It was likely that Penn State wrestling was going to be down at the halfway point through Friday’s huge 1 vs. 2 dual meet with Iowa. The question was how much would it be down?
Turned out it was only 11-9 after five bouts, in large part due to a huge pin by Roman Bravo-Young at 133 pounds that kickstarted the crowd.
.@RomanBravoYoung making a statement ‼️
Pins No.17 Teske and daps up @MicahhParsons11 on the way out. 😮💨 @pennstateWREST x @B1GWrestling pic.twitter.com/IzsBxP18GS
— Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) January 28, 2023
That pin, plus another close win by Levi Haines at 157 highlighted Penn State’s best win of the season, a 23-14 triumph over Iowa in the second and final Bryce Jordan Center dual meet of the season. Penn State gave up just two takedowns.
The win marked coach Cael Sanderson’s 100th Big Ten dual meet win.
Bravo-Young picked up a fall over former Nittany Lion Brody Teske in 6:46 to give Penn State a brief lead. Haines earned a close 3-2 win over Iowa’s Cobe Siebrecht. Since Haines wrestled Friday, that match burned his redshirt season, meaning he’ll likely be the guy that mans the starting spot at 157 for the rest of the year.
Also picking up victories for Penn State wrestling were Carter Starocci (174), Aaron Brooks (184), Max Dean (197) and Greg Kerkvliet (285). Starocci, Dean, and Kerkvliet all picked up close decisions, while Brooks earned a 22-7 technical fall in 5:42.
In Penn State’s losses, Marco Vespa took over at 125 pounds for regular starter Gary Steen against Iowa powerhouse Spencer Lee. Lee got an 18-2 technical fall in 2:15.
Beau Bartlett (141) and Shayne Van Ness (149) were handed matching 4-1 losses from Real Woods and Max Murin, respectively. Patrick Kennedy picked up Iowa’s other win at 165 where he beat Alex Facundo in a tiebreaker, 2-1.
Penn State is now 11-0. Penn State will take the rest of the weekend off, and will be back in action next Friday at Ohio State at 7 p.m.
Penn State 23, Iowa 14
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.125 – Spencer Lee (Iowa) tech. fall Marco Vespa (PSU) 18-2 2:15. (0-5)
133 – Roman Bravo-Young (PSU) pinned Brody Teske (Iowa) 6:46. (6-5)
141 – Real Woods (Iowa) dec. Beau Bartlett (PSU) 4-1. (6-8)
149 – Max Murin (Iowa) dec. Shayne Van Ness (PSU) 4-1. (6-11)
157 – Levi Haines (PSU) dec. Cobe Siebrecht (Iowa) 3-2. (9-11)
165 – Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) dec. Alex Facundo (PSU) 2-1 TB. (9-14)
174 – Carter Starocci (PSU) dec. Nelson Brands (Iowa) 2-1. (12-14)
184 – Aaron Brooks (PSU) tech. fall Drake Rhodes (Iowa), 22-7 5:42. (17-14)
197 – Max Dean (PSU) dec. Jacob Warner (Iowa), 2-0. (20-14)
285 – Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) dec. Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) 4-1. (23-14)
