THIS WEEK’S ACTION:
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 20, 2024 – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (1-0, 0-0 B1G) heads to West Point, N.Y., to take part in the Black Knight Invitational on Sunday, Nov. 24. Action at Army West Point begins at 10 a.m. All rankings listed are InterMat/Intermat Tournament Power Index (TPI).
The Nittany Lions will send numerous athletes to New York for the event. Penn State’s line-up could include 20-plus competitors, but please note the participants ARE NOT FINALIZED until weigh-ins Sunday morning. Possible entrants include, but are not limited to, Luke Lilledahl and Kurt McHenry at 125; Braeden Davis and Gary Steen at 133; Beau Bartlett and Cael Nasdeo at 141; Shayne Van Ness and Connor Pierce at 149; Tyler Kasak and Alex Facundo at 157; Mitchell Mesenbrink and Aurelius Dunbar at 165; Levi Haines and Matt Lee at 174; Carter Starocci and Zack Ryder at 184; Lucas Cochran, Josh Barr and Connor Mirasola at 197; and Greg Kerkvliet and Cole Mirasola at 285. A reminder that true freshmen can wrestle in up to five scheduled events without losing the ability to redshirt.
Penn State has ten ranked wrestlers heading into this weekend. Lilledahl is No. 33 at 125, Davis is No. 7 at 133, Bartlett is No. 3 at 141, Van Ness is No. 2 at 149, Kasak is No. 4 at 157, Mesenbrink is No. 1 at 165, Haines is No. 2 at 174, Starocci is No. 1 at 184, Barr is No. 23 at 197 and Kerkvliet is No. 2 at 285.
Penn State is coming off a 41-3 win over Drexel on Sunday, Nov. 17. The night before, the Nittany Lions went 4-1 in the NWCA All-Star Classic exhibition (bouts do not count as NCAA results).
Penn State returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 8, when the Nittany Lions visit Lehigh for a 2 p.m. dual meet in Bethlehem, Pa.
The 2024-25 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 (1-0, 0-0 B1G)
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 #33 Luke Lilledahl Fr. Weldon Spring, Mo./Wyoming Seminary 1-0
Kurt McHenry Sr.+ Leesburg, Va./St. Paul’s School 0-0
133 #7 Braeden Davis So. Belleville, Mich./Dundee 1-0
Gary Steen Jr. Hermitage, Pa./Reynolds 0-0
141 #3 Beau Bartlett Sr.* Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary 0-0
Cael Nasdeo Fr. Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport 0-1
149 #2 Shayne Van Ness So. Somerville, N.J./Blair Academy 0-0
Connor Pierce So. Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek 1-0
157 #4 Tyler Kasak So. Doylestown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic 0-0
Alex Facundo So. Essexville, Mich./Davison 1-0
165 #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink So. Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead 1-0
Aurelius Dunbar Sr. Greencastle, Pa./Mercersburg Academy 0-0
174 #2 Levi Haines Jr. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 1-0
Matt Lee Sr. Evansville, Ind./Mater Dei 0-0
184 #1 Carter Starocci Gr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 1-0
Zack Ryder Fr. Westtown, N.Y./Minisink Valley 0-0
197 #23 Josh Barr R-Fr. Davison, Mich./Davison 0-0
Lucas Cochran Jr. Perry, Utah/Box Elder 1-0
Connor Mirasola Fr. Jackson, Wis./West Bend 0-0
285 #2 Greg Kerkvliet Sr.+ Inver Grove Heights, Min../Simley 1-0
Cole Mirasola Fr. Jackson, Wis./West Bend 0-0
Individual rankings listed are InterMat as of 11-19-24 // Team ranking InterMat TPI
THIS WEEK
The Nittany Lions (1-0, 0-0 B1G) will trek to Army West Point for the Black Knight Invitational on Sunday, Nov. 24. Action begins in West Point, N.Y. at 10 a.m.
UP NEXT
Penn State’s next action will take place in Bethlehem, Pa., when the Nittany Lions visit Lehigh. Action is set for 2 p.m.
ON THE AIR
Broadcast TV - none
Streamed TV - FloWrestling
Radio online - Free all year via Lionvision at GoPSUsports.com
NITTANY LIONS ROLL OVER DREXEL 41-3 IN SEASON OPENER
The Penn State Nittany Lions opened up the regular season with a 41-3 victory over visiting Drexel on Sunday, Nov. 17, in Rec Hall. True freshman Luke Lilledahl received a forfeit win at 125 in his collegiate debut and Greg Kerkvliet closed out the dual with a pin at 285. In between, the Nittany Lions picked up three decisions and four straight tech falls in the second half to roll to the win. Levis Haines (174) and Carter Starocci (184) competed the night before in the NWCA All-Star Classic Exhibition and posted tech falls the next day in the win over the Dragons. Also grabbing victories were Braeden Davis (133), Connor Pierce (149), Alex Facundo (157), Mitchell Mesenbrink (165) and Lucas Cochran (197).
PSU SHINES AT ALL-STAR CLASSIC EXHIBITION
While Penn State’s official season began on Sunday, Nov. 17, in Rec Hall when the Nittany Lions beat Drexel, five Nittany Lions took part in the NWCA All-Star Classic exhibition the night before. The exhibition, not an official NCAA event and does not count towards wins, losses or RPI, featured Beau Bartlett (141), Shayne Van Ness (149), Tyler Kasak (157), Levi Haines (174) and Carter Starocci (184). Bartlett dropped a hard-fought 4-1 decision to No. 2 Jesse Mendez of Ohio State, Van Ness rolled to a 16-4 major over No. 3 Ty Watters of West Virginia, Kasak posted a 4-2 win over No. 3 Peyten Keller of Ohio, Haines notched a 7-0 win over No. 3 Cade DeVos of South Dakota State and Starocci grabbed a hard-fought 4-1 (sv) win over No. 2 Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa.
#FUNSTATS AFTER THE 2024 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
// Most Individual NCAA Titles Since 2011 -- PENN STATE 38, Cornell 14, Oklahoma State 10, Ohio State 10, Iowa 7
// Penn State National Finalists Since 2011 -- 56
// Penn State in NCAA Finals Since 2011 -- 38-18 (Since 2011, winning percentage in NCAA finals is .679)
// Penn State in NCAA Semifinals Since 2011 -- 56-8 (Since 2011, winning percentage in NCAA semis is .875)
// Penn State Team Championships Since 2011 -- 11 (of 13, no NCAA tournament in 2020)
// Penn State Percentage of Team Titles Won Since 2011 - .846 (no NCAA tournament in 2020)
// Penn State has 12 NCAA Championships (11 under Sanderson), third most in NCAA history
// Penn State is the only team in the nation to win at least one individual title at EACH WEIGHT in the last decade
// Penn State is one of only two teams in NCAA history to have five individual champions in one year TWICE.
// Penn State’s Cael Sanderson has won 11 NCAA titles as a coach, second most in NCAA history (tied).