Nittany Lions clinch NCAA title

TULSA, Okla – The Penn State Nittany wrestling team on Saturday clinched the 2023 NCAA Championship early in session five at the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Tulsa, Okla. The Nittany Lions wrapped up their 10th team title in the last 12 tournaments with nearly all of two sessions remaining in the three-day event. The tournament concludes Saturday night with five Penn Staters competing for individual glory in the national finals at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

Nittany Lion All-Americans Beau Bartlett, Shayne Van Ness and Max Dean wrapped up All-America runs during Saturday morning’s placing session, combining on a perfect 5-0 record, as three of Penn State’s school record tying eight All-Americans. The Nittany Lions clinched the title very early in the fifth session. With the trio completing their tournaments, earning their final places on the All-America podium, Penn State sits far out in first place with 127.5 points. Iowa is a distant second with 82.5 and Ohio State sits in third with 70.5.

The title is Penn State’s 11th overall and the 10th since Sanderson’s arrival in Happy Valley prior to the 2009-10 season. The Nittany Lions have won ten of the last 12 contested NCAA Championship tournaments (2020 was cancelled by the NCAA). The tournament concludes tonight when Penn State will have five wrestlers vying for individual crowns at 7 p.m. on ESPN; Roman Bravo-Young at 133, Levi Haines at 157, Carter Starocci at 174, Aaron Brooks at 184, Greg Kerkvliet at 285.

Beau Bartlett, the No. 6 seed at 141, met No. 11 Clay Carlson of South Dakota State in the consolation semifinals. Bartlett came out firing, taking Carlson down for a quick 2-0 lead. Carlson escaped to a 2-1 score and action continued in neutral. Bartlett added a second takedown at the midway point and led 4-1 after one. Bartlett quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead and then added to his lead with a third takedown. He led 7-1 after two periods and dominated the third period as well. Bartlett added a takedown, a two-point turn and 2:36 in riding time to roll to the 12-3 major decision.

He advanced to meet No. 11 Lachlan McNeil in the third-place bout. Bartlett worked the center circle with McNeil for the full first period, sending the bout to the second tied 0-0. McNeil chose down to start the second stanza and worked his way to an escape and a 1-0 lead midway through the period. Bartlett took control and dominated the last two minutes. Bartlett chose down to start the third, quickly escaped to tie the bout 1-1 and then went to work on offense. The Nittany Lion junior rolled through a takedown to open up a 3-1 lead and then finished the match on top. He added 1:41 in riding time and rolled to a 4-1 win. The victory sets Bartlett in third place. He went 5-1 and leaves Tulsa as an All-American with a 27-3 overall record.

Redshirt freshman Shayne Van Ness, the No. 13 seed at 149, took on No. 4 Caleb Henson of Virginia Tech in the consolation semifinals. The duo worked neutral over the first minute with Van Ness maintaining position on the NCAA logo. The first period ended in a scoreless tie and Henson chose down to start the second period. The Hokie escaped and Van Ness moved in on offense, securing a takedown at the 1:15 mark. Henson managed a late escape and tied the bout at 2-2 heading to the third. Van Ness chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 lead. He continued to move in on offense and clinched the match with a late takedown on the edge of the mat. Henson escaped in the final seconds but Van Ness posted the 5-3 win.

He advanced to meet No. 3 Kyle Parco of Arizona State in the third place match. Van Ness controlled the center of the mat for the opening two minutes, holding position until Parco forced a scramble with a shot. Van Ness deftly worked his way through the move and countered it for a takedown and a 2-0 lead late in the period. Parco escaped to start the second period, cutting Van Ness’ lead to 2-1. The duo battled evenly over the middle stanza and Van Ness led 2-1 after two. Then Van Ness took control. The Nittany Lion dominated that final two minutes, adding an escape and two takedowns to roll to an impressive 7-2 victory. The win clinched third place for Van Ness. He leaves Tulsa and his first NCAA tournament as an All-American with a 5-1 mark and a 24-7 overall record.

Max Dean, the No. 9 seed at 197, took on No. 10 Jacob Cardenas of Cornell in the 7th-place bout. Cardenas scored quickly to take an early 2-1 lead after a fast Dean escape. Dean set up on the center circle and worked to counter a Cardenas shot as the clock moved below a minute. He rolled through the scramble for a takedown and a 3-2 lead at :35. He finished the period on top and carried that one-point lead into the second period. Dean chose down to start the second and quickly escaped to a 4-2 lead. The escape was the only scoring of the period and Dean led by two after two. Cardenas chose neutral to start the third period. Dean maintained position in the center of the mat and controlled the action for the last two minutes, rolling to a 4-2 victory and claiming seventh place.

Dean ends his collegiate career as a four-time All-American and National Champion. He finishes this season with a 25-5 record and his career with a 105-18 mark. Dean collected 17 falls, 17 tech falls and 19 majors during his career. His two years at Penn State were outstanding. Dean won the 2022 NCAA title and has helped lead Penn State to two NCAA team crowns. He went 48-6 as a Nittany Lion, won a Big Ten title, an NCAA title and was a two-time All-American as a Penn Stater (in addition to his two at Cornell).

The Nittany Lions were perfect in the fifth session, going 5-0. Penn State has a 35-6 overall mark heading into the national finals. Penn State has collected 14.0 bonus points off five pins and four majors.

The tourney concludes Saturday night with the national finals at 7 p.m. on ESPN (all times Eastern). Bravo-Young takes on Vito Arujau of Cornell at 133, Haines meets Austin O’Connor of North Carolina at 157, Starocci battles Mikey Labriola of Nebraska at 174, Aaron Brooks faces Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa at 184 and Greg Kerkvliet faces No. 1 Mason Parris of Michigan at 285.

Redshirt freshman Alex Facundo, the No. 13 seed at 165, ended his tournament Thursday with two tough losses. Facundo finished his first season in the Nittany Lion line-up with a 19-6 overall record.

The 2022-23 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by the Family Clothesline. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter 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.

Penn State at 2023 NCAA Championships– Session 5
March 18, 2023 – BOK Center – Tulsa, Okla.

Team Standings (Top 3 after session 5)
1: PENN STATE – 127.5
2: Iowa – 82.5
3: Ohio State – 70.5