Penn State went on the road and clobbered Wisconsin on Tuesday, 34-6, in Madison in a match pushed up to accommodate the teams’ schedules.
The Nittany Lions were to face Michigan and Wisconsin in a tri-meet on Sunday, but the Wolverines are in the midst of a school-wide pause in their athletic programs because of COVID. Penn State wrestled at Northwestern over the weekend, so the league had the Lions head to Wisconsin a few days later.
Penn State, ranked No. 3 in the nation, had little trouble with the Badgers.
Here’s a bout-by-bout breakdown, from Penn State’s release at gopsusports.com:
125: Penn State did not have a 125-pounder cleared to compete this weekend and Wisconsin’s Eric Barnett won by forfeit.
133: Junior Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 3 by InterMat, met Kyle Burwick. Bravo-Young opened up the scoring a minute into the bout with a takedown for an early 2-0 lead. The Lion junior dominated the first period, tallying three textbook takedowns on his way to a 6-3 lead after the opening stanza. He chose down to start the second period and quickly turned into a low single to take Burwick down once more for a 9-3 lead. Burwick managed an escape and then fought off a late Bravo-Young shot to keep the bout close after two. Bravo-Young led 9-4 after two. Burwick chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 9-5 score. Bravo-Young then blew through a high shot for an 11-6 lead after cutting the Badger loose. The Lion forced a scramble that ended in a potentially dangerous situation. Burwick fought off Bravo-Young’s final efforts and the Lion settled for a solid 11-6 win.
141: Senior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 2 at 141, took on Wisconsin’s Trey Escobar. Lee came out fasts, taking Escobar down for an early 2-1 lead. He then picked up a quick second takedown and then turned Escobar for four nearfall to lead 8-1 at the 1:52 mark. Lee turned the Badger again for four more back points and opened up a 12-1 lead at the 1:27 mark. Lee used an arm bar to work Escobar one more time for four more back points to roll to a first period tech fall, winning 16-1 at the 3:00 mark.
149: Senior Luke Gardner (Pottsville, Pa.) took on Drew Scharenbrock at 149. Gardner opened up the action with a first period takedown. Scharenbrock was able to work his way to a quick escape and the action resumed in neutral. Gardner set the offensive tempo throughout the opening period but Scharenbrock was able to keep the Lion from scoring. Gardner shot low as the period ended and Scharenbrock was able to counter the move for a late takedown to lead 3-2 after the opening period. Gardner chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-3 tie. Gardner used a quick shot to take a 5-3 lead but Scharenbrock was able to escape with just :04 left in the period to trail 5-4 after two. Scharenbrock chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-5 tie. Gardner took a low single that forced a scramble which ended in a stalemate with 1:07 on the clock. Gardner took another shot at the :25 mark that Scharenbrock countered, forcing a scramble that nearly ended in a takedown for each wrestler but the clock ran out and the bout moved to sudden victory. Gardner wasted no time, shooting low on the Badger and getting a quick takedown just seconds into the sudden victory period to post the 7-5 (sv) win.
157: Junior Brady Berge (Mantorville, Minn.), ranked No. 9 at 157, took on Wisconsin’s Garrett Model. The duo battled through an even ninety seconds with neither wrestler finding an opening to score. Berge looked to control the middle of the mat, fighting off two slight Model shots to keep the bout scoreless as the clock moved to the :45 mark. With the bout scoreless after one period, Berge chose down to start the second period and worked his way to an escape and a 1-0 lead. Berge used a low single work Model’s leg up to his shoulder and finished off the takedown on the edge of the mat for a 3-0 lead. Model managed an escape at the :45 mark and Berge led 3-1. Berge stepped away from a Model shot, countered and moved behind the Badger and took Model down for another takedown and a 5-1 lead. 5-1, Model chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-2 score. Berge quickly moved around the Badger for a third takedown and a 7-2 lead with 1:35 on the clock. Berge maintained control of Model to the 1:05 mark before he escaped to a 7-3 score but Berge quickly took him down again and led 9-4 with :50 left to wrestle. Berge added another takedown with :15 left and pushed his riding time over 1:00. The Lion finished on top and, with 1:22 in time, posted the 12-4 major.
165: Freshman Joe Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 6 at 165, took on Patrick Spray. Joe Lee notched a takedown just :25 into the bout and led 2-1 early. Lee quickly took Spray down again and turned the Badger for two back points to open up a 6-1 lead with 1:51 on the clock. He cut Spray loose, fought off a slight Spray shot, countered the effort and rolled through another takedown to lead 8-2 with :50 left in the period. He turned Spray and rolled him for four back points to lead 12-2 with :45 left. Lee rode Spray out and carried that lead, with 1:52 in time, into the second period. After a neutral start to the second period, Lee and Spray battled through a scoreless minute. The duo wrestled the entire second period and neutral and Lee led 12-2 after two. Lee chose down to start the third period. Spray was able to control Lee for the entire period and picked up a stall point on the way. But Lee’s big first period allowed the Lion to roll to the 12-3 major decision.
174: Freshman Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.), ranked No. 8 at 174, met Wisconsin’s Jared Krattiger. Starocci scored quickly, opening up a 2-1 lead in the bout’s opening minute. The duo battled evenly for the next minute until Starocci got in on a high single, rolled through the Badger and forced a scramble that ended in a stalemate with :25 on the clock. Leading 2-1, Starocci chose down to start the second period. The Lion quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead and action resumed in neutral. Krattiger got hit with a stall warning but then quickly moved in behind Starocci for a takedown and a 3-3 tie. Starocci quickly escaped and upped his lead to 4-3 with :20 on the clock. Trailing 4-3, Krattiger chose down to start the third period. Starocci proceeded to dominate action from the top position, working offensive control as the clock moved down to the 1:00 mark. After action moved out of bounds at the :57 mark, Starocci needed :09 more riding time to move his riding time edge up over 1:00 and maintained control of Krattiger easily on the reset. The Nittany Lion freshman kept control of the Badger for the entire period and, with 1:48 in riding time, posted a strong 5-3 win.
184: Sophomore Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md.), ranked No. 3 at 184, took on No. 10 Chris Weiler of Wisconsin in the dual’s marquee match-up. Brooks wasted no time taking Weiler down for an early 2-0 lead. Weiler escaped with 2:35 on the clock to get to neutral. Brooks quickly worked into a near takedown but the action moved out of bounds and reset ensued with 1:55 on the clock. Brooks shot low and scored off the reset for a second takedown and led 4-2 at 1:30. He continued his first period dominance with a third takedown at the 1:25 mark to lead 6-3. Brooks picked up a fourth takedown before the period ended and led 8-3 after one with 1:40 in riding time. After a neutral start, Brooks controlled the middle of the mat and used a low shot that Weiler countered and nearly scored on. But action moved out of bounds and the action ensued in neutral with 1:06 left in the period. Brooks scored quickly off the reset and upped his lead to 10-3 while working his riding time up over 2:00. Brooks finished the period on top and led 10-3 with 2:27 in time after two. Brooks chose down to start the third period. He steadily worked his way to an escape :30 into the final period. Brooks finished the match with 1:56 in riding time and rolled to the 13-3 major.
197: Freshman Michael Beard (Pottstown, Pa.), ranked No. 13 nationally, made his Penn State dual meet debut against Wisconsin’s Andrew Salemme. The Nittany Lion wasted no time showcasing his offense, taking Salemme down and cutting him loose for an early lead. He quickly added a second takedown and led 4-2 just over 1:00 into his first collegiate bout. Beard rolled through a low double and upped his lead to 6-2 with 1:25 left in the opening period. The Lion then locked Salemme up and rolled him for two back points to up his lead to 8-2 with :40 left on the clock. Beard finished the period off with a four-point turn and led 12-2 with 1:58 in time after one. Salemme chose neutral to start the second period. Beard countered a low shot and notched a takedown with 1:20 left to lead 14-2. Beard rolled Salemme over for two more points for a 16-2 lead, then turned him one more time to end the bout with an 18-2 tech fall at the 4:43 mark in the second period.
285: Sophomore Seth Nevills (Clovis, Calif.), ranked No. 8 at 285, took on Wisconsin’s Peter Christensen. Nevills steadily worked his way to a first period takedown at the 1:55 mark to open up a 2-0 lead. Nevills controlled Christensen from the offensive position as he worked his riding time up over 1:00. The Lion sophomore continued to control the Badger for the rest of the period and led 2-0 with 1:54 in riding time after the opening period. Nevills chose down to start the second period. Christensen was able to keep offensive position deep into the second period, killing Nevills’ riding time edge in the process. The Badger finished on top and Nevills led 2-0 after two. Christensen chose neutral to start the third period. Nevills quickly moved in on a low single and steadily worked his way into control of Christensen’s feet for another takedown and a 4-0 lead with 1:10 on the clock. Nevills maintained control off Christensen to the :20 mark before the Badger escaped. Christensen finished the bout with a takedown but Nevills posted the 4-3 win.
#3 Penn State 34, Wisconsin 6
February 2, 2021 – Madison, Wis.
125: Eric Barnett WIS win by forfeit 0-6
133: #3 Roman Bravo-Young PSU dec. Kyle Burwick WIS 3-6
141: #2 Nick Lee PSU tech fall Trey Escobar WIS, 16-1 (TF; 3:00) 8-6
149: Luke Gardner PSU dec. Drew Scharenbrock WIS, 7-5 (sv) 11-6
157: #9 Brady Berge PSU maj. dec. Garrett Model WIS, 12-4 15-6
165: #6 Joe Lee PSU maj. dec. Patrick Spray WIS, 12-3 19-6
174: #8 Carter Starocci PSU dec. Jared Krattiger WIS, 5-3 22-6
184: #3 Aaron Brooks PSU maj. dec. #10 Chris Weiler WIS, 13-3 26-6
197: #13 Michael Beard PSU tech fall Andrew Salemme WIS, 18-2 (TF; 4:43) 31-6
285: #8 Seth Nevills PSU dec. Peter Christensen WIS, 4-3 34-6
Extra Matches:
141: Beau Bartlett PSU dec. Dominic Dentino WIS, 13-6
149: Terrell Barraclough PSU dec. Dan Stilling WIS, 8-3
149: Bo Pipher PSU dec. Aiden Medora WIS, 7-0
174: Creighton Edsell PSU maj. dec. Seth Vosters WIS, 12-2
Records: Penn State (3-0, 3-0 B1G; Wisconsin (1-4, 1-4 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: home vs. Iowa, Friday, Feb. 12, 9 p.m. Eastern (B1G Network)
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