Penn State Wrestling Defeats Wisconsin 28-11 in Big Ten Opener

No.1 Penn State wrestling (8-0, 1-0) won seven of 10 bouts to put away No. 13 Wisconsin (6-2, 0-1) 28-11 on Friday night in the Nittany Lions’ Big Ten opener on the road in Madison.

True freshman Levi Haines continued to impress, picking up a major decision win over a ranked opponent at 157 pounds. He joined Roman Bravo-Young, Beau Bartlett, Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks in earning bonus point wins for Penn State against a solid Badger team.

BOUT BY BOUT

125: Wisconsin’s No.5-ranked Eric Barnett took control early against Penn State freshman Gary Steen, using a low shot for an early takedown. Barnett dominated from there, turning Steen twice for a total of six back points and an 8-0 lead before the first period was over. Another Barnett takedown in the second led to another four nearfall points in the second. The Badger quickly escaped from the down position to start the third for a 15-0 tech fall at the 5:11 mark and a 5-0 Wisconsin lead.

133: No. 1 Roman Bravo-Young was patient in the first period and kept up steady offensive pressure in the second as he worked for a 7-2 lead against Wisconsin’s Taylor LaMont. After building up a riding time advantage, Bravo-Young forced LaMont into a stall warning then took the Badger down three times in the final minute to secure a 14-5 major decision that narrowed Wisconsin’s team lead to 5-4.

141: Penn State’s No. 4-ranked Beau Bartlett took a 4-1 first period lead against Wisconsin’s Felix Lettini, converting two low singles into takedowns and finishing out the final 45 seconds of the period on top. The Nittany Lion had little trouble from there, giving up only a pair of escapes while adding three more takedowns, a riding time point and escape for a 12-3 major decision win that put Penn State in front 8-5

149: Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 15, stood toe to toe early on against Wisconsin’s No. 2 ranked Austin Gomez. But the Badger got the bout’s first takedown at the 1:41 mark and rode out Van Ness for the remainder of the first period. Gomez escaped to start the second, and despite pressure and and a near takedown by Van Ness, went into the third with a 3-0 lead. Van Ness chose neutral to start the third and looked for a takedown. With less than a minute left, though, Gomez countered a Van Ness shot to extend his lead to 5-0. Van Ness rolled through for a reversal, but Gomez escaped and finished the bout with a 6-2 decision to tie the meet at 8-8.

157: True freshman Levi Haines took on Wisconsin’s No.16 Garrett Model and converted a high single for a takedown and an early 2-0 lead. After a Model escape, Haines turned up the pressure for a takedown then turned the Badger for four nearfall points and almost getting the pin before Model rolled to his stomach. Model escaped and Haines held an 8-2 lead after one. Following another Model escape to start the second, Haines went to work again, using a high double for a takedown, and getting another takedown out of a scramble to take a 12-4 lead 2:46 in riding time into the third. Model got his first takedown in the final period, but Haines escaped, used a high single for a takedown and tacked on the riding time point for a 16-6 major decision win. Penn State led 12-8.

165: Matt Lee stepped in for Penn State to face No. 5 Dean Hamiti. Lee countered an early Hamiti shot and after working the Badger’s leg eventually got control for a takedown and a 2-0 lead. Hamiti escaped, then converted on a low shot and finished the period on top with a 3-2 lead. After taking down to start the second, Lee took 57 seconds to escape and tie the bout. Hamiti quickly took Lee down again and used a cradle for four near fall points as the Nittany Lion avoided getting pinned. Hamiti escaped to start the third and finished the bout in control with three more takedowns en route to an 18-6 major decision, tying the meet at 12-12

174: No. 1 Carter Starocci opened his bout against Wisconsin’s Josh Otto with three first-period takedowns for a 6-2 lead. Starocci nearly turned Otto to start the second, but the Badger escaped. Nevertheless, Starocci kept up the pressure, scoring three more takedowns to carry a 12-5 lead and 1:55 in riding time into the third. The Nittany Lion quickly escaped to start the third and kept pouring on the offense, coming up just short of a tech fall with a 22-8 major decision victory. Penn State moved back in front 16-12.

184: No. 1 Aaron Brooks rebounded from a surprise loss to Iowa State’s Marcus Coleman last month at the Collegiate Duals with a dominating performance against Wisconsin’s Tyler Dow. Brooks used a low shot for a takedown and turned Dow for four nearfall points before the first period ended. The Nittany Lion took down to start the second and quickly moved for a reversal. Brooks worked Dow to the mat and nearly pinned him before getting four back points. Another turn sealed it with four more nearfall points to give Brooks a 16-0 technical fall at 4:32. The win extended Penn State’s lead to 21-12.

197: No. 4 Max Dean fended off early shots from Wisconsin’s No. 14 Braxton Amos and got the bout’s first takedown, taking a 2-1 lead and 1:35 in riding time into the second period. Dean took down to start the second and worked his way to a reversal for a 4-2 lead after Amos’s escape. Amos took down to start the third, and Dean stayed in control, twice turning the Badger for back points and adding a riding time point for an 11-2 major decision. Wisconsin was docked a team point for a control of mat violation by coach Chris Bono, making Penn State’s team lead 25-11.

285: No. 1 Greg Kervliet took on Wisconsin’s No. 11 Trent Hillger in the heavyweight bout and got in on a low shot for an early 2-0 lead. The Nittany Lion added another takedown out of a scramble to hold a 4-2 lead after one. Kerkvliet took down and quickly escape to a 5-2 lead to start the second, but Hillger fended him off for the remainder of the period. Hillger took down to start the third and Kerkvliet went to work on top looking for a turn. He wouldn’t get it, but rode out Hillger for the period to add a riding time point and finish with a 6-2 decision. Penn State won the dual meet 28-11.

WHAT’S NEXT

The Nittany Lions return to action at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20 when they host Michigan at the Bryce Jordan Center. The meet will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.