PSU Wrestling: NCAA Wrestling Championships – Friday Afternoon results

Recapping PSU Wrestling’s performance in the Friday afternoon session of the NCAA Wrestling Championships

The morning matches of the NCAA Wrestling Championships certainly ended on a sour note for PSU Wrestling and its fans. Can the afternoon matches offer any glimpses of hope?

Let’s find out.

Here’s a recap of PSU Wrestling’s matches on Friday afternoon at the NCAA Wrestling Championships:

Quarter Final Matches

174

No. 3 Carter Starocci (PSU) vs. No. 6 Andrew McNally (KENT)

Carter got in low on an early shot in the 1st but McNally was able to lower his hips and counter the attack. The two continued to circle the mat looking for any openings.

Carter snagged a single leg and perfectly turned it into the first takedown of the match to take lead (2-0). Starocci rode McNally out for the rest of the 1st period.

Carter began the 2nd period on bottom position with McNally looking to eat into Starocci’s riding time advantage. But Carter broke free with the escape (3-0) 12 seconds into the 2nd.

McNally took a shot of his own however Starocci defended it well and was able to lock up McNally for a stalemate. After the neutral restart, Carter went back to work again in getting another single leg takedown to extend his lead (5-0). Again Carter rode McNally out for the rest of the period and pushed his ridinig time to 53 seconds.

The 3rd period started with Starocci on top as he worked to build his riding time above a minute. Carter was certainly successful as he locked up the riding time point midway through the 3rd.

McNally was given an escape (5-1) and after a brief scramble earned a takedown of his own (5-3). But it was too little way too late as the final seconds ticked down and Carter took the quarter final match in a decision 6-3.

Carter Starocci continues to impress. And now Penn State fans get to see what he can do under the big lights of an NCAA semifinal match this evening against UVU’s No. 2 Demetrius Romero.

184

No. 1 Aaron Brooks (PSU) vs. No. 8 Taylor Venz (NEB)

Brooks shot in on Venz a minute into the 1st period to work his way around and secure a takedown (2-0). Venz was successful in freeing himself (2-1) and the grapplers squared up for the remaining time in the 1st period.

Again Brooks took a single leg on Venz be he couldn’t gain control and the wrestlers went to a restart after the stalemate.

Brooks started the 2nd period on top position and Venz pulled off a fantastic reversal (2-3). Brooks escaped (3-3) and the two had a brief scramble in the middle of the mat.

Brooks was able to power through and get enough leverage to take control and his second takedown of the match (5-3). Brooks continued to build up his riding time to 1:55 as we went to the 3rd period.

Aaron started on bottom position and he earned the quick escape (6-3) and almost had a single leg takedown to boot. However Venz snuck out and both grapplers were on their feet midway through the 3rd period.

Brooks once again snuck around the back of Venz after an ankle pick to extend his lead (8-3). Venz finally freed himself with 26 seconds left in the 3rd (8-4) but there simply wasn’t even time for him to do anything.

Aaron Brooks took down Taylor Venz in a decision, 9-4. Penn State is now 2 for 2 on the afternoon in punching and dropkicking their tickets to the semi finals!

197

No. 15 Michael Beard (PSU) vs. No. 26 Jake Woodley (OU)

Raise your hand if you had a 15 seed and a 26 seed squaring off in the quarter finals at 197? Put your hand down, we all know you’re lying.

Woodley wasted no time in taking an early shot and landing a single leg but Beard fought his way to a stalemate near the boundary line. After the restart Woodley again tried to get in deep on Beard and this time he was successful in earning the takedown (0-2).

After a hard mat return Beard wiggled free (1-2) and the two squared up once again in the center of the mat with a little more than 30 seconds remaining in the 1st.

Beard took a single leg of his own but he didn’t have enough time to turn it into anything.

The 2nd period began with Beard on bottom and Woodley ended up building his riding time to above a minute. Beard finally broke free (2-2) and looked to go on the offensive.

Woodley again dove, landed a single leg, and was able to raise his head and get around Beard for a late takedown in the 2nd period (2-4).

Beard started the 3rd period on top position and Woodley immediately got out (2-5). Hey, look at that. Jake secured a single leg takedown (2-7). Wow. Haven’t seen that yet.

Beard was able to get out but it didn’t matter (3-7) as there just wasn’t enough time for his to do anything other than watch Woodley run around the mat.

Beard lost via decision 3-8. And now it’s onto the stacked group of wrestlers in the wrestlebacks at 197.

285

No. 9 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) vs. No. 1 Gable Steveson (MINN)

Steveson got on the board early after Kerkvliet had a brief stumble near the top corner of the mat (0-2). Steveson then sat all 265+ pounds on top of Kerkvliet to ride him for a full 2:35 seconds and the remainder of the 1st period.

Kerkvliet started the 2nd on top and Steveson flopped out to earn the escape (0-3). Both wrestlers circled the mat squared up but no one could land anything.

The 3rd period kicked off with both grapplers starting in neutral. Kerkvliet finally took a low shot but Steveson countered it perfectly and earned the takedown (0-5).

Kerkvliet was let up (1-5) and Gable continued to pour it on with another takedown (1-7). Another easy escape by Kerkvliet (2-7) let to a quick move and a takedown of his own (4-7)! Heck yeah!

But as with Beard, this was too little too late and Steveson ended up winning the match via decision 9-4. And it’s onto the wrestlebacks for Kerkvliet as well.

Wrestlebacks

125

No. 23 Robbie Howard (PSU) vs. No. 15 Patrick McKee (MINN)

Howard got stuck late in the 1st period and McKee pounced on the opportunity gaining the fall and the victory 2:04 in the 1st. Howard’s run in the 2021 NCAA Championships is officially over.

What’s Next?

That sound you just heard was the sound of an anvil with the words “INEVITABLE” stamped on the side hitting my face after being dropped from six stories up.

This is a similar feeling I had halfway through the B1G Championships two weeks ago. Optimism and hope in the beginning of the tournament turned into reality. Iowa is just too good this season and Penn State needs more time for their freshman to get better.

Plain and simple.

The semi final matches begin tonight at 8 p.m. on ESPN and Penn State has 4 guys going. It should be exciting!

Here are the team standings after the 3rd session:
1. Iowa 74.5
2. Penn State 57.5
3. Oklahoma State 48.0