Penn State Wrestling Dominates Three Consecutive Dual Meets: Recap of Victories Over Michigan, Michigan State, and Maryland
Penn State showcased their power in a triumphant series of dual meets. From a decisive win against No. 5 Michigan to a shutout against Michigan State and a commanding win over Maryland, the Nittany Lions continue to assert their prowess on the mat.
The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team triumphed over No. 5 Michigan in a Big Ten dual meet, winning 27-9. Penn State secured victory by winning eight out of ten matches, showcasing their dominance throughout the meet. One of the standout matchups was between Levi Haines of Penn State and Will Lewan of Michigan at 157 pounds. Haines clinched a hard-fought 2-1 win, providing Penn State with an early lead. Another notable bout was at 165 pounds, where Mitchell Mesenbrink of Penn State delivered a commanding performance, earning a 12-1 major decision over Cameron Amine. Despite Michigan's efforts, including Shane Griffith's close 2-1 win over Terrell Barraclough at 174 pounds, Penn State maintained control. Aaron Brooks' impressive technical fall victory at 197 pounds further extended Penn State's lead. The meet concluded with a strong performance from David Evans, who secured a 5-2 win at 149 pounds, sealing Penn State's victory.
PSU @ Michigan – Friday, January 19
No. 1 Penn State-27, No. 5 Michigan- 9
157: PSU No. 1 Levi Haines dec. MICH No. 9 Will Lewan, 2-1
165: PSU No. 9 Mitchell Mesenbrink maj. dec. MICH No. 7 Cameron Amine, 12-1
174: MICH No. 4 Shane Griffith dec. PSU Terrell Barraclough, 2-1
184: PSU No. 5 Bernie Truax dec. MICH No. 15 Jaden Bullock, 4-1
197: PSU No. 1 Aaron Brooks tech fall MICH No. 32 Bobby Striggow, 20-5 (TF; 4:16)
285: PSU No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet dec. MICH No. 4 Lucas Davison, 8-3
125: PSU No. 14 Braeden Davis dec. MICH No. 5 Michael DeAugustino, 5-1
133: MICH No. 6 Dylan Ragusin WBF (SV) PSU No. 4 Aaron Nagao, WBF (7:28, SV)
141: PSU No. 2 Beau Bartlett dec. MICH No. 25 Sergio Lemley, 7-5
149: PSU David Evans dec. MICH Fidel Mayora, 5-2
Penn State wrestling secured a 35-0 shutout victory against Michigan State in East Lansing. Freshman Braeden Davis set the tone with a 7-3 decision, while Aaron Nagao and Beau Bartlett contributed bonus points early on. The highlight of the meet was an intense battle at 157 pounds between Levi Haines and Chase Saldate. The match went into overtime tied 5-5, with Haines eventually securing a thrilling 7-6 win in tiebreaker 2. Mitchell Mesenbrink rallied from an early deficit to claim an 18-9 major decision, while Terrell Barraclough and Bernie Truax continued Penn State's dominance. Aaron Brooks delivered a standout performance, securing a 21-6 tech fall. Lucas Cochran, stepping up to heavyweight, sealed the shutout with a 5-0 win. With this comprehensive victory, Penn State showcased their strength and depth.
PSU @ Michigan State – Sunday, January 21
No. 1 Penn State- 35, Michigan State - 0
125: PSU No. 14 Braeden Davis dec. MSU Tristan Lujan, 7-3
133: PSU No. 4 Aaron Nagao tech fall MSU Andy Hampton, 18-3 (TF; 3:21)
141: PSU No. 2 Beau Bartlett dec. MSU No. 33 Jordan Hamdan, 8-2
149: PSU David Evans dec. MSU Braden Stauffenberg, 4-2
157: PSU No. 1 Levi Haines dec. MSU No. 21 Chase Saldate, 7-6 (TB2)
165: PSU No. 9 Mitchell Mesenbrink maj. dec. MSU No. 10 Caleb Fish, 18-9
174: PSU Terrell Barraclough dec. MSU DJ Shannon, 8-1
184: PSU No. 5 Bernie Truax dec. MSU No. 22 Layne Malczewski, 4-2
197: PSU No. 1 Aaron Brooks tech fall MSU No. 29 Kael Wisler, 21-6 (TF; 4:00)
285: PSU Lucas Cochran dec. MSU Josh Terrill, 5-0
Penn State's performance against Maryland resulted in a commanding 42-6 victory on the road, extending their undefeated streak to 7-0. Noteworthy performances included Braeden Davis' technical fall at 125 pounds and Mitchell Mesenbrink's quick pin at 165. However, the closest matchup of the meet was at 133 pounds, where senior Baylor Shunk narrowly fell to Maryland's No. 21 Braxton Brown in an 8-3 decision, highlighting a competitive bout amidst Penn State's overwhelming success. The Lions demonstrated their dominance with four pins, two tech falls, and two majors, securing 18 bonus points overall. With an impressive 15-2 takedown edge and victories in eight out of ten bouts, Penn State continues to showcase their strength as they maintain their unbeaten record in the Big Ten.
PSU vs Maryland – Sunday, January 28
No. 1 Penn State- 42, Maryland- 6
125: PSU No. 4 Braeden Davis tech fall MD Tommy Capul, 15-0 (TF; 2:47)
133: MD No. 21 Braxton Brown dec. PSU Baylor Shunk, 8-3
141: PSU No. 2 Beau Bartlett maj. dec. MD No. 17 Kal Miller, 11-1
149: MD No. 14 Ethan Miller dec. PSU Connor Pierce, 5-0
157: PSU No. 1 Levi Haines tech. fall MD No. 33 Michael North, 15-0 (TF; 3:58)
165: PSU No. 7 Mitchell Mesenbrink pinned MD Ryan Money, WBF (0:50)
174: PSU No. 1 Carter Starocci pinned MD Mason Stein, WBF (4:26)
184: PSU No. 5 Bernie Truax pinned MD Chase Mielnik, WBF (1:43)
197: PSU No. 1 Aaron Brooks maj. dec. MD No. 5 Jaxon Smith, 13-4
285: PSU No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet pinned MD Jordan Gabriel, WBF (0:55)
Next up in the schedule include Ohio State, Iowa, and Rutgers and all three will be televised on Big Ten Network.
