Penn State Wrestling comes up short at 2022 Big Ten Championships: Session III, IV Recap

Putting the finishing touches on the 2022 Big Ten Wrestling Championships and recapping the results for No. 1 Penn State Wrestling, who came up short in bid for a team crown

We have finally made it to the finish line of the 2022 Big Ten Wrestling Championships.

Granted, the Nittany Lions ended up crossing the finish line with a blown-out tire and a hitch in their giddy up, but there were still plenty of things to be excited about.

Namely, Penn State Wrestling crowned four Big Ten Champions and having three top 3 finishers!

But, before we recap the amazing action in the finals matches, let’s take a look at the final team scores and the results in the consolation bracket for several Penn State grapplers.

How Penn State Wrestling fared in the final day of the Big Ten Championships:

Final Team Scores

1. Michigan 143.0
2. Penn State 141.5
3. Iowa 129.5

Consolation Bracket Matches

125
No. 2 Drew Hildebrandt (PSU) vs. No. 12 Jacob Moran (IND)

Result: Drew Hildebrandt dec over Jacob Moran 4-0

By winning the wrestle-in match and advancing to the 9th place match in the Big Tens, Hildebrandt secures an automatic bid into the 2022 NCAA Championships.

This was certainly a tournament he would like to forget, but he’ll get another shot to battle the best in the nation in Detroit.

9th Place Match
No. 2 Drew Hildebrandt (PSU) vs. No. 10 Justin Cardani (ILL)

Result: Justin Cardani injury forfeit Drew Hildebrandt

Really there was no need for Drew to wrestle in this match as he had already secured the auto bid and the results would not affect the team score. It’s also possible Hildebrandt wasn’t 100% this weekend so for both cases it makes sense not to suit up.

149
7th Place Match
No. 7 Beau Bartlett (PSU) vs. No. 11 Kanen Storr (MICH)

Result: Beau Bartlett dec over Kanen Storr 3-1

With this win in the 7th place match of the 2022 Big Ten Championships, Bartlett officially qualifies for the 2022 NCAA’s coming up in two weeks.

This was a huge match for Penn State Wrestling and Bartlett is now the 9th Nittany Lion to secure an automatic bid.

157
No. 4 Kendall Coleman (PUR) vs. No. 10 Brady Berge (PSU)

Result: Brady Berge fall over Kendall Coleman 3:00

Berge took advantage of a Coleman error late in the first to lock in and get the fall as the remaining seconds in the period were ticking away.

Brady now advances to the 3rd place match at 157 where a rematch awaits.

3rd Place Match
No. 2 Kaleb Young (IOWA) vs. No. 10 Brady Berge (PSU)

Result: Brady Berge dec over Kaleb Young 3-1 SV

This match was tied 1-1 following Young’s escape early in the third period. The two wrestlers squared up looking for the winning takedown but the third period ended and it went into sudden victory.

And just when it looked like this match was going to go into TB, Berge exploded from his stance to snag a single leg with deep penetration. He quickly gathered the second leg, scored the takedown, and picked up a third-place finish in the Big Ten Championships.

This is Berge’s best-ever finish in the Big Ten Championships and I can’t help but think this result will springboard his momentum leading in the NCAA’s in two weeks.

285
No. 3 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) vs. No. 5 Lucas Davison (NU)

Result: Greg Kerkvliet dec over Lucas Davison 5-3

Same as with Berge, Kerkvliet wins his match in the consolation bracket and moves forward to the 3rd place match at 285.

And the people in the Pinnacle Bank Arena may need to batten down the hatches for this upcoming match.

3rd Place Match
No. 3 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) vs. No. 4 Mason Parris (MICH)

Result: Greg Kerkvliet dec over Mason Parris 5-2

This was a fantastic wrestling match.

Both guys were giving it their all and the match went into the third period tied at 2-2. Kerkvliet was able to earn the escape and he immediately worked it into a toss of Parris. Holy. Cow.

Kerk couldn’t do anything with the toss but his escape broke the tie and gave him the lead 3-2.

Both grapplers went toe to toe and late in the period, Kerkvliet was able to get another takedown on Parris. The final horn sounded and Kerk was the winner.