Nittany Lion wrestling downs Buckeyes, 29-9
COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Penn State (12-0, 5-0 B1G) Nittany Lion wrestling team downed homestanding Ohio State (11-2, 5-1 B1G) 29-9 in a dominating Big Ten road win. Penn State won eight of ten bouts and gave up only three takedowns in the victory.
The dual meet began at 125 where No. 10 Malik Heinselman of Ohio State pinned Nittany Lion Gary Steen, one of Penn State’s four freshmen in the line-up, at 1:56. Roman Bravo-Young, ranked No. 1 at 133, dominated No. 9 Jesse Mendez in the next bout. Bravo-Young tallied three takedowns and built up 1:04 in riding time to roll to an 8-2 win, cutting the early Buckeye lead to 6-3. Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 5 at 141, notched the only takedown of the bout against No. 19 Dylan D’Emilio and posted a 4-2 win. Bartlett’s victory tied the dual at 6-6.
Freshman Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 13 at 149, picked up the first takedown in his match with No. 3 Sammy Sasso but Sasso was able to come back and grab a hard-fought 6-3 win. True freshman Levi Haines, ranked No. 9 at 157, dominated No. 25 Paddy Gallagher in the dual’s fifth bout. Haines scored early and often, picking up four takedowns, a four-point turn, and 4:10 in riding time to roll to a 14-2 major. His win gave Penn State a 10-9 lead at halftime.
Freshman Alex Facundo, ranked No. 8 at 165, controlled the action in his match with No. 12 Carson Kharchla. He picked up the only takedown of the bout in a 4-1 win to put Penn State up 13-9. Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, dominated No. 7 Ethan Smith in the next bout. Starocci rolled up four takedowns and 1:32 in riding time to down Smith 11-5.
Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 184, chased down No. 5 Kaleb Romero for a late takedown in a top match-up at 184. His late offensive effort allowed Brooks to post the 3-2 win and give the Nittany Lions a 19-9 lead.
Max Dean, ranked No. 4 at 197, then picked up the dual meet’s first pin. Dean carried a 2-0 lead over No. 17 Gavin Hoffman into the second period before Hoffman chose down. Dean took advantage of the decision and worked Hoffman over to his back for the fall at 4:17. Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 2 at 285, built up nearly 5:00 in riding time during a 9-0 major over No. 18 Tate Orndorff to close out the dual meet. Kerkvliet’s major closed out Penn State’s 29-9 dual meet win.
The Nittany Lions worked up a lopsided 19-3 margin in takedowns. Penn State’s last two opponents (Iowa and Ohio State) secured only five combined takedowns against the Nittany Lions. Penn State picked up five bonus points off a pin (Dean) and two majors (Haines and Kerkvliet).
The Nittany Lions are now 12-0 overall, 5-0 B1G. Ohio State falls to 11-2, 5-1 B1G. Penn State continues its weekend road trip when the Lions visit Indiana on Sunday, Feb. 5, for a 1 p.m. battle.
#1 Penn State 29, #10 Ohio State 9
February 3, 2023 – Columbus, Ohio
125: #10 Malik Heinselman OSU pinned Gary Steen PSU, WBF (1:56) 0-6
133: #1 Roman Bravo-Young PSU dec. Jesse Mendez OSU, 8-2 3-6
141: #5 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. #19 Dylan D’Emilio OSU, 4-2 6-6
149: #3 Sammy Sasso OSU dec. #13 Shayne Van Ness PSU, 6-3 6-9
157: #9 Levi Haines PSU maj. dec. Paddy Gallagher OSU, 14-2 10-9
165: #8 Alex Facundo PSU dec. #12 Carson Kharchla OSU, 4-1 13-9
174: #1 Carter Starocci PSU dec. #7 Ethan Smith OSU, 11-5 16-9
184: #1 Aaron Brooks PSU dec. #5 Kaleb Romero OSU, 3-2 19-9
197: #4 Max Dean PSU pinned #17 Gavin Hoffman OSU, WBF (4:17) 25-9
285: #2 Greg Kerkvliet PSU maj. dec. #18 Tate Orndorff OSU, 9-0 29-9
Attendance: 4,585
Records: Penn State (12-0, 5-0 B1G); Ohio State (11-2, 5-1 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: at Indiana, Sunday, Feb. 5, 1 p.m.
