Penn State Wrestling disappoints in 2022 Big Ten Championships – Session II Results

Breaking down the action No. 1 Penn State Wrestling saw in Session II of the 2022 Big Ten Wrestling Championships

After an exciting first session in the 2022 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, the Nittany Lions have their eyes set on multiple title contenders and a handful of deep runs by grapplers relegated to the consolation bracket.

And if you were looking for fantastic matches and thrilling finishes, then this night of wrestling was right up your alley.

But before we recap the results of the semifinal matches, I wanted to get the not-so-great news out of the way first … Namely the results from the Penn State wrestlers who dropped a match in the first session and fell to the consolation bracket.

Consolation Matches

125
No. 2 Drew Hildebrandt (PSU) vs. No. 8 Patrick McKee (MINN)

Result: Patrick McKee dec over Drew Hildebrandt 6-3

Talk about crashing and burning. After dropping a shocker to Michael DeAugustino in the quarterfinals, Hildebrandt got taken to the cleaners by losing his most lopsided match of the season.

I’m sure he will get things straightened out when the NCAA’s roll around (assuming he gets an at-large bid if he doesn’t finish in the top 10) but this has to be one of the bigger surprises of the Big Ten Tournament.

Hildebrandt will still be a part of the bracket to determine the No. 9 and No. 10 seeds at 125.

The No. 2 seed at 125, two matches, two losses, and his tournament is essentially over.

149
No. 7 Beau Bartlett (PSU) vs. No. 8 Christian Kanzler (ILL)

Result: Beau Bartlett fall over Christian Kanzler

Now that’s more like it!

After a scoreless first period, Bartlett pulled the reversal from the bottom position early in the second period. He then locked in a cradle and forced Kanzler’s back to the Resilite for the pin.

No. 6 Mike Van Brill (RUT) vs. No. 7 Beau Bartlett (PSU)

Result: Mike Van Brill dec over Beau Bartlett 2-1 TB-1

This is completely unverified, but I feel like Beau Bartlett wrestles more scoreless first periods than any other wrestler in the country. Which usually leads to some tight matches and a giant spike to my blood pressure.

And this matchup was no different. Following a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation the match headed to sudden victory.

A flurry of action commenced in sudden victory but neither grappler could land a takedown. So onto TB it went.

Van Brill was able to ride Bartlett out for the first 30 seconds of TB and Penn State opted for Beau to start the next session in the neutral position. But Bartlett could not land the decisive takedown and he lost via a decision.

Beau will have one more chance in the 7th place match later on.

165
No. 7 Creighton Edsell (PSU) vs. No. 9 Cael Carlson (MINN)

Result: Cael Carlson dec over Creighton Edsell 4-2

The bad news continues for Penn State as Edsell’s Big Ten Tournament is over as well. And unfortunately for Creighton, the Big Ten only has seven slots alotted for the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, so his only chance is an at-large bid.

Which at this point is unlikely but not impossible.