TULSA, Okla. — Penn State wrestling clinched back-to-back national titles Saturday morning at the BOK Center.
🔥🏆CLINCHED 🏆🔥
Penn State has clinched its 10th NCAA Wrestling National Championship in the last 12 events //
It’s the 11th in school history //
It’s the 10th for head coach Cael Sanderson //
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.#PSUwr
— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) March 18, 2023
Penn State has won its 11th national title overall, 10th in the last 12 years and 10th National Title under coach Cael Sanderson. Penn State heads into Saturday night with their final matches at 127.5 points, 50 more than second-place Iowa.
While the team was thrilled to win, three wrestlers still had to compete in Saturday morning’s placing matches.
No. 6 Beau Bartlett (27-3) dominated his first match with No. 11 South Dakota State’s Clay Carlson (28-10) in a 12-3 decision at 141 pounds.
Bartlett got five takedowns en route to his second win over Carlson at these NCAA Championships.
Bartlett then took on a former high school teammate in No. 10 Lachlan McNeil of North Carolina (27-9) in the Third Place Match. Bartlett and McNeil kept it close throughout most of the match, but Bartlett made a crucial takedown in the third period and used riding time to win a 4-1 decision.
BEAU BARTLETT THE 4-1 WIN!
All-American Beau Bartlett claims third place!
Goes 5-1, ends season with 27-3 mark! #PSUwr pic.twitter.com/VFIm7Tlzra— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) March 18, 2023
No. 12 redshirt freshman Shayne Van Ness (24-7) got a first-period takedown against No. 4 Caleb Henson of Virginia Tech (27-5) at 149 pounds.
Henson came back with two escapes to tie the match heading into the third period.
Van Ness made an escape and a takedown late in the period to ensure a 5-2 win via decision.
Van Ness wrestled No. 3 Kyle Parco of Arizona State (26-7) in the Third Place Match. Despite only leading by a point going into the third period, Van Ness made two takedowns and an escape to win a 7-2 decision against Parco.
SHAYNE VAN NESS THE 7-2 WIN!
All-American Shayne Van Ness claims third place!
Goes 5-1, ends season with a 24-7 record! #PSUwr pic.twitter.com/OCv0HeQeBx— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) March 18, 2023
No. 9 senior Max Dean (25-5) battled No. 10 Cornell’s Jacob Cardenas (20-6) in the Seventh Place Match at 197 pounds.
Cardenas took a 2-1 lead on a takedown in the first period, but Dean battled back for an escape and a takedown late in the second period to take the lead 4-2. Dean held off Cardenas in the third period and won the match on a 4-2 decision.
MAX DEAN THE 4-2 WIN!
Dean places 7th!
4X All-American
National Champion in '22!
105-18 career record!
#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/JPzNM9JMd0— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) March 18, 2023
Penn State will have five wrestlers competing for a national title in their respective weight classes Saturday night. Stay tuned to coverage from Nittany Sports Now, where there will be video interviews following their results.
Penn State Schedule Saturday Night (Championship Bouts)
133-No. 1 Roman Bravo-Young vs. No. 3 Cornell’s Vito Arujau (24-1)
157-No. 2 Levi Haines vs. No. 1 North Carolina’s Austin O’Connor (22-0)
174-No. 1 Carter Starocci vs. No. 2 Nebraska’s Mikey Labriola (29-1)
184-No. 3 Aaron Brooks vs. No. 1 Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen (26-1)
285-No. 3 Greg Kerkvliet vs. No. 1 Michigan’s Mason Parris (32-0)
Previous Penn State Coverage from the NCAA Wrestling Championships
Penn State Sits in First Place, Places 5 in National Title Matches After Day 2
Penn State Places Seven in the Semifinals at the NCAA Wresting Championships
Penn State Stands in 1st Place After Day 1 of NCAA Wrestling Championships
Penn State Wrestling: 8 Advance to Round of 16 at NCAA Championships
