No. 1 Penn State wrestling (8-0, 2-0 Big Ten) continued its streak of dominance Friday night at Nebraska (6-2, 1-1 Big Ten), knocking off the Cornhuskers 31-7 at the Devaney Center in Lincoln.
With the effort, Penn State has outscored its opponents 354-16 in its first eight dual meets of the season and extended its dual win streak to 64.
The dual was highlighted by an upset victory from No. 12 Luke Lilledahl, who defeated Nebraska’s No. 6 Caleb Smith on a takedown with 15 seconds remaining in the bout, and No. 3 Beau Bartlett scoring a late reversal to beat the Huskers’ No. 6-ranked Brock Hardy in an 8-7 thriller.
The Nittany Lions’ scored bonus points in four of their eight wins, with Josh Barr, Greg Kerkvliet and Mitchell Mesenbrink each winning by tech fall and Carter Starocci scoring a major decision.
How It Happened
174 Pounds
Kicking off the dual was No. 2 Levi Haines taking on Nebraksa’s No. 15 Lenny Pinto. After taking an early stalemate due to a failed single-leg attempt, Haines countered an attack from Pinto with a go-behind to secure the bout’s first takedown with just over 60 seconds left in the first period, taking a 3-0 lead into the second. Haines could not finish a late takedown attempt, however, he extended his lead to 4-0 after an escape from bottom position to start the middle period. To start the third, Pinto secured a reversal from bottom position to tighten the Nittany Lion’s lead to 5-2 after Haines’ eventual escape. However, Haines closed out the period with his second takedown of the bout to take the 9-2 decision victory.
184 Pounds
Up next, No. 1 Carter Starocci battled against No. 7 Silas Allred. Starocci opened up the bout with a single leg on the edge of the mat to take a quick 3-0 lead over Allred. After the takedown, Starocci remained in control of Allred in the top position to collect over 60 seconds of riding time heading into the second. Allred escaped to start the second, but Starocci attacked again for a second takedown and a 6-1 lead after two. A third takedown from Starocci in the final period gave the Nittany Lion an 11-2 major decision victory.
197 Pounds
No. 4 Josh Barr continued his excellent redshirt freshman season when he faced off against No. 22 Camden McDaniel. After a good bit of scrambling, Barr finished on a double leg in the waning seconds of the first period to take a 3-0 lead into the second. After an escape and a second takedown from Barr, he took a 7-0 lead with over 80 seconds of riding time into the final two minutes. A demoralizing final period for McDaniel allowed Barr to wrap up five takedowns in the third to take a 19-4 tech fall victory at 6:42.
Penn State led the dual 12-0 after three bouts.
285 Pounds
After the tech fall, No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet took on Nebraska’s No. 24 Harley Andrews in the heavyweight bout. A takedown from Kerkvliet was the only point scored in the first, however, he carried over 120 seconds of riding time into the second. Kerkvliet opened up the scoring in the second with a reversal, a stall point and two few near-fall points, however, Andrews hit the Nittany Lion with a reversal to tighten the lead to 8-2. Kerkvliet then bounced back with an escape and takedown to put himself farther in front 12-2 heading into the third period. Two sets of four-point near falls at the beginning of the third period awarded Kerkvliet the 20-2 tech fall at 6:12.
125 Pounds
In one of the biggest bouts of the night, No. 12 Lilledahl walked to the mat to face off against No. 6 Smith. A few takedown attempts from each wrestler didn’t amount to anything as the scoreboard still read 0-0 after the first. An escape from Smith was once the only point scored in the second, the Cornhusker led 1-0 heading into the third, even as Lillehdahl set the pace of the bout. After a majority of the first period remained on the feet, Lilledahl scrambled for the bout’s first and only takedown with 15 seconds remaining in the period to secure the 4-2 decision victory and remain undefeated.
The Nittany Lions led 20-0 at the intermission.
133 Pounds
After the intermission, No. 5 Braeden Davis took on the Huskers’ No. 16 Jacob Van Dee. An aggressive start from Davis came back to bite him as Van Dee secured the bout’s first takedown and four near fall points to jump out to a 7-0 lead. Davis bounced back with a takedown of his own, but Van Dee countered with a reversal to take back control, and the Nebraska wrestler led 9-5 after an action-packed first period. An escape from Davis was the only point scored in the second, shrinking the Cornhusker’s lead to 9-6. Van Dee escaped to start the third, then countered a Davis throw attempt with a takedown. With a riding time point, Van Dee captured a a 14-7 decision victory over Davis for Nebraska’s first win of the night.
141 Pounds
After the loss, No. 3 Beau Bartlett faced off against Nebraska’s No. 6 Brock Hardy. After an opening takedown from Bartlett, the wrestlers traded reversals until the eventual escape from Hardy, putting the Nittany Lion in front 5-3 after the opening period. An escape from Bartlett was the only point scored in the second, extending his lead to 6-3. Hardy escaped to start the third then quickly scored his first takedown of the night and went to work on top with a 7-6 lead. As as the clock ticked down, Bartlett flipped the script for a reversal with 12 seconds left, staying in control to erase Hardy’s riding time point and take a narrow 8-7 decision victory, which was upheld after a short review to the dismay of the home crowd.
Penn State led the dual 23-3 with three bouts remaining.
149 Pounds
No. 2 Shayne Van Ness took on Nebraska’a No. 4 Ridge Lovett at 149. Good scrambling in the first period kept the score locked at 0-0 after one. Van Ness worked to a reversal and held a 2-1 lead at the end of the second. However, the third period belonged to Lovett, escaping then taking down Van Ness and turning him for four near fall points. With a riding time point, Lovett won a 10-2 major decision for the Huskers’ second and final victory of the night.
149 Pounds
Next up to the mat for Penn State was No. 3 Tyler Kasak facing off against No. 5 Antrell Taylor. A takedown and a four-point near fall for Kasak opened up the scoring at 7-1 after the first period. An escape from Kasak was the only point scored in the second, extending his lead to 8-1. In a similar fashion, an escape from Taylor and a stalling point was the only scoring of the final period, and Kasak took the 8-3 decision victory.
156 Pounds
Wrapping up the night, No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink took on No. 7 Bubba Wilson. A lone takedown from Mesenbrink accounted for the only points scored in the first as the Nittany Lion took a 3-0 lead after one. Mesenbrink went to work in the second, though, escaping then scoring his second takedown and forcing a stalling point. After giving up a penalty point, Mesenbrink took down Wilson again and turned him for three near fall points as the Nittany Lion took a commanding 14-3 lead at the end of the second period. A final takedown and and a three-point turn in the third gave Mesenbrink the 20-3 tech fall at 5:39.
Penn State won the dual 31-7.
What’s Next?
The Nittany Lions will stay on the road when they travel to Rutgers on Friday, Jan. 24, to take on the Scarlett Knights at 8 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
