Penn State wrestling’s victory over Wyoming includes Nate Desmond’s debut
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- Nate Desmond debuted at 141 and secured an 11-4 decision, boosting lineup depth.
- Penn State recorded six bonus-point wins, including four pins and two tech falls.
- Team reached its 75th dual victory, sits one shy of Oklahoma State all-time mark.
Penn State saw Aaron Nagao miss another dual after suffering an injury in the Black Knight Invitational finals on Nov. 23.
The Nittany Lions saw a new wrestler in the lineup at 141 pounds in Nate Desmond as they cruised past Wyoming, 40-7, on Saturday night in Laramie, Wyoming. It was Penn State’s 75th dual victory, which is one shy of tying the all-time mark set by Oklahoma State.
However, the Nittany Lions saw Connor Mirasola, who has filled in at 197 pounds as Josh Barr works his way back, suffer a left ankle injury in one of the two bouts that they lost.
In six of the eight bouts that Penn State won, its wrestlers recorded bonus points — four pins and two technical falls.
The dual began with No. 2 Luke Lilledahl racking up an 18-3 technical fall on Steffon Doughlass in 4:26 at 125 pounds. No. 10 Marcus Blaze followed with a pin of No. 22 Luke Willochell in 3:39.
Desmond stepped onto the mat up two weight classes, as he was backing up Lilledahl at 125 pounds.
Desmond recorded a first period takedown, and had a reversal in the second period to lead John Alden, 5-4.
In the third period, Desmond got a takedown with 47 seconds remaining, added nearfall points and riding time to secure an 11-4 win in his dual debut.
Following Desmond’s victory, No. 1 Shayne Van Ness gave up an initial takedown to No. 30 Gabe Willochell. Van Ness responded by locking a cradle up on Willochell to pin him in 2:54.
It was the third straight fall Van Ness had on Willochell, as he pinned Willochell twice last year.
“I want to thank my coaches. They’re a big part of helping me adjust things with those taller guys,” Van Ness said to the Penn State Sports Network. “Then a lot of my teammates, like Ty Watson and Sean Degl, they’re bigger and taller than me, and they give me a really good feel for those (type of) guys.”
No. 8 PJ Duke stayed on fire with his pins this year as he collected his fifth of the season. He has six wins, and in all of them he’s given Penn State six team points.
Duke bullied No. 23 Jared Hill into a fall in 4:09 on Saturday to give the Nittany Lions a 26-0 lead at the break.
No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink kept the pin parade going out of the half when he stuck Sloan Swan in 2:00. No. 1 Levi Haines racked up a 17-1 tech fall on No. 28 Riley Davis in 4:50.
No. 4 Rocco Welsh used a first period takedown to top No. 12 Eddie Neitenback, 4-1.
Mirasola came up looking to keep the shutout alive for Penn State against No. 4 Joey Novak.
He nearly had a pair of takedowns on the two-time NCAA qualifier, but the veteran stay poised. Novak grabbed an early escape in the third period.
He took Mirasola down, which is when Mirasola suffered his injury. The Nittany Lions wrestler continued the match, but Novak kept scoring to secure a 10-2 major decision.
No. 10 Christian Carroll recorded three takedowns of No. 11 Cole Mirasola in the final bout of the night to get a 10-4 win, and the second bout victory for Wyoming.
Penn State 40, Wyoming 7
Saturday at Laramie, WY 125: No. 2 Luke Lilledahl, PSU, tech fall Steffon Douglass, 18-3 (4:26)
133: No. 10 Marcus Blaze, PSU, pinned No. 22 Luke Willochell, 3:39
141: Nate Desmond, PSU, dec. John Alden, 11-4
149: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness, PSU, pinned No. 30 Gabe Willochell, 2:54
157: No. 8 PJ Duke, PSU, pinned No. 23 Jared Hill, 4:09
165: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU, pinned Sloan Swan, 2:00
174: No. 1 Levi Haines, PSU, tech. fall No. 28 Riley Davis, 17-1 (4:50)
184: No. 4 Rocco Welsh, PSU, dec. No. 12 Eddie Neitenbach, 4-1
197: No. 4 Joey Novak, W, major dec. No. 8 Connor Mirasola, 10-2
285: No. 10 Christian Carroll, W, dec. No. 11 Cole Mirasola, 10-4
Takedowns: PSU 20, W 8
Records: Penn State (4-0), Wyoming (2-3)
Next match: Penn State vs. North Dakota State (5 p.m.) and Stanford (7 p.m.), Collegiate Duals, Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 20
