Penn State Wrestling Powers Past Michigan 30-8

Top-ranked Penn State wrestling (9-0, 2-0 Big Ten) handled its biggest test of the season to date with a 30-8 win over No. 4 Michigan (7-1, 2-1) on Friday night in a sold-out Bryce Jordan Center.

Penn State won eight of 10 bouts, scoring bonus points in four. Levi Haines and Alex Facundo scored upset wins in overtime thrillers and Carter Starocci notched the night’s only pin. In the night’s highest profile bout, top-ranked Nittany Lion heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet dropped a closely fought 3-1 decision to No. 2 Mason Parris.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Nittany Lions’ struggles at 125 continued with Gary Steen losing by tech fall to No. 23 Jack Medley, but from there Penn State reeled off eight consecutive victories. No.1 133-pounder Roman Bravo-Young gave up just his second takedown of the season in the first period against No. 12 Dylan Ragusin, but responded with one of his own in the second and a masterclass in controlling on top. RBY stayed on top for the rest of the second and all of the third to win a 4-2 decision with 3:04 in riding time.

No. 4 Beau Bartlett was just as impressive staying in control against Michigan’s 12th-ranked Cole Mattin in the 141-pound bout. Bartlett emerged from a scramble with a takedown and never looked back as he notched 1:43 in riding time in a 7-2 decision.

After No. 14 Shayne Van Ness scored the Nittany Lions’ first bonus points of the night with 14-4 major decision against Fidel Mayora, true freshman Levi Haines delivered the first of two overtime upset wins for Penn State. Tied 1-1 after three periods, Haines and No. 10 Taylor Lewan went to sudden victory, where the Nittany Lion fended off a strong shot and scored the decisive takedown.

Redshirt freshman Alex Facundo, ranked 16th at 165, held the edge over Michigan’s No. 5 Cameron Amine deep into the third period when he appeared to turn a scramble into a takedown that would have made it 5-2 in the Nittany Lion’s favor with three seconds remaining. But on review, Amine was awarded a takedown at 19 seconds to put the Wolverine in front 4-3. Facundo escaped before time expired to send it to sudden victory.

Neither wrestler could get in on a takedown in sudden victory, sending it to tie breakers. Facundo escaped quickly in the first to take the 5-4 lead. In the second, he kept control on second for 14 seconds before Amine broke free. With no further scoring, the riding time criteria handed the decision to Facundo.

Penn State’s upper weights dominated the next three bouts. No. 1 Carter Starocci controlled No. 30 Max Maylor throughout the first period before getting the night’s only pin at the 4:14 mark. No. 1 Aaron Brooks had little trouble with No. 9 Matt Finesilver in a 14-4 major decision at 184. And Max Dean, dominated Brendin Yatooma with a 10-1 major at 197.

With the dual meet victory already well in hand for Penn State, top-ranked Nittany Lion Greg Kerkvliet met No. 2 Mason Parris at heavyweight in what was the marquee bout heading into the night. A lively first period yielded no score, and Parris got the night’s first point with an escape 36 seconds into the second. Kerkvliet took down to start the third and quickly escaped. But Parris countered a Kerkvliet shot and got behind for the takedown with under 30 seconds left. Kerkvliet couldn’t get loose, and Parris won a 3-1 decision.

Penn State’s 30-8 win was its 38th consecutive dual meet victory.

The Nittany Lions return to action on Sunday with a 1 p.m. start against Michigan State (7-3, 0-3) in Rec Hall.