Penn State Wrestling takeaways from Day 1 of B1G Championships

Round of 16 Recap – Session I

The early morning matches for Penn State Wrestling set the tone for how things played out for much of the day.

125

Match 5
No. 11 Robert Howard (PSU) vs. No. 6 Eric Barnett (WIS)

No. 11 Robbie Howard was first up against No. 6 Eric Barnett of Wisconsin. Howard took command early in the match with a takedown (2-0), however Barnett proved too much to handle as he ended up wriggly out for the escape (2-1) and then followed quickly by a takedown of his own (2-3).

Howard tried his best to find an opening in the 3rd period but Barnett wasn’t allowing it. Robbie’s attempted shots were countered and the match ended with a 2-3 decision loss for Howard.

Not how Penn State wanted to start the day.

Both Roman Bravo-Young and Nick Lee were awareded 1st round byes due to them being seeded No. 1 and No. 2 respectively. So the next match was at 149.

149

Match 23
No. 11 Beau Bartlett (PSU) vs. No. 6 Michael Blockhus (MINN)

Blockhus got things started quickly with an early 1st period takedown on Bartlett. Beau ended up getting the escape point and he appeared to be settling into the match fairly well.

He looked fast and loose on his shot attempts but nothing had hit home yet. It felt like it was a matter of time before one of Bartlett’s attempts would land and he’d take control of the match. The feeling was correct, unfortunately is was Blockhus who did the controlling.

Much like Howard’s match, Bartlett spent the waning moments of the 3rd period trying to frantically earn a takedown. Both time and Blockhus won out at the end in the 5-3 decision and Penn State was 0-2 to start out the day.

157

Match 26
No. 5 Brady Berge (PSU) vs. No. 12 Johnny Mologousis (ILL)

Finally, a sigh of relief as Brady Berge overwhelmed Illinois’ Johnny Mologousis in a much needed 12-4 major decision to get Penn State in the win column. Thank you tuxedo t-shirt wearing baby Jesus.

All right Penn State, let’s keep the momentum rolling!

165

Match 34
No. 6 Joe Lee (PSU) vs. No. 11 Jonathan Spadafora (MD)

Lee and Spadafora last met on February 22nd when Lee pinned him late in the match. Outside of the fall, Lee dominated the match and built up a substantial lead. The pin was simply a mercy-ending.

Awesome. So the Nittany Lions should be on track to even up their record to 2-2 on the day.

Nope.

Spadafora had Lee on his heels for the majority of the match, earning several takedowns to complete the upset in a 7-5 decision. Cue the “Wat?” meme and start the full-on meltdown counter.

174

Match 39
No. 3 Carter Starocci (PSU) vs. No. 14 Philip Spadafora (MD)

Starocci fall Spadafora

And boom goes the dynamite!

Starocci controlled the match and the outcome was never in question. But what kind of win would Carter deliver for the Nittany Lions? This question was answered 4:48 into the match when Starocci pinned Spadafora.

A rematch against Ohio State’s No. 6 Kaleb Romera awaits Starocci in his next match.

197

Match 53
No. 7 Michael Beard (PSU) vs. No. 10 Billy Janzer (RUT)

Beard dec. Janzer, 7-3

Nittany Lion fans can now breathe a sigh of relief as they finally have a lowered seeded wrestler win in the opening round.

Beard grinded out a workman-like decision and moves onto the quarter-finals where he gets another shot at Michigan’s No. 2 Myles Amine.

285

Match 59
No. 7 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) vs. No. 10 Jack Heyob (NU)

Alright, kill the meltdown counter. Maybe I overrated a little there. Between Starocci, Beard, and Kerkvliet Penn State earned a fall, an easy decision, and a major decision.

Crisis overted. For now.

Now onto the quarter-finals.