With victories over Binghamton, Little Rock, and Missouri on Sunday, the top-ranked Penn State wrestling team easily swept through the Collegiate Duals near Nashville, shattering records and three opponents in the process.
In a 41-3 thumping of Missouri, which included a 1 vs. 2 match at 174 in which Missouri’s top-ranked Keegan O. Toole defeated Penn State’s Levi Haines via takedown in a sudden victory for a 4-1 victory, the Nittany Lions defeated Binghamton 52-0 and Little Rock 44-0.
This is the first time the Nittany Lions (6-0) have won three straight games without dropping a point, thanks to the two shutouts. Additionally, the Sunday trifecta increased the record to 62 consecutive wins, shattering the school record of 60 wins in a row.
The Lions have 246 points overall this season and scored 137 points on Sunday alone. Through six dual meets, the team’s 10 starters have only lost twice. The Lions’ next game is a home dual versus Michigan State on January 10.
The Haines-O Toole fight was what everyone was hoping to witness on Sunday, and it did not let them down. Depending on the tempo of the contest, a 1-1 fight that ends in a quick triumph can be dull, but this one was everything but. Each of the two exceptional wrestlers had a few hard takedown attempts that were either countered or stalemated, and their hand-fighting and blocking were excellent.
Haines attempted to perform a barrel roll off a high-crotch shot on O Toole when it came to sudden win, but O Toole instantly reacted and went for a single-leg on Haines. Haines threw a whizzer and stepped over it to almost gain control as he lifted his leg high in the air, but O Toole managed to come from the back and grab both of Haines’ ankles for the decisive takedown.
Haines wanted the Penn State coaching staff to challenge for early control of that whizzer because he hadn’t lost since the 2023 NCAA finals. However, the challenge didn’t work, and the two exchanged the customary head bobs that indicated they would see each other again in Philadelphia in March.
The Lions had a 25-0 lead in takedowns and a 58-4 lead overall throughout the three games, outmanaging Binghamton in the first game.
Half of the bouts in the Little Rock contest were competitive, thus there were some highlights. Braeden Davis, ranked seventh at 133, defeated Nasir Bailey, ranked third, 1-0. Neither was able to go close to a takedown, and Bailey unexpectedly decided to go neutral in the third session, failing to defeat Davis.
The best match was when Josh Barr, rated sixth at Penn State, defeated Stephen Little, ranked fifth, 4-1 in a thrilling victory at 197. Both players had a few good shots but were unable to convert. With 17 seconds remaining, Barr, who had been the aggressor in the extra session, made a powerful single-leg shot.
Tyler Kasak made one takedown stand in a 4-2 victory over Matty Bianchi at 157, while Shayne Van Ness (149) pinned Jordan Williams, a transfer from Oklahoma State, in 4:39.
Van Ness stated on the Penn State Sports Network, “I think this is my favorite team I’ve played for.” Although Levi didn’t receive the outcome he was hoping for today, these individuals are incredibly focused and committed to their sport, and their abilities are beyond comprehension.
In the opening fights, Missouri (2-4) maintained their competitiveness as Beau Bartlett needed a last-second takedown to defeat Josh Edmond 4-1 at 125 and Penn State rookie Luke Lilledahl defeated fellow freshman Gage Walker 5-4 at 125. Apart from the victory over O Toole, the Tigers were unable to compete with the Lions in the upper echelons.
51 Penn State, 0 Binghampton
125: At 5:37 (19-4) Luke Lilledahl, PS tech, falls over Carson Wagner.
133: Micah Roes is defeated 6-0 by Braeden Davis, PS.
141: Nate Lucier is defeated 14-2 by Beau Bartlett, PS major.
149: Caleb Sweet 14-2, PS pin Shayne Van Ness.
157: Jordan Brown, PS pin Tyler Kasak, 3:31.
165: By forfeit, Mitchell Mesenbrink, PS prevailed.
174: At 5:00 (18-0), Levi Haines, PS tech, falls over Roberto Padilla.
184: Will Ebert, PS pin, Carter Starocci, 5:55.
197: At 2:40 (19-2) Josh Barr, PS tech, falls over Andrew Bailey.
285: Charlie Tibbets, PS pin Greg Kerkvliet, 1:33.
Forty-four Penn State, Little Rock 0
125: Jaden Carson, PS dec. Luke Lilledahl 9-3
133: Nasir Bailey is defeated 1-0 by Braeden Davis, PS.
141: PS pin Cole Minnick at 5:23, Beau Bartlett.
149: Jordan Williams, PS pin Shayne Van Ness, 4:39.
157: PS dec Matty Bianchi 4-2, Tyler Kasak.
165: At 5:27 (17-1) Mitchell Mesenbrink, PS tech, falls over Joey Bianchi.
174: At 5:33 (18-2) Levi Haines, PS tech, falls over Kodiak Kennedy.
184: Tristan Wills gets overtaken by Carter Starocci and a PS technician at 5:37 (17-1).
197: Stephen Little 4-1 SV-1, Josh Barr, PS dec.
285: At 1:40 (15-0), Greg Kerkvliet, PS tech, falls over Keith Miley.
Mississippi State 41, Missouri 3
125: Gage Walker, PS dec. Luke Lilledahl 5-4.
133: Kade Moore was defeated 14-3 by Braeden Davis, PS major.
141: Josh Edmond, PS dec Beau Bartlett, 4-1 SV-1.
149: Zeke Seltzer, PS pin Shayne Van Ness, 1:55.
157: James Conway is dec’d by Tyler Kasak, PS major 11-3.
165: By forfeit, Mitchell Mesenbrink, PS wins.
174: M dec Levi Haines 4-1 SV-1, Keegan O. Toole.
184: Colton Hawks, PS major, is defeated 10-1 by Carter Starocci.
197: Jesse Cassatt, PS pin Josh Barr, 1:45.
285: At 5:57 (15-0), Greg Kerkvliet, PS tech, falls over Jarrett Stoner.
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