PSU Hosts Lehigh in Dual Opener Sunday
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestlers (0-0, 0-0 B1G), under the guidance of head coach Cael Sanderson, open up dual meet action this weekend, hosting Lehigh (0-1) on Sunday, Dec. 3. The dual meet, a 2 p.m. start in Rec Hall, is a Big Ten Network national telecast. All rankings listed are InterMat/InterMat TPI.
Penn State did not compete last weekend and was last in action at the Black Knight Invite on Nov. 19 and the NWCA All-Star Classic Exhibition on Nov. 21 in Rec Hall. Five Nittany Lions won titles at the Black Knight. True freshman Braeden Davis went 4-0 to win at 125, sophomore Aaron Nagao went 4-0 to win at 133 in his Lion debut, senior Beau Bartlett went 4-0 to win at 141, redshirt freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink went 4-0 to win at 165 and true freshman Josh Barr went 4-0 to win at 184. Five All-Americans competed at the All-Star exhibition in bouts that were not official NCAA results. Shayne Van Ness (149), Carter Starocci (174), Aaron Brooks (197) and Greg Kerkvliet (285) came way with big wins while Bernie Truax (184) dropped a close bout to the top-ranked wrestler at his weight class.
The Nittany Lion line-up features nine ranked wrestlers. Sophomore Aaron Nagao is 4-0, ranked No. 3 at 133 and will make his Rec Hall dual debut. Senior Beau Bartlett is 7-0 and ranked No. 2 at 141. Sophomore Shayne Van Ness is 3-0 and ranked No. 2 at 149. Sophomore Levi Haines is 3-0 and ranked No. 1 at 157. Freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink is 7-0 and ranked No. 16 at 165. Senior Carter Starocci is 3-0 and ranked No. 1 at 174. Graduate Bernie Truax is 3-0 and ranked No. 2 at 184. Senior Aaron Brooks is 3-0 and ranked No. 1 at 197. Senior Greg Kerkvliet is 3-0 and ranked No. 1 at 285.
Lehigh, ranked No. 20 in InterMat’s TPI, is coming off a loss to Pitt on Nov. 19. The Mountain Hawks are being led by seven ranked wrestlers. Luke Stanich is No. 33 at 125; Ryan Crookham is No. 5 at 133; Malyke Hines is No. 10 at 141; Max Brignola is No. 24 at 157; Jake Logan is No. 32 at 165; Michael Beard is No. 10 at 197; and Nathan Taylor is No. 12 at 285.. Penn State leads the all-time series with Lehigh 73-34-3, including a 24-12 win last year at Lehigh on Dec. 4, 2022. Penn State won the last meeting in Rec hall, 23-16, on Dec. 5, 2021.
The Nittany Lions continue dual meet action next weekend, hosting Hofstra in Rec Hall on Sunday, Dec. 10, for a 1 p.m. dual.
All rankings listed are InterMat individual/InterMat TPI. 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 (0-0, 0-0 B1G)
125 Robert Howard So. Cranford, N.J./Bergen Catholic 3-4
Gary Steen So. Hermitage, Pa./Reynolds 6-2
Braeden Davis Fr. Belleville, Mich./Dundee 7-0
133 #3 Aaron Nagao So. La Habra, Calif./Esperanza 4-0
141 #2 Beau Bartlett Sr. Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) 7-0
149 #2 Shayne Van Ness So. Somerville, N.J./Blair Academy 3-0
157 #1 Levi Haines So. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 3-0
165 #16 Mitchell Mesenbrink Fr. Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead 7-0
174 #1 Carter Starocci Sr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 3-0
184 #2 Bernie Truax Gr. Oceanside, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista 3-0
197 #1 Aaron Brooks Sr.+ Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown 3-0
285 #1 Greg Kerkvliet Sr. Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley 3-0
#20 LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (0-1)
125 #33 Luke Stanich Fr. Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury 5-0
133 #5 Ryan Crookham Fr. Hellertown, Pa./Saucon Valley 7-0
Connor McGonagle Jr. Danville, N.H./Timberlane 2-0
141 #10 Malyke Hines Jr. Kissimmee, Fla./Osceola 7-1
149 Matt Repos Fr. Palmyra, Pa./Central Dauphin 3-3
157 #24 Max Brignola Jr. Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven 6-1
165 #32 Jake Logan Jr. New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle 6-2
174 Thayne Lawrence So. Perryopolis, Pa./Frazier 2-3
184 Caden Rogers Fr. Lancaster, Pa./Malvern Prep 4-2
197 #10 Michael Beard Jr. Reading, Pa./Malvern Prep 7-1
285 #`12 Nathan Taylor So. Brookville, Pa./Brookville 7-2
Individual Rankings listed are InterMat and Team Rankings are
Intermat Tournament Power Index (as of 11/28/23)
THIS WEEK
#1 Penn State (0-0, 0-0 B1G) opens up dual meet competition by hosting #20 Lehigh (1-0) on Sunday, Dec. 3, in Rec Hall. The dual, a 2 p.m. start, is a Big Ten Network national telecast.
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions will host Hofstra on Sunday, Dec. 10, in Rec Hall. The dual meet starts at 1 p.m.
ON THE AIR
TV – Big Ten Network
Radio online – Free all year via Lionvision at GoPSUsports.com
Live Web Video – Fox Sports App
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 PENN 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.
PARKING INFO FOR ’23-24
Transportation Services has announced parking information for Penn State Wrestling duals at Rec Hall for the 2023-24 season.
GAMEDAY PARKING LOCATIONS
• Nittany Deck, West Deck
• Parking available beginning two hours before each game
PARKING PAYMENT INFORMATION
• No charge with a valid Penn State parking permit
• Prepaid parking available through https://psu.parkmobile.io/rec-hall
o $5.50 through day before event, $10 day of event
o $30 season parking packages available through Dec. 2
Note: The season package does not include parking for the BJC Dual on Feb. 12 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Visit https://psu.parkmobile.io/bryce-jordan-center to purchase parking for that event.
PARKMOBILE PREPAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS
• Visit https://psu.parkmobile.io/rec-hall
• Select game or season package at bottom of the page
• Select parking area
• Enter the license plate information for the vehicle being driven to the event
o Note: If a different vehicle must be driven than the one registered at purchase, users must contact ParkMobile Member Support through the ParkMobile website or app (Settings – Chat Support) to request a vehicle change for that reservation.
• Purchase parking for the event
o Note: Guests must present their ParkMobile QR code to event parking staff on their mobile device, if requested. Printed permits from the ParkMobile website will also be accepted.
o Note: If correct license plate information is entered at purchase, the gates for the purchased parking facility will open automatically for entry and exit. If license plate information is not correct or cannot be read by deck equipment, guests must scan their ParkMobile QR code at the entry and exit machines.
IMPORTANT PARKING REMINDERS
All vehicles must be parked with the license plate facing the drive aisle located closest to the parking space so that payment can be verified by parking enforcement staff.
A valid permit or payment is required in event parking areas 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Vehicles parked without a valid permit or payment may be ticketed and/or towed at the owner’s expense.
Non-football event parking is managed by Penn State Transportation Services. For more information on parking for this event, please email parking@psu.edu or call 814-865-1436.
COMPLEMENTARY WEST DECK SHUTTLE SERVICE
Complementary shuttle service to and from the West Parking Deck will be provided for all 2023-24 Penn State Wrestling matches at Rec Hall.
Shuttle service will begin 90 minutes prior to each match and run until post-match traffic has cleared. Each shuttle is wheelchair accessible.
Located on White Course Drive and accessible from Atherton Street near Rec Hall, the West Deck provides fans with the following benefits:
• Reduced entry and exit times
• Parking for vehicles up to 7’9″ (Nittany Deck clearance 6’9″)
• Ground-level electric vehicle charging
For more information on Penn State Wrestling parking and shuttle service, email Penn State Transportation Services at parking@psu.edu or call 814-865-1436.
PENN STATE WRESTLING ON THE RADIO AND ONLINE!
You can catch PSU Wrestling on Bigfoot Country Legends at 103.7 FM, 104.3 FM, 1450 AM, and 1290 AM as well as online at GoPSUsports.com through LionVision, featuring Jeff Byers!
