No. 1 Penn State wrestling had two starters out and sustained an early upset, but still managed to roll to a 27-13 victory over No. 6 Ohio State on Friday night in Columbus.
Highlighting the win for the Nittany Lions, were tech falls by Mitchell Mesenbrink, Carter Starocci and Josh Barr, while Beau Bartlett knocked off top-ranked Jesse Mendez in a rematch of last year’s Big Ten and NCAA title bouts, both won by the Buckeye.
The victory extended Penn State’s program record dual meet win streak to 69.
HOW IT HAPPENED
125 Pounds
No. 7 Luke Lilledahl jumped out to a 6-2 lead and had over a minute of riding time heading into the second against Ohio State’s No. 21-ranked Brendan McCrone. But with Lilledahl choosing down to start the second, McCrone went to work on top for over a minute. The Buckeye then caught the Nittany Lion freshman in a cradle for a pin at the 3:58 mark.
The upset gave Ohio State an early 6-0 lead
133 Pounds
Returning to action after missing the last three duals with an injury, No. 8-ranked Braeden Davis got the Nittany Lions’ bounce-back started against No. 11 Nic Bouzakis. After a scoreless first, Bouzakis escaped for a 1-0 lead to start the second. Davis followed through on a scramble out of a low single for the bout’s first takedown, and Bouzakis quickly worked a reversal to tie the bout at 3-3 at the end of two after two near fall points for the Buckeye were waved off following a challenge. A quick escape followed by a low shot for a takedown pushed Davis in front 7-3. Though Bouzakis managed another reversal, Davis escaped and secured an 8-5 decision.
The Nittany Lion sophomore’s win cut Ohio State’s lead to 6-3.
141 Pounds
No. 3 Beau Bartlett and No. 1 Jesse Mendez square off in the night’s most anticipated bout. Bartlett defeated Mendez 3-1 in last year’s dual, but Mendez went on to win their rematches in the Big Ten and NCAA finals, as well as an unofficial meeting in November’s NWCA All-Star Classic, all by the same margin.
Bartlett wouldn’t be denied this time around. He fended off an early shot by Mendez, then late in the first took the Buckeye to the mat for a takedown and a 3-0 lead heading into the second. A fast escape by Bartlett for a 4-0 lead was the only point of the middle period. Mendez got on the board with an escape to open a third and a stall point in the waning seconds, but Bartlett claimed the 4-2 decision.
Penn State knotted the meet at 6-6.
149 Pounds
Second-ranked Nittany Lion sophomore Shayne Van Ness and No. 7-ranked Buckeye Dylan D’Emilio were scoreless after the first period, and D’Emilio opened the second with an escape for a 1-0 lead. The Buckeye appeared to be on his way to a certain takedown late in the period, throwing Van Ness to the mat, but the Nittany Lion nimbly rolled through it. Van Ness opened the third with an escape to tie the bout 1-1. After countering a D’Emilio shot, Van Ness steadily worked for control and scored a takedown with under 10 second remaining. Van Ness gave up a locked hands point but still took the 4-2 decision.
Penn State moved in front 9-6.
157 Pounds
True freshman Joe Sealey made his Penn State debut, filling in at 157 for the injured top-ranked Tyler Kasak against Ohio State’s Brandon Cannon. Though Sealey set the pace for much of the first, Cannon scored the bout’s opening takedown and took a 3-1 lead into the second. Cannon then exerted control in the second, keeping Sealey down for a full-period rideout. Escaping to start the third, Cannon used a low shot for another takedown, and with a riding time point claimed a 10-1 major decision.
Ohio State took a 10-9 lead into the intermission.
165 Pounds
Mitchell Mesenbrink put Penn State back in front for good with a dominant showing against Ohio State’s Brock Herman. The top-ranked Nittany Lion scored an opening takedown within seconds and continued to pour it on from them there, taking a 15-4 lead into the second. A reversal to start the second followed by a stall point put Mesenbrink ahead 18-4, and while working for a turn forced another stall call for a 19-4 tech fall at 4:39.
Penn State retook the dual meet lead 14-10.
174 Pounds
No. 2 Levi Haines was in trouble early against Ohio State’s No. 5 Carson Kharchla, as the Buckeye worked through a scramble for an opening takedown midway through the first. Escaping to start the second, Haines cut Kharchla’s lead to 3-2 heading into the third. Kharcla escaped to extend his lead to 4-2 at the start of the final period, but with 1:15 remaining Haines finally connected for a takedown. The Nittany Lion controlled the action on top the rest of the way, and with a riding time point secured a 6-4 decision.
Penn State widened its lead to 17-10 with three bouts remaining.
184 Pounds
No. 1 Carter Starocci opened the scoring against No. 19 Ryder Rogotzke with a takedown at the edge of the circle midway through the first, then cut the Buckeye loose and got in on a low shot for another takedown with 30 seconds left in the period. With Starocci ahead 6-2, Rogotzke started the second with an escape, and the Nittany Lion went right back to work on offense. Starocci played catch and release throughout the middle period, scoring three more takedowns to take a 15-6 lead into the third. Choosing neutral to start the final period, Starocci got in on his sixth takedown and cut Rogotzke loose. With 10 second remaining, Starocci used a high shot for a final takedown, and with the riding time point claimed a 22-7 technical fall at 7:00.
Penn State extended its lead to 22-10.
197 Pounds
No. 3-ranked redshirt freshman Josh Barr and Ohio State’s No. 23 Seth Shumate battled to a scoreless tie in the first before Barr started the second with an escape for a 1-0 lead. Barr then used a low single for a takedown and 4-0 lead after two. Shumate escaped to start the third, and that’s when Barr turned up the pressure. The Nittany Lion used a low double for a takedown at the edge, then had Shumate reeling. Barr scored three more takedowns in the period, including one with three seconds remaining, and added a riding time point for a 20-5 tech fall at 7:00.
Penn State held an insurmountable 27-10 lead
285 Pounds
Cole Mirasola became the second true freshman to make his Penn State debut on the night, filling for Greg Kerkvliet against Ohio State’s ninth-ranked Nick Feldman. The Buckeye took an scored an early takedown and fended off a strong Mirasola shot to take a 3-1 lead into the second. After escaping to start the second, Feldman converted a low single for takedown and after a Mirasola escape, had a 7-1 lead after two periods. Mirasola escaped to open the third, but Feldman countered a late shot for another takedown. Mirasola escaped but Feldman claimed a 10-3 decision.
The win gave the Buckeyes three more team points, but Penn State captured the dual 27-13.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Penn State remains on the road to visit Illinois at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16. The meet will be livestreamed on B1G+.
