UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State (11-0, 4-0 B1G) took care of visiting Iowa (12-1, 5-1 B1G) 23-14 in yet another sold out BJC Dual in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions gave up only two takedowns in the dual meet and remained perfect on the year. All rankings listed are InterMat/InterMat Team TPI (Jan. 24, 2023).
The dual meet was wrestled in front of 15,998 fans, tied for largest crowd in NCAA wrestling history for an indoor dual meet (equaling the 15,998 mark when Penn State beat Iowa in the BJC on Feb. 10, 2018). The Nittany Lions own nine of the top 10 indoor attendance marks.
The dual meet began at 125 where Penn State sophomore Marco Vespa made his Penn State dual debut against No. 1 Spencer Lee and locked Lee up in a quick cradle off the opening whistle. Lee rebounded with a reversal and a series of near falls to post the 18-2 technical fall at the 2:14 mark. Roman Bravo-Young, ranked No. 1 at 133, answered back. Bravo-Young carried a 4-1 lead into the third period, notched another takedown and then with just seconds left, locked No. 17 Brody Teske in a cradle. Bravo-Young picked up the fall at the 6:49 mark to put Penn State on top 6-5.
Penn State's Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 4 at 141, dropped a hard-fought 4-1 decision to No. 1 Real Woods, with the Hawkeye using a first period takedown to get the win and give Iowa an 8-6 lead. Redshirt freshman Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 13 at 149, battled senior No. 7 senior Max Murin tough for seven minutes but a late takedown and riding time allowed the Hawkeye to post a 4-1 win and give Iowa an 11-6 lead. True freshman Levi Haines, ranked No. 9 at 157, sent Penn State into the halftime break on a high note. Haines used a third period takedown as the difference in a 3-2 win over No. 15 Cobe Siebrecht. Haines' win cut the halftime deficit to 11-9.
Redshirt freshman Alex Facundo, ranked No. 5 at 165, dropped a hard-fought 2-1 (tb) decision to No. 13 Patrick Kennedy, giving Iowa a 14-9 lead with four bouts remaining. Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, used 1:12 in riding time against No. 16 Nelson Brands to walk away with a 2-1 win over the Hawkeye. His win cut Iowa's lead to 14-12.
Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 184, then gave Penn State a 17-14 lead (a lead it would not relinquish) with a dominant win at 184. Brooks tallied nine takedowns in a dazzling display, rolling to a 22-7 tech fall at the 5:42 mark. Max Dean, ranked No. 4 at 197, kept Penn State's momentum going with a big victory in a rematch of last year's NCAA title bout. Dean used a second period escape and a full third-period rideout to post a convincing 2-0 win over No. 7 Jacob Warner. Dean's victory pushed Penn State out to a 20-14 lead with just one match left. Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 2 at 285, capped off the strong team win with a 4-1 victory over No. 3 Tony Cassioppi in the dual's final bout. Kerkvliet used a first period takedown, an escape and 2:27 in riding time to roll to the win and give Penn State the 23-14 final margin.
Penn State gave up only two takedowns and posted a 16-2 takedown edge in the dual. The Nittany Lions won six of ten bouts and picked up five bonus points off a pin (Bravo-Young) and a tech fall (Brooks).
The Nittany Lions are now 11-0 overall, 4-0 B1G. Iowa drops to 12-1, 5-1 B1G. Penn State hits the road for two dual meets next weekend. The Nittany Lions are at Ohio State on Friday, Feb. 3, in a 7 p.m. dual live on the B1G Network. Two days later, Penn State visits Indiana on Sunday, Feb. 5, for a 1 p.m. battle.
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 23, #2 Iowa 14
January 27, 2023 – Bryce Jordan Center – University Park, Pa.
125: #1 Spencer Lee IOWA tech fall Marco Vespa PSU, 18-2 (TF; 2:14) 0-5
133: #1 Roman Bravo-Young PSU pinned #17 Brody Teske IOWA, WBF (6:49) 6-5
141: #2 Real Woods IOWA dec. #4 Beau Bartlett PSU, 4-1 6-8
149: #7 Max Murin dec. #13 Shayne Van Ness PSU, 4-1 6-11
157: #9 Levi Haines PSU dec. #15 Cobe Siebrecht IOWA, 3-2 9-11
165: #13 Patrick Kennedy IOWA dec. #5 Alex Facundo PSU, 2-1 (tb) 9-14
174: #1 Carter Starocci PSU dec. #16 Nelson Brands IOWA, 2-1 12-14
184: #1 Aaron Brooks PSU tech fall Drake Rhodes IOWA, 22-7 (TF; 5:42) 17-14
197: #4 Max Dean PSU dec. #7 Jacob Warner IOWA, 2-0 20-14
285: #2 Greg Kerkvliet PSU dec. #3 Tony Cassioppi IOWA, 4-1 23-14
Attendance: 15,998 (73rd sellout in last 75 events, including 64-straight in Rec Hall and 9 of 11 in BJC)
Records: Penn State (11-0, 4-0 B1G); Iowa (12-1, 5-1 B1G)
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Marco Vespa took on No. 1 Spencer Lee at 125. Vespa came out and locked Lee up in a cradle right off the whistle. He was unable to get any back points but took a quick 2-0 lead. Lee then reversed the Lion sophomore to tie the bout 2-2 and then turned Vespa for four back points. Lee added a second four point turn and led 10-2 at the 1:20 mark. Lee picked up a third four point turn and then a third to pots an 18-2 tech fall at the 2:14 mark.
133: No. 1 Roman Bravo-Young met No. 17 Brody Teske at 133. The duo battled through a scoreless first minute with Bravo-Young taking a flurry of low shots at the 1:30 mark that forced Teske to skip away in the center of the mat. Bravo-Young forced Teske into a first stall warning at :45 and finished off a low single to a takedown to lead 2-0 with :36 on the clock. Bravo-Young finished the period on top and led 2-0 after one. Teske chose down to start the second period and built his riding time up over 1:00 with a strong ride. He cut Teske loose to a 2-1 score at the 1:16 mark and went back to work on offense. Bravo-Young blew through a fast high double as time ran out in the second period to take a 4-1 lead into the third with 1:26 in riding time. Bravo-Young chose neutral to start the third period and continued to chase Teske around the center of the mat. He used a low single for a third takedown and cut to lead 6-2. With a riding time edge in hand, Bravo-Young picked up a riding time point to lead 7-2 with :45 left. With :30 on the clock, Bravo-Young moved in for another takedown and quickly took Teske to the mat with a low shot, he flowed through the move and locked the Hawkeye in a cradle and pinned him with just :11 left in the match. Bravo-Young's pin came at the 6:49 mark.
141: Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 4 at 141, met No. 2 Real Woods. Bartlett and Woods came out trying to throw each other with Bartlett nearly locking Woods' head and shoulders to the mat on the outside circle. Woods was able to get out of trouble and a reset ensued with 2:20 left. Woods got in on a low single with 2:05 on the clock and took a 2-0 lead after getting the takedown at 1:41. Bartlett was unable to work his way out of the Hawkeye's control and trailed by two after one. Bartlett chose down to start the second period and quickly scrambled his way to an escape and a 2-1 score. The duo battled evenly in neutral for the next minute-plus with no one scoring. Leading by one with 1:45 in riding time, Woods chose down to start the third period and Bartlett cut him loose to a 3-1 score. The Lion took a low shot that Woods stepped away from and the clock moved to 1:15. He took another how shot that Woods backed away from with 1:00 left. Bartlett pressured the Hawkeye backwards as time wound down but Woods was able to defend the efforts as the clock hit 0:00. Woods posted the 4-1 win with 1:35 in riding time.
149: No. 13 Shayne Van Ness faced off against No. 7 Max Murin at 149. Van Ness set the offensive tempo over the first two minutes, forcing Murin into defense as he looked for an offensive opening. He nearly connected on a slide-by with :45 left but Murin backed out of control and kept the bout tied at 0-0. Murin then forced a scramble in the final seconds that Van Ness was able to defend and the match moved to the second period knotted 0-0. Van Ness chose down to start the second period. The Lion tried to scramble his way to an escape in the first minute but the Hawkeye maintained control as the clock dipped below 1:00. Van Ness slipped away for the escape and a 1-0 lead at the :30 mark but Murin had 1:30 in riding time. Leading by one, Murin chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie while maintaining a 1:14 riding time edge. Murin got in on allow single and Van Ness nearly connected on a counter but a stalemate was called with 1:05 on the clock. Murin used a fast low double to notch the first takedown of the bout and opened up a 3-1 lead. He finished the period on top and, with 1:48 in riding time, posted the 4-1 win.
157: Levi Haines, ranked No. 9 at 157, battled No. 15 Cole Siebrecht. Haines took a series of quick shots in the first :30, setting a fast pace on the Nittany Lion logo. The action remained in neutral as the clock hit 1:00 with Haines pressing forward and Siebrecht playing defense. Haines used a high single to force a scramble at :35 but action ended in a stalemate. Haines continued to shoot and once again nearly took Siebrecht down in the waning seconds. But action was stopped for potentially dangerous and the bout moved to the second period tied 0-0. Haines chose down to start the second period and scrambled his way to an escape and a 1-0 lead at the 1:37 mark. Haines shot repeatedly as Siebrecht continued to step backwards. Haines carried the 1-0 lead into the third period and Siebrecht chose down to start the final stanza. The Hawkeye escaped quickly and the bout continued in neutral tied 1-1. Haines used a textbook high double to lift the Hawkeye off the mat and take a 3-1 lead with the bout's first takedown. Siebrecht escaped to a 3-2 score at the :52 mark. Haines defended a late Siebrecht shot, worked the clock down to 0:00 and walked away with a thrilling 3-2 victory.
165: No. 5 Alex Facundo took on No. 13 Patrick Kennedy at 165. The duo battled through the first minute-plus scoreless, working on the Lion logo in the middle of the mat. The wrestlers contested the first three minutes on their feet with no scoring and the bout moved to the second period tied 0-0. Kennedy chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Facundo nearly turned a slick duck under into an opportunity at 1:15 but Kennedy slid away from the move and the clock moved below the 1:00 mark. Facundo fought off a late Kennedy effort and Kennedy led by one after two. Facundo chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. The Lion then went to work in the middle of the mat, looking for an offensive opening. As the clock moved below 1:00, the duo continued on their feet but the bout moved to sudden victory tied 1-1. Facundo took a low shot and Kennedy stepped away from the action. Kennedy turned a low single into a scramble that Facundo turned into a stalemate with 1:04 left in sudden victory. Facundo took two quick shots and Kennedy nearly locked the Lion in a cradle. But Facundo scrambled his way to a stalemate with :06 left and the match moved to a tie-breaker. Kennedy was down first and quickly escaped in just :04. Facundo, needing an escape in just :04, chose neutral to start his tie-breaker period. He could not take Kennedy down and dropped the 2-1 (tb) decision.
174: Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, met No. 16 Nelson Brands. Starocci and Brands battled evenly for the first two minutes with Starocci taking a handful of slight shots that Brands had to defend. Starocci continued to shoot as the clock moved to 0:00. Tied 0-0 after one, Starocci chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Starocci continued to shoot Brands backward as the clock hit the 1:00 mark but could not force a stall warning. Starocci was finally awarded a stall warning with :10 left and he led 1-0 after two. Trailing by one, Brands chose down to start the third period. Starocci was able to control the action on top for over a minute and then maintained control through the 1:00 mark to build up over 1:00 in riding time. After hitting the 1:00 mark in riding time, Starocci kept control of Brands until the Hawkeye escaped to a 1-1 tie after a reset with :30 left in the bout. Starocci finished the match on his feet and, with 1:12 in riding time, posted the 2-1 win.
184: No. 1 Aaron Brooks battled Drake Rhodes. Brooks took Rhodes down quickly, using a high double for a 2-1 lead in the opening :15. He added a second takedown to lead 4-1 with 2:28 on the clock, cut Rhodes loose and went back to work on offense. Brooks picked Rhodes' ankle for a third takedown to lead 6-2 with 1:41 left in the first. Brooks turned Rhodes for four back points with :45 on the clock and led 10-2 as the first period wound down. The Lion finished the period on top and carried that lead, with 2:19 in riding time, into the second period. Rhodes chose down to start the second period and Brooks cut him loose to a 10-3 score. Brooks muscled Rhodes to the mat for another takedown and a 12-4 lead, then took him down cone more to lead 14-4. He forced a stall warning at 1:00, cut him loose and then took him down again. He added another cut and takedown and led 18-6 with over 3:00 in riding time after two periods. Brooks chose neutral to start the third period and quickly took Rhodes down once more to open u a 20-6 lead. He finished off the match with a final takedown to post the convincing 22-7 technical fall at the 5:42 mark.
197: Max Dean, ranked No. 4 at 197, faced No. 7 Jacob Warner in a rematch of last year's NCAA title bout. The duo battled evenly for the first minute with neither wrestler connecting on offense. Warner took a quick low single at the 1:00 mark that Dean zipped away from, then Dean nearly turned a high shot into a scoring chance. But Warner kept position and the bout continued tied 0-0 in the final minute of the first period. Dean and Warner ended the first period knotted 0-0. Dean chose down to start the second period. Warner was able to control the action on top for a bit before Dean scrambled his way to an escape and a 1-0 lead at the 1:14 mark. Dean worked the center of the mat as the second period wound down but Warner's defense kept the Nittany Lion senior from connecting on offense and Dean led 1-0 after two. Warner chose down to start the third period and Dean went to work on top. Dean broke Warner down to the mat at the 1:14 mark and forced a stall warning with 1:00 left in the bout. Dean continued to dominate action on top until action was halted for potentially dangerous with :48 left in the bout. Dean was able to keep control of Warner off two resets as time moved below :30. Dean then worked his riding time up over 1:00, continued to dominate on top and finished the period with a rideout. His 1:14 in riding time gave the Nittany Lion a thrilling 2-0 win.
285: No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet took on No. 3 Tony Cassioppi at 285. The highly-ranked duo worked the center of the mat over the first two minutes until Kerkvliet connected on a fast high single. The Penn State big man turned the shot into a takedown and a 2-0 lead with just over 1:00 left in the opening period. Kerkvliet controlled the action for :27 before Cassioppi escaped to a 2-1 score. Kerkvliet carried that one-point lead into the second period. Cassioppi chose down to start the second stanza and Kerkvliet put together a strong ride on top. The Lion junior worked his riding time up over 1:00 and continued to work on top. Kerkvliet controlled the action for the entire second period and finished off the rideout to lead 2-1 with 2:27 in time after two. Kerkvliet chose down to start the third period and escaped toa 3-1 lead, still with 2:27 in riding time. The duo worked the next minute-plus in neutral. Kerkvliet controlled the action on his feet for the remainder of the period and, with 2:27 in riding time, posted the convincing 4-1 win.
