Penn State Wrestling Roars in 35-3 B1G Road Win at Rutgers
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (9-0, 3-0 B1G) downed homestanding Rutgers (10-4, 2-2 B1G) 35-3 in Big Ten action Friday. Penn State rode the wave of four technical falls and won nine of the dual’s ten bouts to sail to victory.
The dual was wrestled in front of a sold-out crowd in Rutgers’ Jersey Mike’s Arena. Penn State took care of the homestanding Knights in front of 8,057 fans.
The dual began at 125. True freshman Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 6 at 125, lost a 4-1 decision to No. 19 Dean Peterson on a late takedown and Rutgers led 3-0 out of the gates. Sophomore Braeden Davis, ranked No. 7 at 133, used a full rideout in the second period and the riding time point that came with it to down No. 9 Dylan Shawver 2-1. With the dual tied 3-3, senior+ Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 3 at 141, used takedowns in the first and second periods to down No. 14 Joseph Olivieri 7-3 to put the Nittany Lions on top 6-3.
Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 4 at 149, followed that up with a 17-2 technical fall (5:26), using four takedowns and a four-point turn to roll to victory. Sophomore Tyler Kasak, ranked No. 3 at 157, used a first period takedown and 3:42 in riding time to roll to a 4-0 win over No. 31 Conner Harer and Penn State led 14-3 at halftime.
Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, rolled to a 19-3 technical fall over No. 26 Anthony White to start the second half, ending the bout at 6:30. Junior Levi Haines, ranked No. 2 at 174, downed No. 22 Jackson Turley for a hard-fought 5-2 win in the next match, giving Penn State a 22-3 lead. Graduate Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 184, used three takedowns and forced four stall warnings in a dominant 17-2 tech fall (6:58) over No. 18 Shane Cartagena-Walsh.
Redshirt freshman Josh Barr, ranked No. 4 at 197, dazzled in the third period in his 22-6 tech fall (6:19) over No. 16 John Poznanski. Barr scored all his points in the third, using an escape and seven takedowns in the win. Senior+ Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 2 at 285, capped off the lopsided dual meet with a hard-fought 2-0 win over No. 7 Yaraslau Slavikouski to finish off Penn State’s 35-3 win.
The Nittany Lions dominated the dual meet, posting a 24-1 takedown advantage and forcing nine stall warnings. Penn State won nine of ten bouts and picked up eight bonus points off four tech falls (Van Ness, Mesenbrink, Starocci, Barr).
The Nittany Lions are now 9-0, 3-0 B1G. Rutgers falls to 10-4, 2-2 B1G. The Nittany Lions will host Iowa next Friday, Jan. 31, in the first of two consecutive BJC Duals. The dual begins at 7 p.m. and is a 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 35, #25 Rutgers 3
January 24, 2025 – Piscataway, N.J.
125: #19 Dean Peterson RU dec. #6 Luke Lilledahl PSU, 4-1 0-3
133: #7 Braeden Davis PSU dec. #9 Dylan Shawver RU, 2-1 3-3
141: #3 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. #14 Joesph Olivieri RU, 7-3 6-3
149: #4 Shayne Van Ness PSU tech fall Alex Nini RU, 17-2 (TF; 5:26) 11-3
157: #3 Tyler Kasak PSU dec. #31 Conner Harer RU, 4-0 14-3
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU tech fall #26 Anthony White RU, 19-3 (TF; 6:30) 19-3
174: #2 Levi Haines PSU dec. #22 Jackson Turley RU, 5-2 22-3
184: #1 Carter Starocci PSU tech fall #18 Shane Cartagena-Walsh RU, 17-2 (TF; 6:58) 27-3
197: #4 Josh Barr PSU tech fall #16 John Poznanski RU, 22-6 (TF; 6:19) 32-3
285: #2 Greg Kerkvliet PSU dec. #7 Yaraslau Slavikouski RU, 2-0 35-3
Attendance: 8,057
Records: Penn State (9-0, 3-0 B1G); Rutgers (10-4, 2-2 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: home vs. Iowa, Friday, Jan. 31, 7 p.m. – BJC Dual
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: True freshman Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 6 at 125, took on No. 19 Dean Peterson. Lilledahl sidestepped an early Peterson shot, nearly connecting on a counter at 2:20. The duo worked the center of the amt through the 1:30 mark with neither wrestler connecting on low single attempts. Lilledahl began to press Peterson backwards in the final minute. After a scoreless first period, Peterson chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Lilledahl and Peterson worked for control on the Rutgers logo, center mat, through 1:00. The first period finished in neutral, and Lilledahl trailed 1-0 after two. Lilledahl chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Lilledahl took a couple low singles, forcing Peterson towards the outside circle as the clock hit :45. Peterson turned a low single into a scramble and finished off the takedown to open up a 4-1 lead at :30 and finished the period on top to post the 4-1 win.
133: Sophomore Braeden Davis, ranked No. 7 at 133, met No. 9 Dylan Shawver. Davis and Shawver battled evenly through the opening two minutes. Davis maintained position in the middle of the mat and shot Shawver back at :20. Shawver countered with a high double and Davis fought off the move to kill the clock. Tied 0-0, Shawver chose down to start the second period. Davis maintained control of Shawver through the 1:00 mark and gave up a stall warning at :35. Davis nearly turned Shawver for back points after a reset but gave up a stall point on another stall. Davis finished the rideout and trailed 1-0 but had 2:00 in riding time. Davis chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie, still maintaining 1:40 in time. Davis connected on a single to Shawver’s right thigh and worked action to the mat, Shawver scrambled through the move, but the clock hit :03 before the action was stopped. Davis, with 1:40 in riding time, posted the 2-1 win.
141: Senior+ Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 3 at 141, battled No. 14 Joseph Olivieri. Bartlett and Olivieri battled in neutral through the 1:45 mark before Bartlett connected on a low single and took a 3-1 lead after a quick RU escape. Bartlett controlled position on the Rutgers logo through the :30 mark, looking for another chance to score. Olivieri’s defense held through the period and Bartlett led 3-1 after one. Trailing by two, Olivieri chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 3-2 score. Bartlett worked another low single into a takedown at the :44 mark, opening up a 6-2 lead. The Nittany Lion maintained control on top until the :16 mark before Olivieri escaped to a 6-3 score. Leading 6-3, Bartlett chose down to start the third period. He quickly escaped to a 7-3 lead and went back to work on offense. Bartlett fought off a slight Olivieri shot with 1:25 left in the bout, forcing a reset. He stepped away from a flurry of Olivieri shots as the clock hit :45. Bartlett finished the period with a late shot and the clock hit 0:00 before he could finish the move. He settled for the 7-3 win.
149: Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 4 at 149, faced Alex Nini. Van Ness scored first, taking Nini down at the 2:07 mark to lead 3-1 after a Nini escape. Van Ness quickly scored again to open up a 6-1 lead. Van Ness put together a strong ride, building up over 1:00 in riding time and forcing a first stall warning at :35. He finished the period on top and led 6-1 with 1:55 in time after one. Van Ness chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-1 lead. Nini turned a low single into a scramble at 1:15. Van Ness worked his way into control of the scramble and nearly turned Nini for points but a stalemate was called at :50. Van Ness bulled through a high double for a takedown at :30 and turned Nini for four back points to lead 14-1 after two. Nini chose down to start the third and Van Ness cut him loose to a 14-2 score. Van Ness ended the match with a takedown at 1:34 and posted the 17-2 technical fall at 5:26.
157: Sophomore Tyler Kasak, ranked No. 3 at 157, took on No. 31 Conner Harer. Kasak scored first, scrambling to a takedown and a 3-0 lead at the 1:42 mark. The Nittany Lion sophomore controlled the action on top, building up riding time through the 1:00 mark. Kasak continued to control from the top position on the outside circle and finished off the rideout to lead 3-0 with 1:42 in time after the opening period. Kasak chose neutral to start the second period. Kasak worked Harer towards the outside circle as the clock ticked past 1:00. The Nittany Lion paced on the Rutgers logo and worked on offense, but Harer defended his way through the period. Trailing 3-0, Harer chose down to start the third period and Kasak went to work on top. Kasak worked forced a stall warning at 1:30 while working for back points. With riding time clinched after a reset at 1:18, Kasak continued to work for a turn, but Harer was able to stay flat. Kasak finished the period on top and, with 3:42 in riding time, posted the strong 4-0 win.
165: Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, met No. 26 Anthony White. Mesenbrink scored first, taking white down off the opening whistle to lead 3-0 just :13 into the bout. White escaped to a 3-1 score and Mesenbrink quickly took him down once more to lead 6-1 at 1:42. Mesenbrink forced a stall warning at 1:25 while trying to turn White. He turned the Knight once but White rolled through the move. Mesenbrink picked up a stall point at and two near fall points at the buzzer to lead 9-1 after one. Mesenbrink chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 10-1 lead. White turned a low single into a scramble, but Mesenbrink fought off the move and eventually scrambled his way to another takedown and 13-1 lead at 1:02. Mesenbrink continued to work on offense, looking for a turn. He finished the period on top and led 13-1 with 3:22 in time after two. White chose down to start the third and Mesenbrink cut him loose to lead 16-3 at 1:20. Mesenbrink ended the match with a final takedown, rolling to a 19-3 tech fall at 6:30.
174: Junior Levi Haines, ranked No. 2 at 174, battled No. 22 Jackson Turley. Haines forced an early scramble, using a high double, eventually finishing off the takedown to lead 3-0 at 2:09. Haines built up riding time with strong work on top, looking to turn Turley. Turley worked his way to an escape at :35 and Haines led 3-1 with 1:24 in riding time after one. Haines chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-1 lead. Haines worked the center of the mat after his escape and the clock moved past 1:00. Haines rolled through a low shot, but Turley scrambled his way out of bounds with :26 on the clock. Haines led 4-1 with 1:09 riding time after two. Turley chose down to start the third period and Haines went to work on top, adding to his riding time edge. Turley escaped to a 4-2 score and Haines had riding time clinched with 1:04 on the clock. Haines shot low at :35 but the scramble ended in potentially dangerous at :15. Haines, with 1:57, posted the 5-2 win.
184: Graduate Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 184, faced No. 18 Shane Cartagena-Walsh. Starocci set a fast tempo from the start, forcing the Knight wrestler backwards through 2:00 of neutral action. He forced a first stall at :45 and then took a 3-0 lead with a takedown at :41. Starocci maintained control on top for the rest of the period and led 3-0 with :41 in time after one. Starocci chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead. The Nittany Lion grad student continued to press the Knight backwards, keeping Cartagena-Walsh working on the outside circle through the 1:00 mark. Starocci snapped a low double into a takedown and a 7-0 lead at :22. He led 7-0 with 1:00 in riding time after another ride out heading to the third period. Cartagena-Walsh chose neutral to start the third period. Starocci picked up a third takedown and cut the Knight loose to a 10-1 lead. Starocci picked up another takedown and cut and led 14-2, then 15-2 on another stall. Starocci chased Cartagena-Walsh around for the final seconds, forcing a fourth stall call and the two points gave Starocci the 17-2 tech fall at 6:58.
197: Redshirt freshman Josh Barr, ranked No. 4 at 197, met No. 16 John Poznanski. Barr controlled the center of the mat as he battled the Rutgers senior through the opening minutes in neutral. Poznanski played defense while Barr pressed the Knight backwards as the clock hit :45. Barr worked Poznanski backwards and turned a low single into a late scoring chance, but time ran out and the bout moved to the second tied 0-0. Poznanski chose down to start the second period. Barr controlled the action on top, building up solid riding time while Poznanski tried to slide out of bounds. The Lion freshman dominated action on offense, working the clock down below 1:00. Barr finished the second on top, although he gave up one stall warning. Tied 0-0, Barr chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead with 1:56 in time. He immediately went to work on offense and took a 4-0 lead with a takedown on the edge of the mat. Barr cut Poznanski loose, moved in on another single and opened up a 7-2 lead after another cut. Barr went on a furious run and finished off a sizzling third period with 22 points. He tallied seven takedowns and an escape in the final three minutes and posted a 22-6 tech fall at 6:19.
285: Senior+ Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 2 at 285, battled No. 7 Yaraslau Slavikouski. The duo battled evenly over the first minute, but Kerkvliet began to press on offense at 1:30. He forced Slavikouski into a stall warning at :55. The first period ended in a 0-0 tie. Kerkvliet chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The Nittany Lion big man held his position through the 1:00 mark, looking for an opening but Slavikouski was able to play defense and keep the bout scoreless. Kerkvliet continued to shoot the Knight backwards as the clock hit :30 but settled for a 1-0 lead after two. Trailing by one, Slavikouski chose neutral to start the third period. Kerkvliet moved in on offense and shot Slavikouski out of bounds for a second stall and a 2-0 lead. Rutgers challenged the stall, but it was confirmed after review. Kerkvliet maintained his position on the RU logo as the clock slid through 1:00. Kerkvliet finished the period in neutral and settled for a hard-fought 2-0 win.
