UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; February 4, 2022 – The Penn State Nittany Lions (15-0, 7-0 B1G) ranked No. 1 in the latest InterMat Tournament Power Index (TPI), hammered No. 6 Ohio State (6-3, 2-3 B1G) 32-7 in the 2022 BJC Dual. The Penn State won all but two bouts in the lopsided victory, which was wrestled in front of a sold-out Bryce Jordan Center crowd of 15,991.
Penn State has wrestled in front of sellout crowds in 66 of its last 68 home events, including seven of nine in the near 16,000-seat BJC. The Nittany Lions have notched 59-straight sellouts in Rec Hall. Penn State opened up the dual with three straight wins and never looked back.
Senior Drew Hildebrandt (Granger, Ind.), ranked No. 6 at 125, got Penn State off to a fast start with a convincing win over No. 10 Malik Heinselman. Hildebrandt used an escape, a third period rideout and 1:53 in riding time to post a 2-0 win. Senior Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 1 at 133, dominated Brady Koontz throughout his match and finished off the effort with a pin at the 6:31 mark to put Penn State on top 9-0. Senior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 1 at 141, controlled No. 20 Dylan D'Emilio for seven minutes, rolling up nearly 4:00 in riding time on his way to a strong 13-3 major decision.
Sophomore Beau Bartlett (Tempe, Ariz.), ranked No. 18 at 149, nearly pulled off the upset of No. 2 Sammy Sasso. Bartlett used a third period reversal to take a lead, and after a Sasso escape, nearly fought off a late Sasso shot before the Buckeye stole a 4-2 win at the :04 mark. Sophomore Terrell Barraclough (Kaysville, Utah) brought the sellout BJC crowd to its feet at 157. Barraclough used a scrambling takedown with just :03 left in extra time to notch a thrilling 4-2 (sv) win over Isaac Wilcox. Barraclough's late heroics sent Penn State into intermission leading 16-3.
With No. 11 Brady Berge (Mantorville, Minn.) not competing, junior Creighton Edsell (Wyalusing, Pa.) picked up a big win at 165. Edsell rode Kevon Freeman out in the third period to force sudden victory. He then scrambled his way to an early takedown to post a 2-0 (sv) win and give Penn State a 19-3 lead. With No. 1 Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.) not wrestling, Mason Manville (Lorton, Va.) stepped in at 174 and dropped a 15-5 bout to No. 7 Ethan Smith.
Junior Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md.), ranked No. 1 at 184, pinned Rocky Jordan early in the second period. Brooks took down to start the second period, reversed Jordan with a cradle, and finished off the fall at the 3:20 to put Penn State up 25-7. Junior Max Dean (Lowell, Mich.), ranked No. 2 at 197, battled No. 21 Gavin Hoffman into extra time before using a takedown with :30 left to notch a thrilling 5-3 (sv) win. Sophomore Greg Kerkvliet (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), ranked No. 5 at 285, closed out the lopsided dual meet victory by majoring No. 13 Tate Orndorff. Kerkvliet rolled up 2:51 in riding time and notched four takedowns in the 10-2 major.
The Nittany Lions owned an 18-8 takedown advantage and won eight of ten bouts. Penn State picked up eight bonus points off two pins (Bravo-Young, Brooks) and two majors (Lee, Kerkvliet).
Penn State is now 15-0 overall, 7-0 in Big Ten action. Ohio State falls to 6-3, 2-3 B1G. The Nittany Lions will host Nebraska on Sunday, Feb. 6, at 12 p.m. in Rec Hall in another Big Ten Network national telecasts.
All rankings listed by Penn State wrestling are InterMat individual and team TPI. The 2021-22 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by the Family Clothesline. 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.
#1 Penn State 32, #6 Ohio State 7
February 4, 2022 – Bryce Jordan Center – University Park, Pa.
125: #6 Drew Hildebrandt PSU dec. #10 Malik Heinselman OSU, 2-0 3-0
133: #1 Roman Bravo-Young PSU pinned Brady Koontz OSU, WBF (6:31) 9-0
141: #1 Nick Lee PSU maj. dec. #20 Dylan D'Emilio OSU, 13-3 13-0
149: #2 Sammy Sasso PSU dec. #18 Beau Bartlett PSU, 4-2 13-3
157: Terrell Barraclough PSU dec. Isaac Wilcox OSU, 4-2 (sv) 16-3
165: Creighton Edsell PSU dec. Kevon Freeman OSU, 2-0 (sv) 19-3
174: #7 Ethan Smith maj. dec. Mason Manville PSU, 15-5 19-7
184: #1 Aaron Brooks PSU pinned Rocky Jordan OSU, WBF (3:20) 25-7
197: #2 Max Dean PSU dec. #21 Gavin Hoffman OSU, 5-3 (sv) 28-7
285: #5 Greg Kerkvliet PSU maj. dec. #13 Tate Orndorff OSU, 10-2 32-7
Attendance: 15,991 (66th sellout in last 68 home events, including 7 of 9 in BJC and 59-straight in Rec Hall)
Records: Penn State (15-0, 7-0 B1G); Ohio State (6-3, 2-3 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: Home vs. Nebraska, Sunday, Feb. 6, 12 p.m. (Rec Hall).
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Senior Drew Hildebrandt (Granger, Ind.), ranked No. 6 at 125, battled No. 10 Malik Heinselman. The duo battled through an even first minute. Hildebrandt fought off a low Heinselman shot at the 1:45 mark, forcing a stalemate. Hildebrandt looked to control the middle of the mat, working on the Nittany Lion logo. The clock moved under the 1:00 mark and Hildebrandt began to force Heinselman to the edge of the mat with increased pressure. The first period ended in a scoreless tie. Hildebrandt chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Hildebrandt worked his way in on a single with 1:00 and Heinselman was able to back out of bounds with :34 left on the clock. Down 1-0, Heinselman chose down to start the third period. Hildebrandt went to work on top. He countered an early Heinselman scramble and broke the Buckeye down on the Penn State logo. The Nittany Lion senior worked his riding time point over 1:00 and forced Heinselman into a first stall warning. Hildebrandt spent the entire period on top, using a dominant third period rideout to post a 2-0 win with 1:53 in riding time.
133: Senior Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 1 at 133, met Brady Koontz. Bravo-Young wasted no time taking Koontz down, scoring in the opening :20. The Nittany Lion senior countered a Koontz shot, forcing a stalemate with 2:07 on the clock. He then blew through a high double off the reset and led 4-2 with 2:00 left in the opening period. After a stalemate at 1:20, Bravo-Young ducked under Koontz for a third takedown with :33 on the clock. Bravo-Young finished the period on top and led 6-2 after one. Bravo-Young chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. He rolled through a Koontz shot and added a fourth takedown to lead 9-3. Bravo-Young added a fifth takedown with :38 left on the clock and once again finished on top to lead 11-3 with 1:05 in riding time. Koontz chose down to start the third period and Bravo-Young made him pay. The Lion senior worked shoulder control into a fall at the 6:31 mark.
141: Senior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 1 at 141, faced off against No. 20 Dylan D'Emilio. Lee scored quickly, taking the Buckeye down for an early 2-0 lead. He cut D'Emilio loose after a short ride and went back to work in neutral. Lee countered a D'Emilio shot, scrambled his way to control of his foot and finished off a takedown to lead 4-1 at the 1:20 mark. Lee's work on top was strong and the Lion senior finished the period on top to lead 41 with 1:50 in riding time. D'Emilio chose down to start the second period and Lee cut him loose to a 4-2 score. Lee quickly took the Buckeye down again and opened up a 6-2 lead. With over 2:00 in riding time, Lee forced D'Emilio into a stall warning at the :33 mark. He finished on top once again and led 6-2 with a clinched riding time point thanks to 3:19 in time. Lee chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. Lee took D'Emilio down and cut him loose at the 1:20 mark to lead. He countered a D'Emilio shot, worked his way around for another takedown with :30 left and led 10-3. He picked up a stall point and, with 3:54 in riding time, rolled to the 13-3 major decision.
149: Sophomore Beau Bartlett (Tempe, Ariz.), ranked No. 18 at 149, met No. 2 Sammy Sasso. Bartlett and Sasso battled through an even opening minute. The Nittany Lion held off a Sasso shot and forced action back to neutral as the clock hit 1:30. Sasso worked a low single into a scramble and Bartlett countered on the Lion logo, forcing a reset with :51 left in the opening period. The duo finished the opening period on their feet in a 0-0 tie. Sasso chose down to start the second period. Bartlett kept control early but gave up on stall warning before Sasso escaped to a 1-0 lead. Sasso shot low and Bartlett countered, nearly taking the Buckeye down. But Sasso continued to scramble for the takedown. Bartlett was able to fight his way to the end of the period and trailed 1-0 after two. Bartlett chose down to start the third period. He worked his way to his feet, shoot Sasso off over his head, and took a 2-1 lead with a reversal. Sasso escaped to tie the bout at 2-2 with :55 on the clock and action resumed on the Nittany Lion logo. Sasso worked his way in on another single with :25 left on the clock and Bartlett fought off the effort until the :04 mark when Sasso finished off the takedown for a late 4-2 win.
157: Sophomore Terrell Barraclough (Kaysville, Utah) took on Isaac Wilcox at 157. The duo battled through the first minute in neutral, with neither wrestler finding an opening on offense. Barraclough moved back from a slight Wilcox shot with 1:40 left and the first period hit its midway point tied 0-0. Barraclough and Wilcox continued through the opening period in neutral and the match moved to the second stanza knotted in a scoreless tie. Barraclough chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The second period was also contested in neutral, and Barraclough led 1-0 after two. Trailing by one, Wilcox chose neutral to start the third period and quickly took Barraclough down to lead 2-1. Barraclough worked his way to an escaped and a 2-2 tie with 1:32 on the clock. Barraclough turned a low single into aa scramble with 1:20 left but Wilcox was able to kick out of the hold. Barraclough kept Wilcox on the outside circle, with the Buckeye backing away towards the outside circle over the next minute. With the scored tied 2-2 after regulation, the match moved to sudden victory. The duo traded shots for the first minute of extra time until Wilcox connected on a high single. Hildebrandt fought off the move and forced Wilcox into a stall warning with :39 on the clock. Barraclough turned a high single into a scramble with :18 left and then scrambled around for a takedown with just :03 left to post the thrilling 4-2 win.
165: With No. 11 Brady Berge (Mantorville, Minn.) not wrestling, Creighton Edsell (Wyalusing, Pa.) met Kevon Freeman at 165. Freeman forced an early scramble with a shot and Edsell countered the effort and forced a stalemate with 2:10 left in the opening period. Freeman shot again and Edsell once again turned the action into a scramble on the Nittany Lion logo. Edsell forced a stalemate with 1:02 left in the period. Edsell finished off the first period controlling action in the middle of the mat, tied 0-0 after one. Edsell chose down to start the second period. Freeman was able to control the action on top for the entire period and the bout moved to the second stanza tied 0-0, but Freeman had 2:00 in riding time. Freeman chose down to start the second period. Edsell went to work on top and broke the Buckeye down. Edsell controlled the action, working Freeman's riding time edge down under 1:00. Edsell continued to work the clock down, needing a rideout to send the bout to extra time. Edsell finished the period on top and the bout moved to sudden victory. Edsell turned a shot into a scramble at the 1:31 mark and rolled his way to a takedown with 1:25 on the clock to post a thrilling 2-0 (sv) win.
174: With No. 1 Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.) not wrestling, Mason Manville (Lorton, Va.) took on No. 7 Ethan Smith. Manville took an early shot and action moved from neutral to the mat. But Smith was able to counter the effort and took a 2-0 lead with a takedown at the 2:32 mark. Manville escaped to a 2-1 score, but Smith was able to notch a second takedown and opened up a 4-2 lead. Smith picked up two more takedowns and led 8-3 after one. Smith chose down to start the second period and rolled to a reversal to open up a 10-3 lead. Manville escaped to a 10-4 score, but Smith ended the second period with another takedown and led 12-4 after two periods. Manville chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 12-5 score. Smith picked up one more takedown and, with riding time, posted the 15-5 major decision.
184: Junior Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md.), ranked No. 1 at 184, met Rocky Jordan. Brooks took a shot off a reset with 2:05 on the clock and gained control of Jordan's ankle. He turned the scramble into a takedown and led 2-0 at the 1:42 mark. Jordan escaped to a 2-1 score with 1:00 left in the period and Brooks continued to press the Buckeye backwards on offense. Brooks connected on a shot off a reset but did not get the takedown and led 2-1 after the opening period. Brooks chose down to start the second period. He reversed Jordan by locking up a cradle, turned the Buckeye to his back and got the fall early in the second period at the 3:20 mark.
197: Junior Max Dean (Lowell, Mich.), ranked No. 2 at 197, wrestled No. 21 Gavin Hoffman. Dean and Hoffman battled in neutral for the first two minutes. Dean controlled the tempo, forcing Hoffman backwards on defense as the Lion junior looked for an offensive opening. Hoffman was able to back away for the entire period and Dean was tied 0-0 after one period. Hoffman chose down to start the second period and Dean went to work on top. Dean controlled the action from the top position for over a minute as Hoffman tried to work to his feet. Dean maintained control for 1:49 before Hoffman was able to escape to a 1-0 lead. Trailing by one, Dean chose down to start the third period and quickly reversed Hoffman to take a 2-1 lead. With well over 1:00 in riding time, Dean went back to work on top with 1:25 left in the bout. Dean kept control to the :42 mark and gave up a stall warning, forcing a reset with the Lion still on top. Hoffman scrambled his way to a reversal to take a 3-2 lead with :25 left in the bout. Dean, with riding time clinched, was unable to escape and the bout moved to sudden victory. Dean scrambled through a high single at the 1:30 mark and nearly scored. But Hoffman countered and the action was stopped on a potentially dangerous with 1:20 on the clock. Dean forced another scramble at the 1:00 mark and, after nearly a minute, finished off a thrilling 5-3 (sv) win with a takedown.
285: Sophomore Greg Kerkvliet (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), ranked No. 5 at 285, took on No. 13 Tate Orndorff. Kerkvliet connected on a high shot with 1:50 on the clock and took Orndorff down to open up a 2-0 lead. He went to work on top, building up nearly 1:00 in riding time before Orndorff escaped to a 2-1 score. Kerkvliet set the offensive pace for the rest of the period, forcing Orndorff back to the outside circle for the remainder of the first stanza. Leading 2-1, Kerkvliet chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to aa 3-1 lead. He then blew through a high single for another takedown and a 5-1 lead with 1:15 left in the period. Kerkvliet carried that lead into the third period. Orndorff chose neutral to start the final 2:00. Kerkvliet took a 7-2 lead with a third takedown and clinched his riding time point. He finished off the convincing major with another takedown and, with 2:51 in riding time, posted the 10-2 win.
