No. 1 Penn State wrestling (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) took down No. 14 Rutgers (10-5, 3-4 Big Ten) 35-3 on Monday night in the Bryce Jordan Center. Donning singlets in the school’s original black and pink, the Nittany Lions’ victory marked the 1,000th win in the program’s rich history.
Highlighting the dual were pins from Levi Haines and Aaron Brooks, a technical fall from Mitchell Mesenbrink and upset victories from backups Terrell Barraclough and Lucas Cochran.
How It Happened
125 Pounds
Kicking off the dual at 125 pounds, No. 2 Braeden Davis took on 19th-ranked Scarlet Knight Dean Peterson. After a scoreless first period and an exchange of escapes in the second and third, the wrestlers headed to sudden victory tied 1-1. Just 18 seconds into the extra period, Davis executed a slide-by and completed the decisive takedown for a 4-1 decision.
133 Pounds
Sixth-ranked Nittany Lion Aaron Nagao met No. 10 Dylan Shawver at 133. After falling victim early to the bout-opening takedown, Nagao bounced back with a flurry of offense of his own, securing a takedown and nearly a minute of riding time as the bout entered the second period with a score of 4-3 favoring the Nittany Lion.
A late takedown attempt in the second period from Nagao was stopped by a potentially dangerous call, keeping the score the same after two. After Nagao quickly escaped to start the third, Shawver used a high shot for a takedown, which was followed by a fast Nagao escape to tie the bout at 6-6 at the end of regulation. In sudden victory, Shawver countered a Nagao shot and secured the winning takedown for a 9-6 decision.
The dual score was tied 3-3 after the first two matches.
141 Pounds
Top-ranked Beau Bartlett battled Rutgers’ Max Hermes in the 141 pound bout. A scoreless first period and a Bartlett escape to start the second left the Nittany Lion ahead 1-0 heading into the third. Hermes evened the score at 1-1 with an escape of his own to start the third period, and with just five seconds remaining in the period, Bartlett made the turn for the match’s first takedown to secure the 4-1 decision victory.
149 Pounds
No. 10 Tyler Kasak took on Rutgers’ No. 26-ranked Michael Cetta at 149. Kasak pressured on offense from the outset, getting two takedowns and over a minute in riding time to give the freshman a 6-2 lead heading into the middle period. A reversal out of a scramble from Cetta to start the second and a rideout cut Kasak’s lead moving into the third period, with the Nittany Lion ahead 6-4 and his riding time under a minute. Kasak escaped out of bottom position to start the third period and, despite giving away a stalling point, displayed impeccable takedown defense to keep any additional points off the board. The true freshman found himself back in the win column with a 7-5 decision victory.
157 Pounds
It didn’t take No. 1 Levi Haines made short work iof Rutgers’ Dylan Weaver at 157. Haines used a low shot for a quick takedown, then worked to a cradle position and put Weaver on his back to take the win by fall at 1:31.
Penn State led the dual 15-3 heading into the intermission.
165 Pounds
No. 7 Mitchell Mesenbrink came out of the break on the offensive, taking down Rutgers’ Anthony White twice in the first period for a 6-1 lead with over 120 seconds of riding time. A quick takedown and a stall point extended Mesenbrink’s lead to 10-2 with 3:43 in riding time after two periods. After a fast escape, Mesenbrink scored another takedown, cut White loose and used a high shot for another takedown. While Mesenbrink worked for a turn, White got hit with a stall that gave the Nittany Lion freshman a final point for an 18-3 tech fall at 6:52.
174 Pounds
Filling in for Carter Starocci at 174 pounds, Penn State’s Terrell Barraclough took on No. 13 Jackson Turley. The Scarlet Knight secured the bout’s first takedown and held a 3-1 lead heading into the middle two minutes. A reversal out of bottom position from Barraclough evened the score at 3-3, and the Nittany Lion maintained control for the final minute second period. A complete third-period rideout from Barraclough secured a 4-3 decision victory after riding time.
Barraclough’s win put Penn State ahead 23-3 and sealed the Nittany Lions’ 1,000th program victory with three bouts to go.
184 Pounds
No. 6 Bernie Truax opened the scoring at 184 with an emphatic trip for a takedown of Rutgers’ Shane Cartagena-Walsh. With a late stall point, Truax took a 4-0 lead into the second period. An escape and another stalling point increased the lead to 6-0 heading into the final two minutes were underway. Cartagena-Walsh fended off Truax in the third, but the Nittany Lion added a riding time point for a 7-0 decision.
197 Pounds
No. 1 Aaron Brooks wasted little time putting away Rutgers’ Michael Toranzo in the 197 pound bout. The three-time national champion scored a takedown 40 seconds into the match, then turned Toranzo to his back for a first-period fall at 1:45.
Heavyweight
Finishing off the dual at heavyweight, Penn State’s Lucas Cochran battled against No. 8 Yara Slavikouski. Cochran finished off the bout’s opening takedown with just inches to spare on the outside of the mat, taking a 3-1 lead into the second period. Despite missing out on a second takedown opportunity, an escape from Cochran to start the second extended his lead to 4-1 entering the final two minutes. Following a Slavikouski escape to start the third, Cochran countered a shot for a second takedown, and with riding time secured an 8-1 decision over a top-10-ranked opponent.
Penn State claimed the dual meet 35-3.
What’s Next?
Penn State will be in action next against No. 5 Nebraska at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18, in Rec Hall. The dual will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
Geoff Rushton contributed to this report.
