Nittany Lion Wrestlers Dominate North Carolina 37-3 at Collegiate Duals
Penn State’s two victories on day one of the two-day event came by a combined score of 87-6. Penn State won 18 of 20 bouts and had eight pins.
Redshirt freshman Gary Steen dropped a tough 5-1 decision to No. 33 Jack Wagner at 125 to open up the dual meet. But the Nittany Lions would roll up nine straight wins to close out the dual. Roman Bravo-Young tallied 13 takedowns in a 26-11 tech fall (6:14) over Jace Palmer at 133. Beau Bartlett used a first period takedown to notch a hard-fought win over No. 25 Lachlan McNeil at 141 and Penn State led 8-3.
Shayne Van Ness used an escape and a third period rideout, clinching riding time, to notch a tough 2-0 win over Jayden Scott at 149 and Levi Haines rolled up nearly 3:00 in riding time in a 4-1 win over Danny Nini at 157. Haines’ victory gave the Nittany Lions a 14-3 lead at the dual’s halfway point.
Alex Facundo kept Penn State rolling, picking up a tough 5-2 win over Nicholas Fea at 165. Carter Starocci used five takedowns and two four-point turns to post an 18-3 technical fall (6:21) over Cade Tenold at 174, putting the Nittany Lions up 22-3.
Aaron Brooks met No. 17 Gavin Kane in one of the dual’s most anticipated bouts and made short work of his ranked foe. Brooks hit a standing cradle early and posted the fast fall at the :54 mark. His first period pin put Penn State up 28-3. Max Dean then dominated No. 31 Max Shaw at 197, picking up for takedowns and over 2:00 riding time in a 10-2 major decision. Greg Kerkvliet ended the match with a 17-1 tech fall (4:27) over Brandon Whitman, using three takedowns and four turns to end the match. His win gave Penn State the 37-3 victory.
The Nittany Lions posted a 30-2 takedown edge. The Lions garnered ten bonus points off a pin (Brooks), three tech falls (Bravo-Young, Starocci, Kerkvliet) and a major (Dean).
The Nittany Lions are now 6-0 the year while North Carolina falls to 2-4. Penn State will take on No. 5 Iowa State tomorrow at 8 p.m. Eastern in the event’s finale in New Orleans’ Morial Convention Center.
The 2022-23 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by the Family Clothesline. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via 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 37, #24 North Carolina 3
December 19, 2022 – Morial Convention Center – New Orleans, La.
125: No. 33 Jack Wagner UNC dec. Gary Steen PSU, 5-1 0-3
133: #1 Roman Bravo-Young PSU tech fall Jace Palmer UNC, 26-11 (TF; 6:14) 5-3
141: #5 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. #25 Lachlan McNeil UNC, 4-1 8-3
149: #17 Shayne Van Ness PSU dec. Jayden Scott UNC, 2-0 11-3
157: Levi Haines PSU dec. Danny Nini UNC, 4-1 14-3
165: #14 Alex Facundo PSU dec. Nicholas Fea UNC, 5-2 17-3
174: #1 Carter Starocci PSU tech fall Cade Tenold UNC, 18-3 (TF; 6:21) 22-3
184: #1 Aaron Brooks PSU pinned #17 Gavin Kane UNC, WBF (0:54) 28-3
197: #5 Max Dean PSU maj. dec. #31 Max Shaw UNC, 10-2 32-3
285: #1 Greg Kerkvliet PSU tech fall Brandon Whitman UNC, 17-1 (TF; 4:27) 37-3
Extra matches (official NCAA bouts – do not count in dual score):
165: Matt Lee PSU
Records: Penn State (6-0, 0-0 B1G); North Carolina (2-4)
Up Next for Penn State: vs. No. 5 Iowa State tomorrow (Sunday, Dec. 20) at 8 p.m. Eastern.
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Gary Steen took battled No. 33 Jack Wagner, a seventh-year senior, at 125. The duo battled through the first half of the opening period in neutral with neither wrestler finding an opening on offense. Wagner notched the bout’s first takedown late in the first period and finished the stanza on top to lead 2-0 after one. Stene chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-1 score. Wagner was able to pick up a second takedown and then built his riding time up over 1:00, leading 4-1. He finished the second period on top and carried that lead into the third period. Wagner chose neutral to start the third period. Steen worked the middle of the mat on offense, but the Nittany Lion freshman could not break through Wagner’s defense as the clock moved below the 1:00 mark.
133: Roman Bravo-Young, ranked No. 1 at 133, met Jace Palmer. Bravo-Young picked up the first takedown a minute in, cut Palmer loose and took a 4-1 lead with another takedown at the midway point of the opening period. Bravo-Young tacked on a third takedown and cut at the 1:00 mark and led 6-3. The Nittany Lion senior finished the period with a fourth takedown to lead 8-3, finishing the period on top. Bravo-Young chose neutral to start the second period and Bravo-Young quickly took the Tar Heel down a fifth time. Bravo-Young added another quick takedown, then a seventh, and went to work on top. He worked his time up near 2:00 before cutting Palmer loose. He added an eighth takedown, then a ninth in the final seconds and led 18-7 with over 2:00 in riding time after two. Palmer chose down to start the third but Bravo-Young quickly added four more takedowns, finishing off the 26-11 technical fall at the 6:14 mark.
141: Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 5 at 141, took No. 25 Lachlan McNeil. The duo battled through an even first period, with neither wrestler threatening over the first 2:20. McNeil got in on a low single at the :30 mark but Bartlett deftly countered the move for the bout’s first takedown at the :26 mark to lead 2-0 after a short rideout. McNeil chose down to start the second period. Bartlett worked the top position well off the whistle, working his riding time up over 1:00. The Nittany Lion junior continued to break the Tar Heel down as time hit 1:00 but McNeil was able to escape to a 2-1 score with Bartlett owning 1:37 in riding time. Leading 2-1, Bartlett chose down to start the final period. He quickly got to his feet and escaped to a 3-1 lead, still owning 1:26 in riding time. Bartlett circled the Tar Heel and connected on a low single at 1:05 but McNeil was able to kick out of the hold to keep the bout close. With riding time clinched and the clock moving below :25, Bartlett controlled the action in the center of the mat and walked away with a strong 4-1 decision.
149: Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 17 at 149, face Jayden Scott. Van Ness worked his offense from the outset, forcing Scott to the outside circle over the first minute-plus of the opening period. The Nittany Lion was relentless, however, continuing to pursue his opponent and collecting his right ankle at the :50 mark. Van Ness appeared to work the Tar Heel into control for a takedown on the edge of the mat, but none was awarded, and the bout moved to the second period tied 0-0. Van Ness chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Van Ness continued to press Scott backwards, but the Tar Heel was able to work the outside circle and keep the Lion from connecting. Van Ness finally forced a first stall at the :15 mark and led 1-0 after two. Scott chose down to start the third period and Van Ness worked to control the action on top. Van Ness forced Scott’s chest to the mat as his riding time moved over 1:00. He continued to put together a strong ride as the clock hit :30, maintaining his offensive position until a reset at :25. Van Ness finished on top and, with 1:56 in time, posted the 2-0 win.
157: True freshman Levi Haines once again got the nod at 157 and met Danny Nini. Haines notched a quick takedown and nearly turned Nini to his back, but the Tar Heel was able to roll out of trouble and escaped to a 2-1 Haines lead. Haines’ early takedown was the only offense in the first period and the Lion carried the 2-1 lead into the second period. Haines chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Haines continued to shoot Nini backwards as the period hit :45. Nini defended each Lion shot and Haines led 3-1 after two. Nini chose down to start the third and Haines went to work on top. The Nittany Lion controlled the action, working his riding time up over 1:00 and then towards 2:00. Haines dominated the action, keeping Nini prone and finishing off the bout with a third period rideout. He ended the match with 2:56 in riding time and rolled to the 4-1 win.
165: Alex Facundo, ranked No. 14 at 165, wrestled Nicholas Fea. Facundo turned a low shot into a scramble at 2:15 and finished off the takedown to lead 2-0 with 1:40 left in the period. Fea escaped to a 2-1 score and action continued in neutral. Facundo worked his offense in the final minute, but Fea was able to tie up the action at the :27 mark. Facundo led 2-1 after one. Facundo chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Fea connected on a high single with 1:10 left in the period but Facundo battled through the effort and forced a reset with 1:00 on the clock. The action continued in neutral for the rest of the period and Facundo led 3-1 after two. Fea chose down to start the third period and Facundo maintained control of the action over the first :30, with action rolling out of bounds. Fea was able to scramble his way to an escape with 1:10 left on the clock, Facundo with :48 in riding time. Facundo fought off a solid Fea shot at the :40 mark and then another at :25. The Nittany Lion countered a late Fea shot and picked up another takedown to finish off the match with a 5-2 win.
174: Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, took on Cade Tenold. Starocci took the Tar Heel down quickly and nearly pinned him with a cradle. Tenold fought out of the move, Starocci settled for four back points, turned him for four again and lead 10-0 at the 1:15 mark. Starocci dominated the action on top, forcing the Tar Heel back to the mat as he worked to turn him for more back points. Starocci settled for a 10-0 lead with 2:22 in riding time after one. Starocci chose neutral to start the second period and Starocci quickly took him down and cut him. He added another takedown to open up a 14-1 lead. Starocci’s dominant ride gave him a 14-1 lead with 3:52 in time after two. Tenold chose down to start the third and Starocci let him up. The Nittany Lion took Tenold down to lead 16-2 and had his riding time clinched. He finished off the bout with a final takedown and posted the 18-3 technical fall at the 6:21 mark.
184: Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 184, met No. 17 Gavin Kane. Brooks ended the bout quickly. He moved in on a standing cradle, collected himself and his opponent and worked Kane’s shoulders to the mat. Brooks settled in and picked up the fast fall, getting the pin at the :54 mark.
197: Max Dean, ranked No. 5 at 197, battled No. 31 Max Shaw. Dean worked the middle of the mat for the opening period, calmly looking for his offensive chance. With the clock moving below 1:00, Dean connected on a low shot and worked his way into control of Shaw, taking the Tar Heel down for a 2-0 lead as the clock hit :30. Dean finished the period on top and led by two after one. Dean chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. He fought off a solid Shaw shot at the 2:0 mark and then slipped around a slight Shaw shot for a second takedown and a 5-0 lead. Dean worked to turn Shaw, but action was stopped twice by the official. He finished the period on top, however, and led 5-0 with 1:34 in riding time after two. Shaw chose down to start the third period and Dean cut him loose after his time edge moved over 2:00. Shaw got in on a high single and Dean went to work countering the shot. He steadily moved around and in control for a takedown and a 7-2 lead after cutting Shaw loose again. Dean scrambled his way to another takedown with :29 left to lead 9-2. With riding time clinched, Dean finished the period on top. With 2:29 in time, Dean posted the 10-2 major decision.
285: Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 1 at 285, faced Brandon Whitman. Kerkvliet wasted no time, taking Whitman down in the opening seconds to lead 2-0 early. He then worked top position into a four-on-one title and added the nearfall points to lead 6-0. Kerkvliet added another two-point turn before the first period ended and led 8-0 with 2:49 in time after one. Kerkvliet chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 9-0 lead. He took Whitman down again within seconds of his escape, cut him loose and took him down again. Kerkvliet ended the match with two two-point near falls, picking up the 17-1 tech fall at the 4:27 mark.
