The good news for Penn State was they won six out of 10 bouts in a 24-12 victory over Lehigh on Sunday afternoon.
The bad news was top-ranked 197-pounder Max Dean fell for the second time in three days, this time to former Nittany Lion Michael Beard, 11-9. The match went back and forth with Dean taking a 7-6 lead after two periods. Beard grabbed a couple takedowns in the third period for the win. It was just Dean’s third loss as a Nittany Lion.
The Nittany Lions were kickstarted by Shayne Van Ness at 149 pounds with a pin of the Mountain Hawks’ Manzona Bryant IV. Van Ness got the pin in 2:28 to give PSU a 9-6 lead. Bryant defeated Beau Bartlett, 6-5, in last year’s dual meet.
Along with Van Ness’ fall, Penn State also got bonus points from Greg Kerkvliet (285) and Carter Starocci (174). Kerkvliet earned a 18-0 technical fall in 4:01 over Nathan Taylor to cap the dual meet. Starocci missed a technical fall by one point, but major decisioned Jake Logan, 22-8.
Bartlett earned an 8-4 decision over Lehigh’s Malyke Hines at 141, while Alex Facundo picked up a 6-2 win over Brian Meyer at 165. Aaron Brooks, who did not wrestle in Friday’s match against Rider, defeated Lehigh’s Tate Samuelson, 8-3.
Gary Steen (125), Karl Shindledecker (133), Terrell Barraclough (157), and Dean all came out on the losing end in their respective bouts by decision. Shindledecker wrestled in Roman Bravo-Young’s place.
Penn State (3-0) will be back in action next Sunday back at Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual meet against Oregon State. The dual meet will be broadcasted on ESPNU.
Penn State 24, Lehigh 12
125 – Carter Bailey (L) dec. Gary Steen (PSU), 3-1. (0-3)
133 – Connor McGonagle (L) dec. Karl Shindledecker (PSU), 6-1. (0-6)
141 – Beau Bartlett (PSU) dec. Malyke Hines (L), 8-4. (3-6)
149 – Shayne Van Ness (PSU) pinned Manzona Bryant IV (L), 2:28. (9-6)
157 – Josh Humphreys (L) dec. Terrell Barraclough (PSU), 6-3. (9-9)
165 – Alex Facundo (PSU) dec. Brian Meyer (L), 6-2. (12-9)
174 – Carter Starocci (PSU) maj. dec. Jake Logan (L), 22-8. (16-9)
184 – Aaron Brooks (PSU) dec. Tate Samuelson (L), 8-3. (19-9)
197 – Michael Beard (L) dec. Max Dean (PSU), 11-9. (19-12)
285 – Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) tech. fall Nathan Taylor (L), 18-0 4:01. (24-12)
