Penn State Wrestling: Nittany Lions rally to beat Iowa Hawkeyes 23-14
By Andrew Adair
#1 ranked Penn State Wrestling rallies to beat #2 Iowa Wrestling in front of a raucous Bryce Jordan Center.
The Penn State Wrestling Nittany Lions welcomed the second-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes into an electric Bryce Jordan Center. The Matchup was the fourth time the two schools have met as the top-ranked teams in the nation. Penn State Wrestling has won 38 consecutive dual meets. Their last loss was to Iowa in 2020. Iowa has lost just once in their last 36 dual meets, with the lone blemish being Penn State last season.
Penn State Wrestling also has a 50-consecutive dual meet winning streak when wrestling at the BJC or Rec Hall. Iowa is riding a 15-dual meet winning streak.
Who’s Streak would survive this rumble in Happy Valley?
Penn State Wrestling Match Recaps!
125-Marco Vespa(PSU) vs #1 Spencer Lee
Marco Vespa fired out of the gate and got the first takedown against the three-time National Champion Spencer Lee. Lee then went to work landing another takedown and a turn. Lee made short work of the inexperienced Vespa with a technical fall in the first period with a final score of 18-2
133-#1 Roman Bravo-Young(PSU) vs #17 Brody Teske
The first period featured Roman Bravo-Young and Brody Teske feeling each other out and grappling in the standing position. Bravo Young finished the first period with a late takedown while Teske received a stalling warning. The second period started with Bravo-Young on top and racking up over a minute of riding time before Teske scored on an escape. Bravo-Young was able to score another takedown with under 20 seconds left in the period to extend his lead to 4-1. The third period featured Bravo-Young securing a pin at the 6:46 mark and scoring the Nittany Lions six points.
141-#4 Beau Bartlett(PSU) vs #2 Real Woods
Bartlett and Woods wasted no time getting this match started with a lot of action with Woods scoring the first takedown. Woods would ride Bartlett out for much of the first period and racked up over a minute and a half of riding time. Bartlett was able to get on the board with an early escape from the bottom position in the second period. That would be the only action in period two. The third period started with an early escape from Woods. Bartlett was unable to get anything going and Woods wins 4-1.
149-#13 Shayne Van Ness(PSU) vs #7 Max Murin
The first period featured Shayne Van Ness and Max Murin both taking shots but unable to land any points. The first period ended with a lot of hand-fighting and feeling each other out. Van Ness started the second period in the bottom position and was unable to escape before Murin racked up 1:30 of riding time. The escape gave Van Ness the lead heading into the third period. Van Ness allowed Murin to escape early to tie the match and was unable to close the riding time gap. Murin was able to get a late takedown and secured riding time with under a minute left in the third period and Van Ness falls 4-1.
157-#9 Levi Haines(PSU) vs #15 Cobe Siebrecht
With Penn State Wrestling needing a boost, the redshirt was burned on Freshman Levi Haines. Haines was the aggressor in the first period taking almost all of the shots. Even with the aggressiveness, the period ended without a score. The second period featured both wrestlers being very active and Haines gets on the board with an escape. Siebrecht returns the favor and ties the score with an escape of his own to start the third period. Haines finally lands a takedown in the third and nearly gets a near fall. The third period ends with Haines fending off multiple shots and securing the 3-2 victory to get Penn State back on the board.
165-#5 Alex Facundo(PSU) vs #13 Patrick Kennedy
Needing to stack some match victories, the first period featured a dominant underhook from Patrick Kennedy that didn’t allow Alex Facundo to get anything going. The scoring drought ended in the second period with an early escape from the bottom position from Kennedy. Facundo returns the favor in the third period with a quick escape to tie the match. The match goes into sudden victory and the match goes into a tiebreaker after staying scoreless. In the first tiebreaker, Kennedy is able to score on a quick escape. In the second tiebreaker, Kennedy is able to fend off multiple Facundo shots and takes the match for the Hawkeyes 2-1.
174-#1 Carter Starocci(PSU) vs #16 Nelson Brands
In a match that Penn State Wrestling absolutely needed, Carter Starocci is unable to get anything going against Nelson Brands in a scoreless first period. In the second period, Starocci is able to escape early to get the first points on the board. Brands finishes the second period fending off multiple takedown attempts from Starocci while avoiding any stall calls. In the third period, exerts his power and secures riding time before allowing the escape for the 2-1 decision. A much-needed decision for the Nittany Lions.
184-#1 Aaron Brooks(PSU) vs Drake Rhodes
Aaron Brooks starts the match with two quick takedowns with an escape from Drake Rhodes in between. Brooks, with unrelenting pressure, lands a near fall and ends the first period with over two minutes of riding time and a 10-2 lead. The national champion Brooks is able to dominate the second period and extends his lead to 18-6. With Penn State needing bonus points and a victory Brooks delivers and secures the technical fall 22-7. A huge result for the Nittany Lions.
197-#4 Max Dean(PSU) vs #7 Jacob Warner
Penn State Wrestling needed a good showing from Max Dean in the first period but, Jacob Warner was having none of it in a scoreless period. Dean started the second period on bottom and is able to score the escape after Warner accumulates 46 seconds of riding time. Max Dean dominates on top and doesn’t let Warner get off the mat and locks up riding time and the match 2-0.
285-#2 Greg Kerkvliet(PSU) vs #3 Tony Cassioppi
Greg Kerkvliet entered the match against Tony Cassioppi with one goal, do not get pinned. Kerkvliet was able to get the first takedown of the period and accumulate 27 seconds of riding time. With Kerkvliet starting the second period on top, he is able to ride Cassioppi the entire period increasing his total to 2:27 riding time. In the third period, Kerkvliet is able to score on an early escape and secure riding time to win 4-1.
Next up for Penn State Wrestling is a road tilt against #6 Ohio State on February 3rd at 7 PM.
#2 Iowa-14 #1 Penn State Wrestling-23
125-#1 Spencer Lee wins on technical fall over Marco Vespa(PSU) 18-2 IOWA-5 PSU-0
133-#1 Roman Bravo-Young(PSU) pins #17 Brody Teske IOWA-5 PSU-6
141-#2 Real Woods wins in a decision over #4 Beau Bartlett(PSU) 4-1 IOWA-8 PSU-6
149-#7 Max Murin wins in a decision over #13 Shayne Van Ness(PSU) 4-1 IOWA-11 PSU-6
157-#9 Levi Haines(PSU) wins in a decision over #15 Cobe Siebrecht 3-2 IOWA-11 PSU-9
165-#13 Patrick Kennedy wins in a tiebreaker over over #5 Alex Facundo(PSU) 2-1 IOWA- 14 PSU-9
174-#1 Carter Starocci(PSU) wins in a decision over#16 Nelson Brands 2-1 IOWA-14 PSU-12
184-#1 Aaron Brooks(PSU) wins on technical fall over Drake Rhodes 22-7 IOWA-14 PSU-17
197-#4 Max Dean(PSU) wins in a decision over #7 Jacob Warner 2-0 IOWA-14 PSU-20
285-#2 Greg Kerkvliet(PSU) wins in a decision over #3 Tony Cassioppi 4-1 IOWA-14 PSU-23