Penn State wrestling cruises in opening day of Journeymen Collegiate Duals
Penn State couldn’t have asked for a better start to the Journeymen Collegiate Duals on Monday inside the New Orleans Convention Center Theater in Louisiana.
The Nittany Lions opened by steamrolling over Central Michigan, 50-3, in a match that took about 45 minutes to complete. They then topped North Carolina, 37-3.
“Sometimes coming into an event after final exams week, you’re never really sure where you’re going to be,” associate head coach Cody Sanderson told the Penn State Sports Network, “especially when guys are maybe thinking ahead about the holidays and heading home. I was happy with what we did out there today.”
The Nittany Lions earned their first win over the Chippewas by pinning seven wrestlers — tying a program record that was set in 1983 against Millersville and matched in 2018 against Kent State — and collecting two major decisions. They even collected a pin and another major decision in the extra matches after the dual.
Penn State had two new faces in the dual lineup in Levi Haines (157 pounds) and Seth Nevills (285).
Haines rolled up an 8-1 lead on No. 31 Corbyn Munson with ease, before sticking Munson in 1:38. Nevills racked up a 17-6 major decision on Bryan Caves.
After Gary Steen suffered a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to start the dual at 125, the Nittany Lions pin parade started rolling. Steen looked like he had a winning takedown at the buzzer, but after a coach’s challenge, the official’s decision stood.
Roman Bravo-Young started off a string of four straight pins at 133 pounds. He stuck Vince Perez in 2:07.
Beau Bartlett built up an 8-0 lead before pinning Ja’Kerion Merritt in 4:09. In the lone bout putting ranked wrestlers against one another at 149 pounds, No. 17 Shayne Van Ness had an 11-1 lead on No. 20 Johnny Lovett. Van Ness flattened a very visibly gassed Lovett in 4:47.
Then came Haines’ victory to finish the first pin parade. Alex Facundo rattled off seven takedowns in a 16-7 major decision over Tracy Hubbard.
Carter Starocci started another string of pins at 174 by sticking Alex Cramer in 2:21. Aaron Brooks locked up a crossface cradle on Ben Cushman early, then rocked him back for the fall in 1:18. Max Dean nearly had a pin in the first period on Cameron Wood, but picked it up late in the second period to the tune of 4:21.
Dononvon Ball (184 pounds, major decision) and Lucas Cochran (197, pin) earned those victories in the extra matches before the Nittany Lions started their nightcap with the Tar Heels.
Penn State wasn’t as dominant against North Carolina, but still only dropped one bout of the 10. It had its usual starters, except for Haines filling in for Terrell Barraclough again.
Bravo-Young, Starocci, Brooks, Dean and Greg Kerkvliet all earned bonus-point victories. RBY, Starocci and Kerkvliet tallied technical falls.
“All those guys looked really good today. They’re just offensive minded. They’re team oriented right now,” Sanderson said. “It’s good to see those guys taking care of business themselves, but it’s also good to see them on the sideline pumping up and helping the younger guys.”
RBY tallied 13 takedowns in his 26-11 win in 6:14. Starocci had five takedowns and two sets of near-fall points in an 18-3 victory in 6:21. Kerkvliet raced out to a 10-0 lead, and finished his bout off at 17-1 in 4:27.
Brooks had a fall in 54 seconds over No. 17 Gavin Kane. Dean racked up a 10-2 major decision.
Bartlett, Van Ness, Haines and Facundo had the other victories for the Nittany Lions. Bartlett had a 4-1 win over No. 25 Lachlan McNeil.
Next, the Nittany Lions turned their focus on the Cyclones and Tuesday night’s matchup. Sanderson knows his squad is in for a good one.
“This is a tough team. They have a great lineup. I know they got a lot of young guys that are energetic,” Sanderson said of Iowa State. “They have some attitude. They feel like they’re supposed to be out there and be on top. Those are the fun teams to wrestle. We’re really looking forward to it. There’s going to be some great bouts.”
No. 1 Penn State 50, Central Michigan 3
Monday at New Orleans, La.
125: Anthony Walker, CMU, dec. Gary Steen, 5-4
133: No. 1 Roman Bravo-Young, PSU, pinned Vince Perez, 2:07
141: No. 5 Beau Bartlett, PSU, pinned Ja’Kerion Merritt, 4:09
149: No. 17 Shayne Van Ness, PSU, pinned No. 20 Johnny Lovett, 4:47
157: Levi Haines, PSU, pinned No. 31 Corbyn Munson, 1:38
165: No. 14 Alex Facundo, PSU, major dec. Tracy Hubbard, 16-7
174: No. 1 Carter Starocci, PSU, pinned Alex Cramer, 2:21
184: No. 1 Aaron Brooks, PSU, pinned Ben Cushman, 1:18
197: No. 5 Max Dean, PSU, pinned Cameron Wood, 4:21
285: Seth Nevills, PSU, major dec. Bryan Caves, 17-6
Extra bouts
184: Donovon Ball, PSU, major dec. Logan Badge, 12-3
197: Lucas Cochran, PSU, pinned Cade Dallwitz, 2:30
Takedowns: CM 4, PSU 28
Records: Central Michigan (0-3), Penn State 5-0
No. 1 Penn State 37, No. 21 North Carolina 3
125: No. 33 Jack Wagner, UNC, dec. Steen, 5-1
133: No. 1 Bravo-Young, PSU, tech. fall Jace Palmer, 26-11 (6:14)
141: No. 5 Bartlett, PSU, dec. No. 25 Lachlan McNeil, 4-1
149: No. 17 Van Ness, PSU, dec. Jayden Scott, 2-0
157: Haines, PSU, dec. Danny Nini, 4-1
165: No. 14 Facundo, PSU, dec. Nick Fea, 5-2
174: No. 1 Starocci, PSU, tech. fall Cade Tenold, 18-3 (6:21)
184: No. 1 Brooks, PSU, pinned No. 17 Gavin Kane, :54
197: No. 5 Dean, PSU, major dec. No. 31 Max Shaw, 10-2
285: No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet, PSU, tech. fall Brandon Whitman, 17-1 (4:27)
Extra bouts
165: Matt Lee, PSU, dec. Joseph Mazzara, 9-3
Takedowns: UNC 2, PSU 29
Records: North Carolina (2-4), Penn State (6-0)
Next match: Penn State at Wisconsin, Jan. 6, 9 p.m.
This story was originally published December 20, 2022 at 8:38 AM.
