NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and the No. 1 Penn State wrestling team, much like Santa Claus, is the gift that keeps on giving, win after win after win.
The Nittany Lions ran their record to 6-0 on Sunday, Dec. 22, by notching three lopsided wins, including two shutouts, at the Journeymen Collegiate Duals at the Frist Campus of The Ensworth School in Nashville, Tennessee.
Penn State won its 62nd consecutive dual meet, breaking the program record of 61 in a row.
The Nittany Lions posted a cumulative 29-1 record in wins over Binghamton (52-0), No. 15 Arkansas Little Rock (44-0) and No. 8 Missouri (41-3).
Penn State earned bonus points in 23 of its 29 wins, with eight pins, two forfeits, eight technical falls, four major decisions and seven decisions. Its only loss came in a sudden victory in a battle of national champions.
Four Nittany Lions –– Shayne Van Ness (149), Mitchell Mesenbrink (165), Carter Starocci (184) and Greg Kerkvliet (285) –– picked up bonus points in each of their three wins. Van Ness, however, scored three falls.
“Throughout the day we were talking. We have this little competition going to see who gets the most pins throughout the whole year. So we’re just having little fun games like that, competition between each other,” Van Ness told the Penn State Sports Network after the Missouri win.
“And I think just everyone on the team is here to do the same thing. And when you have a group of guys that’s really focused and dedicated to their craft, what the things they can do are incomprehensible.
Van Ness has been utterly dominant so far this season in compiling a 9-0 record in his return to the lineup after sitting out last year with an injury. He has four falls, two tech falls, two major decisions and a decision by shutout.
“I’m really just grateful to be out here again and compete and to show people who I am. You know, I like to have fun, I like to smile and I just like to go out there and wrestle the way that I want to,” he said.
“Without a doubt, I’m definitely more grateful to be out there. Having to sit and watch is really tough, but it makes me appreciate it more. And I think the biggest thing is like, I’m not worried about winning and losing anymore. I’m just like, so grateful that I get to be out there and to compete, that whatever happens happens. I just love being there.”
NO. 1 PENN STATE 41, NO. 8 MISSOURI 3
The Nittany Lions dominated the No. 8 Tigers, winning nine of 10 bouts, scoring bonus points in seven of the nine wins. But it was the one bout that Penn State lost that most people will be talking about.
No. 2 174-pounder Levi Haines, a two-time NCAA finalist and a champion at 157 pounds, had made the shift up two weights seem routine, until Sunday. To be fair, he met two-time NCAA champion Keegan O’Toole in a much-anticipated showdown of two of the nation’s best at any weight.
Haines and O’Toole traded escapes in regulation and went to sudden victory tied at 1-1. In a scramble midway through the period, each wrestler looked ready to score the winning takedown, but it was O’Toole who finally came out on top to secure a 4-1 win in what many believe could be a preview of the NCAA final in March.
Penn State rolled up a 15-2 edge in takedowns in winning the other nine bouts. Van Ness (1:57) and Josh Barr (1:45 at 197 pounds) each scored falls. Mesenbrink received his second forfeit of the day. Greg Kerkvliet blanked his opponent 15-0 at 285. Carter Starocci (10-1 at 184), Tyler Kasak (11-3 at 157) and Braeden Davis (14-3 at 133) all posted major decisions. Luke Lilledahl (125) and Beau Bartlett (141) each earned decisions, Bartlett in the sudden victory period.
NO. 1 PENN STATE 44, NO. 15 LITTLE ROCK 0
The Nittany Lions piled up an 18-2 advantage in takedowns in sweeping to a shutout over the Trojans.
Seventh-ranked Barr met No. 5 Stephen Little at 197 in one of two marquee bouts in this dual. After regulation ended 1-1, the two wrestlers traded takedown attempts but neither could score. Finally, with fewer than 30 seconds remaining, Barr connected on a low single, scooped the other ankle and scored the winning takedown in a scintillating 4-1 win.
In the other marquee bout of the dual, 10th-ranked Davis met No. 5 Nassir Bailey at 133 pounds. After a scoreless first, Davis chose bottom to start the second and escaped to lead 1-0 heading into the third. Bailey chose neutral to start the third and couldn’t penetrate Davis’ defense as the Nittany Lion hung on for the 1-0 win.
In the other nine bouts, Penn State scored two falls (Bartlett and Van Ness), four tech falls (Mesenbrink, Haines, Starocci and Kerkvliet) and two decisions (Lilledahl and Kasak).
NO. 1 PENN STATE 52, BINGHAMTON 0
The Nittany Lions started the day with a dominating shutout of the Bearcats, not allowing a team point and refusing to relinquish even one takedown in a 25-0 advantage.
Van Ness (2:49), Kasak (3:31), Starocci (5:55) and Kerkvliet (1:33) pinned their opponents. Mesenbrink received a forfeit. Lilledahl (19-4), Haines (18-0) and Barr (19-4) rolled up technical falls. Bartlett (14-2) cruised to a major decision and Davis (6-0) blanked his foe in a decision.
Through six dual meets, Penn State has amassed an amazing 268-9 cumulative score, for an average win of 44.66-1.5. The starters in those duals are a combined 57-3, with two of those losses coming to the No. 1 ranked wrestler at their respective weight.
The Nittany Lions will enjoy an extended break before starting the Big Ten portion of the schedule. Michigan State visits Rec Hall at 8 p.m. Jan. 10.
No. 1 Penn State 41
No. 8 Missouri 3
(Sunday at Nashville, Tenn.)
125: No. 12 Luke Lilledahl, PSU, dec, Gage Walker, 5-4.
133: No. 10 Braeden Davis, PSU, maj. Dec. Kade Moore, 14-3.
141: No. 2 Beau Bartlett, PSU, dec. No. 16 Josh Edmond, 4-1 SV.
149: No. 2 Shayne Van Ness, PSU, pinned Zeke Seltzer, 1:57.
157: No. 4 Tyler Kasak, PSU, maj. Dec. James Conway, 11-3.
165: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU, won by forfeit.
174: No. 1 Keegan O’Toole, MIZ, dec. No. 2 Levi Haines, 4-1 SV.
184: No. 1 Carter Starocci, PSU, maj. Dec. No. 10 Colton Hawks, 10-1.
197: No. 7 Josh Barr, PSU, pinned Jesse Cassat, 1:45.
285: No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet, PSU, won by tech. fall over Jarrett Stoner,15-0 (5:57).
Takedowns: Missouri 2, Penn State 12.
Records: Penn State 6-0, 0-0 B1G; Missouri 2-5.
Next match: Michigan State at Penn State, 8 p.m. Jan. 10.
No. 1 Penn State 44
No. 15 Little Rock 0
(Sunday in Nashville, Tenn.)
125: No. 12 Luke Lilledahl, PSU, dec. Jaden Carson, 9-3.
133: No. 10 Braeden Davis, PSU, dec. No. 5 Nassir Bailey, 1-0.
141: No. 3 Beau Bartlett, PSU, pinned Cole Minnick, 5:23.
149: No. 2 Shayne Van Ness, PSU, pinned No. 16 Jordan Williams, 4:39.
157: No. 4 Tyler Kasak, PSU, dec. No. 20 Matty Bianchi, 4-2.
165: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU, won by tech. fall over No. 21 Joey Bianchi, 17-1 (5:27).
174: No. 2 Levi Haines, PSU, won by tech. fall over Kodiak Kennedy, 18-2 (5:33).
184: No. 1 Carter Starocci, PSU, won by tech. fall over Tristan Wills, 17-1 (5:37).
197: No. 7 Josh Barr, PSU, dec. No. 5 Stephen Little, 4-1 SV.
285: No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet, PSU, won by tech. fall over Keith Miley, 15-0 (1:40).
Takedowns: Arkansas Little Rock 2; Penn State 18.
Records: Penn State 5-0, 0-0 B1G; Little Rock 6-1.
No. 1 Penn State 52
Binghamton 0
(Sunday at Nashville, Tenn.)
125: No. 12 Luke Lilledahl, PSU, won by tech. fall over No. 33 Carson Wagner, 19-4 (5:37).
133: No. 10 Braeden Davis, PSU, dec. Micah Roes, 6-0.
141: No. 3 Beau Bartlett, PSU, maj. dec. Nate Lucier, 14-2.
149: No. 2 Shayne Van Ness, PSU, pinned Caleb Sweet, 2:49.
157: No. 4 Tyler Kasak, PSU, pinned Jordan Brown, 3:31.
165: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU, won by forfeit.
174: No. 2 Levi Haines, PSU, won by tech. fall over Roberto Padilla, 18-0 (5:00).
184: No. 1 Carter Starocci, PSU, pinned No. 23 Will Ebert, 5:55.
197: No. 7 Josh Barr, PSU, won by tech. fall over Andrew Bailey, 19-4 2:40.
285: No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet, PSU, pinned Charlie Tibbits,1:33.
Takedowns: Binghamton 0; Penn State 25.
Records: Penn State 4-0, 0-0 B1G; Binghamton 1-2.
