THIS WEEK'S ACTION:
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestlers (4-0, 1-0 B1G) continue Big Ten action this weekend with two road duals. Head coach Cael Sanderson and company are at No. 5 Michigan (4-1, 2-0 B1G) on Friday, Jan. 19, at 6 p.m. in a Big Ten Network national telecast. Penn State then visits Michigan State (*7-1, 0-1 B1G) on Sunday, Jan. 21, at 1 p.m. *Michigan State hosts Rutgers Friday night while Penn State is at Michigan.
Penn State is coming off a 46-0 shutout win over Indiana in its Big Ten opener last Sunday. The Nittany Lions picked up four wins from freshmen and tallied a total of five technical falls, all while not surrendering a takedown and owning a 35-0 takedown edge. The win improved Penn State to 4-0 overall, 1-0 in Big Ten action.
The Nittany Lion line-up features ten wrestlers ranked by InterMat. True freshman Braeden Davis is 10-0 and ranked No. 14 at 125. Sophomore Aaron Nagao is 7-1 and No. 4 at 133. Senior Beau Bartlett is 10-0 and No. 2 at 141. True freshman Tyler Kasak is 6-1 and No. 12 at 149. Sophomore Levi Haines is 7-0 and No. 1 at 157. Freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink is 11-0 and No. 9 at 165. Senior Carter Starocci is 7-0 and No. 1 at 174. Graduate Bernie Truax is 5-1 and No. 5 at 184. Senior+ Aaron Brooks is 6-0 and No. 1 at 197. Senior Greg Kerkvliet is 8-0 and No. 1 at 285.
Michigan enters the weekend with a 4-1 overall record, 2-0 in the Big Ten, and ranked No. 5 nationally. The Wolverines are coming off dual wins at Maryland (38-3) on Friday and at home over Michigan State on Sunday (29-12). Michigan also has ten wrestlers ranked by InterMat. Michael DeAugustino is No. 5 at 125, Dylan Ragusin is No. 6 at 133, Sergio Lemley is No. 25 at 141, Austin Gomez is No. 6 at 149, Will Lewan is No. 9 at 157, Cameron Amine is No. 7 at 165, Shane Griffith is No. 4 at 174, Jaden Bullock is No. 15 at 184, Bobby Striggow is No. 32 at 197 and Lucas Davison is No. 4 at 285. Penn State leads the all-time series with UM 35-24, including the last 12. The Nittany Lions downed the Wolverines in the last meeting, a 30-8 victory on Jan. 20, 2023, in the BJC.
Michigan State enters the weekend 7-1 overall, 0-1 in the Big Ten, after last weekend's 29-12 road loss at Michigan on Sunday. The Spartans feature a line-up with five ranked grapplers. Jordan Hamdan is No. 33 at 141, Chase Saldate is No. 21 at 157, Caleb Fish is No. 10 at 165, Layne Malczewski is No. 22 at 184 and Kael Wisler is No. 29 at 197. Penn State leads the all-time series with the Spartans 24-9, including the last 15. Penn State won 34-6 in the last battle between the two teams, a 34-6 win on Jan. 22, 2023, in Rec Hall.
Penn State continues Big Ten action next weekend, visiting Maryland on Sunday, Jan. 28, at 12 p.m. The dual will also be a Big Ten Network national telecast.
All rankings listed are InterMat individual/InterMat TPI. The 2023-24 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by the Family Clothesline. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via X 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 NITTANY LIONS (4-0, 1-0 B1G)
125 #14 Braeden Davis Fr. Belleville, Mich./Dundee 10-0
133 #4 Aaron Nagao So. La Habra, Calif./Esperanza 7-1
141 #2 Beau Bartlett Sr. Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) 10-0
149 #12 Tyler Kasak Fr. Doylestown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic 6-1
157 #1 Levi Haines So. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 7-0
165 #9 Mitchell Mesenbrink Fr. Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead 11-0
174 #1 Carter Starocci Sr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 7-0
184 #5 Bernie Truax Gr. Oceanside, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista 5-1
197 #1 Aaron Brooks Sr.+ Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown 6-0
285 #1 Greg Kerkvliet Sr. Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley 6-0
#5 MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (4-1, 2-0 B1G)
125 #5 Michael DeAugustino Gr. Palm Coast, Fla./Flagler Palm Coast 6-1
133 #6 Dylan Ragusin Jr. Elk Village, Ill./Montini Catholic 16-0
141 #25 Sergio Lemley Fr. Chesterton, Ind./Mount Carmel 11-3
149 #6 Austin Gomez Gr. Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North 3-0
157 #9 Will Lewan Gr. Chicago, Ill./Montini Catholic 5-3
165 #7 Cameron Amine Sr. Brighton, Mich./Detroit Central Catholic 7-3
174 #4 Shane Griffith Gr. Westwood, N.J./Bergen Catholic 8-2
184 #15 Jaden Bullock Jr. Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith 12-5
197 #32 Bobby Striggow Gr. Orono, Minn./Orono 5-5
285 #4 Lucas Davison Gr. Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton 9-1
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (*7-1, 0-1 B1G)
125 Tristan Lujan Jr. Selma, Calif./Selma 12-7
133 Andy Hampton So. Rochester, Mich./Stoney Creek 4-13
141 #33 Jordan Hamdan Sr. Hudson, Mich./Hudson 14-5
149 Braden Stauffenberg Fr. Yorkville, Ill./Aurora Christian 6-11
157 #21 Chase Saldate Sr. Gilroy, Calif./Gilroy 15-3
165 #10 Caleb Fish Sr. Eaton Rapids, Mich./Eaton Rapids 17-4
174 Marty Larkin Jr. Orland Park, Ill./St. Rita 9-9
DJ Shannon Sr. Madison, Ill./Christian Brothers 9-10
184 #22 Layne Malczewski Gr. Macomb, Mich./Dakota 5-4
197 #29 Kael Wisler Fr. New Boston, Mich./Huron 22-8
285 Josh Terrill Fr. Holt, Mich./Holt 23-7
Individual Rankings listed are InterMat and Team Rankings are
Intermat Tournament Power Index (as of 1/16/24)
* Michigan State hosts Rutgers on Friday, 1/19/24, post-press
THIS WEEK
#1 Penn State (4-0, 1-0 B1G) continues Big Ten action this weekend. The Lions are at #5 Michigan (4-1, 2-0 B1G) on Friday, Jan. 19, for a 6 p.m. B1G Network national telecast; and at Michigan State (*7-1, 0-1 B1G) on Sunday, Jan. 21, at 1 p.m. *Michigan State hosts Rutgers Friday night, post-press.
UP NEXT
Penn State visits Maryland in its next action, taking on the Terrapins in College Park, Md., on Sunday, Jan. 28 at 12 p.m. The dual is a Big Ten Network national telecast.
ON THE AIR
TV - Michigan B1G Network/Michigan State B1G+
Radio online - Free all year via Lionvision at GoPSUsports.com
Live Web Video - Michigan State B1G+
NOTES:
NITTANY LIONS USE 5 TECH FALLS TO SHUT OUT INDIANA; FOUR NITTANY LION FRESHMEN GRAB WINS
The Penn State Nittany Lions shut out visiting Indiana 46-0 on Sunday, Jan. 14, to open up Big Ten dual action. Penn State rode a wave of five technical falls and picked up a total of four wins from freshmen in the victory. Aaron Nagao (133), Tyler Kasak (149), Levi Haines (157), Carter Starocci (174) and Aaron Brooks (197) notched the techs. True freshmen Braeden Davis (125), Kasak (149) and Josh Barr (184) as well as redshirt freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink (165) logged the freshmen wins. The shutout was the first for Penn State since a 46-0 win over Rider on Feb. 20, 2022; and the first Big Ten shutout since a 46-0 win at Maryland on Jan. 7, 2022. Penn State also did not give up a takedown in the victory over the Hoosiers, owning a 35-0 takedown margin.
PENN STATE DOWNS #18 OREGON STATE IN FRONT OF RECORD CROWD IN CORVALLIS
The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team took down #18 Oregon State in front of a record crowd in Corvallis on Jan. 1, 2004. The Nittany Lions won nine of ten bouts in the rousing win, with 8,540 fans packing OSU's Gill Coliseum. Three Penn State freshmen got ranked wins. Braeden Davis downed #15 Brandon Kaylor 11-6 at 125, Tyler Kasak took down #12 Nash Singleton 4-1 at 149 and Mitchell Mesenbrink rolled to a 17-2 tech fall (3:44) over #10 Matthew Olguin at 165. The Nittany Lions tallied four total tech falls in the win.
NITTANY LIONS TALLY 4 FALLS IN 43-10 WIN OVER HOFSTRA
Penn State tallied four falls, three tech falls and a major in a lopsided 43-10 win over visiting Hofstra on Dec. 10, 2023, in sold out Rec Hall. With four freshmen starting as well, Nittany Lions Levi Haines, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Bernie Truax and Aaron Brooks got pins. Aaron Nagao, David Evans and Carter Starocci notched tech falls and Braeden Davis picked up a major at 125 in his Lion dual debut.
BARTLETT AND FACUNDO QUALIFY FOR APRIL'S OLYMPIC TRIALS
Nittany Lions Beau Bartlett and Alex Facundo each finished in the top five of their weight classes at the 2023 Senior Nationals/U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier in Ft. Worth, Texas, on Dec. 15-17. Bartlett won three straight to advance to the finals at 65 kg. He finished as runner-up with a 3-1 record. Facundo went 5-1 with a pin and a tech to take third place at 74 kg. Terrell Barraclough also competed, going 4-3 for sixth at 74 kg.. Gary Steen went 3-2 and took seventh at 57 kg. Timothy Levine (2-2 at 65), Donovon Ball (1-1 at 86) and Josh Barr (3-2 at 86) also competed.
FIVE NITTANY LIONS MAKE REC HALL DUAL DEBUTS IN 30-10 WIN OVER #20 LEHIGH TO OPEN DUAL SEASON
Penn State won seven of ten bouts in the dual meet opener for the Nittany Lions and downed #20 Lehigh 30-10 in Rec Hall on Dec. 3. Five Nittany Lions made their Penn State dual meet debuts in the match (Aaron Nagao, Tyler Kasak, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Bernie Truax, Lucas Cochran). Carter Starocci picked up a pin at 174 to lead Penn State, Greg Kerkvliet majored #12 Nathan Taylor at 285, Levi Haines downed #24 Max Brignola at 157, Mitchell Mesenbrink notched a tech fall over #32 Jake Logan at 165, Bernie Truax picked up a tech fall at 184, Beau Bartlett notched a major at 141 and Tyler Kasak moved up to 149 and downed Drew Munch 7-5 at 149.
LUCAS COCHRAN TAKES THIRD AT MAT TOWN OPEN
Sophomore Lucas Cochran posted a 2-1 record, plus a win over a non-collegiate wrestler, to take third place at the Mat Town Open at Lock Haven on Nov. 26. Cochran majored Virginia's Krystian Kinsey and then dropped a tough 13-6 decision to #6 Jacob Cardenas of Cornell. He pinned Cayden Bevis of Binghamton (2:57) and beat a non-collegiate wrestler in the third place bout. Kurt McHenry went 1-2 at 125 and both Sean Wang (133) and Timothy Levine (149) competed as well.
FIVE NITTANY LIONS WIN TITLES AT BLACK KNIGHT INVITE; BARTLETT'S THREE PINS EARN HIM B1G W.o.W.
Five Nittany Lion wrestlers won titles at the Black Knight Invite at West Point on Nov. 19. True freshman Braeden Davis went 4-0 at 125 to win the title, including victories over No. 31 Tristan Lujan of Michigan State and No. 30 Ethan Berginc of Army West Point. Aaron Nagao went 4-0 in his Penn State debut at 133, including a pin over No. 33 Braden Basile of Army West Point in the title bout. Beau Bartlett went 4-0 with three pins to reign supreme at 141. Mitchell Mesenbrink went 4-0 at 165, including a 25-6 tech over No. 21 Brevin Cassella of Binghamton and a pin of No. 22 Anthony White of Rutgers, to win his title. True freshman Josh Barr went 4-0 at 184, including a win over No. 13 Jacob Nolan, to win the crown as well. Bartlett's three pins earned the Lion senior a share of the Nov. 21 Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honor.
12 OF PENN STATE'S 17 ENTRIES PLACE AT BLACK KNIGHT
Including the five champions listed above (Davis, Nagao, Bartlett, Mesenbrink, Barr), 12 of Penn State's 17 competitors placed at the Black Knight Invite on Nov. 19. Robert Howard went 2-2 for 4th at 125; Gary Steen went 4-1 for 5th at 125; Tyler Kasak went 3-1, losing to Bartlett in the finals, for 2nd at 141; David Evans went 4-1 for 5th at 141; Terrell Barraclough went 3-1, including a pin of No. 9 Caleb Fish of Michigan State, for 2nd at 165 (losing to Mesenbrink in the finals); Matt Lee went 3-2 for 6th at 165; and Brian Borden went 3-2 for 6th at 174.
FIVE NITTANY LIONS COMPETE AT NWCA ALL-STAR EXHIBITION, HOSTED IN REC HALL ON NOV. 21
Five Penn State Nittany Lion wrestlers competed in the 2023 National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Exhibition. The event took place on Tuesday, Nov. 21, in Penn State's very own Rec Hall. The exhibition was not an official NCAA event and does not count towards any competitor's win/loss record or RPI. Shayne Van Ness rolled to a 5-1 win over Arizona State's Kyle Parco at 149, Carter Starocci majored Mekhi Lewis 11-0 at 174, Aaron Brooks majored Tanner Sloan 11-2 at 197 and Greg Kerkvliet notched an 18-2 tech fall over Wyatt Hendrickson at 285.
SHAYNE VAN NESS RULES THE JOURNEYMEN; 3 WINS, 3 PINS, ALL IN THE FIRST PERIOD, EARNS B1G W.O.W.
Sophomore Shayne Van Ness rolled to a 3-0 record at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic on Nov. 12 in Bethlehem, Pa. All three of his wins were by fall and all three came in the first period. He pinned Army West Point's Eddie Hummel at 2:06, Bloomsburg's Cade Balestrini at 2:58 and Lehigh's Kelvin Griffin at 1:30. In all, Van Ness wrestled 6:34 minutes of a possible 21:00. He was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week (11/14) for his efforts, sharing the honor with Wisconsin's Dean Hamiti.
NITTANY LIONS ROLL AT JOURNEYMEN COLLEGIATE
Penn State rolled to a 45-15 overall record at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic on Nov. 12 in Bethlehem, Pa. Eleven of Penn State's 20 wrestlers went unbeaten at the event (3-0). The Nittany Lions rolled up 10 pins, 11 tech falls and nine majors as well.
DAVID EVANS DOWNS #6 CJ COMPOSTO OF PEN TO TOP LIST OF NITTANY LION RANKED WINS AT JOURNEYMEN
Junior David Evans took down #6 CJ Composto of Penn in sudden victory to a 4-1 (sv) win at 141 to top the list of Penn State ranked wins at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic on Nov. 12 in Bethlehem, Pa. Evans lost a close 6-4 match to #12 Malyke Hines of Lehigh and got a medical forfeit win over #13 Vince Cornella of Cornell to go 2-1. Beau Bartlett rolled to a 15-3 major over #12 Hines as well, Carter Starocci teched #14 Nick Incontrera of Penn at 174, 21-5 (6:52), and Greg Kerkvliet rolled to a 7-2 win over #8 Owen Trephan of North Carolina State in Penn State's other top ranked wins.
