Nate Desmond’s sudden-victory win highlights Penn State wrestling’s thrashing of Michigan
Penn State’s wrestling team went on the road for the final time this season, and did so without Braeden Davis at 141 pounds.
Davis is dealing with blisters on his hands after a scooter fire, Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said earlier this week. Nate Desmond filled in for him and had the biggest win of the night as the Nittany Lions routed Michigan, 38-3, inside the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“The funny thing is wrestling for Penn State, you never know what’s going to happen, but you always have to be ready to wrestle. I feel like that’s something I do well,” Desmond told the Penn State Sports Network, “adapt to competition. Obviously, I have the best people in the world to prepare me. I’m so grateful to God, and absolutely blessed to have the opportunity.”
It was all Penn State from the beginning, with Luke Lilledahl (125 pounds) and Marcus Blaze (133) each collecting technical falls.
Lilledahl had six takedowns and used a reversal to start the third period to earn a 21-5 victory in 5:06 over No. 23 Diego Sotelo. Blaze tallied 10 points in the opening period of a 17-2 tech of PA-native Gauge Botero in 4:41.
Desmond stepped on the mat with the Nittany Lions leading 10-0.
He took on four-time NCAA qualifier in No. 26 Dylan Ragusin. After the pair had a scoreless first period, Desmond took Ragusin down.
The veteran Ragusin got a reversal, but also had a stall point awarded from Desmond to lead 4-3. In the third period, the Penn State wrestler secured a reversal, but gave up an escape to head to sudden victory.
Twenty seconds into the sudden victory period, Desmond got a counter takedown on Ragusin for an 8-5 win.
“That match took a lot of being tough, and stuff I work on every day in the room. These guys prepare me for that,” Desmond said of his teammates. “It was awesome. I was excited.”
No. 1 Shayne Van Ness kept things rolling for the Nittany Lions by earning a 9-1 major decision over No. 13 Lachlan McNeil.
Another fun bout came at 157 pounds with PJ Duke taking on No. 13 Cameron Catrabone. Catrabone led 4-1 after one period as Duke had to take some injury time.
The true freshman responded with a pair of takedowns in the second period to lead 7-5. In the third period, the duo traded takedowns, with Duke getting one with 31 seconds left to secure a 12-10 win.
Duke’s win gave Penn State a 20-0 lead at the half.
Mitchell Mesenbrink and Levi Haines opened the second half with back-to-back technical falls.
Mesenbrink had six takedowns in a 20-5 win over Justin Gates in 6:34. Haines also recorded six takedowns in his 19-4 tech in 6:58 of No. 11 Beau Mantanona.
Rocco Welsh got a top-10 win over No. 7 Brock Mantanona, 8-1, at 184 pounds. Josh Barr cruised to a 19-4 technical fall of No. 20 Hayden Walters in 6:50.
The Wolverines’ highlight of the bout came with No. 5 Taye Ghadiali edging Cole Mirasola, 5-1, at 285 pounds to prevent Michigan from being shut out for a second consecutive year.
No. 1 Penn State 38, No. 10 Michigan 3
Friday at Ann Arbor, Mich.
125: No. 1 Luke Lilledahl, PSU, tech. fall No. 23 Diego Sotelo, 21-5 (5:06)
133: No. 4 Marcus Blaze, PSU, tech fall Gauge Botero, 17-2 (4:41)
141: Nate Desmond, PSU, dec. No. 26 Dylan Ragusin, 8-5 (SV)
149: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness, PSU, major dec. No. 13 Lachlan McNeil, 9-1
157: No. 4 PJ Duke, PSU, dec. No. 13 Cameron Catrabone, 12-10
165: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU, tech. fall Justin Gates, 20-5 (6:34)
174: No. 1 Levi Haines, PSU, tech. fall No. 11 Beau Mantanona, 19-4 (6:57)
184: No. 1 Rocco Welsh, PSU, dec. No. 7 Brock Mantanona, 8-1
197: No. 1 Josh Barr, PSU, tech. fall No. 20 Hayden Walters, 19-4 (6:50)
285: No. 5 Taye Ghadiali, M, dec. No. 12 Cole Mirasola, 5-1
Takedowns: PSU 37, M 3
Records: Penn State (13-0, 7-0 Big Ten), Michigan (8-4, 4-2 Big Ten)
Next match: No. 2 Ohio State at Penn State, Friday, 7 p.m.
