Top-ranked Penn State wrestling scored bonus points in every bout en route to a 51-0 thrashing of Northwestern on Sunday afternoon at Welsh Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois.
The Nittany Lions 80th consecutive dual victory marked their fifth shutout of the season and fourth in the last five meets.
Josh Barr and P.J. Duke each recorded pins, while Levi Haines, Rocco Welsh, Cole Mirasola, Luke Lilledahl and Shayne Van Ness had technical falls and Marcus Blaze and Braeden Davis won by major decision. Mitchell Mesenbrink won by forfeit.
Penn State dominated the takedown battle 38-1.
The Nittany Lions return to action at 7 p.m. on Friday when they host Indiana in Rec Hall.
174 Pounds
With Northwestern planning to forfeit the 165 pound bout, the meet started at 174 with No. 1 Levi Haines facing Northwestern’s No. 32-ranked Eddie Enright. Haines worked a low single into a takedown midway through the first period and stayed in control to take a 3-0 lead into the second. After escaping at the start of the second period, Haines tacked on two more takedowns for a 10-1 lead heading into the final three minutes. Following an Enright escape to begin the third, Haines went after bonus points, taking down Enright and cutting him loose twice before securing the 19-4 technical fall with his sixth takedown of the bout at 6:48
Penn State 5, Northwestern 0
184 Pounds
Coming off a low-scoring upset win Friday night over Iowa’s top-ranked Angelo Ferrari, No. 4 Rocco Welsh poured on the offense against Northwestern’s J.D. Perez. Welsh scored five first-period takedowns, and though he gave up just his second takedown all season, the Nittany Lion took a 12-5 lead into the second. Perez escaped to start the middle period, but Welsh went right back to work, using a sweep single for a takedown, cutting Perez loose, and popping behind for another takedown. Leading 15-7 entering the third, Welsh escaped then countered a Perez shot for a final takedown and a 22-7 technical fall at 5:27.
Penn State 10, Northwestern 0
197 Pounds
No.1 Josh Barr made quick work of Northwestern’s Alex Smith, using a single leg for an early takedown then locking up a near-side cradle for the fall at 1:50.
Penn State 16, Northwestern 0
285 Pounds
No. 13 Cole Mirasola overwhelmed Northwestern’s Gabe Christenson with first-period takedown clinic. On his third takedown of the bout, the Nittany Lion redshirt freshman turned Christenson for four near fall points to open up a 13-2 lead. After a Christenson escape, Mirasola went right back to work with two more takedowns for a 19-4 tech fall at 2:47.
Penn State 21, Northwestern 0
125 Pounds
Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 2 and likely to ascend to the top spot at 125 this week, opened the scoring with an early takedown of Northwestern’s Dedrick Navarro, and after the Wildcat escaped, Lilledahl had a 3-1 lead heading into the second. Navarro escaped to start the middle period, but Lilledahl quickly got in for a second takedown and added a third late to open a 9-3 lead. Lilledahl escaped to start the third and went to work for bonus points. He drove through on a double leg for a takedown, cut the Wildcat loose and popped behind for another. Navarro escaped once more before Lilledahl scored the bout’s final takedown and rode out the period. With 2:30 in riding time, Lilledahl claimed a 20-5 tech fall at 7:00.
Penn State 26, Northwestern 0
133 Pounds
No. 4 Marcus Blaze opened the scoring against Northwestern’s 24th-ranked Sean Spidle with a first-period takedown. Spidle escaped and fought off a late takedown attempt from Blaze, who carried a 3-1 lead into the second. Blaze opened the second period with an escape and added another point on a second stall call against Spidle, but the Wildcat again fended off a late counter as Blaze ended the middle frame with a 5-1 lead. The Nittany Lion freshman finally broke through in the third. After a Spidle escape and a technical violation, Blaze used a single leg for a takedown, cut Spidle loose, then followed up with a double leg for a takedown, cut Spidle again, and turned an ankle pick into a a final score. Blaze finished the bout on top and took a 15-4 major decision.
Penn State 30, Northwestern 0
141 Pounds
No. 7 Braeden Davis used a head inside single for a takedown of Northwestern’s No. 32-ranked Billy Dekraker late in the first period and turned the Wildcat for four near fall points to open up a 7-0 lead after one. Davis escaped for the only scoring of the second period to take an 8-0 lead into the third. Dekraker couldn’t break loose after choosing the down position to start the third as Davis executed a full-period rideout, and with a riding time point added, won a 9-0 major decision
Penn State 34, Northwestern 0
149 Pounds
Top-ranked Shayne Van Ness used two fast takedowns and was strong on top to take a 6-1 first-period lead against Northwestern’s August Hibler will building 2:12 in riding time. After Hibler escaped to start the second, Van Ness converted a single leg into a takedown and used a bow and arrow to turn Hibler for four near fall points. Hibler escaped, and Van Ness had a 13-3 lead after two. Van Ness followed an escape with a double leg for a takedown to open the third, and while he couldn’t turn Hibler for the pin, the Nittany Lion stayed in control the remainder of the bout, and with a riding time point won an 18-3 tech fall.
Penn State 39, Northwestern 0
157 Pounds
No. 3 P.J. Duke went on the offensive early and often against Northwestern’s Gunnar Myers, scoring five first-period takedowns before putting the Wildcat on his back for the fall at 2:42. It was the Nittany Lion redshirt freshman’s sixth pin in 11 bouts this season.
Penn State 45, Northwestern 0
165 Pounds
No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink won by forfeti.
Penn State 51, Northwestern 0
