Penn State Wrestling Ready for 2024 Big Ten Championships

THIS WEEK’S ACTION:

UNIVERSITY PARK- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (12-0, 8-0 B1G) will take part in the 2024 Big Ten Championship at the University of Maryland on March 9-10. The two-day event in College Park, Md., starts on Saturday, March 9, with session 1 at 10 a.m. and session 2 at 5:00 p.m. Sunday’s sessions 3&4 start at 12 p.m. with the Big Ten finals set for 4:30 p.m. All rankings listed are InterMat/InterMat TPI.

The Nittany Lions are coming off a 55-0 shutout win over Edinboro in their season dual finale on Feb. 25. Penn State won all ten bouts with four pins, five techs and a forfeit with no bouts hitting the third period. The win capped off Penn State’s dual meet season at 12-0, including an 8-0 Big Ten record (good enough for the 2024 Big Ten Regular Season Championship).

Head coach Cael Sanderson’s squad was impressive during the regular season. Going 12-0 in duals, the Nittany Lions outscored their opponents 428-69, winning by an average score of 35.7-5.8. Penn State went 101-19 in overall matches, posted a 278-45 takedown edge, had three shutouts on the year and only lost more than two bouts in a dual meet one time.

Penn State’s line-up for the Big Ten tournament begins with true freshman Braeden Davis, who is 16-2 and ranked No. 9 at 125 by InterMat. Sophomore Aaron Nagao is 10-4 and ranked No. 11 at 133. Senior Beau Bartlett is 18-0 and ranked No. 1 at 141. True freshman Tyler Kasak is 13-3 and No. 9 at 149. Sophomore Levi Haines is 15-0 and ranked No. 1 at 157. Freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink is 19-0 and No. 5 at 165. Senior Carter Starocci is 12-0 and No. 1 at 174. Graduate Bernie Truax is 11-3 and No. 6 at 184. Senior+ Aaron Brooks is 14-0 and ranked No. 1 at 197 and senior Greg Kerkvliet is 12-0 and No. 1 at 285.

The Nittany Lions have won seven Big Ten titles under head coach Cael Sanderson. Penn State has crowned 59 Big Ten Champions all-time, including four last season and 40 under Sanderson.

Penn State’s NCAA qualifiers, earned at the Big Ten Championship, will head to the 2024 NCAA Championships on March 21-23 in Kansas City, Mo. The three-day event runs Thursday through Saturday in Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center.

The 2023-24 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by the Family Clothesline. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via X at @pennstateWREST, on Penn State Wrestling’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.

#1 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (12-0, 8-0 B1G)
2024 BIG TEN REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS

125 #9 Braeden Davis Fr. Belleville, Mich./Dundee 16-2
(CR = 5 // Career vs. B1G: 8-2 // Career in B1G Trn: 0-0)

133 #11 Aaron Nagao So. La Habra, Calif./Esperanza 10-4
(CR = 9 // Career vs. B1G: 9-4 // Career in B1G Trn: 3-1)

141 #1 Beau Bartlett Sr. Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) 18-0
(CR = 1 // Career vs. B1G: 38-13 // Career in B1G Trn: 7-5)

149 #9 Tyler Kasak Fr. Doylestown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic 13-3
(CR = 9 // Career vs. B1G: 5-3 // Career in B1G Trn: 0-0)

157 #1 Levi Haines So. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 15-0
(CR = 1 // Career vs. B1G: 21-0 // Career in B1G Trn: 3-0)

165 #5 Mitchell Mesenbrink Fr. Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead 19-0
(CR = 5 // Career vs. B1G: 11-0 // Career in B1G Trn: 0-0)

174 #1 Carter Starocci Sr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 12-0
(CR = 1 // Career vs. B1G: 40-2 // Career in B1G Trn: 9-1)

184 #6 Bernie Truax Gr. Oceanside, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista 11-3
(CR = 6 // Career vs. B1G: 21-10 // Career in B1G Trn: 0-0)

197 #1 Aaron Brooks Sr.+ Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown 14-0
(CR = 1 // Career vs. B1G: 49-2 // Career in B1G Trn: 11-1)

285 #1 Greg Kerkvliet Sr. Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley 12-0
(CR = 1 // Career vs. B1G: 38-9 // Career in B1G Trn: 10-4)

Individual Rankings listed are InterMat and Team Rankings are
Intermat Tournament Power Index (as of 2/27/24)

THIS WEEK
Penn State (12-0, 8-0 B1G) travels to the University of Maryland for the 2024 Big Ten Championship on Saturday and Sunday, March 9-10. The two-day event serves as the national qualifier for the conference’s 14 teams. Action begins on Saturday with session 1 at 10 a.m. and session 2 at 5:00 p.m. Sunday’s sessions 3&4 are set for 12 p.m. with the Big Ten finals at 4:30 p.m.

UP NEXT
Penn State’s NCAA qualifiers will take part in the 2024 NCAA Championships on March 21-23 in Kansas City, Mo. The three-day event runs Thursday through Saturday in Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center.

ON THE AIR
TV – B1G Network / B1G+
Radio online – Free all year via Lionvision at GoPSUsports.com
Live Web Video – B1G+

NOTES:
PENN STATE ENDS REGULAR SEASON WITH 12-0 DUAL MARK
The Penn State Nittany Lions finished off another unbeaten dual meet season by shutting out Edinboro 55-0 on Feb. 25. Penn State ended the season 12-0. Some #funstats on Penn State’s 2023-24 overall dual meet season”
* Went 12-0 * Outscored conference opponents 428-69
* Went 101-19 overall * Won by average score of 35.7-5.8
* Picked up three shutouts * Only lost more than two bouts one time
* Penn State owned a 278-45 advantage in overall takedowns in 12 dual meets

NITTANY LIONS SHUT OUT EDINBORO 55-0 IN DUAL FINALE
Penn State shut out visiting Edinboro 55-0 on Senior Day in Rec Hall, claiming all ten bouts against the Fighting Scots on Feb. 25. Penn State tallied four pins (Beau Bartlett, Tyler Kasak, Levi Haines, Greg Kerkvliet); five technical falls (Braeden Davis, Aaron Nagao, Carter Starocci, Bernie Truax, Aaron Brooks) and one forfeit victory (Mitchell Mesenbrink). No bout made it to the third period. The win helped Penn State cap off a 12-0 dual meet campaign.

BRIAN BORDEN WINS NCO TITLE; 6 LIONS PLACE AT OPEN
Brian Borden won the National Collegiate Open title at 174 pounds on Sunday, Feb. 25, one of six Nittany Lions competing at the event (attached an unattached), all of whom placed. Borden went 3-0 with a pin to win the crown. He beat teammate Erik Gibson in the finals. Gibson went 3-1 with a major and a tech to take second place. Connor Pierce went 3-1 to take third at 149, Jack Kelly went 4-1 with three pins to take third at 184, Brandon Wentzel went 3-2 for fourth at 125, and Kyison Garcia was 4-2 at 133, taking fifth.

PENN STATE WINS 2024 BIG TEN REGULAR SEASON TITLE
The Penn State Nittany Lions rolled through the Big Ten portion of their dual meet schedule with an 8-0 record an won the team’s 10th conference dual crown under head coach Cael Sanderson. Some #funstats on Penn State’s 2023-24 B1G dual season:
* Went 8-0 * Outscored conference opponents 264-46
* Went 67-13 overall * Won by average score of 29.3-5.1
* Picked up two shutouts * Only lost more than two bouts one time
* Penn State owned a 175-28 advantage in overall takedowns over the 8 B1G duals

NITTANY LIONS DOWN NEBRASKA 22-13 IN B1G DUAL FINALE
Penn State rallied from an early dual deficit to out-distance visiting Nebraska in a 22-13 victory in Rec Hall on Feb. 18, 2024. The Lions won five of the last six bouts to claim the dual victory. Penn State picked up top-ten wins from Beau Bartlett (a 9-6 winner over #7 Brock Hardy at 141) and Levi Haines (a 10-3 winner over #7 Peyton Robb at 157) as well as a 17-4 major from Aaron Brooks over #13 Silas Allred at 197. The win capped off Penn State’s B1G dual season at 8-0, clinching the 2024 Big Ten Regular Season Championship

BEAU BARTLETT NAMED B1G W.O.W (2/14)
Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler Beau Bartlett WAS been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending February 12, 2024. Bartlett dominated No. 2 Real Woods 7-2 on Friday night in Iowa City, sparking Penn State to a 29-6 win over the Hawkeyes in their building. Three nights later, Bartlett used a late takedown to defeat Max Hermes of Rutgers 4-1 in the 2024 BJC Dual against Rutgers.

BARRACLOUGH, COCHRAN BUMP UP FOR RANKED WINS TO LEAD LIONS TO 35-3 WIN OVER RUTGERS IN BJC DUAL
Terrell Barraclough and Lucas Cochran each bumped up a weight an grabbed wins over ranked opponents to lead the Nittany Lions to a 35-3 victory over Rutgers in the 2024 BJC Dual. Barraclough used a third period rideout and 2:49 in riding time to beat #13 Jackson Turley 4-3 at 174. Cochran gave up 50 pounds in moving up to 285 and dominated #8 Yaraslau Slavikouski 7-3. Levi Haines and Aaron Brooks added pins, Mitchell Mesenbrink posted a tech and the Nittany Lions won nine of ten in the victory.

BARTLETT DOWNS #2 WOODS as NITTANY LIONS ROLL TO 29-6 WIN AT #6 IOWA
Beau Bartlett notched one of six ranked wins for Penn State in its resounding 29-6 win at #6 Iowa on Feb. 9. The Nittany Lion senior rolled to a 7-2 victory over #2 Real Woods at 141. Aaron Nagao majored #20 Cullan Schreiver 12-0 at 133, Levi Haines majored #5 Jared Franek 12-0 at 157, Mitchell Mesenbrink beat #6 Michael Caliendo 12-6 at 165, Carter Starocci majored #7 Patrick Kennedy 13-5 at 174 and Aaron Brooks beat #11 Zach Glazier 5-1 at 197. Bernie Truax took care of Aidan Riggins with an 8-0 major at 184 and Greg Kerkvliet majored Ben Keuter 9-1 at 285 to round out Penn State’s wins. Penn State true freshman Braeden Davis dropped a tough 4-2 decision to #7 Drake Ayala at 125 and true freshman Tyler Kasak lost a tough 11-8 sudden victory decision to #12 Caleb Rathjen at 149.

BARTLETT DOWNS #3 MENDEZ TO LEAD PENN STATE TO 28-9 WIN OVER OHIO STATE
Beau Bartlett scored early in sudden victory to post a 4-1 (sv) win over #3 Jesse Mendez to spark Penn State to a 28-9 win over visiting Ohio State on Feb. 2. Bartlett’s win was one of eight for Penn State in front of another sold out Rec Hall crowd. True freshman Tyler Kasak beat #9 Dylan D’Emilio 7-2 at 149 and Greg Kerkvliet majored #12 Nick Feldman 12-0 at 285 as well.

BARRACLOUGH, BARR, COCHRAN WIN ‘BORO TITLES
Three Nittany Lions won individual titles at the Edinboro Open on Feb. 3. Terrell Barraclough went 4-0 with two pins, a tech and a major to win at 165; Josh Barr went 4-0 with a pin, two techs and a major to win at 184; and Lucas Cochran went 4-0 with two pins and a tech to win at 197. Connor Pierce went 4-1 for second at 149, Kyison Garcia was 3-2 for sixth at 133 and Brian Borden was 3-2 for sixth at 174.

BROOKS MAJORS #5 JAXON SMITH TO LEAD PENN STATE TO 42-6 VICTORY AT MARYLAND
Senior+ Aaron Brooks dominated #5 Jaxon Smith of Maryland, rolling to a 13-4 major at 197 pounds, to lead Penn State to a 42-6 road win on Jan. 28. Brooks’ win highlighted a lopsided victory for the Nittany Lions. Penn State had four pins in the dual victory (Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165, Carter Starocci at 174, Bernie Truax at 184, Greg Kerkvliet at 285); two technical falls (Braeden Davis at 125, Levi Haines at 157) and two majors (Beau Bartlett at 141 and Brooks) to grab the B1G road win.

KASAK, BARR, COCHRAN WIN MAT-TOWN 2 TITLES
True freshman Tyler Kasak, ranked No. 12 at 149, went 4-0 with a pin and a major to win the 149-pound title at Mat-Town 2 in Lock Haven on Jan. 28. Kasak downed teammate David Evans, 4-2, in the title bout. True freshman Josh Barr went 3-0 at 184 with two tech falls to win his weight class and sophomore Lucas Cochran went 3-0 with two pins to win the 197-pound crown. Evans went 3-1 overall with a tech and a major to take second at 149.

PENN STATE SHUTS OUT MICHIGAN STATE IN EAST LANSING
The Penn State Nittany Lions won all ten bouts in a 35-0 shutout victory over Michigan State in East Lansing on Sunday, Jan. 21. The Nittany Lions picked up impressive wins from Levi Haines (9-6 tb2 over #21 Chase Saldate at 157) and Mitchell Mesenbrink (an 18-9 major over #10 Caleb Fish at 165) in the dual. Aaron Nagao (133) and Aaron Brooks (197) added tech falls and two wrestlers moved up a weight and picked up wins. Terrell Barraclough moved up to 174 and downed DJ Shannon 8-1 and Lucas Cochran moved up to heavyweight from 197 to beat Josh Terrill 5-0, securing Penn State’s second shutout of the year.

FRESHMEN DAVIS AND MESENBRINK POST B1G WINS IN MICHIGAN
True freshman Braeden Davis and redshirt freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink each notched impressive wins in Penn State’s 27-9 dual meet victory at Michigan on Jan. 19. Davis scored five unanswered points in the third period to beat #5 Michael DeAugustino at 125. He scored an escape and then took the Wolverine down, riding him out to add a riding time point in the 5-1 win. Mesenbrink was dominant in a 12-1 major over #7 Cameron Amine at 165. He forced the Wolverine into four stall warnings, nearly DQ’ing him, and added an escape, two takedowns and riding time in the 12-1 major decision.

PENN STATE ROLLS OVER #5 MICHIGAN IN ANN ARBOR
Penn State dominated #5 Michigan 27-9 in Ann Arbor on Jan. 19, winning eight of ten matches and forcing the Wolverines into 11 stall warnings. Penn State picked up ranked wins from Braeden Davis (125), Beau Bartlett (141), Levi Haines (157), Mitchell Mesenbrink (165), Bernie Truax (184), Aaron Brooks (197) and Greg Kerkvliet (285) in the win. The Nittany Lions owned a 15-2 takedown edge in the dual and their only losses came in sudden victory and/or by a point.

NITTANY LIONS USE 5 TECH FALLS TO SHUT OUT INDIANA; FOUR NITTANY LION FRESHMEN GRAB WINS
The Penn State Nittany Lions shut out visiting Indiana 46-0 on Sunday, Jan. 14, to open up Big Ten dual action. Penn State rode a wave of five technical falls and picked up a total of four wins from freshmen in the victory. Aaron Nagao (133), Tyler Kasak (149), Levi Haines (157), Carter Starocci (174) and Aaron Brooks (197) notched the techs. True freshmen Braeden Davis (125), Kasak (149) and Josh Barr (184) as well as redshirt freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink (165) logged the freshmen wins. The shutout was the first for Penn State since a 46-0 win over Rider on Feb. 20, 2022; and the first Big Ten shutout since a 46-0 win at Maryland on Jan. 7, 2022. Penn State also did not give up a takedown in the victory over the Hoosiers, owning a 35-0 takedown margin.

PENN STATE DOWNS #18 OREGON STATE IN FRONT OF RECORD CROWD IN CORVALLIS
The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team took down #18 Oregon State in front of a record crowd in Corvallis on Jan. 1, 2004. The Nittany Lions won nine of ten bouts in the rousing win, with 8,540 fans packing OSU’s Gill Coliseum. Three Penn State freshmen got ranked wins. Braeden Davis downed #15 Brandon Kaylor 11-6 at 125, Tyler Kasak took down #12 Nash Singleton 4-1 at 149 and Mitchell Mesenbrink rolled to a 17-2 tech fall (3:44) over #10 Matthew Olguin at 165. The Nittany Lions tallied four total tech falls in the win.

NITTANY LIONS TALLY 4 FALLS IN 43-10 WIN OVER HOFSTRA
Penn State tallied four falls, three tech falls and a major in a lopsided 43-10 win over visiting Hofstra on Dec. 10, 2023, in sold out Rec Hall. With four freshmen starting as well, Nittany Lions Levi Haines, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Bernie Truax and Aaron Brooks got pins. Aaron Nagao, David Evans and Carter Starocci notched tech falls and Braeden Davis picked up a major at 125 in his Lion dual debut.

BARTLETT AND FACUNDO QUALIFY FOR APRIL’S OLYMPIC TRIALS
Nittany Lions Beau Bartlett and Alex Facundo each finished in the top five of their weight classes at the 2023 Senior Nationals/U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier in Ft. Worth, Texas, on Dec. 15-17. Bartlett won three straight to advance to the finals at 65 kg. He finished as runner-up with a 3-1 record. Facundo went 5-1 with a pin and a tech to take third place at 74 kg. Terrell Barraclough also competed, going 4-3 for sixth at 74 kg.. Gary Steen went 3-2 and took seventh at 57 kg. Timothy Levine (2-2 at 65), Donovon Ball (1-1 at 86) and Josh Barr (3-2 at 86) also competed.

FIVE NITTANY LIONS MAKE REC HALL DUAL DEBUTS IN
30-10 WIN OVER #20 LEHIGH TO OPEN DUAL SEASON
Penn State won seven of ten bouts in the dual meet opener for the Nittany Lions and downed #20 Lehigh 30-10 in Rec Hall on Dec. 3. Five Nittany Lions made their Penn State dual meet debuts in the match (Aaron Nagao, Tyler Kasak, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Bernie Truax, Lucas Cochran). Carter Starocci picked up a pin at 174 to lead Penn State, Greg Kerkvliet majored #12 Nathan Taylor at 285, Levi Haines downed #24 Max Brignola at 157, Mitchell Mesenbrink notched a tech fall over #32 Jake Logan at 165, Bernie Truax picked up a tech fall at 184, Beau Bartlett notched a major at 141 and Tyler Kasak moved up to 149 and downed Drew Munch 7-5 at 149.

LUCAS COCHRAN TAKES THIRD AT MAT TOWN OPEN
Sophomore Lucas Cochran posted a 2-1 record, plus a win over a non-collegiate wrestler, to take third place at the Mat Town Open at Lock Haven on Nov. 26. Cochran majored Virginia’s Krystian Kinsey and then dropped a tough 13-6 decision to #6 Jacob Cardenas of Cornell. He pinned Cayden Bevis of Binghamton (2:57) and beat a non-collegiate wrestler in the third place bout. Kurt McHenry went 1-2 at 125 and both Sean Wang (133) and Timothy Levine (149) competed as well.

FIVE NITTANY LIONS WIN TITLES AT BLACK KNIGHT INVITE;
BARTLETT’S THREE PINS EARN HIM B1G W.o.W.
Five Nittany Lion wrestlers won titles at the Black Knight Invite at West Point on Nov. 19. True freshman Braeden Davis went 4-0 at 125 to win the title, including victories over No. 31 Tristan Lujan of Michigan State and No. 30 Ethan Berginc of Army West Point. Aaron Nagao went 4-0 in his Penn State debut at 133, including a pin over No. 33 Braden Basile of Army West Point in the title bout. Beau Bartlett went 4-0 with three pins to reign supreme at 141. Mitchell Mesenbrink went 4-0 at 165, including a 25-6 tech over No. 21 Brevin Cassella of Binghamton and a pin of No. 22 Anthony White of Rutgers, to win his title. True freshman Josh Barr went 4-0 at 184, including a win over No. 13 Jacob Nolan, to win the crown as well. Bartlett’s three pins earned the Lion senior a share of the Nov. 21 Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honor.

12 OF PENN STATE’S 17 ENTRIES PLACE AT BLACK KNIGHT
Including the five champions listed above (Davis, Nagao, Bartlett, Mesenbrink, Barr), 12 of Penn State’s 17 competitors placed at the Black Knight Invite on Nov. 19. Robert Howard went 2-2 for 4th at 125; Gary Steen went 4-1 for 5th at 125; Tyler Kasak went 3-1, losing to Bartlett in the finals, for 2nd at 141; David Evans went 4-1 for 5th at 141; Terrell Barraclough went 3-1, including a pin of No. 9 Caleb Fish of Michigan State, for 2nd at 165 (losing to Mesenbrink in the finals); Matt Lee went 3-2 for 6th at 165; and Brian Borden went 3-2 for 6th at 174.

FIVE NITTANY LIONS COMPETE AT NWCA ALL-STAR
EXHIBITION, HOSTED IN REC HALL ON NOV. 21
Five Penn State Nittany Lion wrestlers competed in the 2023 National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Exhibition. The event took place on Tuesday, Nov. 21, in Penn State’s very own Rec Hall. The exhibition was not an official NCAA event and does not count towards any competitor’s win/loss record or RPI. Shayne Van Ness rolled to a 5-1 win over Arizona State’s Kyle Parco at 149, Carter Starocci majored Mekhi Lewis 11-0 at 174, Aaron Brooks majored Tanner Sloan 11-2 at 197 and Greg Kerkvliet notched an 18-2 tech fall over Wyatt Hendrickson at 285.

SHAYNE VAN NESS RULES THE JOURNEYMEN;
3 WINS, 3 PINS, ALL IN THE FIRST PERIOD, EARNS B1G W.O.W.
Sophomore Shayne Van Ness rolled to a 3-0 record at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic on Nov. 12 in Bethlehem, Pa. All three of his wins were by fall and all three came in the first period. He pinned Army West Point’s Eddie Hummel at 2:06, Bloomsburg’s Cade Balestrini at 2:58 and Lehigh’s Kelvin Griffin at 1:30. In all, Van Ness wrestled 6:34 minutes of a possible 21:00. He was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week (11/14) for his efforts, sharing the honor with Wisconsin’s Dean Hamiti.

NITTANY LIONS ROLL AT JOURNEYMEN COLLEGIATE
Penn State rolled to a 45-15 overall record at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic on Nov. 12 in Bethlehem, Pa. Eleven of Penn State’s 20 wrestlers went unbeaten at the event (3-0). The Nittany Lions rolled up 10 pins, 11 tech falls and nine majors as well.

DAVID EVANS DOWNS #6 CJ COMPOSTO OF PEN TO TOP
LIST OF NITTANY LION RANKED WINS AT JOURNEYMEN
Junior David Evans took down #6 CJ Composto of Penn in sudden victory to a 4-1 (sv) win at 141 to top the list of Penn State ranked wins at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic on Nov. 12 in Bethlehem, Pa. Evans lost a close 6-4 match to #12 Malyke Hines of Lehigh and got a medical forfeit win over #13 Vince Cornella of Cornell to go 2-1. Beau Bartlett rolled to a 15-3 major over #12 Hines as well, Carter Starocci teched #14 Nick Incontrera of Penn at 174, 21-5 (6:52), and Greg Kerkvliet rolled to a 7-2 win over #8 Owen Trephan of North Carolina State in Penn State’s other top ranked wins.