-2 lead after the opening period. The Lion junior chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. He took Garza down seconds later to up his lead to 9-2 at 1:40. Starocci put together another strong ride and picked up a stall point at :55 and another at :30. Starocci finished the period on top and led 11-2 with 3:02 in riding time after two. Garza chose neutral to start the third period and Starocci continued to shoot the Spartan backwards. Starocci added a fifth takedown at 1:35, a sixth at 1:02, a seventh at :50 and then locked up a cradle for two quick back points to lock down the 19-4 tech fall at the 6:39 mark.
184: Donovon Ball battled No. 15 Layne Malczewski at 184. The duo battled evenly for the opening minute with Ball maintaining position in on the Nittany Lion logo. Ball nearly connected on a late shot but time ran out on the effort and action moved to the second stanza tied 0-0. Ball chose neutral to start the second period. He paced the middle of the mat, looking to set up his offense and forcing Malczewski backwards as the clock hit 1:00. Malczewski turned a high single into the bout's first takedown to open up a 2-0 lead at :43 and then finished the period on top. Malczewski chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. He then took Ball down once more and opened up a 5-0 margin with 1:30 left in the bout. He finished the period on top, and with riding time, posted the 6-0 win.
197: No. 4 Max Dean took on No. 14 Cameron Caffey at 197. Caffey had an early chance to score with a low single but Dean was able to quickly escaped danger and the bout continued in neutral at 2:10. Dean then almost scrambled to a takedown on the edge of the mat but action moved out of bounds with 1:55 left in the opening period. Dean began working Caffey backwards. He pulled the Spartan back onto the mat, nearly gave up a counter takedown, regained position and almost took a fleeing Caffey down before the Spartan was able to slide out of bounds with :20 on the clock. Dean almost scored again as the period ended but Caffey was able to defend the move and kill the clock. Tied 0-0, Dean chose down to start the second period. Dean nearly scrambled his way to a reversal but settled for an escape and a 1-0 lead as Caffey once again moved out of bounds. With 1:25 on the clock, Dean went back to work on offense. The Lion forced Caffey into a first stall warning at :55 and continued to pressure the Spartan out of bounds. Caffey took a high shot that Dean quickly turned into a stalemate with :35 left in the period. Dean shot low once more this time turned the shot into a takedown and a 3-0 lead with :14 on the clock. Dean finished the period on top and led 3-0 after two. Caffey chose down to start the third period. Dean went to work on top, working the clock down while building his riding time up. Dean broke Caffey down on the edge of the mat and saw his riding time advantage move over 1:00 as the clock hit :45. Dean dominated the action on top, killing the clock with a rideout. Dean, with 1:46 in riding time, posted the dominant 4-0 win.
285: Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 1 at 285, faced off against Ryan Vasbinder. Kerkvliet scored quickly, taking Vasbinder down to his back in the opening seconds for a takedown and four nearfall points to lead 6-0. He cut the Spartan loose, took him down again to lead 8-1 and then went to work on top. Kerkvliet built up over 1:00 in riding time as he looked to turn the Spartan to his back. He cut Vasbinder loose at the 1:00 mark and then went back on attack. He scrambled behind the Spartan for another takedown and a 10-2 lead. Kerkvliet gave up a late escape and led 10-3 with over 2:00 in riding time after the opening stanza. Kerkvliet chose down to start the second, escaped and then took Vasbinder down for another takedown. He turned the Spartan for four more back points, cut him loose and finished off the bout with a final takedown. Kerkvliet's final takedown gave the Nittany Lion a 19-4 tech fall at the 6:15 mark.
