A No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup will highlight No. 1 Penn State wrestling in its dual meet against No. 4 Michigan Friday night, but fans will have to wait for the end to see it.
The heavyweight bout will feature the nation’s best in Penn State’s Greg Kerkvliet and Michigan’s Mason Parris. Kerkvliet is 3-1 lifetime against Parris, going 3-0 last season with wins over Parris in the dual meet, the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Championships.
Like Penn State wrestling, Michigan has nine of the 10 weight classes filled with ranked wrestlers. Along with Parris, 157-pounder Will Lewan, 165-pounder Cameron Amine, and 184-pounder Matt Finesilver are all ranked in the top 10 at their respective weights. Both teams are coming into Friday undefeated, with PSU at 8-0 and Michigan at 7-0.
This match will be the first of two Bryce Jordan Center dual meets this season, with the rest taking place in Rec Hall. The second one will be next Friday against Iowa.
Like this season, last year’s dual meet was one of Penn State’s most anticipated bouts. That dual, which people expected to be close, turned into a dominating 29-6 Penn State win. Michigan’s Cole Mattin had to injury default at 149 last year against Beau Bartlett. Mattin and Bartlett should meet again Friday, but this time at 141 pounds.
Penn State is coming into Friday having wrestled just once in the last month. Penn State beat Wisconsin, 28-12, two weeks ago.
Friday evening’s dual meet starts at 7 on the Big Ten Network.
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (8-0, 1-0 B1G)
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 Gary Steen Fr. Hermitage, Pa./Reynolds 4-8
133 #1 Roman Bravo-Young Sr.+ Tucson, Ariz./Sunnyside 7-0
141 #4 Beau Bartlett Jr. Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) 12-0
149 #14 Shayne Van Ness Fr. Somerville, N.J./Blair Academy 9-2
157 #17 Levi Haines Fr. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 11-1
Terrell Barraclough Jr. Kaysville, Utah/Layton 6-2
165 #16 Alex Facundo Fr. Essexville, Mich./Davison 9-1
174 #1 Carter Starocci Jr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 8-0
184 #1 Aaron Brooks Sr. Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown 5-1
197 #4 Max Dean Sr. Lowell, Mich./Lowell 10-2
285 #1 Greg Kerkvliet Jr. Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley 7-0
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (7-0, 2-0 B1G)
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 #23 Jack Medley Gr. Chesterfield, Mich./Anchor Bay 14-5
133 #12 Dylan Ragusin So. Elk Grove Village, Ill./Montini Catholic 10-3
141 #23 Cole Mattin Jr. Delta, Ohio/Delta 12-3
149 #21 Chance Lamer Fr. Corvallis, Ore./Crescent Valley 10-3
157 #10 Will Lewan Sr. Chicago, Ill./Montini Cathlic 10-3
165 #5 Cameron Amine Jr. Brighton, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central 7-1
174 #30 Max Maylor Sr. Highland, Wis./Highland 13-3
184 #9 Matt Finesilver Gr. Greenwood Village, Colo./Cherry Creek 14-3
197 Brendin Yatooma So. South Lyon, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central 4-7
285 #2 Mason Parris Sr. Lawrenceburg, Ind./Lawrenceburg 17-0
