Breaking News: Penn State Wrestling Roars in 35-3 B1G Road Win at Rutgers….
The top-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling team continued their dominant streak with a commanding 35-3 victory over No. 14 Rutgers on Friday night in Piscataway, New Jersey. This win marks Penn State’s 65th consecutive dual meet triumph.
The match commenced with an unexpected result at 125 pounds, where Rutgers’ No. 19 Dean Peterson handed Penn State’s No. 6 Luke Lilledahl his first loss of the season in a 4-1 decision. However, this would be the Scarlet Knights’ sole victory of the evening.
Penn State quickly regained momentum at 133 pounds, as No. 7 Braeden Davis edged out No. 9 Dylan Shawver with a 2-1 decision, relying on a crucial riding time point. At 141 pounds, No. 3 Beau Bartlett secured a 7-3 win over Joseph Oliveri, while No. 4 Shayne Van Ness dominated at 149 pounds with a 17-2 technical fall over Alex Nini.
The Nittany Lions’ upper weights showcased their prowess, with No. 1-ranked wrestlers delivering impressive performances. At 165 pounds, Mitchell Mesenbrink achieved a 19-3 technical fall against No. 26 Anthony White, marking his 11th technical fall of the season. At 184 pounds, Carter Starocci maintained his perfect record by securing a 17-2 technical fall over Shane Cartagena-Walsh.
In a notable highlight at 197 pounds, No. 4 Josh Barr amassed all 22 of his points in the third period, including seven takedowns within a minute, to claim a 22-6 technical fall over No. 16 John Poznanski. The dual concluded with No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet earning a 2-1 decision over No. 7 Yaraslau Slavikouski at heavyweight.
This decisive victory not only underscores Penn State’s dominance in collegiate wrestling but also sets the stage for their upcoming high-profile dual against No. 2 Iowa, scheduled for next Friday at the Bryce Jordan Center.
