No. 1 Penn State wrestling got its toughest challenge of the season so far, but still won seven of 10 bouts to defeat No. 6 Nebraska 26-12 on Friday night at the Bryce Jordan Center.
The Nittany Lions got technical falls from two top-ranked wrestlers, with Luke Lilledahl taking out Alan Koehler and Mitchell Mesenbrink dominating No. 7 LJ Araujo. No. 1 Rocco Welsh won a 14-5 major decision over No. 6 Silas Allred, while No. 1 Josh Barr came up just short of a tech fall with a 21-9 major against No. 9 Camden McDanel.
Penn State also got decision victories in ranked bouts by No. 4 Marcus Blaze against No. 10 Jacob Van Dee, No. 1 Shayne Van Ness over No. 18 Chance Lamer and No. 1 Levi Haines against No. 4 Christopher Minto.
No. 12 Braeden Davis had a third period lead against Nebraska’s fourth-ranked Brock Hardy until the defending 141-pound Big Ten champion and NCAA runner-up countered a Davis shot and locked up a cradle for a pin. Just after the fall, Davis kicked Hardy and was hit with an unsportsmanlike penalty that cost Penn State a team point.
No. 3 PJ Duke suffered his first collegiate loss as he dropped a 2-1 decision on riding time in tiebreakers to defending 157-pound champ Antrell Taylor.
No. 12 Cole Mirasola battled No. 4-ranked veteran heavyweight AJ Ferrari to a 1-1 tie, but Ferrari’s strong ride in the third gave him the decisive riding time point for a 2-1 decision.
Penn State (12-0, 6-0) extended its NCAA-record dual meet win streak to 83.
The Nittany Lions return to action when they visit Michigan at 6 p.m. on Friday for a dual airing on the Big Ten Network.
HOW IT HAPPENED
125 Pounds
No. 1 Luke Lilledahl took control early against Nebraska’s Alan Koehler, using a quick head inside single and fighting through for the bout’s opening takedown, then added two more to take a 9-2 lead into the second. After a Koehler escape to start the second, Lilledahl shot in on a single for a takedown at the edge of the mat and after a reset worked a bow and arrow for two near fall points. Leading 14-3 to start the third, Lilledahl used a low double for a takedown, cut Koehler loose, then caught the Cornhusker with a knee pick for a final takedown and a 20-4 technical fall at 5:36
Penn State 5, Nebraska 0
133 Pounds
No. 4 Marcus Blaze and Nebraska’s 10th-ranked Jacob Van Dee spent most of the first period on their feet until Blaze got a late takedown and finished the waning seconds on top to take a 3-0 lead into the middle period. Van Dee escaped to start the second but got hit with an illegal hold call later in the period to give Blaze a 4-1 lead going into the final two minutes. Blaze escaped to start the third and the two wrestlers finished out the bout with a lot of hand fighting as the Nittany Lion took a 5-1 decision.
Penn State 8, Nebraska 0
141 Pounds
The BJC crowd erupted as No. 12 Braeden Davis shot in fast and took Nebraska’s defending Big Ten champ Brock Hardy, ranked No. 4, to the mat for a takedown and an early 3-0 lead. Hardy escaped, but Davis was soon back in on a head inside single for his second takedown. Following another Hardy escape, Davis took a 6-2 lead and seemingly all of the momentum into the second. Davis escaped to start the second for a 7-2 lead, but late in the period Hardy got his first takedown to narrow the deficit to 7-5. Hardy opened the third with an escape to cut Davis’ lead to one. Hardy then countered a Davis shot and locked up a cradle for the pin and the victory at 5:55. Penn State lost a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct when Davis kicked Hardy as they separated after the fall.
Penn State 7, Nebraska 6
149 Pounds
Nebraska’s No.18-ranked Chance Lamer got an early takedown against No. 1 Shayne Van Ness and after a Van Ness escape, the Husker took a 3-1 lead after one. Lamer escaped to start the second, but Van Ness got a takedown and rode out the rest of the period to tie the bout 4-4 heading into the third. Van Ness carried the momentum into the final period, escaping and using a blast double for a takedown to move in front 8-4. After a Lamer escape, Van Ness used a duck under and got behind for a final takedown. With a riding time point tacked on, Van Ness claimed an 11-5 decision.
Penn State 10, Nebraska 6
157 Pounds
No. 3 PJ Duke nearly had a takedown of No. 5-ranked Cornhusker and defending national champion Antrell Taylor late in the first period, but it was not awarded on the mat or on review. That would be pivotal as the two wrestlers traded escapes for a 1-1 tie through three periods. Duke was the aggressor in sudden victory but couldn’t find an opening and the bout went to tiebreakers. Taylor built up 12 seconds of riding time before Duke escaped in the first round with no scoring. Duke, meanwhile, was unable to escape in the second, giving Taylor the 2-1 decision on riding time and handing the Nittany Lion freshman his first collegiate loss.
Penn State 10, Nebraska 9
165 Pounds
No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink got Penn State back on track out of the intermission, getting a single leg off the whistle for a takedown of No. 7 LJ Araujo and adding two more for a 9-3 lead after the first period. A takedown and a second stall call against Araujo extended Mesenbrink’s lead to 13-4 in the second. Another stall by Araujo in the top position at the start of the third and a Mesenbrink reversal made it 16-4. Araujo escaped, but Mesenbrink drove through on a double and slammed the Husker to the mat for a final takedown and rideout. With a riding time point added, Mesenbrink won a 20-5 tech fall at 7:00
Penn State 15, Nebraska 9
174 Pounds
Nebraska’s Christopher Minto, ranked No. 4 got the only point of the first period when No. 1 Levi Haines was called for unnecessary roughness after pushing Minto onto the scorer’s table as they went off the mat. Haines escaped to start the second, but Minto grabbed his ankle and got in on a takedown, just the third given up all season by Haines. The Nittany Lion, however, escaped and then converted a single into a double for a takedown to move ahead 5-4 at the end of two. Though Minto escaped to tie it early in the third, Haines drove through out of a front headlock for his second takedown of the bout. Minto rolled out for a late escape, but Haines took the 8-6 decision.
Penn State 18, Nebraska 9
184 Pounds
No. 1 Rocco Welsh went on the offensive early against No. 6 Silas Allred, securing two first-period takedowns for a 6-2 lead. A Welsh takedown sandwiched by two Allred escapes made it 9-4 heading into the third. Welsh escaped to start the third and used a strong double for his fourth takedown. Allred escaped, but Welsh tacked on a riding time point and claimed a 14-5 major decision.
Penn State 22, Nebraska 9
197 Pounds
No. 1 Josh Barr set the pace early against Nebraska’s ninth-ranked Camden McDanel, scoring four first-period takedowns for a 12-3 lead. Barr escaped, got a fifth takedown and came close to another that would have ended the bout with a tech fall late in the second but ran out of time, taking a 16-4 lead into the third. Following a McDanel escape, Barr recrded his sixth takedown and went looking for the tech fall again. McDanel though escaped and shot in on Barr’s leg for the first takedown of the Nittany Lion this season. Barr escaped and came close to another takedown before a potentially dangerous call. With a riding time point, Barr took a 21-9 major decision.
Penn State 26, Nebraska 9
285 Pounds
No. 12 Cole Mirasola and Nebraska’s AJ Ferrari, ranked No. 4, battled to a scoreless first period before Ferrari escaped to a 1-0 lead in the second. Mirasola nearly had a takedown at the edge of the mat but Ferrari got away to take his one-point lead into the final period. Ferrari built up 1:40 in riding time before Mirasola was able to escape in the third to tie it. The NIttany Lion was unable to break through in the final 20 seconds and Ferrari won a 2-1 decision with the riding time point.
Penn State 26, Nebraska 12
