×

Penn State wrestling cruises past Nebraska on the road

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (8-0, 2-0 B1G) rolled to a 31-7 win over homestanding Nebraska (6-2, 1-1 Big Ten) in its first Big Ten road dual of the season. The Nittany Lions dominated the dual from the onset in front of a record crowd of over 6,600 fans in Nebraska’s Devaney Center, winning eight of ten bouts in the process.

The dual began at 174. Junior Levi Haines, ranked No. 2 at 174, got Penn State off to a hot start with a strong 9-2 win over No. 15 Lenny Pinto off two takedowns, two escapes and a riding time point. Graduate Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 184, followed Haines’ win up by majoring No. 17 Silas Allred, rolling to an 11-2 major decision with 2:45 in riding time to put Penn State up 7-0. Redshirt freshman Josh Barr, ranked No. 4 at 197, racked up six takedowns to post a convincing 19-4 technical fall over No. 22 Camden McDaniel at the 6:42 mark.

Senior Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 2 at 285, was equally dominant, using two takedowns and three turns (including two four-point moves in the third) to roll to a 20-2 tech fall over No. 24 Harley Andrews at 6:12. True freshman Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 12 at 125, used a late takedown to break a 1-1 tie late in his bout with No. 6 Caleb Smith and posted a 4-2 win over the sixth-ranked Husker. Lilledahl’s victory gave Penn State a 20-0 lead at halftime.

Sophomore Braeden Davis, ranked No. 5 at 133, dropped a tough 14-7 decision to No. 16 Jacob Van Dee to start the second half, cutting Penn State’s lead to 20-3. Senior+ Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 3 at 141, used a last second reversal to post a thrilling 8-7 win over No. 6 Brock Hardy to give Penn State a 23-3 lead. Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 2 at 149, lost to No. 4 Ridge Lovett, dropping a 10-2 major.

Sophomore Tyler Kasak, ranked No. 3 at 157, used a seven-point flurry (takedown, four back points) in the first period to roll to a 9-3 win over No. 5 Antrell Taylor to give the Lions a 26-7 lead. Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, closed out the dual meet by dominating No. 7 Bubba Wilson in the dual’s final bout. Mesenbrink used three takedowns, and two three-point turns to roll to a 20-3 tech fall at 5:39. The Nittany Lions walked out of Devaney with a lopsided 31-7 victory.

Penn State booked a big 20-4 edge in takedowns. The Lions, winning eight of ten bouts, picked up seven bonus points off three tech falls (Barr, Kerkvliet, Mesenbrink) and a major (Starocci).

The Nittany Lions are now 8-0, 2-0 B1G. Nebraska falls to 6-2, 1-1 B1G. The Nittany Lions continue road action next Friday, Jan. 24, visiting Rutgers. The Nittany Lions and Scarlet Knights will meet at 8 p.m. in Piscataway in another B1G Network national telecast.

No. 1 Penn State 31, No. 4 Nebraska 7

174: No. 2 Levi Haines (PSU) dec. No. 15 Lenny Pinto, 9-2. 184: No. 1 Carter Starocci (PSU) maj. dec. No. 17 Silas Allred, 11-2. 197: No. 4 Josh Barr (PSU) tech fall No. 22 Camden McDaniel, 19-4, 6:42. 285: No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) tech fall No. 24 Harley Andrews, 20-2, 6:12. 125: No. 12 Luke Lilledahl (PSU) dec. No. 6 Caleb Smith, 4-2. 133: No. 16 Jacob Van Dee (N) dec. No. 5 Braeden Davis, 14-7. 141: No. 3 Beau Bartlett (PSU) dec. No. 6 Brock Hardy, 8-7. 149: No. 4 RIdge Lovett (N) maj. dec. No. 2 Shayne Van Ness, 10-2. 157: No. 3 Tyler Kask (PSU) dec. No. 5 Antrell Taylor, 9-3. 165: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) tech fall No. 7 Bubba Wilson, 20-3, 5:39.

Records: Penn State (8-0, 2-0 Big Ten), Nebraska (6-2, 1-1 Big Ten).

Starting at $3.69/week.

Subscribe Today