Short-handed Rutgers wrestling falls to No. 1 Penn State

Rutgers’ Dylan Shawver reacts after he finished a 5-4 decision against Nick Bouzakis of Ohio State in the 133-pound bout, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024 in Piscataway, N.J. The Buckeyes won the dual meet, 22-12.

The No. 14 Rutgers University wrestling team came to No. 1 Penn State Monday with several missing pieces from its usual starting lineup.

It made an already extremely difficult task impossible.

The Scarlet Knights fell in a Big Ten wrestling dual to the top-ranked Nittany Lions, 35-3, in a match which saw some Rutgers highlights early and disappointment late.

Rutgers was without 141-pounder Mitch Moore, 184-pounder Brian Soldano and 197-pounder John Poznanski. The Scarlet Knights also did not have Jacob Butler, who took over the 157-pound spot from Andy Clark – who is done for the year with an injury – but appeared to aggravate a knee injury against Ohio State that has kept him out most of the year.

No. 10 Dylan Shawver picked up Rutgers’ lone victory and it was a big one as he took down No. 6 Aaron Nagao in sudden victory for a 9-6 victory to cap off a thrilling back-and-forth match at 133 pounds.

That bout followed No. 19 Dean Peterson (125) nearly notching a takedown of No. 2 Braeden Davis at the third-period buzzer but wasn’t given the call. Davis then notched the takedown in sudden victory to win 4-1.

The battle continued at 141 where Rutgers backup Max Hermes gave No. 1 Beau Bartlett everything he could handle before giving up a takedown in the final seconds to lose, 4-1. No. 26 Michael Cetta (149) then dropped a 7-5 decision to No. 10 Tyler Kasak.

But the match spiraled downward from there and the Scarlet Knights lost two matchups they were favored. Penn State’s Terrell Barraclough rode No. 13 Jackson Turley out in the third period, securing the riding time point that gave him a 4-3 win at 174 pounds.

Barraclough was filling in for three-time national champion Carter Starocci.

And at heavyweight, Penn State did not send out No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet ‚but it didn’t matter as backup Lucas Cochran stunned Rutgers’ No. 8 Yarasalu Slavikouski, 8-3.

Rutgers fell to 0-25 all-time against the Nittany Lions.

Penn State 35, Rutgers 3

• 125: Braeden Davis (PSU) d. Dean Peterson, 4-1 (SV)
• 133: Dylan Shawver ® d. Aaron Nagao, 9-6 (SV)
• 141: Beau Bartlett (PSU) d. Max Hermes, 4-1
• 149: Tyler Kasak (PSU) d. Michael Cetta, 7-5
• 157: Levi Haines (PSU) p. Dylan Weaver, 1:31
• 165: Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) tf. Anthony White, 18-3 (6:57)
• 174: Terrell Barraclouogh (PSU) d. Jackson Turley, 4-3
• 184: Bernie Truax (PSU) d. Shane Caretgena-Walsh, 7-0
• 197: Aaron Brooks (PSU) p. Michael Toranzo, 1:45
• 285: Lucas Cochran (PSU) d. Yaraslau Slavikouski, 8-3

Bill Evans can be reached at [email protected].

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