No. 1 Penn State Looking Picture Perfect
With back-to-back wins this past weekend, Penn State moves to a perfect 10-0 on the season and is again ranked No. 1 in the latest InterMat Tournament Power Index (TPI).
Action over the weekend included a dominant shutout at Maryland highlighting a new force to be reckoned with at 125. No. 20 Beau Bartlett also continues his success at 149, proving to be a rising star and a key player that rounds out Penn State’s team.
On Friday in Maryland, Penn State put on an absolute show including two pins, four tech falls and two majors. All-American transfer from Central Michigan, Drew Hildebrandt, made his Nittany Lion debut at 125 with a pin over Maryland’s Zach Spence in just 1 minute and 38 seconds. He used a half nelson to work Spence to his back and seal the deal. Junior, Tony Negron, also made his Penn State debut with a bonus point victory at 157 with a major decision.
Fast forward to Sunday, two Penn State veterans and top-ranked wrestlers were out due to illness in the matchup with Indiana. Baylor Shunk stepped in at 133 and Brandon Meredith at 141. With a win at 125 and five straight bonus-point wins after the half, the Nittany Lions took the victory with quite a bit of buffer, despite missing RBY and Nick Lee.
Sophomore No. 20 Beau Bartlett is slowly, but surely climbing the ranks and finding his groove at 149. Remember, he caught a short season of action at 141 last year and only wrestled at 149 for Big Tens. He’s feeling comfortable in this weight class and feels confident and excited about the work he’s put in that will lead him forward. He’ll face the previous 157-pounder and two-time NCAA Qualifier, Michael VanBrill, this weekend.
The Nittany Lions return to Rec Hall this Sunday, January 16 at 5 p.m. to face off against No. 17 Rutgers. Catch the action live on ESPNU!
BOUT BY BOUT
PSU - 46, MD - 0
125: PSU Drew Hildebrandt pinned MD Zach Spence, WBF (1:38)
133: PSU No. 1 Roman Bravo-Young tech fall MD King Sandoval, 16-1 (TF; 3:26)
141: PSU No. 1 Nick Lee tech fall MD Danny Bertoni, 18-1 (TF; 4:14)
149: PSU No. 20 Beau Bartlett pinned MD Michael North, WBF (4:48)
157: PSU Tony Negron maj. dec. MD Lucas Cordio, 11-2
165: PSU No. 24 Creighton Edsell dec. MD Gaven Bell, 7-1
174: PSU No. 1 Carter Starocci dec. MD Dominic Solis, 8-3
184: PSU No. 1 Aaron Brooks maj. dec. MD No. 12 Kyle Cochran, 19-7
197: PSU No. 2 Max Dean tech fall MD Kevin Makosy, 20-5 (TF; 7:00)
285: PSU No. 4 Greg Kerkvliet tech fall MD No. 26 Zach Schrader, 18-3 (TF; 4:42)
PSU - 29, IND - 11
125: PSU Drew Hildebrandt dec. IND No. 25 Jacob Moran, 6-2
133: IND No. 19 Brock Hudkins tech fall PSU Baylor Shunk, 18-3 (TF; 5:30)
141: IND No. 26 Cayden Rooks dec. PSU Brandon Meredith, 9-4
149: PSU No. 20 Beau Bartlett dec. IND Graham Rooks, 6-4
157: IND Derek Gilcher dec. PSU Tony Negron, 4-1
165: PSU No. 24 Creighton Edsell maj. dec. IND Sammy Cokeley, 11-3
174: PSU No. 1 Carter Starocci pinned IND Sean Grim, WBF (2:07)
184: PSU No. 1 Aaron Brooks maj. dec. IND No. 8 D.J. Washington, 13-4
197: PSU No. 2 Max Dean maj. dec. IND Nick Willham, 9-1
285: PSU No. 4 Greg Kerkvliet tech fall IND Jacob Bullock, 20-3 (TF; 4:59)
