PSU Wrestling: Hawkeyes hit the BJC on Friday
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA — Penn State (10-0, 3-0 B1G) will host Iowa (12-0, 5-0 B1G) on Friday, Jan. 27, in the second BJC Dual of the year for head coach Cael Sanderson’s squad. The Nittany Lions and Hawkeyes face off at 8:30 p.m. in another B1G Network national telecast in the Jordan Center. This is Iowa’s first trip to Penn State since the 2017-18 season.
Penn State is coming a two-win weekend in State College. The Nittany Lions dominated Michigan 30-8 in the first BJC Dual of the season last Friday, winning eight of ten matches including three from freshmen Shayne Van Ness (149), Levi Haines (157) and Alex Facundo (165). Two days later, the Lions took care of Michigan State in Rec Hall, 34-6. Penn State also won eight against the Spartans, including three from freshmen Gary Steen (125), Shayne Van Ness (149) and Alex Facundo (165). Penn State improved to 10-0, 3-0 B1G with the home wins.
The Lion line-up, which could feature four freshmen, begins with freshman Gary Steen, who is 5-9 at 125. Roman Bravo-Young is ranked No. 1 at 133 with a 9-0 mark. Beau Bartlett is ranked No. 4 at 141 and is 14-0 on the year. Freshman Shayne Van Ness is ranked No. 13 at 149 and is 11-2. Freshman Levi Haines is 12-1 and ranked No. 9 at 157 while Terrell Barraclough sports a 6-3 mark at that weight. Freshman Alex Facundo is ranked No. 5 at 165 and is 11-1. Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, is 10-0 on the year. Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 184, is 6-1. Max Dean is 12-2 and ranked No. 4 at 197 and Greg Kerkvliet is ranked No. 2 at 285 with an 8-1 mark.
Iowa enters the dual with a 12-0 record, 5-0 in the Big Ten. Iowa could send a line-up of ten ranked wrestlers onto the stage in the BJC. Spencer Lee is ranked No. 1 at 125 and Brody Teske is ranked No. 17 at 133. Real Woods is ranked No. 2 at 141 and Max Murin is ranked No. 7 at 149. Cobe Siebrecht is ranked No. 15 at 157 and Patrick Kennedy is ranked No. 13 at 165. Nelson Brands is ranked No. 16 at 174 and Abe Assad is ranked No. 12 at 184. Jacob Warner is ranked No. 7 at 197 and Tony Cassioppi is ranked No. 3 at 285. The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series 28-11-2. Penn State won last year, 19-13 on Jan. 28, 2022, in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Penn State has won three of the last four meetings.
The Nittany Lions hit the road for two duals next weekend. Penn State is at Ohio State on Friday, Feb. 3, for a 7 p.m. meeting and at Indiana on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 1 p.m.
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (10-0, 3-0 B1G)
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 Gary Steen Fr. Hermitage, Pa./Reynolds 5-9
133 #1 Roman Bravo-Young Sr.+ Tucson, Ariz./Sunnyside 9-0
141 #4 Beau Bartlett Jr. Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) 14-0
149 #13 Shayne Van Ness Fr. Somerville, N.J./Blair Academy 11-2
157 #9 Levi Haines Fr. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 12-1
Terrell Barraclough Jr. Kaysville, Utah/Layton 6-3
165 #5 Alex Facundo Fr. Essexville, Mich./Davison 11-1
174 #1 Carter Starocci Jr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 10-0
184 #1 Aaron Brooks Sr. Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown 6-1
197 #4 Max Dean Sr. Lowell, Mich./Lowell 12-2
285 #2 Greg Kerkvliet Jr. Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley 8-1
IOWA HAWKEYES (12-0, 5-0 B1G)
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 #1 Spencer Lee Sr. Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional 10-0
133 #17 Brody Teske Jr. Duncombe, Iowa/Fort Dodge 4-0
141 #2 Real Woods Sr. Albuquerque, N.M./Montini Catholic (Ill.) 9-0
149 #7 Max Murin Sr. Ebensburg, Pa./Central Cambria 13-3
157 #15 Cobe Siebrecht Fr. Lisbon, Iowa/Lisbon 8-2
165 #13 Patrick Kennedy So. Kasson Mantorville, Minn./Kasson-Mantorville 12-2
174 #16 Nelson Brands Sr. Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City West 4-3
184 #12 Abe Assad Jr. Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North 14-2
197 #7 Jacob Warner Sr. Tolono, Ill./Washington Community 11-2
285 #3 Tony Cassioppi Sr. Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah 16-0
Individual Rankings listed are InterMat and Team Ranki
