No. 3 Penn State Upsets No. 2 Michigan, 18-13

The schedule shuffling continued this past week for the Nittany Lions. After Iowa shut down its athletics and postponed Friday’s match, the Big Ten rescheduled the No. 3 Penn State versus No. 2 Michigan matchup for Sunday, February 14 at 11 a.m.

Penn State narrowly edged out the Wolverines taking six of ten bouts including two key upset victories for an 18-13 win. The true freshman from New Jersey, Robert Howard, made his collegiate debut at 125 and gave Nittany Nation hope that we once again have a lightweight wrestler that can put up some team points. His match was close, but he walked away with his first win over Jack Medley, 6-5.

No. 3 Roman Bravo Young and No. 2 Nick Lee both had decision wins to add to the lead, but the team was hoping for a bit more, especially from a veteran like Lee. With most of Michigan’s key players coming up in the later bouts, Penn State needed to establish a healthy lead early. Freshman Terrell Barraclough nearly upset No. 6 Kanen Storr but fell to a 4-3 loss at 149.

Penn State’s first key upset win of the day came at 157 with No. 9 Brady Berge posting a 3-1 win over No. 8 Will Lewan. Berge finished on a low ankle shot late in the third and held on for the victory. We were surprised to see freshman No. 6 Joe Lee drop a 4-1 loss to No. 16 Cameron Amine. Lee got stuck under Amine’s strong ride on top during the third period, gave up two back points and the riding time point before he could escape. The twenty remaining seconds wasn’t enough to make up the difference.

Michigan closed in on Penn State’s lead 12-6. With names like Logan Massa, Myles Amine, and Mason Parris still left to take the mat, it looked like there was a strong chance of a Michigan comeback. That was until No. 8 Carter Starocci manhandled No. 2 Logan Massa in a tiebreaker round turning him for four near-fall points. Up until the tiebreaker, the match was tied 1-1, with no takedowns for either wrestler. Combine the near-fall points with a point for an illegal hold and an escape and hand Starocci that thrilling 7-1 upset win at 174.

With adrenaline running high, No. 3 Aaron Brooks secured another PSU win at 185 to almost seal the deal for Penn State. No. 14 Michael Beard was able to fight off Myles Amine at 197 and hold him to a decision win. Then No. 7 Seth Nevills held No. 2 Mason Parris to a major decision to secure the 18-13 team win.

The Nittany Lions are now 4-0 and on the road once again this Friday when they match up with Ohio State in Columbus. The dual meet is set for Friday, February 19, and will air live on the Big Ten Network. A start time has not yet been announced.

 BOUT BY BOUT

PSU- 18, MICH- 13

125: PSU Robert Howard dec. MICH Jack Medley, 6-5

133: PSU No. 3 Roman Bravo-Young dec. MICH (No. 8 at 125) Dylan Ragusin MICH, 9-2

141: PSU No. 2 Nick Lee dec. MICH No. 20 Drew Mattin, 10-4

149: MICH No. 6 Kanen Storr dec. PSU Terrell Barraclough, 4-3

157: PSU No. 9 Brady Berge dec. MICH No. 8 Will Lewan, 3-1

165: MICH No. 16 Cameron Amine dec. PSU No. 6 Joe Lee, 4-1

174: PSU No. 8 Carter Starocci dec. MICH No. 2 Logan Massa, 7-1 (TB)

184: PSU No. 3 Aaron Brooks dec. MICH Jaden Bullock, 10-5

197: MICH (No. 1 at184) Myles Amine dec. PSU No. 14 Michael Beard PSU, 8-5

285: MICH No. 2 Mason Parris maj. dec. PSU No. 7 Seth Nevills, 12-2