Despite returning national champion Max Dean being upset at 197 pounds, Penn State turned in a dominating performance in a rout of Rider, 37-3, in front of 3,229 fans at Rider’s CURE Arena on Friday night.
Top-ranked Dean was tied at one with Rider’s 12th-ranked Ethan Laird late in the third period. Dean almost had the winning takedown late in the match, but Laird was able to scramble away to kill the clock at the end of regulation. Dean gave up a takedown in sudden victory for only his second loss as a Nittany Lion.
Penn State won the other nine matches on the night, including a pin at 141 pounds from Beau Bartlett. Bartlett was down 4-2 after two periods on Rider’s McKenzie Bell but got a reversal to start the third period and got the fall at 6:08. Terrell Barraclough also won a match by injury default at 157 pounds just nine seconds into the match.
Roman Bravo-Young (133), Alex Facundo (165), Carter Starocci (174), and Greg Kerkvliet (285) all won by major decisions. Gary Steen (125), Shayne Van Ness (149), and Donovon Ball (184) all earned decisions. Ball wrestled for normal 184-pounder Aaron Brooks.
Penn State (2-0) will continue the weekend road trip on Sunday afternoon in a 2 p.m. dual meet at Lehigh.
Penn State 37, Rider 3
125 – Gary Steen (PSU) dec. Tyler Klinsky (R), 6-4. (3-0)
133 – Roman Bravo-Young (PSU) maj. dec. Richie Koehler (R), 23-9. (7-0)
141 – Beau Bartlett (PSU) pinned McKenzie Bell (R), 6:08. (13-0)
149 – Shayne Van Ness (PSU) dec. Quinn Kinner (R), 11-6. (16-0)
157 – Terrell Barraclough (PSU) inj. def. Jake Silverstein (R), :09. (22-0)
165 – Alex Facundo (PSU) maj. dec. Hunter Mays (R), 13-4. (26-0)
174 – Carter Starocci (PSU) maj. dec. Shane Reitsma (R), 18-6. (30-0)
184 – Donovon Ball (PSU) dec. Asa Terrell (R), 9-3. (33-0)
197 – Ethan Laird (R) dec. Max Dean (PSU), 3-1 SV. (33-3)
285 – Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) maj. dec. David Szuba (R), 11-1. (37-3)
