Good afternoon from Rec Hall.
Sunday afternoon is Penn State’s first dual meet of the season as the Nittany Lions welcome Drexel at 1 p.m. Follow along here for updates.
125 – Luke Lilledahl starts this one off with a forfeit.
133 – Braeden Davis appeared to have injured his knee in the first minute of the first bout, but was able to continue. Davis got two takedowns in the first period, but Drexel’s Kyle Waterman got a reverse as it was 6-4 after the first period. Waterman took down in the second period and got an escape, and that was all for the second period. Davis shot in on a low single late in the third period and after a flurry, no takedown was awarded before the buzzer sounded. After further review, there was still no takedown as Davis won the match, 7-5.
141 – Cael Nasdeo filled in for Beau Bartlett after Bartlett wrestled in the NWCA All-Star Classic on Saturday night. Nasdeo got a tough battle from Drexel’s Jordan Soriano. The match was tied 8-8 after two periods, and Soriano took a 10-8 lead on a reversal. Nasdeo was unable to escape, and Soriano collected a riding time point for an 11-8 win.
149 – Connor Pierce is in for Shayne Van Ness for this one. Once again, the Dragons gave PSU a fight as Pierce had to hang on for a 5-4 win. Drexel’s Dominic Findora was close to a takedown at the end, but was never able to secure it at the end.
157 – Alex Facundo got his first dual meet action since February of 2023 after taking an Olympic redshirt last season. He drew Drexel’s Luke Nichter, and got another challenge. Facundo got a takedown in the first and a pair of reversals in the second, but a takedown by Nichter in the second period kept the match close at 7-5 after two periods. Nichter added an escape in the third, but never got a takedown. Facundo racked up over a minute of riding time for an 8-6 win.
165 – In Mitchell Mesenbrink’s first action of the 2024-25 season, it was the same old Mesenbrink that fans are used to seeing. The sophomore racked up six takedowns on his way to a 21-4 technical fall in 5:19 over the Dragons’ Cody Walsh.
174 – Levi Haines took the mat again after impressing last night. Drexel’s Jack Janda was simply overmatched as Haines picked up a 17-0 technical fall in 4:04. Haines nearly had the fall at the end, but picked up 10 back points in the match.
184 – Carter Starocci also took the mat after beating Parker Keckeisen on Saturday night. He drew Giuseppe Hoose and was once again as impressive as ever. Make it 3 for 3 on technical falls in the second half as Starocci got a 19-3 win in 5:37.
197 – Lucas Cochran got the nod at 197 over Josh Barr. Make it 4 for 4 on the technical falls, and Cochran got the fastest so far in 3:27. He made quick work of Drexel’s Ethan Wilson, 19-1.
285 – Greg Kerkvliet wrapped up the dual with a quick pin in 1:40 of Drexel’s Tanner Updegraff. PSU crushed the Dragons, 41-3.
Penn State 41, Drexel 3
125 – Luke Lilledahl (PSU) won by forfeit. (6-0)
133 – Braeden Davis (PSU) dec. Kyle Waterman (D), 7-5. (9-0)
141 – Jordan Soriano (D) dec. Cael Nasdeo (PSU), 11-8. (9-3)
149 – Connor Pierce (PSU) dec. Dominic Findora (D), 5-4. (12-3)
157 – Alex Facundo (PSU) dec. Luke Nichter (D), 8-6. (15-3)
165 – Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) tech. fall Cody Walsh (D), 21-4. (20-3)
174 – Levi Haines (PSU) tech. fall Jack Janda (D), 17-0 4:04. (25-3)
184 – Carter Starocci (PSU) tech. fall Giuseppe Hoose (D), 19-3 5:37. (30-3)
197 – Lucas Cochran (PSU) tech. fall Ethan Wilson (D), 19-1 3:27. (35-3)
285 – Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) pinned Tanner Updegraff (D), 1:40. (41-3)
