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Penn State Wrestling

Penn State Wrestling Rankings: Starter Moves Down

Penn State wrestling has had one dual meet since Intermat released its last batch of rankings.

Although it was closer than some expected, Penn State beat No. 4 Nebraska 22-13.

The team didnโ€™t go anywhere at No. 1 but what happened with its individual starters?

Letโ€™s break it down here.

125: BRAEDEN DAVIS (PENN STATE WRESTLING, NO. 8, DOWN 2)

Coming into the month, it seemed like Davis could do no wrong. The freshman 125-pounder won his first 13 matches and was expected by many to roll over Ohio Stateโ€™s Vincent Kilkeary Feb. 2. But Davis escaped with a 4-3 win that many felt he didnโ€™t deserve due to a a controversial ruling near the end of the bout. The next week, Davis suffered his first loss at Iowa against a top-five opponent in Drake Ayala. Three days later, Davis got back in the win column, but again, there was controversy due to instant replay not being available.

Sunday, No. 6 Davis took on No. 13 Caleb Smith, and not only lost, but gave up bonus points for the first time in his career. But if Sandersonโ€™s concerned about Davis, he didnโ€™t express it in his post match presser.

133: AARON NAGAO (PENN STATE WRESTLING, NO. 11, NO CHANGE)

Nagao would have been a shot at redemption Sunday. He lost in sudden victory last Monday at the Bryce Jordan Center to Rutgersโ€™ Dylan Shawver, who came into that bout ranked No. 10.ย 

Alas, he didnโ€™t get to wrestle due to sickness, and as a result, his ranking doesnโ€™t move down, but doesnโ€™t move up, either.

141: BEAU BARTLETT (PENN STATE WRESTLING, NO. 1, NO CHANGE)

Bartlett was No. 1 in last weekโ€™s rankings. Beating Nebraskaโ€™s Brock Hardy, who was and is ranked No. 7, didnโ€™t change that.

149: TYLER KASAK (PENN STATE WRESTLING, NO. 9, NO CHANGE)

Kasak has turned the opportunity into a No. 9 ranking at the weight to go with a 12-2 record for the season going into Sunday.

Thatโ€™s when he had his toughest test so far this season in top-ranked Ridge Lovett of Nebraska. Although Kasak came close, Lovett ultimately got the better of him in a 7-3 defeat.

โ€œI think he did well,โ€ Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson said. โ€œIt was a tied score in the third period. Heโ€™s close. I think heโ€™s right there. Heโ€™s a freshman and heโ€™s going to get better each match. He just needs more experience.โ€

157: LEVI HAINES (PENN STATE WRESTLING, NO. 1, NO CHANGE)

Haines came into the Nebraska dual meet ranked No. 1, and almost majoring No. 7 Peyton Robb did nothing to hurt that.

165: MITCHELL MESENBRINK (PENM STATE WRESTLING, NO. 6, NO CHANGE)

Mesenbrink just keeps on winning. He took on Nebraskaโ€™s Antrell Taylor Sunday, who was and is ranked No. 15, and won 9-5. Heโ€™s now 18-0 on the season, which is pretty good for anybody but especially a redshirt freshman. Can Mesenbrink win a national title? Considering 165 has Keegan Oโ€™Toole (Missouri) and David Carr (Iowa State), the odds would be against against him. But thereโ€™s no reason Mesenbrink canโ€™t be an All-American, as can the rest of PSUโ€™s starters.

174: CARTER STAROCCI (NO. 1, NO CHANGE)

63 straight wins and counting.

184: BERNIE TRUAX (NO. 6, NO CHANGE)

Kasak gave No. 1 Lovett all he could handle at 149. Bernie Truax did the same at 184. Truax, ranked No. 6, did the same with No. 3 Lenny Pinto. Truax ended up falling, 8-6, but had Pinto on his heels until the dying seconds, when he was denied what the Rec Hall faithful felt should have been a takedown. Truax has been in solid form since being pinned by Ohio Stateโ€™s Ryder Rogotzke earlier this month, and although he fell short on the scoreboard, thereโ€™s reason to be encouraged heading into crunch time.

197: AARON BROOKS (NO. 1, NO CHANGE)

The king stays the king.

HEAVYWEIGHT: GREG KERKVLIET (NO. 1, NO CHANGE)

See above.

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