UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (11-0, 5-0 B1G) shut out visiting Michigan (5-5, 2-5) 39-0 in a second straight dual meet in the Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State won all ten bouts and did not give up a takedown in the lopsided Big Ten win.
The dual began at 125. True freshman Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 7 at 125, opened up the dual meet with a pin. Lilledahl worked his way to a 10-2 lead over Christian Tanefeu before getting the fall at 5:38. The pin was Lilledahl’s first as a Lion. Freshman Kyison Garcia stepped in for No. 7 Braeden Davis at 133 and picked up his first dual meet win as a Nittany Lion with a 4-1 victory over Nolan Wertanen to give the Nittany Lions a 9-0 lead.
Senior+ Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 3 at 141, used a third period reversal and 1:10 in riding time to post a hard-fought 3-2 win over No. 12 Sergio Lemley. Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 3 at 149, tallied two takedowns in a strong 7-1 win over Dylan Gilcher to put the Nittany Lions up 15-0. Sophomore Tyler Kasak, ranked No. 1 at 157, dominated Zack Mattin in the final bout of the first half. Kasak used two takedowns and 2:29 in riding time to post a 7-2 win and the Nittany Lions led 18-0 at the break.
Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, muscled his way to an 18-4 major decision over No. 10 Beau Mantanona with nearly 3:00 in riding time. Mesenbrink’s win gave PSU a 22-0 lead. Junior Levi Haines, ranked No. 2 at 174, picked up Penn State’s second pin of the dual, this one a first period fall over No. 29 Joseph Walker at the 2:37 mark. Graduate Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 184, dominated No. 24 Jaden Bullock. Starocci picked up five takedowns and forced three stalls on his way to a 19-4 technical fall (7:00 with 3:31 riding time).
Redshirt freshman Josh Barr, ranked No. 4 at 197, battled No. 2 Jacob Cardenas evenly for over 7:00. After a scoreless overtime period, Cardenas took a 2-1 lead in the first tie-breaker session. Barr then took down and scrambled his way to a late reversal at the :05 mark to grab the 3-2 (TB) victory. Senior+ Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 2 at 285, used a takedown and a reversal to roll to a 6-0 win over No. 8 Josh Heindselman in the final bout of the evening, clinching the 39-0 shutout victory.
Penn State had 20 takedowns in the dual and did not give up one. The Lions tallied nine bonus points off two pins (Lilledahl, Haines), a tech fall (Starocci) and a major (Mesenbrink). The shutout is the fifth of the season for Penn State.
The Nittany Lions are now 11-0, 5-0 B1G. Michigan falls to 5-5, 2-5 B1G. Penn State hosts Maryland in two days on Sunday, Feb. 9, at 1 p.m. in Rec Hall.
Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via X/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 39, #12 Michigan 0
February 7, 2025 – Bryce Jordan Center – University Park, Pa.
125: #7 Luke Lilledahl PSU pinned Christian Tanefeu MICH, WBF (5:38) 6-0
133: Kyison Garcia PSU dec. Nolan Wertanen MICH, 4-1 9-0
141: #3 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. #12 Sergio Lemley MICH, 3-2 12-0
149: #3 Shayne Van Ness PSU dec. Dylan Gilcher MICH, 7-1 15-0
157: #1 Tyler Kasak PSU dec. Zack Mattin MICH, 7-2 18-0
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU maj. dec. #10 Beau Mantanona MICH, 18-4 22-0
174: #2 Levi Haines PSU pinned #29 Joseph Walker MICH, WBF (2:37) 28-0
184: #1 Carter Starocci PSU tech fall #24 Jaden Bullock MICH, 19-4 (TF; 7:00) 33-0
197: #4 Josh Barr PSU dec. #2 Jacob Cardenas MICH, 3-2 (TB) 36-0
285: #2 Greg Kerkvliet PSU dec. #8 Josh Heindselman MICH, 6-0 39-0
Attendance: 14,355 (Penn State has wrestled in front of 84 sellouts in its last 89 home events, including 74-straight in Rec Hall and 10 of 15 in the BJC).
Records: Penn State (11-0, 5-0 B1G); Michigan (5-5, 2-5 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: Home vs. Maryland, Sunday, Feb. 9 – 1 p.m. in Rec Hall
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: True freshman Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 7 at 125, met Christian Tanefeu. Lilledahl forced an early scramble with a high double, eventually gaining control of Tanefeu and taking a 3-0 lead at the 2:00 mark. The Wolverine escaped to a 3-1 score and action resumed in neutral. The duo battled on the lion logo through the :30 mark. Lilledahl took a couple low shots, but Tanefeu was able to back out of his reach and the Lion settled for a 3-1 lead after one. Tanefeu chose neutral to start the second period and escaped to a 3-2 score. The Wolverine worked his way in on a shot but Lilledahl was able to force a stalemate at 1:20. Lilledahl zipped through another high shot and took a 6-2 lead with another takedown with :55 on the clock. Lilledahl controlled action on top for the rest of the period and carried a 6-2 lead with 1:23 in time into the third. Lilledahl chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead, still holding over a minute in riding time. He forced a stall warning and immediately took Tanefeu down to lead 10-2. He quickly locked up a cradle and finished off the bout with a fall at 5:38.
133: Freshman Kyison Garcia stepped in for No. 7 Braeden Davis at 133 and took on Nolan Wertanen. The duo worked in neutral through the 1:10 mark before Garcia connected on a low single. The Lion worked to pull Wertanen in but the Wolverine was able to defend the effort action to keep Garcia off the scoreboard. The first period ended in a scoreless tie. Garcia chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The clock ticked below 1:00 in neutral. Garcia began to pressure Wertanen backwards and turned a low single on the edge of the mat to a takedown and a 4-0 lead. Trailing 4-0, Wertanen chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 4-1 score. Garcia snapped down on Wertanen’s head and nearly connected again at 1:00 but action moved out of bounds. With the clock sliding past :45, Garcia fought off a slight Wertanen shot and locked up the action, forcing a reset with :20 left in the bout. Garcia finished the match on his feet and posted the 4-1 win.
141: Senior+ Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 3 at 141, battled No. 12 Sergio Lemley. Bartlett worked to control the action, holding position on the Loin logo through the opening minute. Action continued on their feet through one minute and a double stall was called. The first period ended in a 0-0 tie. Lemley chose down to start the second period and worked his way to an escape after :39. Lemley took a slight low shot at :30 that Bartlett stepped back from and the match moved to the second period with Bartlett trailing 1-0. Bartlett chose down to start the third period and muscled his way to a reversal and a 2-1 lead. He controlled Lemley until a stalemate was called at 1:14. Bartlett settled in on offense off the reset, controlling the Wolverine long enough to build his riding time over 1:00. With :40 on the clock, Lemley was able to escape to a 2-2 tie, but Bartlett had 1:10 in time. The Nittany Lion finished the match on his feet and, with riding time, posted the hard fought 3-2 win.
149: Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 3 at 149, met Dylan Gilcher. Van Ness controlled the tempo to start the match, forcing Gilcher to the outside circle as the clock moved below the 1:30 mark. Van Ness continued to pressure Gilcher backwards through 1:00, forcing a stall warning at :50. He then connected on a low single. He maintained connection with Gilcher as he worked to break away and finished off the takedown with :03 left to lead 3-0 after one. Leading by three, Van Ness chose down to start the second period and quicky escaped to a 4-0 lead. Van Ness continued to press Gilcher backwards and, with :50, turned a low shot into another takedown and a 7-0 lead. He finished the period on top and led 7-0 with :33 in riding time after two periods. Gilcher chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 7-1 score. Van Ness nearly took Gilcher down again at 1:15 but the Wolverine was once again able to slip out of bounds. Van Ness scrambled his way into control on a low single at :55. Gilcher was able to back out of bounds again and kill the clock. Van Ness posted a strong 7-1 win.
157: Sophomore Tyler Kasak, ranked No. 1 at 157, faced off against Zack Mattin. Kasak scored quickly, taking Mattin down to open u pa 3-0 lead at the 2:37 mark. He cut Mattin loose after a short ride and led 3-1. Kasak continued to press on offense and took a 6-1 lead with a low shot at 1:05. Kasak controlled action on top, forcing a stall warning with :30. He finished the period on top and led 6-1 with 1:20 in riding time after the opening period. Kasak chose neutral to start the second period. Kasak paced on the Lion logo through the 1:00 mark, looking to score again. Mattin was able to fight off the Lion’s efforts, however, and Kasak continued to lead 6-1 with 1:20 in time after two. Mattin chose down to start the third period, Kasak built his riding time edge up over 2:00 with a strong ride. With riding time clinched, Kasak cut Mattin loose at :55, looking for bonus points with another takedown. Kasak was unable to break through Mattin’s late defense and, with 2:29 in riding time, notched the convincing 7-2 win.
165: Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, took on No. 10 Beau Mantanona. Mesenbrink worked a high shot into a scramble early in the period and, after :30 of work, took a 3-0 lead with his first takedown of the bout. Mesenbrink built up nearly 1:00 in riding time before Mantanona escaped to a 3-1 score. Mesenbrink nearly turned a scramble into a second takedown late in the period, but action was halted on potentially dangerous the he led 3-1 after one. Mesenbrink chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-1 lead. He moved in on another low shot but dangerous was called to again. Mesenbrink forced a first stall at 1:20 and then muscled through a low single for a second takedown and a 7-1 lead. Mesenbrink worked on top for the rest of the period and carried that lead, with 2:01 in time, into the third. Mantanona chose down to start the third and Mesenbrink cut him loose. He took a 10-2 lead at 1:40 with another takedown. After cutting Mantanona loose, he picked up a point on stalling. He took a 14-4 lead with a takedown and cut at :40., then a 17-4 lead at :10 with a final takedown. Mesenbrink added 2:53 in riding time and rolled to the 18-4 major decision.
174: Junior Levi Haines, ranked No. 2 at 174, battled No. 29 Joseph Walker. Haines moved in quickly on offense. He used a low single to gain control of Walker on the edge of the mat and finished off the takedown to lead 3-0 with just under 2:00 remaining in the opening stanza. Haines controlled action on top and ran Walker over to his back, picking up the first period pin at the 2:37 mark.
184: Graduate Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 184, met No. 24 Jaden Bullock. Starocci scored quickly, turning a high single into a double leg lift and a 3-0 lead at 2:32. Starocci nearly picked up back points on the edge of the mat but action moved out of bounds and forced a reset at 1:52. Starocci controlled action on top while trying to turn Bullock through the 1:00 mark. He cut the Wolverines loose at :55 and went back to work on offense. He forced a first stall at :30 and then moved in on a low single, finishing off the takedown with :07 left to lead 6-1 with 1:47 in time after one. Starocci chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-1 lead. He snapped a low single and took a 10-1 lead with another takedown with 1:04 on the clock. Starocci cut Bullock loose on a reset and dove through a high double for another takedown and a 13-3 lead. Trailing by ten, Bullock chose down to start the third period. Starocci dominated action on top, picking up a stall point to lead 14-3 while clinching his riding time. A third stall gave Starocci a 15-3 lead. He cut Bullock loose at :30 and then finished off a takedown in the final seconds. His 3:31 in riding time gave Starocci the 19-4 tech fall at 7:00.
197: Redshirt freshman Josh Barr, ranked No. 4 at 197, faced No. 2 Jacob Cardenas. The duo battled evenly in the center of the mat over the first minute plus. Each wrestler defended slight shots from the other as the clock moved below the 1:15 mark. Barr began to pressure Cardenas backwards, nearly connecting on a high shot. Cardenas was able to defend the effort and action moved out of bounds. The first period ended in neutral and in a 0-0 tie. Barr chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. He moved back to the center of the mat and set up position on the Lion logo. The wrestlers traded quick shots as the clock hit 1:20. Barr and Cardenas worked in neutral for the remainder of the period and Barr carried the one point lead into the third period. Cardenas chose down to start the third period, trailing 1-0. Barr maintained control of the Wolverine for nearly :30 before Cardenas escaped to a 1-1 tie. Barr held position in the center of the mat, taking a series of low fast shots as the clock slipped past the 1:00 mark. Cardenas was able to defend Barr’s efforts, and the match moved to sudden victory tied 1-1. Barr took a couple of quick shots and then fought off a lunging Cardenas effort to force a stalemate at 1:27. Barr slipped out of a quick Cardenas shot at 1:10 and action continued in neutral. The match moved to tiebreaker tied 1-1. Cardenas was down for the first tie-breaker session and escaped to a 2-1 lead after just :08. Barr took down for his tiebreaker session needing to escape in :08. Barr was not able to escape quickly but continued to scramble on bottom. With :10 left, he turned into Cardenas with leg control and rolled through for a reversal with just :05 on the clock to secure the 3-2 (TB) win.
285: Senior+ Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 2 at 285, battled No. 8 Josh Heindselman. Kerkvliet worked the center of the mat, trying to break through Heindselman’s defense for over 1:00. As the Wolverine blocked the Nittany Lion off, Kerkvliet patiently continued to work with low shots. He connected on a single leg at the :45 mark and took a 3-0 lead. Kerkvliet finished the period on top to take that lead into the second stanza. Kerkvliet down to start the second period and quickly reversed Heindselman to lead 5-0. Kerkvliet then went to work on top, looking to turn Heindselman. The Wolverine was able to keep from getting turned but gave up a first stall at :45. Kerkvliet finished the period on top and led 5-0 with 2:27 in time after two. Kerkvliet chose neutral to start the third period. Kerkvliet battled on his feet through the 1:00 mark. Heindselman was able to defend his way to 0:00 on the clock and Kerkvliet, with 2:27 in time, securing a strong 6-0 win.