Penn State Wrestling: NCAA Wrestling Championships – Thursday Afternoon Recap
By Chris Snyder
Recapping Penn State Wrestling’s performance in the afternoon session of the NCAA Wrestling Championships
Penn State Wrestling got off to a great start in the morning matches at the NCAA Wrestling Championships, going 4-0 along the way.
Can the Nittany Lions keep the win-train rolling going into the afternoon?
Let’s find out!
Here’s a recap of Penn State Wrestling’s matches on Thursday afternoon at the NCAA Wrestling Championships:
165
No. 23 Joe Lee (PSU) vs. No. 10 Travis Wittlake (OKST)
Much of the opening period saw both Lee and Wittlake taking turns attacking while trying to gain penetration. Joe was almost able to snag a single leg but Wittlake lowered his hips and drove Lee backwards. The 1st period then ended with the score knotted at 0-0.
Lee started the 2nd period in top position and he was almost successful in rolling over Wittlake but he was able to claw his way out and earn the escape (0-1). Wittlake then turned double under-hooks into a takedown and 4 near fall points as Joe was darn near pinned (0-7). Late in the 2nd Lee was able to earn an escape (almost a reversal) to get on the board (1-7).
Down 7-1, Lee started the 3rd on bottom hoping to mount some sort of comeback. Wittlake didn’t want anything to do with a comeback as he added to his riding time and controlled Lee from the top position.
Ultimately, Wittlake won by decision 8-1. And Wittlake was a tough opening matchup for Joe Lee, let’s just hope he can do some damage in the wrestlebacks.
174
No. 3 Carter Starocci (PSU) vs. No. 30 Victor Marcelli (UVA)
This match got off to a relatively slow start, however Penn State Wrestling’s Carter Starocci was able to land a single leg and work around Marcelli to get the late 1st period takedown (2-0). Carter proceeded to ride his opponent out for the remainder of the 1st.
Starocci started the 2nd period on bottom and was able to get right to his feet and free Marcelli’s hands for the escape (3-0). Carter continued to look for openings as the waning seconds of the 2nd period ticked down. Right before Marcelli was slapped with a stall warning, Starocci fired low and got the much needed takedown to further push his lead (5-0).
The 3rd period kicked off with Starocci on top trying to build up his riding time. About 20 seconds in, Marcelli escaped (5-1) and Carter immediately shot and landed another takedown (7-1). Again a quick escape by Marcelli (7-2) allowed Carter to mount another attack and land yet another takedown (9-2).
Carter then rode out Marcelli to end the 3rd period to take the major decision 10-2. Hooray for more bonus points!
184
No. 1 Aaron Brooks (PSU) vs. No. 32 Jha’Quan Anderson (WEBB)
Using his elite quickness, Brooks wasted no time in picking Anderson’s ankle for a quick takedown (2-0). Unsurprisingly Brooks let Anderson up (2-1) so he could continue setting up his attacks while squared up.
And just like that, Brooks struck again in getting Anderson to the mat (4-1). This time Brooks wanted to go to work on Anderson as he built up his riding time and snagged 4 near fall points in the process (8-1).
The 2nd period started with both grapplers in the neutral position. Brooks was able to work himself in deep and land Anderson’s upper thigh, then spun and took control for a takedown (10-1). The officials awarded an additional point to Aaron as a result of two stall warnings (11-1). With Brooks on top, he used his leverage to roll Anderson over near the out of bounds circle and continue to pad his lead with 4 near fall points (15-1).
The 3rd again started with both wrestlers squared up and on their feet. Apparently Brooks was doubled parked outside because he earned a quick takedown after a brief scramble and promptly ended the match early into the 3rd with an impressive 17-1 technical fall.
197
No. 15 Michael Beard (PSU) vs. No. 18 Jacob Koser (NAVY)
Beard, like a lot of Nittany Lion wrestlers today, wasted no time in getting the action rolling in the 1st period. He shot low turning a single leg into an ankle pick and beautifully swung around Koser to take the early lead (2-0). Grinding his way on top, Beard gained leverage on Koser’s inside shoulder to roll him and extend his lead with 4 near fall points (6-0).
Beard proceeded to ride Koser out for the remainder of the 1st period.
The 2nd period began with Beard taking the bottom position and Koser hoping to eat into Beard’s massive riding time advantage. Well, this wasn’t the case for Koser and Beard worked his way around to earn the reversal and get 2 more points (8-0).
Thinking that almost 3 minutes of riding time was enough of a lead, Beard then let Koser up for an escape (8-1). However Beard wasn’t down with his attacks as he again took a shot and it again hit home (10-1).
Both wrestlers started the 3rd in neutral position and Beard continued eyeing up his attacks. Beard grabbed another takedown and gave up the escape (12-2), however Koser mounted an attack of his own in landing an ankle pick (12-4).
The counter attack was short lived as Beard ended up cruising to a 14-4 major decision over Koser.
285
No. 9 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) vs. No. 24 Michael McAleavey (CIT)
Kerkvliet looked quick on his feet and earned 2 early points out of the gate in the 1st period (2-0). He then proceeded to do the following after he gained leverage on top over McAleavey:
-Roll McAleavey to the mat for 4 near fall points (6-0)
-Roll McAleavey to the mat for 4 near fall points (10-0)
-Roll McAleavey to the mat for 4 near fall points (14-0)
-Roll McAleavey to the mat for 4 near fall points (18-0)
Ballgame. Another technical fall for the good guys as Kerkvliet man handled McAleavey 18-0.
Where things stand
This makes the Nittany Lion wrestlers 8-1 in the opening round with a boat-load of bonus points earned.
Here are the top 3 in team standings after the 1st round action
1. Iowa 19.0
2. Penn State 17.0
3. Missouri 14.0
Action continues later this evening at 6 p.m. EST for the start of round 2.