Penn State Rolls Over Nebraska 31-7 For B1G Road Win

LINCOLN, Neb.; – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (8-0, 2-0 B1G) rolled to a 31-7 win over homestanding Nebraska (6-2, 1-1 B1G) in its first Big Ten road dual of the season. The Nittany Lions dominated the dual from the onset in front of a record crowd of over 6,600 fans in Nebraska’s Devaney Center, winning eight of ten bouts in the process.

The dual began at 174. Junior Levi Haines, ranked No. 2 at 174, got Penn State off to a hot start with a strong 9-2 win over No. 15 Lenny Pinto off two takedowns, two escapes and a riding time point. Graduate Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 184, followed Haines’ win up by majoring No. 17 Silas Allred, rolling to an 11-2 major decision with 2:45 in riding time to put Penn State up 7-0. Redshirt freshman Josh Barr, ranked No. 4 at 197, racked up six takedowns to post a convincing 19-4 technical fall over No. 22 Camden McDaniel at the 6:42 mark.

Senior+ Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 2 at 285, was equally dominant, using two takedowns and three turns (including two four-point moves in the third) to roll to a 20-2 tech fall over No. 24 Harley Andrews at 6:12. True freshman Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 12 at 125, used a late takedown to break a 1-1 tie late in his bout with No. 6 Caleb Smith and posted a 4-2 win over the sixth-ranked Husker. Lilledahl’s victory gave Penn State a 20-0 lead at halftime.

Sophomore Braeden Davis, ranked No. 5 at 133, dropped a tough 14-7 decision to No. 16 Jacob Van Dee to start the second half, cutting Penn State’s lead to 20-3. Senior+ Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 3 at 141, used a last second reversal to post a thrilling 8-7 win over No. 6 Brock Hardy to give Penn State a 23-3 lead. Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 2 at 149, lost to No. 4 Ridge Lovett, dropping a 10-2 major.

Sophomore Tyler Kasak, ranked No. 3 at 157, used a seven-point flurry (takedown, four back points) in the first period to roll to a 9-3 win over No. 5 Antrell Taylor to give the Lions a 26-7 lead. Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, closed out the dual meet by dominating No. 7 Bubba Wilson in the dual’s final bout. Mesenbrink used three takedowns, and two three-point turns to roll to a 20-3 tech fall at 5:39. The Nittany Lions walked out of Devaney with a lopsided 31-7 victory.

Penn State booked a big 20-4 edge in takedowns. The Lions, winning eight of ten bouts, picked up seven bonus points off three tech falls (Barr, Kerkvliet, Mesenbrink) and a major (Starocci).

The Nittany Lions are now 8-0, 2-0 B1G. Nebraska falls to 6-2, 1-1 B1G. The Nittany Lions continue road action next Friday, Jan. 24, visiting Rutgers. The Nittany Lions and Scarlet Knights will meet at 8 p.m. in Piscataway in another B1G Network national telecast.

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.

#1 Penn State 31, #4 Nebraska 7

January 17, 2025 – Lincoln, Neb.

174: #2 Levi Haines PSU dec. #15 Lenny Pinto NEB, 9-2 3-0

184: #1 Carter Starocci PSU maj. dec. #17 Silas Allred NEB, 11-2 7-0

197: #4 Josh Barr PSU tech fall #22 Camden McDaniel NEB, 19-4 (TF; 6:42) 12-0

285: #2 Greg Kerkvliet PSU tech fall #24 Harley Andrews NEB, 20-2 (TF; 6:12) 17-0

125: #12 Luke Lilledahl PSU dec. #6 Caleb Smith NEB, 4-2 20-0

133: #16 Jacob Van Dee NEB dec. #5 Braeden Davis PSU, 14-7 20-3

141: #3 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. #6 Brock Hardy NEB, 8-7 23-3

149: #4 Ridge Lovett NEB maj. dec. #2 Shayne Van Ness PSU, 10-2 23-7

157: #3 Tyler Kask PSU dec. #5 Antrell Taylor NEB, 9-3 26-7

165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU tech fall #7 Bubba Wilson NEB, 20-3 (TF; 5:39) 31-7

Attendance: 6,661

Records: Penn State (8-0, 2-0 B1G); Nebraska (6-2, 1-1 B1G)

Up Next for Penn State: at Rutgers, Friday, Jan. 24, 8 p.m., Piscataway, N.J. (B1G Network)

DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:

174: Junior Levi Haines, ranked No. 2 at 174, faced No. 15 Lenny Pinto. Haines and Pinto battled through the first :30 in neutral before Haines connected on a low single and brought action to the mat. Haines and Pinto scrambled for :35 before a stalemate stopped action. Haines sidestepped a Pinto shot at 1:20 and notched a takedown at 1:18 for a 3-0 lead. Haines controlled the action on top and worked his riding time over 1:00. He finished the period on top and led 3-0 with 1:18 in riding time after the opening stanza. Haines chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead. Haines worked the center of the mat through the 1:00 mark and then connected on a low single at :30. Pinto fought off Haines’ efforts to kill the clock and Haines led 4-0 after two. Pinto chose down to start the third period. Haines worked his riding time up over 2:00 with a strong ride, clinching the riding time point in the process. Pinto scrambled to a reversal and Haines led 5-2 at the 1:00 mark. Haines countered a late Pinto shot for a final takedown and, with 2:13 in time, posted the 9-2 win.

184: Graduate Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 184, took on No. 17 Silas Allred. Starocci set a fast pace off the opening whistle, forcing Allred backwards for the opening minute-plus. Starocci chased Allred around the outside circle until turning a fast high shot into a takedown and a 3-0 lead at 1:19. Starocci worked top position, building up riding time while looking to turn the Husker for back points. Starocci spent the rest of the period in control and led 3-0 with 1:19 in riding time after the first. Allred chose down to start the second period and Starocci cut him loose at 1:34. Allred took a high single and Starocci quickly forced a stalemate. Starocci turned another low shot into a takedown to lead 6-1. He rode Allred out once more and led 6-1 with 2:36 in time after two. Starocci chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-1 lead. Allred took a high single and Starocci countered, moved his way into control and took a 10-1 lead with a third takedown. He cut Allred loose to a 10-2 score, looking for more bonus. Starocci settled for an 11-2 major with 2:45 in riding time.

197: Redshirt freshman Josh Barr, ranked No. 4 at 197, met No. 22 Camden McDaniel. Barr, like Haines and Starocci, set a fast offensive tempo from the outside. McDaniel was able to defend Barr’s early offensive efforts, and the match moved to through the 2:00 mark tied 0-0. Barr turned a high double into a scramble that McDaniel was able to turn into a stalemate with 1:20 on the clock. Barr connected on another high double and took a 3-0 lead with :17 in the period and carried that lead into the second. Barr chose down to start the second stanza, snapped behind Allred on the whistle and quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead. Barr scored quickly after a reset, taking McDaniel down again to lead 7-0 at 1:20. Barr dominated action on top, looking for a chance to turn McDaniel. He worked his riding time up over 1:00, finishing the period on top to lead 7-0 with 1:20 in time after two. McDaniel chose down to start the third and Barr cut him loose immediately. Barr took a 10-2 lead after a quick takedown and cut. Barr connected on a fast low double to lead 13-3 after another cut with 1:04 left in the match. Barr notched another takedown to lead 16-4 at :55. He finished off the 19-4 tech fall at 6:42 with his sixth takedown of the bout.

285: Senior+ Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 2 at 285, battled No. 24 Harley Andrews. Kerkvliet forced an early scramble, Andrews countered and Kerkvliet rolled through the move for the bout’s first takedown and a 3-0 lead at 2:21. Kerkvliet immediately went to work for a pinning combination, controlling the action through the 1:00 mark. The Nittany Lion senior spent the rest of the period on top and led 3-0 with 2:21 in riding time after the opening stanza. Leading by three, Kerkvliet chose down to start the second period and quickly rolled underneath Andrews and came around for a reversal to lead 5-0. Kerkvliet picked up a stall point and turned Andrews for two back points. Andrews was able to reverse the Lion to cut the lead to 8-2 at :55. Kerkvliet escaped to a 9-2 lead after a reset at :40. Kerkvliet zipped through a low shot for a last second takedown and led 12-2 with 2:35 in time after two. Andrews chose down to start the third period. Kerkvliet turned Andrews for four back points to lead 16-2, reset and turned him one more time for another four, capping off a 20-2 tech fall at 6:12.

25: True freshman Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 12 at 125, met graduate Caleb Smith, ranked No. 6. Lilledahl and Smith worked in neutral in the center of the mat, trading low shots on the Husker logo. The duo worked neutral through the 2:00 mark. Lilledahl took a series of fast shots that forced Smith backwards through the 1:00 mark. Lilledahl continued to snap low shots at Smith’s ankles through the :45 mark. The first period ended in a 0-0 tie. Smith chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Lilledahl continued to be the aggressor, taking shots that forced Smith into defense as the clock hit 1:00. Lilledahl took three furious shots at :20 as Smith worked to kill the clock. Trialing 1-0, Lilledahl chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Lilledahl forced Smith into a stall warning at 1:20, the first of the match. Lilledahl continued to move forward and shot Smith backwards through the :50 mark. Lilledahl took a 4-1 lead with a takedown at the :15 mark and, despite a late Smith escape, notched the impressive 4-2 win over the sixth-ranked Husker.

133: Sophomore Braeden Davis, ranked No. 5 at 133, took on No. 16 Jacob Van Dee. Davis came out quickly, forcing a scramble on a quick shot but Van Dee countered for his own takedown and took Davis to his back for four back points to lead 7-1 after a Davis escaped at 1:20. Davis blew through a high double to cut the lad to 7-4 at :45. Davis tried to turn Van Dee but the Husker countered for a reversal and Davis escaped before the buzzer to trail 9-5 after one. Davis chose down to start the second period. Davis worked his way to an escape, cutting the lead to 9-5 at 1:20. Davis and Van Dee worked in neutral until a reset at :31. Davis trailed 9-6 after two. Van Dee chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 10-6 lead. Davis tried to throw Van Dee at the 1:10 mark but the Husker countered the effort to lead 13-7 after a Davis escape with :55 on the clock. Van Dee was able to kill the clock, and Davis dropped a tough 14-7 decision.

141: Senior+ Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 3 at 141, took on No. 6 Brock Hardy. Bartlett used a low single to gain control of Hardy’s leg and, after pulling him back towards the center of the mat, took a 3-0 lead with a takedown at 1:44. Hardy was able to reverse Bartlett to cut the lead to 3-2 at the 1:21 mark. Bartlett answered with a reversal of his own and, after a quick Hardy escaped, Bartlett led 5-3 at :50. Bartlett maintained position in the center of the mat and led 5-3 after one. Bartlett chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 6-3 lead. Bartlett gave up a stall warning at 1:05. The Nittany Lion continued to maintain position in the center of the mat. He took a high shot with :15 left in the period, but Hardy was able to block off the effort and kill the clock. Hardy chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 6-4 Bartlett lead. Hardy notched his first takedown shortly after the escape to take a 7-6 lead. Bartlett was unable to work his way out of Hardy’s control as the clock moved below the :30 mark. With time running out, Bartlett worked his way into a cradle and took an 8-7 lead with a reversal as the clock hit :07. The Nittany Lion held on to Hardy’s ankle as the Husker looked to escape, finished in control and walked away with a thrilling 8-7 win.

149: Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 2 at 149, battled No. 4 Ridge Lovett. Van Ness nearly scored at 2:25, almost connecting on a fast single. But Lovett was able to slide out of his control to keep the match 0-0 early. Van Ness continued to push the pace, maintaining position on the Husker logo. Van Ness continued to shoot, and Lovett continued to defend through the :30 mark. Van Ness chose down to start the second period. Lovett was able to control action for :44 before Van Ness worked his way to a reversal and a 2-1 lead after a quick Lovett escape. Van Nes led 2-1 after two periods. Trailing by one, Lovett chose down to start the third stanza. He escaped to a 2-2 tie at 1:30 and then used a high double to take da 5-2 lead with 1:25 on the clock. Lovett was able to turn Van Ness for four back points to take a 9-2 lead. Lovett added a riding time point and posted the 10-2 major decision.

157: Sophomore Tyler Kasak, ranked No. 3 at 157, met No. 5 Antrell Taylor. Kasak nearly scored on an early shot, but Taylor was able to step out of bounds and force a reset in the center of the mat. Kasak continued to work in neutral and, after countering a slight Taylor shot, took the Husker down and to his back for three points and four near fall to lead 7-0 at 1:27. Taylor was able to escape at the :20 mark but Kasak had 1:02 in riding time. Kasak chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to an 8-1 lead. He continued to pressure Taylor backwards, looking for another takedown and possible bonus points but Taylor defended his way through the period. Taylor chose down to start the third period, trailing 8-1. Kasak worked his riding time back over 1:00, nearly turning Taylor once more. He clinched riding time at the :55 mark before Taylor escaped to an 8-2 score. Kasak gave up a stall point at :25 but added 2:01 in riding time to roll to the 9-3 win.

165: Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, battled No. 7 Bubba Wilson. Mesenbrink connected on a lows single in the first seconds, forcing a quick scramble. Wilson was able to defend his way out of trouble and the match continued in neutral in a scoreless tie. Mesenbrink’s offence forced a stall warning at 1:40. The Nittany Lion continued to shoot, taking a 3-0 lead at 1:08 with his first takedown. Mesenbrink worked on top for the remainder of the period and carried that lead into the second period. Mesenbrink chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead. He quickly tacked on a second takedown to open up a 7-0 lead and went to work on top. The Lion was called for a penalty point and Mesenbrink cut him loose on the reset to lead 7-2 at 1:00. Mesenbrink forced a stall and led 8-2 with the point, then moved in on a single leg, finishing off the takedown and adding three back points to lead 14-3 after two. Wilson chose down to start the third, Mesenbrink cut him and quick took him down to lead 17-3. He capped off the win, and the dual, with a three-point turn to post the 20-3 tech fall at 5:39.

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