Penn State wrestling hosts Hofstra on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. for the final dual meet before the holiday break. Follow along here for live updates.
125 – Braeden Davis got the start in today’s dual meet. Davis was more aggressive than Gary Steen was last week with more attempted shots, and a mat return in the third period. He picked up a takedown in each period, with the final one coming with about 10 seconds to pick up an 11-2 major decision. A nice Rec Hall debut for Davis.
133 – Aaron Nagao was beaten last week by a quality opponent in Lehigh’s Ryan Crookham, but the Minnesota transfer recovered well with a dominating victory on Sunday. Nagao got seven takedowns in less than two periods in a 21-6 technical fall over Hofstra’s Ryan Arbeit.
141 – David Evans got the start in the dual meet for Beau Bartlett. Evans made the most of his Rec Hall debut, as well. Evans got the second technical fall in as many bouts, collecting six takedowns in a 19-4 technical fall of the Pride’s Alex Turley.
149 – Connor Pierce got the first start after the news of Shayne Van Ness being out for the season. Tyler Kasak got the start last week. Pierce got behind the 8-ball early as he was down 6-0 to Hofstra’s Noah Tapia after the first period. Pierce never really got going in the match as he fell, 11-2.
157 – Well, Levi Haines definitely doesn’t get paid by the hour. He made quick time of Hofstra’s Dylan Zenion, picking up the fall in 1:02.
165 – Mitchell Mesenbrink is just the latest in a long line of freshmen that immediately make an impact in Cael Sanderson’s lineup. It’s the second bout in a row that results in a fall with Mesenbrink picking up a pin of Matt Waddell in 1:24.
174 – Another day at the office for Carter Starocci. He was dominating, even though he was called for potentially dangerous multiple times in trying to pin the Pride’s Eric Shindel. Shindel also didn’t have much interest in wrestling Starocci as he gave up four stall points in the match. Starocci won by technical fall, 19-4, in 5:38.
184 – Bernie Truax continued the domination with a fall of Will Conlon. Truax got three takedowns before recording the pin.
197 – Aaron Brooks made his dual meet season debut against a hometown kid – Nikolas Miller – of Central Mountain, just down the road from State College. While Miller got a nice ovation from the hometown crowd, he was just overmatched by Brooks. Brooks worked a 12-2 lead on Miller before getting the pin at 4:22.
285 – Another Rec Hall debut at heavyweight as AJ Fricchione wrestled for Greg Kerkvliet. He had a tall task, too, taking on Hofstra’s 21st-ranked Keaton Kluever. Although Fricchione seemed much smaller than Kluever, Fricchione hung in there for most of the match before getting pinned in 4:32.
More to come later.
Penn State 43, Hofstra 10
125 – Braeden Davis (PSU) maj. dec. Dylan Acevedo-Switzer (H), 11-2.
133 – Aaron Nagao (PSU) tech. fall Ryan Arbeit (H), 21-6 4:20.
141 – David Evans (PSU) tech. fall Alex Turley (H), 19-4 6:13.
149 – Noah Tapia (H) maj. dec. Connor Pierce (PSU), 11-2.
157 – Levi Haines (PSU) pinned Dylan Zenion (H), 1:02.
165 – Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) pinned Matt Waddell (H), 1:24.
174 – Carter Starocci (PSU) tech. fall Eric Shindel (H), 19-4 5:38.
184 – Bernie Truax (PSU) pinned Will Conlon (H), 1:51.
197 – Aaron Brooks (PSU) pinned Nikolas Miller (H), 4:22.
285 – Keaton Kluever (H) pinned AJ Fricchione (PSU), 4:32.
