B1G Wrestling Championships Session 1 full results for Penn State, more
By Chris Snyder
Session I of the 2021 B1G Championships is in the books and let’s take a look to see how Penn State Wrestling fared on Saturday morning.
The Nittany Lions got off to an inconsistent start, but an early highlight was Aaron Brooks’ gutsy performance and victory.
Here’s a run-down of Penn State Wrestling’s Saturday matchups at the B1G Wrestling Championships:
Round of 16 Matches
125
Match 5
No. 11 Robert Howard (PSU) vs. No. 6 Eric Barnett (WIS)
Barnett dec. Howard, 3-2
Well, crap. This isn’t how Penn State wanted to start. Howard took an early lead 2-0 in the 1st with a clean take down, however Barnett earned a reversal and an escape to erase the gap and build a lead of his own (3-2).
Howard was unable to land anything with both wrestlers squared up in the 3rd and Barnett held onto the 3-2 decision. Next up for Howard is Maryland’s No. 14 Zach Spence.
133
No. 1 Roman Bravo-Young (PSU) Bye
RBY steamrolled “Bye” in the 1st session and takes on No. 8 Jacob Rundell from Purdue in Session II.
141
No. 2 Nick Lee (PSU) Bye
Ohio State’s No. 7 Dylan D’Emilio earned an opening round victory with a 3-1 decision. His prize is a quarter-final matchups against Lee.
149
Match 23
No. 11 Beau Bartlett (PSU) vs. No. 6 Michael Blockhus (MINN)
Blockhus dec. Bartlett, 5-3
*Sigh*
Bartlett had a similar match to Howard, however Beau was losing essentially from the opening whistle as Blockhus landed a quick takedown to lead 2-0. Bartlett just couldn’t find any openings and he drops his first match 3-5. Next up is Maryland’s No. 14 Michael North.
157
Match 26
No. 5 Brady Berge (PSU) vs. No. 12 Johnny Mologousis (ILL)
Berge maj. dec. Mologousis, 12-4
Berge took care of his business and he now moves onto the quarter-finals to face Purdue’s No. 4 Kendall Coleman.
165
Match 34
No. 6 Joe Lee (PSU) vs. No. 11 Jonathan Spadafora (MD)
Spadafora dec. Lee, 7-5
Now I’m officially nervous. Not only did Lee lose, but he lost to a dude from Maryland. I’m close to breaking something. No, 14 Josh Otto from Wisconsin is next up for Lee.
174
Match 39
No. 3 Carter Starocci (PSU) vs. No. 14 Philip Spadafora (MD)
Starocci fall Spadafora
That’s how you debate! Starocci earned the fall 4:48 into the match to give Penn State Wrestling some much needed bonus points. Next up is a rematch against Ohio State’s No. 6 Kaleb Romero.
184
No. 1 Aaron Brooks (PSU) Bye
Opening round bye for Brooks and Iowa’s No. 9 Nelson Brands awaits him in the quarter-finals.
197
Match 53
No. 7 Michael Beard (PSU) vs. No. 10 Billy Janzer (RUT)
Beard dec. Janzer, 7-3
Beard grinded out a decision and we finally have a lower seeded Nittany Lion grappler pick up a win. Next up is No. 2 Myles Amine from Meatchicken.
285
Match 59
No. 7 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) vs. No. 10 Jack Heyob (NU)
Kerkvliet maj. dec. Heyob, 16-5
Once again Kerkvliet looked fast, smooth, and dominant in the major over Heyob. Next up is going to be a whopper as he toes the line against Michigan’s No. 2 Mason Parris. Strap in, the ride is about to get a little violent.