Nittany Lion Wrestlers Roar at Black Knight Invitational
UNIVERSITY PARK- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (1-0, 0-0 B1G) sent 22 wrestlers to West Point, N.Y., for the Black Knight Invitational on Sunday, Nov. 24, at Army West Point. The Nittany Lions won nine of the ten individual titles. All rankings listed are InterMat/Intermat TPI.
Penn State had or shared nine of the titles and 18 of Penn State’s 22 wrestlers placed. True freshmen are permitted to compete in up to five scheduled events during the season while still retaining a redshirt opportunity. Please note, under recent NCAA rules, when teammates wrestle each other now in an NCAA event, the results do NOT count as wins or losses, or towards NCAA qualification metrics (RPI, minimum matches, etc.).
True freshman Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 33 at 125, rolled to the championship in West Point. Lilledahl had a first-round bye and then posted a 19-4 tech fall over Gardner Webb’s Jefrey Jacome in the quarterfinals. He faced teammate Kurt McHenry in the semifinals and picked up a hard-fought 8-2 win. Lilledahl battled No. 21 Charlie Farmer of Army in the title bout and roared to the Black Knight title with a 19-4 tech fall (5:13). Lilledahl went 2-0 (plus the McHenry win), both techs, to claim the title.
Senior+ Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 3 at 141, won the championship. Bartlett began the tournament with a 16-1 tech fall (3:32) over Gardner Webb’s Charlie Sly. He needed extra time in the quarterfinals, posting an exciting 4-1 (sv) win over Rutgers’ Joe Fongaro to advance to the semifinals. Bartlett rolled to an 18-3 (4:44) tech fall over Army’s Rich Treanor for a trip to the finals. He then pinned No. 28 Todd Carter of Gardner Webb to close out the bout, getting the fall at the 5:57 mark. Bartlett went 4-0 on the day with two techs and a pin.
Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 2 at 149, rolled to the title at 149. Van Ness had a first-round bye and then teched Columbia’s Yanni Vines 18-1 (4:14) to move into the quarterfinals. Van Ness notched a 15-2 major over Joe Giordano of Gardner Webb and advanced to the semifinals. He downed Richard Fedalen of Columbia in the semis to move to the finals. He took care of Rutgers’ Andrew Clark in the title bout, posting a 19-4 technical fall (7:00). Van Ness went 4-0 with two techs and a major on the day.
Sophomore Tyler Kasak, ranked No. 4 at 157, won the crown at 157. Kasak had a first-round bye and dominated Columbia’s Rawson Iwanicki with a 19-4 tech fall (6:50) to advance to the quarterfinals. Kasak notched another tech fall, this one a 19-3 (3:55) win over Binghamton’s Jordan Brown, moving to the semifinals. Kasak notched an 18-5 major over Dakota Morris of Army to move into the finals where he met teammate Alex Facundo. Kasak used a first period takedown to post a hard-fought 5-2 win over his teammate and take the title. Kasak went 3-0 with two techs and a major (plus the Facundo result).
Sophomore Alex Facundo took second place at 157. Facundo opened the tournament with a 19-4 tech fall over Mason Stewart of Michigan State. He followed that up with a 21-6 tech (3:35) over Jake Wacha of Columbia and advanced to the quarterfinals. Facundo made it three straight tech falls with a 17-2 win (7:00) over Binghamton’s Fin Nadeau and moved to the semifinals. A fourth straight tech, this one a 24-8 (6:17) win over Drew Pepin of Gardner Webb, sent Facundo to the finals to battle teammate Tyler Kasak. Facundo dropped a tough 5-2 decision to Kasak in the finals to take second place. He went 4-0 with four techs (plus the Kasak result) on the day.
Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, roared to the title. Mesenbrink opened up the tournament with an 18-3 tech fall (5:37) over Binghamton’s Carter Baer to move into the quarterfinals. He rolled to another technical fall, this one an 18-1 win over Cam Adams of Michigan State. He took on No. 32 Tony White of Rutgers in the semifinals and reeled off 19 points in a 19-4 tech fall (5:46). Mesenbrink rolled to a 17-2 tech fall (4:50) over No. 14 Gunner Filipowicz in the finals to claim the Black Knight. Mesenbrink went 4-0 on the day, all tech falls.
Junior Levi Haines, ranked No. 2 at 174, advanced to the finals at 174 and shared the crown with teammate Matt Lee. Haines opened the tournament by pinning Michigan State’s Marty Larkin (4:29) in the opening round to move into the quarters. Haines picked up a second fall, this one at 3:36 over Columbia’s Matt Romanelli. Haines dominated Army’s Cooper Haase, posting a 17-2 tech fall at the 5:13 mark, to advance to the title bout against teammate Matt Lee. Since teammate vs. teammate results do not count, the title bout was not contested.
Senior Matt Lee advanced to the finals at 165 and shared the title with teammate Levi Haines. Lee had a first-round bye. He took on Andrew Wilson of Gardner Webb in the quarterfinals and rolled to a 17-2 tech fall at the 6:04 mark to move into the semifinals. Lee met No. 31 Dalton Harkins of Army in the semis and used an early takedown to notch an impressive 5-4 win. He moved into the finals against teammate Levi Haines. Since teammate vs. teammate results do not count, the title bout was not contested.
Graduate Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 184, advanced to the finals at 184 and shared the crown with teammate Zack Ryder. Starocci opened up the event with a first period pin (1:37) of Columbia’s Spencer Fine to move into the quarterfinals. He dominated Army’s Cole Karpinski in the quarters, rolling into the semifinals with a 20-3 tech fall (3:00). Starocci made it three straight bonus wins by pinning Michigan State’s Lucas Daily (4:23) to advance to the finals. Since teammate vs. teammate results do not count, the title bout was not contested.
True freshman Zack Ryder rolled to the finals at 184 and shared the crown with teammate Carter Starocci. Ryder posted a first-round pin over Michigan State’s Cory Thomas (3:43) and advanced to the quarterfinals. Ryder met No. 21 Brian Saldano of Rutgers in his next match and used an early takedown to post a thrilling 4-2 win over the ranked Knight. He met Shane Cartegena-Walsh of Rutgers in the semis and used a last second takedown to notch a thrilling 4-1 win. He moved to the finals where he met teammate Carter Starocci. Since teammate vs. teammate results do not count, the title bout was not contested.
Redshirt freshman Josh Barr, ranked No. 23 at 197, won the title at 197. Barr began the tournament with a first period pin (2:26) over Columbia’s Jack Bernik to advance to the quarters. He picked up a second first period fall in the quarters, pinning Gardner Webb’s Josh McCutcheon at the 2:53 mark to move into the semis. He met teammate Connor Mirasola in the semis and posted a strong 11-0 major to advance to the finals where he took on another teammate, Lucas Cochran. Barr posted a strong 10-1 major over Cochran in the finals to win the title. Barr went 3-0 with two pins and a major (plus the Cochran result) on the day.
Lucas Cochran ended the day as the runner-up at 197. Cochran posted a pin at the 3:58 mark over Bloomsburg’s Mason Rebulk in the opening round to move to the quarterfinals. He rolled up 15 quick points in a 15-0 tech fall (2:27) over Army’s Chris Murphy to move into the semifinals. Cochran posted an 11-1 major decision over Murphy and advanced to the finals to take on teammate Josh Barr. He lost a tough 10-1 bout to Barr in the finals to place second. Cochran went 3-0 with a pin, a tech and a major (plus the Barr result).
Senior Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 2 at 285, rolled to the finals at 285 and shared the crown with teammate Cole Mirasola. Kerkvliet notched a first period fall in his first bout, getting the call at 2:31 over Army’s Tristen Hitchcock. He met Billy McChesney of Columbia in the quarterfinals and picked up another fast fall, this one at the 1:29 mark. Since teammate vs. teammate results do not count, the title bout was not contested.
True freshman Cole Mirasola advanced to the championship bout at 285 and shared the title with teammate Greg Kerkvliet. Mirasola had a first-round bye. He battled Army’s Sam Sorenson in the quarters and rolled to a 19-4 tech fall at the 3:28 mark, advancing to the semifinals. Since teammate vs. teammate results do not count, the title bout was not contested.
Senior+ Kurt McHenry took third at 125. McHenry had a first-round bye as well and notched an 11-7 decision over Columbia’s Sulayman Bah in the quarters. He faced teammate Luke Lilledahl in the semifinals and lost a tough 8-2 decision. McHenry took on Michigan State’s Caleb Weiand for third place and dominated the Spartan in a 13-1 major. McHenry took third with a 2-0 mark (plus the loss to Lilledahl).
True freshman Conner Mirasola finished third at 197. Mirasola opened the tournament with a 14-6 major decision over Army’s Reid Schroeder to move to the quarters. He pinned Michigan State’s Kael Wisler at the 5:33 mark to set up a semifinal bout with teammate Josh Barr. Mirasola lost a tough 11-0 bout to Barr and moved to the third-place bout. He took on No. 27 Remy Cotton of Michigan State in the third-place match and notched an impressive 8-4 win. He ended the day with a 3-0 mark, including a pin and a major (plus the Barr result in the semis).
Senior Timothy Levine took fifth at 133. Levine downed Tyler Lamon of Gardner Webb in the first round before falling 14-2 to Columbia’s Boris Witmer in the quarters. After a bye in his first conso round, Levine pinned Michigan State’s Andrew Hampton at the 5:15 mark to advance to the fifth-place bout. He met teammate Kyison Garcia in that match and posted a 4-1 (sv) win. He went 2-1 with a pin (plus the Garcia bout) on the day.
Redshirt freshman Kyison Garcia placed sixth at 133. Garcia opened the tournament with a hard-fought 4-1 loss to top seed No. 25 Ethan Berginc of host Army in the first round. He then rolled to a 17-2 tech fall over LIU’s Jared Chuquilin in consolation action. He majored teammate Gary Steen 14-4 to set up a fifth-place bout against teammate Tim Levine. He dropped a tough 4-1 (sv) bout to his teammate in that bout. Garcia official went 1-1 with a tech fall (plus the Steen and Levine matches).
Junior Gary Steen competed at 133. Steen dropped a hard-fought 8-5 match to Gardner Webb’s Takeo Davis in the opening round and fell into consolation action. He majored Gardner Webb’s Tyler Lamon 11-1 to open conso action then fell 14-4 to teammate Kyison Garcia in his next bout, ending his tournament run at 1-1 with a major (not including Garcia bout).
True freshman Cael Nasdeo wrestled at 141. Nasdeo posted a quick 15-0 first period tech fall (1:41) over Ty Edwards of Gardner Webb in the opening round. He dropped a 9-4 decision to No. 29 Braden Basile of Army in the quarters fall into consolation action. He dropped a 5-2 bout to LIU’s Devin Matthews and ended his tournament with a 1-2 mark.
Sophomore Connor Pierce wrestled at 149. Pierce had a first round by and then rolled to a 16-7 major decision over No. 28 Trae McDaniel of Army to advance to the quarters. Pierce lost an 8-1 decision to No. 33 Michael Cetta of Rutgers in the next round to move into conso action. He beat Army’s Mason Barvitskie 8-5 in his first conso bout and then dropped a tough 10-4 bout to Binghamton’s Ivan Garcia. Pierce bowed out with a 2-2 mark.
True freshman Ty Watson moved up a weight for the tournament and competed at 165. Watson lost a tough 12-2 major to No. 14 Gunner Filipowicz of host Army in the first round to drop into consolation action. Watson turned a second period reversal into a pin at 4:10 over Michigan State’s Cam Adams in his first conso bout. He dropped a hard-fought 11-4 bout to Columbia’s Cesar Alvin in his next match and bowed out of the tournament with a 1-2 mark, including a pin.
Mesenbrink was named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler. Penn State won nine of the ten individual titles, sharing three of them. All 22 Nittany Lions earned victories and all but four placed at the event.
The Nittany Lions return to on Sunday, Dec. 8, when they visit Leigh for a 2 p.m. dual meet in Bethlehem, Pa.
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 the Black Knight Invitational
November 24, 2024 – West Point, N.Y.
Weight-by-weight age:
NOTE: RESULTS AGAINST TEAMMATES DO NOT COUNT AS WINS, LOSSES, OR TOWARDS NCAA METRICS
125: #33 Luke Lilledahl, Fr.
Rd. 1: bye
Qtr.: Jeffrey Jacome, Gardner Webb – W, 19-4 (TF; 5:38)
Semi: Kurt McHenry, Penn State – W, 8-2 dec.
Final: #21 Charlie Farmer, Army – W, 19-4 (TF; 5:13)
125: Kurt McHenry, Sr.+
Rd. 1: bye
Qtr.: Sulayman Bah, Columbia – W, 11-7 dec.
Semi: #33 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State – L, 2-8 dec.
3rd: Caleb Weiand, Michigan State – W, 13-1 maj. dec.
133: Kyison Garcia, R-Fr.
Rd. 1: #25 Ethan Berginc, Army – L, 1-4 dec.
Cn. 2: Jared Chuquilin, LIU – W, 17-2 (TF; 3:43)
Cn. 3: Gary Steen, Penn State – W, 14-4 maj. dec.
5th: Tim Levine, Penn State – L, 1-4 (sv) dec.
133: Timothy Levine, Sr.
Rd. 1: Tyler Lamon, Gardner Webb – W, 4-0 dec.
Qtr.: Boris Witmer, Columbia – L, 2-14 maj. dec.
Cn. 2: bye
Cn. 3: Andrew Hampton, Michigan State – WBF (5:15)
5th: Kyison Garcia, Penn State – W, 4-1 (sv) dec.
133: Gary Steen, Jr.
Rd. 1: bye
Qtr.: Takeo Davis, Gardner, Webb – L, 5-8 dec.
Cn. 2: Tyler Lamon, Gardner Webb – W, 11-1 maj. dec.
Cn. 3: Kyison Garcia, Penn State – L, 4-14 maj. dec.
141: #3 Beau Bartlett, Sr.+
Rd. 1: Charlie Sly, Gardner Webb – W, 16-1 (TF; 3:32)
Qtr.: Joe Fangaro, Rutgers – W, 4-1 (sv)
Semi: Rich Treanor, Army – W, 18-3 (TF; 4:44)
Final: #28 Todd Carter, Gardner Webb – WBF (5:57)
141: Cael Nasdeo, Fr.
Rd. 1: Ty Edwards, Garnder Webb – W, 15-0 (TF; 1:41)
Qtr.: #29 Braden Basile, Army – L, 4-9 dec.
Cn. 2: Devin Matthews, LIU – L, 2-5 dec.
149: #2 Shayne Van Ness, So.
Rd. 1: bye
Rd. 2: Yanni Vines, Columbia – W, 18-1 (TF; 4:14)
Qtr: Joey Giordano, Gardner Webb – W, 15-2 maj. dec.
Semi: Richard Fedalen, Columbia – W, 5-0
Final: Andrew Clark, Rutgers – W, 19-4 (TF; 7:00)
149: Connor Pierce, So.
Rd. 1: bye
Rd. 2: #28 Trae McDaniel, Army – W, 16-7 maj. dec.
Qtr: #33 Michael Cetta, Rutgers – L, 1-8 dec.
Cn. 2: Mason Barvitskie, Columbia – W, 8-5 dec.
Cn. 3: Ivan Garcia, Binghamton – L, 4-10 dec.
157: #4 Tyler Kasak, So.
Rd. 1: bye
Rd. 2: Rawson Iwanicki, Columbia – W, 19-4 (TF; 6:50)
Qtr: Jordan Brown, Binghamton – W, 19-3 (TF; 3:55)
Semi: Dakota Morris, Army – W, 18-5 maj. dec.
Final: Alex Facundo, Penn State – W, 5-2 dec.
157: Alex Facundo, So.
Rd. 1: Mason Stewart, Michigan State – W, 19-4 (TF; 3:42)
Rd. 2: Jake Wacha, Columbia – W, 21-6 (TF; 3:35)
Qtr.: Fin Nadeau, Binghamton – W, 17-2 (TF; 7:00)
Semi: Drew Pepin, Gardner Webb – W, 24-8 (TF; 6:17)
Final: #4 Tyler Kasak, Penn State – L, 2-5 dec.
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, So.
Rd. 1: Carter Baer, Binghamton – W, 18-3 (TF; 5:37)
Qtr.: Cam Adams, Michigan State – W, 18-1 (TF; 4:01)
Semi: #32 Tony White, Rutgers – W, 19-4 (TF; 5:46)
Final: #14 Gunner Filiopowicz, Army – W, 17-2 (TF; 4:50)
165: Ty Watson, Fr.
Rd. 1: #14 Gunner Filipowicz, Army – L, 2-12 maj. dec.
Cn. 2: Cam Adams, Michigan State – WBF (4:10)
Cn. 3: Cesar Alvin, Columbia – L, 4-11 dec.
174: #2 Levi Haines, Jr.
Rd. 1: Marty Larkin, Michigan State – WBF (4:29)
Qtr.: Matt Romanelli, Columbia – WBF (3:36)
Semi: Cooper Haase, Army – W, 17-1 (TF; 5:13)
Final: Matt Lee, Penn State – No contest
174: Matt Lee, Sr.
Rd. 1: bye
Qtr.: Andrew Wilson, Gardner Webb – W, 17-2 (TF; 6:04)
Semi: #31 Dalton Harkins, Army – W, 5-4 dec.
Final: #2 Levi Haines, Penn State – No contest
184: #1 Carter Starocci, Gr.
Rd. 1: Spencer Fine, Columbia – WBF (1:37)
Qtr: Cole Karpinski, Army – W, 20-3 (TF; 3:00)
Semi: Lucas Daily, Michigan State – WBF (4:23)
Final: Zack Ryder, Penn State – No contest
184: Zack Ryder, Fr.
Rd. 1: Cory Thomas, Michigan State – WBF (3:43)
Qtr.: #21 Brian Soldano, Rutgers – W, 4-2 dec.
Semi: Shane Cartegena-Walsh, Rutgers – W, 4-1 dec.
Final: #1 Carter Starocci, Penn State – No contest
197: #23 Josh Barr, R-Fr.
Rd. 1: Jack Bernik, Columbia – WBF (2:26)
Qtr.: Josh McCutcheon, Gardner Webb – WBF (2:53)
Semi: Connor Mirasola, Penn State – W, 11-0 maj. dec.
Final: Lucas Cochran, Penn State – W, 10-1 maj. dec.
197: Lucas Cochran, Jr.
Rd. 1: Mason Rebulk, Bloomsburg – WBF (3:58)
Qtr: Chris Murphy, Army – W, 15-0 (TF; 7:00)
Semi: #27 Remy Cotton, Michigan State – W, 11-1 maj. dec.
Final: #23 Josh Barr, Penn State – L, 1-10 maj. dec.
197: Connor Mirasola, Fr.
Rd. 1: Reid Schroeder, Army – W, 14-5 maj. dec.
Qtr.: Kael Wisler, Michigan State – WBF (5:33)
Semi: #23 Josh Barr, Penn State – L, 0-11 maj. dec.
3rd: #27 Remy Cotton, Michigan State – W, 8-4 dec.
285: #2 Greg Kerkvliet, Sr.
Rd. 1: Tristen Hitchcock, Army – WBF (2:31)
Qtr.: Billy McChesney, Columbia – WBF (1:29)
Semi: Brady Colbert, Army – W, 15-0 (TF; 5:10)
Final: Cole Mirasola, Penn State – No contest
285: Cole Mirasola, Fr.
Rd. 1: bye
Qtr.: Sam Sorenson, Army – W, 19-4 (TF; 3:28)
Semi: Max Vanadia, Michigan State – WBF (0:32)
Final: #1 Greg Kerkvliet, Penn State – No contest
