Penn State Wrestling Clinches 4th Straight Undefeated Big Ten Season

levi-haines

The No. 1 Penn State wrestling clinched its fourth consecutive Big Ten regular-season title, defeating fourth-ranked Nebraska 22-13 on Sunday at Rec Hall. The match turned out to be the closest of the Nittany Lions’ Big Ten season, as Nebraska became the first team to win four bouts against them. And yet, Penn State’s collection of five top-ranked wrestlers made the team impossible to sink this season.

The Nittany Lions (11-0 overall, 8-0 Big Ten) won their conference matches by an average margin of 27.3 points this season. Now, Penn State prepares to become a tournament team. The Big Ten Championships are scheduled for March 9-10 in College Park, Maryland, followed by the NCAA Championships on March 21-23 in Kansas City.

Penn State has won 55 consecutive matches dating to the 2019-20 season and concluded its fourth consecutive unbeaten Big Ten season. Coach Cael Sanderson’s team is 74-1 in the Big Ten over the last nine seasons with eight unbeaten campaigns. Here’s the Penn State vs. Nebraska roundup.

Beau Bartlett, Mitchell Mesenbrink continue rolling

Bartlett (17-0) and Mesenbrink (18-0) have been two of Penn State’s most durable and dependable wrestlers this season. Bartlett (141) has earned his No. 1 ranking, going 10-0 vs. ranked wrestlers in a variety of ways. In February, Bartlett has beaten two No. 2 wrestlers (including former No. 1 Real Woods of Iowa) and on Sunday took care of Nebraska’s seventh-ranked Brock Hardy.

Bartlett jumped on Hardy for a quick first-period takedown, built a 7-1 lead in the second and appeared headed for bonus points. But Hardy pushed Bartlett in the third, scoring just the fourth dual-meet takedown against Bartlett this season to cut his deficit to 7-6. Bartlett escaped and defended Hardy’s late attempts for the 9-6 win with riding time.

Mesenbrink also improved to 10-0 against ranked opponents, defeating No. 15 Antrell Taylor 9-5. Mesenbrink, normally the constant aggressor, unusually gave up the first takedown, as Taylor shot within 10 seconds. But Mesenbrink controlled the bout thereafter, beginning with a second-period takedown. Mesenbrink showed his strength by turning a leg shot into a lift and a takedown for a 5-3 lead. In the third, Mesenbrink used his speed to get low for a leg shot and the win. Just an all-around impressive finish from Mesenbrink, who seemed to grab his side in some discomfort early in the bout but wrestled through it.

Penn State’s studs deliver

Penn State is so difficult to beat because of its wrecking crew from 157 to heavyweight. Opponents have no chance without a big lead. So even though Nebraska won three of the first four bouts, it really had no chance.

Top-ranked Levi Haines (157), Carter Starocci (174), Aaron Brooks (197) and Greg Kerkvliet (285) scored a combined 16 team points to guarantee the victory. Haines looked superior in taking out seventh-ranked Peyton Robb, scoring two very strong second-period takedowns in a 10-3 victory. Brooks won with bonus points for the 12th time in his 13 bouts, toying with 13th-ranked Silas Allred in a 17-4 victory.

Starocci, who did not wrestle Monday against Rutgers, won his 63rd consecutive bout (the nation’s longest Division I streak) with his fifth technical fall of the season. Starocci (11-0) has wrestled a reserved schedule this season and still needs four bouts to get qualified in the NCAA RPI, a postseason seeding criteria, but is by far this weight class’ alpha. And Kerkvliet (11-0) wrestled another composed bout, defeating Nash Hutmacher 10-0.

Penn State’s talented freshmen learn some third-period lessons

Freshmen Braeden Davis (125) and Tyler Kasak (149) have been exceptional newcomers to Penn State’s lineup but still need to develop the calluses from losing tight bouts. Both were in tense battles in the final minutes against Nebraska but got caught in awkward spots. In the process, both wrestlers compiled film for Sanderson and his staff to dissect.

Davis was tied 1-1 with Nebraska’s 12th-ranked Caleb Smith in the final minute when he tried to slide through getting turned. He got through trouble once but not a second time. Though Davis avoided getting pinned, he gave up back points twice, and Smith added a late takedown for the 11-3 major decision. David (15-2) has been tested of late, winning a pair of close decisions and losing in sudden victory in his three bouts before Sunday. Just the kind of duress Sanderson wants his wrestlers to endure before the postseason.

Kasak (12-3) got the first takedown against unbeaten Ridge Lovett, the top-ranked 149-pounder in the country. Lovett quickly reversed Kasak, and the two were tied in the final 20 seconds. But Lovett (21-0) crafted a takedown from an awkward position, demonstrating his body control in a 7-3 victory.

Noteworthy

Bernie Truax (184) got a postseason preview of Nebraska’s third-ranked Lenny Pinto, who cobbled out an 8-6 victory. Pinto attacked early, scoring two first-period takedowns, but Truax cut his deficit to 2 late in the third and got close to a potential takedown as Pinto retreated. Replay upheld the no-call, and Pinto held on.

Penn State’s Aaron Nagao (133) did not wrestle with a reported illness. Nagao had lost three of his last five bouts.

Up next

Penn State concludes the regular season Feb. 25 against Edinboro at Rec Hall. Ec Haata

Penn State 22, Nebraska 13

125: No. 12 Caleb Smith (N) dec. No. 6 Braeden Davis 11-3

133: No. 17 Jacob Van Dee (N) dec. Baylor Shunk 6-2

141: No. 1 Beau Bartlett (PS) dec. No 7 Brock Hardy 9-6

149: No. 1 Ridge Lovett (N) dec. No. 9 Tyler Kasak 7-3

157: No. 1 Levi Haines (PS) dec. No. 7 Peyton Robb 10-3

165: No. 6 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PS) dec. No. 15 Antrell Taylor 9-5

174: No. 1 Carter Starocci (PS) vs. Bubba Wilson tech. fall 20-4 in 6:00

184: No. 3 Lenny Pinto (N) dec. No. 6 Bernie Truax 8-6.

197: No. 1 Aaron Brooks (PS) dec. No. 13 Silas Alred 17-4

285: No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet (PS) dec. Nash Hutmacher 10-0

More Penn State Wrestling

Penn State continues to headline the college wrestling rankings

Penn State demonstrates its dominance in milestone win over Rutgers

Penn State routs Iowa on a landmark night for Cael Sanderson

Penn State turns up the volume at ‘awkwardly quiet’ Rec Hall

Penn State tops Ohio State, but not without a struggle

Penn State routs Maryland 42-6 for 51st consecutive victory

Penn State sets dates for 2024 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials

AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button’s on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.