UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0, 2-0 B1G), ranked No. 3 in the latest InterMat Tournament Power Index, routed host Northwestern (1-4 1-4 B1G) in the final dual of a Big Ten tri-meet in NU's Welsh-Ryan Arena. Penn State won seven bouts on its way to a 29-13 road victory. The dual closed out the event hosted by Northwestern in Evanston, Ill.
The dual began at 125 where Penn State did not have any competitors cleared to compete this weekend. Northwestern's No. 8 Michael DeAugustino picked up the forfeit victory to give the Wildcats a 6-0 lead out of the gates. Junior Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 3 at 133, dominated Dylan Utterback. Bravo-Young rolled up seven takedowns in the first two periods before pinning Utterback at the 3:48 mark. Senior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 2 at 141, posted a 12-2 major over Frankie Tal-Shahar and Penn State led 10-6 after giving up the early forfeit.
Freshman Terrell Barraclough (Kaysville, Utah) made his Penn State dual debut and took on No. 20 Yahya Thomas. Barraclough battled the ranked Wildcat for the full seven minutes but dropped a tough 3-2 decision. Junior Brady Berge (Mantorville, Minn.), ranked No. 11 at 157, posted a 12-7 win over Northwestern's Maxx Mayfield and the Nittany Lions led 13-9 at the dual's midway point.
Freshman Joe Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 6 at 165, posted a tough 8-7 win over Wildcat David Ferrante to put the Lions up 16-9. Freshman Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 174, rebounded from an upset loss earlier in the day to post a 4-1 victory over Troy Fisher. Starocci went 2-1 on the day, including a win in extra matches against Indiana. Sophomore Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md.), ranked No. 3 at 184, controlled the action from start to finish in a win over NU's Jack Jessen. Brooks posted a 21-6 tech fall at the 7:00 mark to put the Lions up 24-9.
With No. 13 Michael Beard (Pottstown, Pa.) not cleared to compete this weekend at 197, Donovon Ball (New Cumberland, Pa.) got the call against Northwestern for his Lion dual debut. Ball battled No. 11 Lucas Davison but dropped a 12-3 major to the ranked Wildcat. Sophomore Seth Nevills (Clovis, Calif.) followed up a pin against Indiana with another dominant showing, this time rolling up 10 takedowns in a 24-9 tech fall victory over Brendan Devine a the 4:58 mark.
Penn State posted a lopsided 35-8 advantage in takedowns. The Nittany Lions won seven of the ten bouts. Penn State picked up eight bonus points off a pin (Bravo-Young), two tech falls (Brooks, Nevills) and a major (Nick Lee).
Nine extra matches were conducted after the dual meet. This year, with condensed schedules, these extra matches, while not counting towards dual meet scores, are official varsity bouts and count towards NCAA competition minimums. True freshman Beau Bartlett (Tempe, Ariz.) went 2-0 with two decisions at 141; Creighton Edsell (Wyalusing, Pa.) picked up two victories, both decisions at 174; Konner Kraeszig (Louisville, Ky.) grabbed a major at 165; Luke Gardner (Pottsville, Pa.) won by tech fall in his bout at 149; Jarod Verkleeren (Greensburg, Pa.) lost by default at 149; Bo Pipher (Paonia, Colo.) lost his match at 149; and Brandon Meredith (Limerick, Pa.) moved up to 141 and lost by major decision.
Penn State is now 2-0 on the year, 2-0 in Big Ten action. Northwestern is now 1-4, all conference duals as well. Northwestern lost to Indiana in the dual prior to this, 18-16. Penn State downed Indiana 24-15 in the opening dual of the tri-meet. The Nittany Lions are scheduled to wrestle Wisconsin next weekend on a day and time to be announced. The dual was to be part of a tri-meet at the University of Michigan but the Wolverines have paused all athletic activities.
Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at @pennstateWREST, on Penn State Wrestling's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.
#3 Penn State 29, #16 Northwestern 13
January 30, 2021 – Evanston, Ill.
125: #8 Michael DeAugustino NU win by forfeit 0-6
133: #3 Roman Bravo-Young PSU pinned Dylan Utterback NU, WBF (3:48) 6-6
141: #2 Nick Lee PSU maj. dec. Frankie Tal-Shahar NU, 12-2 10-6
149: #20 Yahya Thomas NU dec. Terrell Barraclough PSU, 3-2 10-9
157: #11 Brady Berge PSU dec. Maxx Mayfield NU, 12-7 13-9
165: #6 Joe Lee PSU dec. David Ferrante NU, 8-7 16-9
174: #5 Carter Starocci PSU dec. Troy Fisher NU, 4-1 19-9
184: #3 Aaron Brooks PSU tech fall Jack Jessen NU, 21-6 (TF; 7:00) 24-9
197: #11 Lucas Davison NU maj. dec. Donovon Ball PSU, 12-3 24-13
285: Seth Nevills PSU tech fall Brendan Devin NU, 24-9 (TF; 4:58) 29-13
Records: Penn State (2-0, 2-0 B1G), Northwestern (1-4, 1-4 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: vs. Wisconsin next weekend, day and time TBA
Extra Matches:
141: Beau Bartlett PSU dec. Colin Valdviez NU, 8-4
141: Bartlett PSU dec. Justin Benjamin NU, 10-4
141: Justin Benjamin NU maj. dec. Brandon Meredith PSU, 18-5
149: Trevor Chumbley NU win def. #10 Jarod Verkleeren PSU, (default)
149: Trevor Chumbley NU dec. Bo Pipher PSU, 6-2
149: Luke Gardner PSU tech fall Jamie Berg NU, 15-0 (TF; 7:00)
165: Konner Kraeszig PSU maj. dec. Ankhaa Enkmandakh NU, 10-2
174: Creighton Edsell PSU dec. Jon Halvorson NU, 3-2
174: Creighton Edsell PSU dec. Jadon Martin NU, 9-4
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Northwestern's Matt Vinci won by forfeit as Penn State did not have any 125-pounders cleared to compete this weekend.
133: Junior Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 3 at 133, took Dylan Utterback. Bravo-Young battled Utterback evenly for the first minute-plus. The Lion junior rolled through a low single and took a 2-1 lead with a takedown and cut at the 1:10 mark. He quickly added a second takedown and led 4-1 with :50 left in the opening period. He picked up a third and fourth takedown in a span of :30 and led 8-4 with :20 left in the period, Bravo-Young added one late takedown and led 10-4 after the opening stanza. Utterback chose down to start the second period, escaped and was immediately taken down by Bravo-Young. He added another quick takedown and then finished the match off with a pin at the 3:48 mark.
141: Senior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 2 at 141, met Frankie Tal-Shahar. Lee and Tal-Shahar stayed neutral for the first minute until Lee used a textbook low single to take a 2-0 lead with 1:50 on the clock. Tal-Shahar escaped to a 2-1 score and action resumed in the middle of the mat. Lee forced Tal-Shahar into a stall warning at the :14 mark and carried a 2-1 lead into the second period. Lee chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Lee continued to press on offense, forcing Tal-Shahar into defense, picking up a stall point at the 1:10 mark. Lee worked a low shot into a takedown and a 6-1 lead with :55 left in the middle stanza. Lee picked up another stall point and led 7-1 with 1:12 in riding time after two periods. Tal-Shahar chose down to start the third period and Lee controlled the action from the top position. Tal-Shahar was able to escape at the :58 mark but Lee had riding time. Lee picked up two points on stalls and then added a final takedown and riding time to roll to the 12-2 major decision.
149: Freshman Terrell Barraclough (Kaysville, Utah) battled No. 20 Yahya Thomas at 149. Thomas and Barraclough battled evenly for the bulk of the opening period. Thomas lifted Barraclough off the mat for a takedown with late in the period to lead 2-0. Barraclough escaped to cut the lead to 2-1 and trailed by one after the opening period. Thomas chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Barraclough battled the ranked Wildcat on his feet for the next minute-plus, looking for an opening. The Lion got hit for a first stall warning at the :10 mark and trailed 3-1 after two periods. Barraclough chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 3-2 score. The Lion freshman worked for a go-ahead takedown but could not break through Thomas' defense and dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision to the ranked Wildcat.
157: Junior Brady Berge (Mantorville, Minn.), ranked No. 11 at 157, met Maxx Mayfield of Northwestern. Berge notched a quick takedown and cut Mayfield loose to lead 2-1 a minute into the bout. The Lion then worked through another short scramble for a second takedown and a 4-1 lead with 1:25 on the clock. Berge then controlled the action in order to build his riding time edge up over 1:00. Berge kept Mayfield down to the :40 mark before the Wildcat escaped. Berge led 4-2 after the opening period and chose down to start the second. Berge quickly escaped and then turned into Mayfield for another takedown and a 7-3 lead. Berge picked up a fourth takedown to up his lead to 9-3 with :50 on the clock, cut Mayfield and finished off the period with a final takedown to lead 11-4 with 1:56 in riding time after two periods. Mayfield chose down to start the third period and escaped to an 11-5 score. With riding time clinched, Berge began looking for bonus points. The Lion junior fought off a solid Mayfield shot at the :15 mark and tried to roll through for a counter takedown but the Wildcat was able to get the takedown. Berge posted the 12-7 win with 1:56 in riding time.
165: Freshman Joe Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 6 at 165, took on David Ferrante. Lee notched a takedown just :30 into the bout and opened up a 2-0 lead. Lee worked for over 1:00, looking for a turn but picked up a stall in the process of trying to turn him. Lee continued to work from the offensive position but Ferrante reversed the Lion. Lee immediately reversed Ferrante and picked up a penalty point as the period wound down to lead 5-3 with 2:13 in riding time after one. Ferrante chose down to start the second period and quickly took Lee down to tie the bout a 5-5 at the 1:20 mark. Ferrante controlled the action from the top position and killed Lee's riding time advantage, then picked up a stall point and led 6-5 after two periods. Lee chose neutral to start the third period. Ferrante shot low on a single leg and Lee countered to nearly score with 1:40 left. Ferrante seemed to fight off the counter but Lee continued to work and got the go-ahead takedown with 1:05 left to lead 7-6. Lee then worked his riding time edge back up over 1:00 with a strong ride. Ferrante escaped to a 7-7 score at the :20 mark. Lee used 1:38 in riding time to post an 8-7 victory.
174: Freshman Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 174, took on Northwestern's Troy Fisher. The duo battled evenly for the opening minute-plus with neither man finding a solid opening to score. As the clock moved to the midway point of the opening period, Starocci got in on a high single at the 1:00 mark and worked his way into a takedown opportunity. But Fisher was able to force a stalemate and the bout moved to the second period scoreless. Starocci chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Starocci notched a takedown with :55 left and took a 3-0 lead and then, while giving up a stall warning, maintained control of Fisher for the remainder of the period to lead 3-0 with 1:04 in riding time. Fisher chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 3-1 score but Starocci still had 1:24 in riding time. Starocci and Fisher battled evenly for the next minute-plus but Starocci had his riding time point clinched. The Lion finished the bout in neutral and, with 1:24 in time, posted a 4-1 win.
184: Sophomore Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md.), ranked No. 3 at 184, met Jack Jessen. Brooks went to work quickly on offense, taking Jessen down twice in just a minute to open up a 4-1 lead. Brooks cut Jessen loose a second time at the 1:40 mark and then worked into a low shot and scramble that nearly ended in another takedown. While Jessen fought off that move, Brooks quickly took him down off the reset and led 6-2 at the :45 mark. Brooks rode Jessen out to lead 6-2 with 1:50 riding time after one. Jessen chose down to start the second period and Brooks cut him loose to a 6-3 lead. Brooks quickly added a fourth takedown and led 8-3 with 1:05 on the clock. Brooks added one more takedown and rode Jessen out to lead 10-4 with 3:09 in time after two. Brooks chose neutral to start the third period and quickly took Jessen down for a 12-4 lead. With a riding time point clinched, Brooks rolled Jessen over to his back, picked up the four count and reset for a 16-4 lead. Brooks then added another two-point turn. He cut Jessen loose, took him down and finished on top. With a rideout and 4:34 in riding time, Brooks picked up the 21-6 technical fall at the 7:00 mark.
197: Donovon Ball (New Cumberland, Pa.) made his Penn State dual debut and took on No. 11 Lucas Davison at 197. Davison picked up a quick takedown to open up an early 2-0 lead on Ball. The Lion freshman escaped to a 2-1 score. Davison grabbed a second takedown and led 4-1 with :45 on the clock. Davison was able to maintain control of Ball for the remainder of the period after the second takedown and led 4-1 with 1:36 in riding time after one. Davison chose down to start the second period, quickly escaped and then took Ball down to lead 7-1 with 1:30 on the clock. Davis kept control of the Lion freshman until the 1:00 mark. Ball forced a scramble that nearly ended in a takedown but Davison fought off the move and force a stalemate with :30 on the clock. Ball got in on a low single but Davison countered for another takedown and led 9-2 after two. Ball chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 9-3 deficit. Ball worked the edge of the mat for his first takedown but Davison was able to hold off his efforts as the clock hit 1:00. Davison notched a fifth takedown to open up an 11-3 lead with :47 left. Davison rode Ball out and, with 3:18 in riding time, posted the 12-3 major.
285: Sophomore Seth Nevills (Clovis, Calif.) battled Brendan Devine at 285. Nevills took Devine down quickly for a fast 2-0 lead. The Lion sophomore then dominated action on top, looking for a chance to turn Devine for another pin. Nevills picked up four nearfall points and opened up a 6-1 lead after cutting Devine loose. He then took Devine down again and led 8-2. A third takedown gave Nevills a 10-3 lead after another Devine escape. Nevills added three more takedowns in the final :40 and led 16-5 after one period. Devine chose down to start the second period and Nevills cut him loose. Nevills quickly took Devine down, cut him loose, took him down and cut him loose once more to lead 20-8 with 1:05 left. He added another takedown at the :45 mark. He added another takedown and cut, then finished the bout off with a final takedown at the :02 mark to post a 24-9 technical fall at the 4:58 mark.
