University Park, PA—-In a commanding display of skill and determination, the Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team secured a resounding 35-3 triumph over visiting Rutgers during the 2024 BJC Dual. Led by Head Coach Cael Sanderson, the squad showcased their prowess by clinching victories in nine out of ten bouts, with two wrestlers boldly moving up weights to take on formidable opponents from the Scarlet Knights.
Senior Terrell Barraclough showcased his versatility by stepping up to the 174-pound category, while sophomore Lucas Cochran demonstrated his grit by competing in the 285-pound class. Their contributions were instrumental in Penn State’s triumph, marking a significant milestone as it marked the 1000th dual meet victory in the illustrious history of Penn State wrestling.
The action kicked off at 125 pounds, where true freshman Braeden Davis, ranked No. 2 in his weight class, delivered a hard-fought 4-1 victory in sudden victory over No. 19 Dean Peterson, granting Penn State an early lead of 3-0. However, the dual quickly heated up as Nittany Lion sophomore Aaron Nagao, ranked No. 6 at 133, engaged in a thrilling battle with No. 10 Dylan Shawver, ultimately succumbing to a 9-6 defeat in sudden victory, leveling the score at 3-3.
The momentum swiftly swung back in Penn State’s favor as senior Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 1 at 141, clinched a crucial victory over Max Hermes with a last-second score, securing a 4-1 win and propelling Penn State to a 6-3 lead. True freshman Tyler Kasak continued the onslaught at 149 pounds, triumphing over No. 26 Michael Cetta with a commanding 7-5 victory fueled by two first-period takedowns.
The dominance continued with sophomore Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 157, delivering a stunning first-period pin over Rutgers’ Dylan Weaver, extending Penn State’s lead to 15-3 at halftime. Redshirt freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink electrified the crowd in the second half with a dazzling offensive display, notching an 18-3 technical fall victory over Anthony White.
In a pivotal moment, senior Terrell Barraclough showcased his prowess by securing a hard-fought 4-3 victory over No. 13 Jackson Turley at 174 pounds, bolstering Penn State’s lead to 23-3. Graduate Bernie Truax continued the onslaught with a dominant 7-0 victory at 184 pounds, further solidifying Penn State’s grip on the match.
The highlight of the evening came when senior Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 197, secured Penn State’s second fall of the night with a first-period pin over Michael Toranzo, extending the lead to 32-3. Lucas Cochran capped off the perfect second half for Penn State by clinching an 8-3 victory over No. 8 Yara Slavikouski at 285 pounds, sealing the comprehensive 35-3 victory for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State asserted its dominance by winning the takedown war 15-4, while also tallying eight bonus points courtesy of two pins by Haines and Brooks, and one tech fall by Mesenbrink.
With this impressive win, Penn State maintains its undefeated record at 10-0 overall and 7-0 in the Big Ten conference, while the Scarlet Knights falls to 10-5 overall and 3-4 in the Big Ten.
NEXT UP:
Penn State will face off against Nebraska on Sunday, February 18th at 4 p.m. in Rec Hall, with the match set to be broadcast nationally on the B1G Network.
Records: Penn State (10-0, 7-0 B1G); Rutgers (10-5, 3-4 B1G) Attendance: 12,049 (Penn State has wrestled in front of 79 sellouts in its last 82 home events, including 70-straight in Rec Hall and 9 of 12 in the BJC).
