The Lions Roar: Penn State Wrestling Sends Nine to Big Ten Semifinals

PublisherMarch 9, 2024

11 minutes read

Photo Courtesy PSU Athletics Mark Selders

COLLEGE PARK, MD. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (12-0, 8-0 B1G) moved nine wrestlers into the semifinals of the 2024 Big Ten Championships with a fantastic first session at the University of Maryland. Head coach Cael Sanderson‘s squad has qualified nine wrestlers for the 2024 NCAA Championships in two weeks.

Penn State entered the tournament with six top-two seeds, all of whom earned byes in the first round (five first, one second). Penn State’s current list of NCAA qualifiers for the NCAA Championships in two seeks are: Braeden Davis, 125; Aaron Nagao, 133; Beau Bartlett, 141; Tyler Kasak, 149; Levi Haines, 157; Mitchell Mesenbrink, 165; Bernie Truax, 184; Aaron Brooks, 197; Greg Kerkvliet, 285. Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, took an injury default in his quarterfinal bout, dropping into consolation action.

True freshman Braeden Davis, ranked No. 9 at 125, took on Illinois’ Justin Cardani in the first round. Davis battled the Illini even for the opening minute-plus, with each wrestler working the center of the mat. The first period ended in a scoreless tie. Davis chose down to start the second period and, after some work, reversed Cardani to his back to open up a 6-0 lead with :50 left in the second. He led 6-1 after two periods. Cardani forced a scramble that lasted for over a minute before a reset stopped action at :25. Davis zipped in on a low shot for a late takedown and added two nearfall points to roll into the quarterfinals with an 11-1 major decision.

He took on No. 5 Eric Barnett of Wisconsin in the quarterfinals. The duo worked the center of the mat for :30 before a scramble resulted in a Barnett takedown and a 3-0 score. Davis gave up a penalty point on bottom and trailed 4-0 before escaping to a 4-1 score at :41. Trailing 4-1, Davis chose down to start the second period. He scrambled his way into control of Barnett’s right leg and nearly reversed him but settled for an escape and a 4-2 deficit. Davis worked his way in on a low shot and muscled his way to a takedown and two back points as the period ended to take a 7-4 lead. Wisconsin challenged the nearfall and it was overturned. Davis led 5-4 after two but Barnett had 2:25 in riding time. Barnett chose down to start the third period and Davis went to work on top. Davis was hit for a first stall at the 1:18 mark as he tried to work the time edge off. Barnett scrambled for a late reversal to take a 5-4 lead and then Davis reversed the Badger late to take a 7-6 lead with just :11 left. Barnett had riding time and the bout moved to extra time tied 7-7. Early in sudden victory, Davis moved in on a deep single and began working his way to a takedown. A penalty point was awarded to Davis on an illegal hold before the takedown and the Nittany Lion true freshman moved into the semifinals with an 8-7 (sv) win.

Sophomore Aaron Nagao, ranked No. 11 at 133, took on Michigan State’s Andrew Hampton in the first round. He used an early takedown for a 3-0 lead in the opening seconds and then built up riding time and turned Hampton for four and a 7-0 lead. Nagao finished the period on top and led 7-0 with nearly 3:00 in riding time after one. After a neutral start to the second period, Nago took Hampton down quickly for a 10- lead. With his riding time ticking over 4:00, Nagao finished on top to carry the 10-0 lead into the third. Nagao finished the match with over 2:00 in riding time and posted the 11-0 major decision to advance to the quarterfinals.

He met No. 16 Jacob Van Dee io the quarterfinals. Nagao and Van Dee battled evenly for the first two minutes before the Nittany Lion notched the bout’s first takedown to lead 3-0. He finished the period on top and carried that lead into the second stanza. Van Dee chose neutral to start the second period and the duo battled evenly in neutral for the full two minutes of the second stanza. Leading 3-0, Nagao chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead. He worked his way in on a deep single and nearly notched a second takedown, but Van Dee was able to escape out of bounds with 1:00 on the clock. Nagao continued to press on offense and forced a late scramble. Van Dee managed to counter scramble for a last second takedown, but Nagao’s early work gave the Nittany Lion a 4-3 win and advanced him to the semifinals.

Senior Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 1 at 141, received a first round bye and took on No. 26 Jordan Hamdan of Michigan State in the quarterfinals. Bartlett worked the center of the mat for the firs two minutes-plus, forcing the Spartan into defense as the opening period played out. The Nittany Lion was unable to break through Hamdan’s defense and the bout moved to the second period tied 0-0. Bartlett chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped. He then moved in on a single for a fast takedown and a 4-0 lead. That score held through the second period. Hamdan chose down to start the third and eventually escaped to a 4-1 score. He picked up a second point on a late stall, but Bartlett’s second period burst was enough as the Nittany Lion senior moved into the semifinals with a 4-2 win.

True freshman Tyler Kasak, ranked No. 9 at 149, met Northwestern’s Aiden Vandenbush in the first round. Kasak worked the center of the mat as the first period got started, taking a couple low shots that forced the Wildcat into defense. He countered a slight shot for a takedown and a 3-0 lead at 2:00. He quickly turned Vandenbush for four back points to open up a 7-0 lead. Kasak controlled the action from the top position, working his time edge up over 1:00. He then worked the Cat to his back again settled in for the first period fall, getting the pin at 2:48.

He took on No. 10 Dylan D’Emilio of Ohio State in the quarterfinals. Kasak was the aggressor during the opening period. The Nittany Lion true freshman got in deep on a single and nearly scored after a minute’s worth of work, but D’Emilio was able to fight off the effort. The Nittany Lion had a second chance late in the opening period but once again D’Emilio blocked off the effort and the bout moved to the second tied 0-0. D’Emilio chose down to start the second period and Kasak put together a strong ride. The Nittany Lion freshman kept control of the Buckeye until the :43 mark before D’Emilio escaped to a 1-0 score. Trailing 1-0, Kasak chose down to start the third period and scrambled his way to a quick reversal and a 2-1 lead, while maintaining riding time advantage. D’Emilio escaped to a 2-2 tie at 1:37 but Kasak had 1:18 in riding time. Kasak fought off a D’Emilio rally at 1:00, holding neutral as action moved out of bounds. D’Emilio shot low on the Lion freshman at :15 but Kasak scrambled through the move and finished off the period in neutral. His 1:18 in riding time gave the Nittany Lion a 3-2 win and pushed him into the semifinals.

Sophomore Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 157, had a first round bye and battled Northwestern’s Trevor Chumbley in the quarterfinals. Haines took a 3-0 lead at the 1:22 mark with a strong mat return. He then went to work on top, building up a 122 in riding time with a strong rideout to carry that lead into the second stanza. After a neutral start to the second period, Haines went to work in the center of the mat. He picked up a stall point and then took Chumbley down a second time to open up a 7-0 lead at 1:03. Haines carried that lead into the third period. Haines added a third takedown and led 10-0, then got another stall point to lead 11-0. He added a riding time point with over 3:00 in time and rolled to a 12-0 major, moving into the semifinals.

Freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 5 at 165, received a first round bye and met No. 31 Blaine Brenner of Minnesota in the quarterfinals. Mesenbrink came out firing on offense. The Nittany Lion freshman took a 3-0 lead with a fast takedown and made it 6-1 midway through the period with a second. Mesenbrink worked his way to a third takedown before the opening period ended and led 9-2 after one. He chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 10-2 lead. Mesenbrink quickly moved in for a fourth takedown to lead 13-2 and then worked Brenner’s shoulders to the mat for a fall. Mesenbrink moved into the semifinals with a pin at the 3:59 mark.

Senior Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, had a first round bye and took on No. 30 Andrew Sparks of Minnesota in the quarterfinals. Starocci stepped on the mat for the requisite one second and took an injury default loss at the 6:59 mark and falls into consolation action.

Graduate Bernie Truax, ranked No. 6 at 184, took on Chase Mielnik of Maryland in the opening round. Truax came out firing on offense, taking a 3-0 lead just :30 into the bout. He quickly turned the Terrapin for three back points and a 6-0 lead. After a Mielnik escape, Truax bulled through a low double for another takedown and a 9-1 lead at the midway point. He added four back points for a 13-1 lead, added two near fall and then finished off the tech fall with a final four point turn, posting the 19-1 tech fall at 2:41.

He battled No. 17 Layne Malczewski of Michigan State in the quarterfinals. Truax scored quickly, turning a low shot into a takedown and a 3-0 lead. Malczewski escaped quickly to a 3-1 score and Truax went back to work in neutral. Truax worked the center of the mat for the remainder of the period and led 3-1 after one. Malczewski chose down to start the second stanza and escaped to a 3-2 Truax lead early in the period. Truax paced the center of the mat and extended his lead to 6-2 with a strong double at the end of the period. Truax chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. He finished the match on his feet and moved into the semifinals with a strong 7-2 win.

Senior+ Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 197, received a first round bye and met Evan Bates of Northwestern in the quarters. Brooks worked the outside circle and finished off a takedown at the 2:01 mark, taking a 3-0 lead. The Nittany Lion picked up a second takedown midway through the second and opened up a 6-1 lead. He finished the period on top, adding three back points late to lead 9-1 after one. Brooks chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 10-1 score. Brooks upped his lead to 13-1 with a takedown at the 1:15 mark. Bates chose down to start the third period and Brooks cut him loose, quickly moved in for another takedown and led 16-3 at 1:35. Brooks finished off the technical fall with a final takedown, posting the 19-3 tech at 5:50.

Senior Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 1 at 285, had a first round bye and took on No. 30 Bennett Tabor of Minnesota in the quarterfinals. Kerkvliet took Tabor down quickly and turned him for three back points to open up a 6-0 lead in the opening minute. He maintained control of the Gopher and worked him to his back for another four point turn to lead 10-0 at :35. The Nittany Lion senior finished the period on top and led 10-0 after one. Tabor chose down to start the second period. Kerkvliet worked his riding time up over 3:00, picked up a stall point, and then finished off the tech fall with a final four point turn early in the period. He rolled into the semifinals with a 15-0 tech at the 3:25 mark.

The Nittany Lions went 13-1 in the first session and picked up 10.0 bonus points off three majors, three technical falls and two pins. As of 2:20 p.m., with consolation action on-going but PSU done for the day, the Nittany Lions lead the team race with 83.5 points. Michigan is in second at 70.5 with Iowa in third at 57.0.

The tournament continues tonight with the second session beginning at 5 p.m. The semifinal portion of session two will begin at approximately 7 p.m. The Championship concludes on Sunday with sessions three and four at 12 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (finals and placing bouts). The entire tournament will be streamed live on B1G+. Saturday night’s semifinals and Sunday’s finals are live on the Big Ten Network.

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/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 2024 Big Ten Championship – Session 1
March 9, 2024 – College Park, Md. – University of Maryland, Host

Team Standings (Top three after session 1 at 2:20 p.m.)
1: PENN STATE – 83.5
2: Michigan – 70.5
3: Iowa – 57.0

Weight-by-weight agate (RANKINGS LISTED ARE INTERMAT as of 2/27/24):

125: #9 Braeden Davis, Fr., Belleville, Mich./Dundee — #6 seed
Rd. 1: Justin Cardani, Illinois – W, 11-1 maj. dec.
Qtr: #5 Eric Barnett, Wisconsin – W, 8-7 (SV) dec.
Semis: #16 Michael DeAugustino, Northwestern – tonight