No. 1 Penn State wrestling (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) toppled No. 3 Iowa (10-2, 5-2 Big Ten) 29-6 on Friday night in Iowa City for head coach Cael Sanderson’s 200th win with the program.
The victory marked marked the third straight for the Nittany Lions over the Hawkeyes and by far Penn State’s largest margin of victory ever in the series, eclipsing the previous mark of 15.
Penn State was led by major decision victories from Aaron Nagao, Levi Haines, Carter Starocci, Bernie Truax and Greg Kervliet.
How It Happened
125 Pounds
No. 2 Braeden Davis started the meet for Penn State, taking on No. 7 Drake Ayala. Quick offense from Ayala proved successful, securing an early takedown with a fast throw-by followed by a Davis escape to give the Hawkeye a 3-1 lead. That would prove to be the difference. The wrestlers exchanged escapes in the final two periods and Ayala won a 4-2 decision to hand the Nittany Lion true freshman his first loss of the season.
133 Pounds
No. 6 Aaron Nagao was in action next, battling against No. 20-ranked Hawkeye Cullan Schriever. Nagao struck first for the opening takedown and stayed in control for the remainder of the period to build nearly two minutes of riding time. After escaping from bottom position to start the second, Nagao extended his lead to 4-0 heading into the final two minutes. Schriever chose neutral to start the third, and Nagao got in on a low single then worked his way around for his second takedown. The Nittany Lion turned Schriever to his back for three nearfall points, and with 3:27 in riding time recorded an 11-0 major decision.
Penn State took a 4-3 dual meet lead.
141 Pounds
In a battle of the nation’s top two ranked 141-pounders, No. 1 Beau Bartlett took on second-ranked Hawkeye Real Woods. Bartlett converted on a double for a strong takedown to break the early deadlock and collected nearly a minute of riding time before Woods escaped. Another escape point from Woods to start the second tightened Bartlett’s lead to 3-2 heading into the final period. After escaping to start the third, Bartlett battled through on a double leg and scored his second takedown of the bout to secure a 7-2 decision over the 2023 NCAA runner-up.
149 Pounds
Tenth-ranked Penn State freshman Tyler Kasak met No. 12 Caleb Rathjen in the 149-pound bout. Rathjen got on the board with a takedown in the waning seconds of the first period to build a 3-0 lead. After a Kasak escape to start the second, Rathjen countered a shot for another takedown and carried a 6-2 lead the final two minutes of regulation. Rathjen escaped to start the final period and Kasak mounted a comeback, taking down the Hawkeye twice to knot the score at 8-8 and push the match into sudden victory. Rathjen stopped Kasak’s momentum in extra time, however, getting behind the Nittany Lion to secure his third takedown of the match and win an 11-8 sudden victory decision.
With the win, Iowa narrowed Penn State’s dual meet lead to 7-6
157 Pounds
No. 1-ranked Nittany Lion Levi Haines put on a dominant performance against No. 5 Jared Franek. Haines worked the Hawkeye’s leg and got control for the bout’s first takedown, riding out the rest of the period and collecting over 90 seconds of riding time heading into the second. Haines escaped to start the middle period, fought off a Franek shot and scored his second takedown followed by a stall point for an 8-0 lead and nearly three minutes of riding time entering the final two minutes. A third and final takedown from Haines plus 3:32 in riding time gave the Nittany Lion a 12-0 major decision.
Penn State led the dual 11-6 heading into the intermission.
165 Pounds
Seventh-ranked Penn State redshirt Mitchell Mesenbrink restarted the action after the intermission, taking on No. 6 Michael Caliendo. Mesenbrink used a head outside single and stepped around for the bout’s opening takedown, then popped out of a headlock and got control for a second to take a 6-1 lead with over 60 seconds of riding time as the bout entered the middle period. Caliendo escaped to start the second and cut the lead to 6-2. Mesenbrink was awarded a stall point then dropped in on a single leg and drove through for another takedown to extend his lead to 10-3 heading into the final two minutes. A late takedown by Caliendo prevented a major, but Mesenbrink, who earned an escape point and riding time, claimed the 12-6 decision.
174 Pounds
No. 1 Carter Starocci took on No. 7 Patrick Kennedy at 174. Starocci got Kennedy’s leg out of scramble and took him to the mat for the opening takedown. Following an escape, Starocci used a high single for a second takedown with one second remaining in the period to open up a 6-1 lead. Starocci escaped and took down Kennedy twice more, as well as showing impressive defense to fend off a takedown, to increase his lead to 13-2 after two. Kennedy gained a point on a locked hands call against Starocci, escaped and picked up another point, but the Nittany Lion continued to display tough takedown defense to hang on for the 13-4 major decision.
Starocci’s nation-leading 62nd consecutive victory extended Penn State’s lead to 18-6.
184 Pounds
No. 6 Bernie Truax was next up against Iowa’s Aiden Riggins. Truax scored an early takedown and maintained top control for the remainder of the period, building a 3-0 lead with 2:33 in riding time. After an escape increased Truax’s lead to 4-0 in the second, the Nittany Lion drove through on a double in the third for a takedown and added a riding time point for the 8-0 major decision.
The victory sealed the dual meet with Penn State in front 22-6 and two matches remaining.
197 Pounds
No. 1 Aaron Brooks faced a hard-fought battle from Iowa’s No. 11 Zach Glazier at 197. After a scoreless first period, Brooks escaped to start the second then fought off a deep shot by Glazier, grabbing the Hawkeyes ankles and swinging around for control to get a takedown and a 4-0 lead after two. An escape from Glazier to start the third would not be enough to overcome the deficit, and Brooks added a riding time point for a 5-1 decision, his first bout without bonus points this season.
Heavyweight
In the last bout of the dual, No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet took on Iowa freshman Ben Kueter. Kerkvliet converted a double for a takedown and a 3-1 lead after one. A full-period rideout in the second built Kerkvliet’s riding time to 2:44 headed into the third. A quick escape and a second takedown by Kerkvliet, along with a stall point and riding time, secured the 9-1 major decision victory for the Nittany Lion.
Penn State won the dual with a final score of 29-6 for the Nittany Lions’ 53rd consecutive dual meet victory.
Geoff Rushton contributed to this report.
