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Penn State Wrestling Rankings: True Freshman Makes Big Leap

Penn State wrestling true freshman Luke Lilledahl took a big leap in the latest rankings.
Photo by Penn State Athletics: Luke Lilledahl

Penn State is No. 1 in the latest wrestling rankings.

That wasnโ€™t a surprise to anybody.

But what about the individual rankings?

Well, those had some movement. Hereโ€™s where Penn Stateโ€™s wrestlers stand in the latest individual rankings, courtesy of InterMat.

125

No. 6 Luke Lilledahl (๐Ÿ†™ 6)

When Lilledahl, who came into last Friday nightโ€™s dual meet at Nebraska ranked No. 12, upset No. 6 Caleb Smith 4-2, everybody knew heโ€™d move into the top 10. It turns out, he almost cracked the top five. The true freshman now is No. 2 amongst Big Ten competitors at 125. The only guy ahead is Purdueโ€™s Matt Ramos, whoโ€™s ranked No. 1.

133

No. 7 Braeden Davis (โฌ‡๏ธ 2)

Penn State wrestling starter Braeden Davisโ€™ rankings moved down slightly from No. 5 to No. 7.

Photo by Penn State Wrestling: Braeden Davis

Davisโ€™ ranking went slightly down following a 14- 7 loss to Nebraskaโ€™s Jacob Van Dee, who moved from No. 16 to No. 14. Davis has a big match slated for the Bryce Jordan Center Jan. 31, where heโ€™s slated to take on Iowaโ€™s Drake Ayala, whoโ€™s ranked No. 3.

141

No. 3 Beau Bartlett (no movement)

Penn State Wrestling: Beau Bartlett

Beau Bartlett February 20, 2022 David Hague/NSN

Bartlett stays at No. 3 after a thrilling 8-7 win over No. 6 Brock Hardy of Nebraska that when down to the wire. Bartlettโ€™s biggest dual meet of the season is scheduled for Friday, February 14 at Ohio State. If all goes according to plan, Bartlett will take on Ohio Stateโ€™s Jesse Mendez, who beat him for the Big Ten and national championships last season.

149

No. 4 Shayne Van Ness (โฌ‡๏ธ 2)

Penn State wrestling star Shayne Van Nessโ€™ ranking took a slight hit after a loss to Nebraskaโ€™s Ridge Lovett Friday, Jan. 17 in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Photo by Penn State Athletics: Shayne Van Ness

Van Ness had the chance to make a statement Friday night against Nebraskaโ€™s Ridge Lovett, who came in ranked No. 4. Instead, Lovett beat Van Ness 10-2, earning a bonus-point win, and moved to No. 3. Van Ness moved down from No. 2 to No. 4. Like Davis, Van Ness has a huge match against Iowa Jan. 31. Heโ€™s slated to face No. 2 Kyle Parco.

157

No. 3 Tyler Kasak (no change)

Kasakโ€™s transition from 141 to 157 is going just fine. Heโ€™s 11-0, with the most recent win coming over No. 5 ย Antrell Taylor of Nebraska 9-3. Kasakโ€™s biggest test would be scheduled for Jan. 31 since Iowaโ€™s Jacobi Teemer is ranked No. 1. But Teemer is injured and likely wonโ€™t be ready before February.

 

165

No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (no change)

Penn State wrestling star Mitchell Mesenbrink remains the king at 165.

Photo by Penn State athletics: Mitchell Mesenbrink

The king stays the king. Mesenbrink came within two points of winning it all at 165 as a redshirt freshman last season. Right now, itโ€™s his title to lose.

174

No. 2 Levi Haines (no change)ย 

Haines was the man at 157, winning a national championship this past March. But heโ€™s taking on a new challenge at 174, and itโ€™s going well. The only guy ahead of Haines is Missouriโ€™s Keegan Oโ€™Toole, who won two national titles at 165. Oโ€™Toole beat Haines in overtime 4-1 this past December at the Collegiate Duals. But in Freestyle, Haines beat Oโ€™Toole 6-0 at the World Team Trials in September. Thereโ€™s a good chance these two meet again in March, this time with the NCAA title on the line.

184

No. 1 Carter Starocci (no change)

Penn State Wrestling Legend Carter Starocci beat the defending national champ at 184 at the NWCA Wrestling Classic Saturday, Nov. 16 at Rec Hall.

Photo by Penn State Athletics: Carter Starocci

The king stays the king.

197

No. 4 Josh Barr (no change)

Barr has big shoes to fill jumping in at 197 for defending national champ and Hodge Trophy winner Aaron Brooks. But heโ€™s doing quite well, improving to 11-0 Friday with a dominant 19-4 tech fall over Nebraskaโ€™s Camden McDaniel, whoโ€™s ranked No. 22. If all goes according to plan, Barr will have a big test against Iowa Jan. 31 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Iowa has Stephen Buchanan, whoโ€™s ranked No. 1.

285

No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet (no change)

Penn State Wrestling star Greg Kerkvliet is a two-time national champ. Could Gable Steveson have something to say about that?

Photo by Penn State Athletics: Greg Kerkvliet

Kerkvliet, the two-time defending national champ, would be an obvious No. 1 if Olympic Gold Medalist Gable Steveson werenโ€™t using his last season of college eligibility. But Steveson is doing just that, so Kerkvliet will probably be at No. 2 for a while. Nonetheless, Kerkvliet is still dominant, winning his first 11 matches. The latest triumph was a 20-2 tech fall over Nebraskaโ€™s Harley Andrews, who came in ranked No. 24 and actually rose to No. 21.

Penn State wrestling takes on Rutgers Friday, Jan. 24 in Piscataway. The dual meet is scheduled to begin at 8.

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