Nine Penn State wrestlers advanced to the conference semifinals and another is still alive in consolation action after a dominant team showing on Saturday in session one at the Big Ten Championships in Evanston, Illinois.
Luke Lilledahl, Beau Bartlett, Shayne Van Ness, Tyler Kasak, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Levi Haines, Carter Starocci, Josh Barr and Greg Kerkvliet each qualified for the NCAA Championships and will wrestle in Saturday night’s Big Ten semis. After a last-second loss in the quarterfinals, Braeden Davis will also be in action Saturday night, needing one win in wrestlebacks to secure his spot in the national tournament.
Penn State leads the team race after one session with 88 points. Nebraska is in second with 60 points, followed by Illinois (58.5), Iowa (53.5) and Minnesota (39.5) to round out the top five.
The Nittany Lions recorded three falls, two tech falls, four major decisions, one decision and one win by injury default in the first two rounds.
125 Pounds – Luke Lilledahl
Freshman No. 4 seed Luke Lilledahl started the day off with a bang, jumping out to a 10-2 lead before pinning No. 13 seed Caelan Reilly of Illinois at 4:09.
Lilledahl met No. 5 seed Joey Cruz of Iowa in the quarterfinals and took a 3-0 lead with a takedown late in the first period. An escape and takedown in the second followed by a final takedown in the third and a riding time point gave Lilledahl an 11-1 major decision.
He’ll take on No. 1 seed Matt Ramos of Purdue in the semifinals.
133 Pounds – Bradean Davis
No. 4 seed Braeden Davis controlled the action against No. 13 seed No. 13 Andrew Hampton of Michigan State, scoring a takedown in each period, along with an escape and more than 1:40 in riding time for an 11-2 major decision.
Facing No. 5 seed Dylan Shawver of Rutgers in the quarterfinals, Davis took a 1-0 lead on an escape early in the third period. But late into the bout, Shawver was the aggressor and had Davis in trouble before finally securing the bout’s only takedown in the waning seconds. Penn State challenged the takedown, but it was upheld on review, giving Shawver a 3-1 decision and sending Davis to the consolation bracket.
Davis will face No. 11 seed Dustin Norris of Purdue on Saturday night as he looks for a win to earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Championships.
141 Pounds – Beau Bartlett
No. 1 seed Beau Bartlett got a first-round bye before taking care of business against No. 9 seed Greyson Clark of Purdue. Two first-period takedowns and another in the second gave the Nittany Lion a 9-2 lead heading into the final two minutes. An escape and a fourth takedown secured Bartlett’s 13-3 major decision win.
Bartlett will meet No. 4 seed Vance Vombaur of Minnesota in the semifinals.
149 Pounds
Top-seeded Shayne Van Ness received a bye into the quarterfinals, where he tacked on more points for the Nittany Lions. Van Ness made easy work of No. 8 seed Kal Miller of Maryland, using three takedowns en route to a 12-2 major decision.
Van Ness faces off against No. 5 seed Kannon Webster of Illinois in the semis.
157 Pounds – Tyler Kasak
After a first-round bye, No. 2 seed Tyler Kasak met No. 7 Trevor Chumbley of Northwestern. Kasak moved in front 6-1 on the strength of two first-period takedowns, but Chumblet kept it close from there, holding the Nittany Lion to a 7-3 decision.
Kasak takes on No. 3 seed Antrell Taylor of Nebraska in the semifinals. Kasak won a 9-3 decision against Taylor during the regular season
165 Pounds – Mitchell Mesenbrink
It was a light first session for No. 1 seed Mitchell Mesenbrink. After Mesenbrink got a first-round bye, No. 9 Paddy Gallagher of Ohio State took an injury default at the start of their quarterfinal bout.
Mesenbrink will now face No. 4 seed Beau Mantanona of Michigan in the semis.
174 Pounds – Levi Haines
Another recipient of a first-round bye, No. 1 seed Levi Haines was sharp in his quarterfinal bout against No. 8 seed Brody Baumann of Purdue. Haines picked up a takedown and reversal and controlled the action on top to rack up riding time as he took a 5-0 lead into the third. Haines scored two more takedowns in the third before turning Baumann for the pin at 5:58.
Next up for Haines is No. 4 seed Patrick Kennedy of Iowa in the semifinals. Haines defeated Kennedy 10-3 back in January.
184 Pounds – Carter Starocci
No. 1 seed Carter Starocci was dominant in his quarterfinal matchup with No. 9 seed DJ Washington of Indiana. Starocci powered his way to a 9-0 lead in the first period and continued pouring it on in the second, winning an 18-1 tech fall at 4:54.
Starocci faces No. 5 seed Jaxon Smith of Maryland in the semifinals. Starocci beat Smith by tech fall in a February dual meet.
197 Pounds – Josh Barr
No. 2 seed Josh Barr continued his outstanding redshirt freshman campaign after a first-round bye. Two take downs and four nearfall points gave Barr a 10-1 advantage heading into the second period of his quarterfinal bout against No. 7 seed Camden McDanel of Nebraska. Barr kept up the pressure in the second, recording a 17-2 tech fall at 4:05.
Barr meets No. 3 seed Jacob Cardenas of Michigan in the semis. Barr won by decision against Cardenas with a late reversal in tiebreakers during a February dual meet.
Heavyweight – Greg Kerkvliet
No. 2 seed Greg Kerkvliet wasted little time dispensing of No. 7 seed Ben Keuter of Iowa in the quarterfinals after a first-round bye. Kerkvliet scored two quick takedowns then pinned the Hawkeye at 1:54.
Kerkvliet will face No. 3 seed Josh Heindselman in the semifinals.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Big Ten Championships resume with consolation round action at 6 p.m. Saturday streaming on BTN+. The conference semifinals begin at 8 pm. Saturday and will air on the Big Ten Network.
