Nittany Lion Wrestlers dominate Michigan 30-8 at BJC
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – Penn State (9-0, 2-0 B1G) dominated visiting Michigan (7-1, 2-1 B1G) 30-8 in front of a sold out Bryce Jordan Center crowd. Penn State won eight of ten bouts, including three from Nittany Lion freshmen.
The dual meet was wrestled in front of 15,975 fans, the sixth largest crowd in NCAA wrestling history for an indoor dual meet (and the sixth most in PSU history). The Nittany Lions hold the record for the largest crowd to ever seen an indoor dual meet (15,998 on Feb. 10, 2018 vs. Iowa) and own eight of the top 10 indoor marks.
The dual meet began at 125 where Michigan’s Jack Medley, ranked No. 23, posted a 19-3 technical fall over Penn State freshman Gary Steen at the 5:37 mark. Roman Bravo-Young, ranked No. 1 at 133, cut the Michigan lead to 5-3 with a 4-2 win over No. 12 Dylan Ragusin, using a full third period rideout and 3:04 in riding time to seal the deal. Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 4 at 141, dominated No. 23 Cole Mattin in a 7-2 win, rolling up 1:43 in riding time and giving the Nittany Lions a 6-5 lead.
Redshirt freshman Shayne Van Ness, ranked no. 14 at 149, rolled up nearly 4:00 in riding time in a 14-4 major decision over Fidel Mayora. Van Ness’ win put Penn State up 10-5. True freshman Levi Haines, ranked No. 17 at 157, sent the BJC sellout crowd to its feet with a takedown midway into extra time to post a 3-1 (sv) win over No. 10 Will Lewan. Haines’ win gave Penn State a 13-5 lead at intermission.
Redshirt freshman Alex Facundo, the fourth freshman in Penn State’s line-up and ranked No. 16 at 165, thrilled the Penn State faithful with a rousing win over No. 5 Cameron Amine to start the second half. Facundo used a first period takedown and a late escape to send the bout to sudden victory and then, in the tie-breaker, controlled Amine longer and notched the 5-5 (TB1; RT crit.) victory. Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, added to Penn State’s growing lead, notching a fall over No. 30 Max Maylor. Starocci got the pin at the 4:15 mark.
Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 184, dominated No. 9 Matt Finesilver. Brooks connected for six takedowns and rolled to a 14-4 major, putting Penn State on top 26-5. Max Dean, ranked No. 4 at 197, rolled up nearly 4:00 in riding time in a dominant 10-1 major over Brendin Yatooma to give the Nittany Lions a 30-5 lead. Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 1 at 285, gave up a late takedown to No. 2 Mason Parris and dropped a 3-1 decision in the dual’s final bout. Penn State rolled to the 30-8 victory.
Penn State won the takedown battle 23-9. The Nittany Lions picked up six bonus points off a pin (Starocci) and three majors (Van Ness, Brooks, Dean).
The Nittany Lions are now 9-0, 2-0 B1G. Michigan falls to 7-1, 2-1 B1G. Penn State returns to action in two days, hosting Michigan State in Rec Hall at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 22.
#1 Penn State 30, #14 Michigan 8
January 20, 2023 – Bryce Jordan Center – University Park, Pa.
125: #23 Jack Medley MICH tech fall Gary Steen PSU, 19-3 (TF; 5:37) 0-5
133: #1 Roman Bravo-Young PSU dec. #12 Dylan Ragusin MICH, 4-2 3-5
141: #4 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. #23 Cole Mattin MICH, 7-2 6-5
149: #14 Shayne Van Ness PSU maj. dec. Fidel Mayora MICH, 14-4 10-5
157: #17 Levi Haines PSU dec. #10 Will Lewan MICH, 3-1 (SV) 13-5
165: #16 Alex Facundo PSU dec. #5 Cameron Amine MICH, 5-5 (TB1; RT crit.) 16-5
174: #1 Carter Starocci PSU pinned #30 Max Maylor MICH, WBF (4:15) 22-5
184: #1 Aaron Brooks PSU maj. dec. #9 Matt Finesilver MICH, 14-4 26-5
197: #4 Max Dean PSU maj. dec. Brendan Yatooma MICH, 10-1 30-5
285: #2 Mason Parris MICH dec. #1 Greg Kerkvliet PSU, 3-1 30-8
Attendance: 15,975
Records: Penn State (9-0, 2-0 B1G); Michigan (7-1, 2-1 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: home vs. Michigan State, Sunday, Jan. 22, 1 p.m. – Rec Hall
