ALLENTOWN — Sunday’s 36-3 victory over Lehigh by top-ranked Penn State wasn’t very exciting, but it did have some highlights.
Josh Barr, a rookie for the Nittany Lions, defeated Lehigh’s Michael Beard, a two-time All-America and Penn State transfer, 11-3, to top that ranking at 197.As the Lions defeated the Mountain Hawks nine out of ten times, including eight straight from 133, to record their 58th consecutive victory in front of 9,769 spectators at the city’s PPL Center, Barr was one of six Lions to receive bonus points.
Following a scoreless first period, Barr was overturned by Beard early in the second. But after then, it was all Barr. After escaping and defeating Beard with a low single-leg, the four-time Michigan champion switched to a double. In the third, he escaped and executed the identical takedown, repeating it.
Barr converted on a hip-high double to seal the major and spark the afternoon’s greatest crowd reaction after Beard got away with 1:17 remaining.
He was an old man, large and muscular, and all I wanted to do was wear him for that first period. One of my greatest strengths, according to Barr, is my gas tank. When guys wrestle me, they get exhausted, and I want to make them tired. I kept pretending, snapping, and getting him to respond until I knew he would crack, at which point I went to gather my belongings.
The major did not surprise Barr. The coaches teach us to just go and get points, and that’s kind of how my mentality operates. Not surprisingly. “I was excited,” he remarked. It was enjoyable; it was my first very significant collegiate match. The way we train—I grapple with the world’s top partners—gives me confidence.
Barr reported that the weight rise from 184 felt terrific. Every day, I wrestle guys that are much bigger and stronger than me, like Jake Varner, Coach Cael, and Aaron Brooks. It is what it is; he declared, “I will wrestle anyone at any weight.”
It makes sense that Barr’s effort impressed Penn State coach Cael Sanderson. According to Sanderson, he wrestled a good, patient, hard match. It’s difficult for him to accomplish that because he’s simply a goer, but his patience and intensity paid off. Beard is excellent, and I hope it gives Josh more self-assurance. He already has faith. It’s hardly shocking that he did well.
Luke Lilledahl, a freshman at Penn State, defeated No. 15 Sheldon Seymour, his first ranked opponent, 4-1, with a counter takedown with :14 remaining. Lilledahl stated, “I didn’t wrestle as well as I could have; I didn’t have a great performance, but I still got it done.” Although he is really skilled and it was challenging to overcome his resistance, it feels amazing to go out there and wrestle and earn that victory.
Lilledahl said he tries not to let the great expectations for him affect him. “I think that goes along with just wrestling the way I want to wrestle and not letting those things deter my path,” he said, adding, “not letting that outside stuff get into my head.”
According to Sanderson, Lilledahl would be well to start off by taking on an experienced wrestler like Seymour. Late in the third, he scored on a scramble when he needed to, according to Sanderson. He is a good opponent and a difficult youngster.
Ryan Crookham, the top-ranked player in Lehigh, defeated sophomore Braeden Davis at 133 in the first session and managed to hold on for a 4-2 victory even though he gave up a stalling point in the closing seconds.
The Lions then won eight in a row, beginning with Beau Bartlett’s 5-0 whitewash of Carter Bailey at 141 and concluding with Greg Kerkvliet’s 15-1 technical fall over Calvin Lachman at heavyweight in just 2:07.
In the interim, Bethlehem Catholic graduate Tyler Kasak defeated Lehigh’s Logan Rozynski 5-2 at 157, while Shayne Van Ness scored 17 points against former Central Dauphin standout Matt Repos in a 17-3 victory at 149.
From 165-285, the final five Nittany Lions earned bonus points for Penn State with 12 takedowns and four nearfalls.
ranked number one With three takedowns and two four-point nearfalls, Mitchell Mesenbrink proved he could turn things up in the PPL Center at 165. Penn State led 18-3 after Mesenbrink’s technical fall against Thayne Lawrence at 4:37 (18-1).
At 174, defending NCAA champion Levi Haines fought Rylan Rogers, a transfer from Michigan, who had Haines reeling early with a deep shot on the legs. However, Haines eventually lifted Rogers and lowered him for the three after emerging from that flurry and turning in for a double-leg.
Sanderson laughed and remarked, “Oh, yeah, watching him man made my back hurt.” He truly determines he’s going to score while his hands are locked, and he typically does.
Following an escape and takedown in the second period, Haines was all Haines. In 4:12, he trapped a leg and powered Rogers to his back for a fall.
At 184, Jack Wilt of Lehigh opted for an aggressive strategy against Carter Starocci, a four-time NCAA champion. However, Starocci was able to convert Wilt’s long shots on his legs into stalemates before swiftly turning in for his own double-leg takedowns.
Starocci won a major decision 15-1 after four takedowns. Following the fight, Starocci was punished for unsportsmanlike behavior for pushing Wilt’s head into the mat, costing Penn State a team point.
According to Sanderson, that ought to have been a point. There is no justification for that. Wilt, who I believe was in on a leg at least three times, wrestled a really strong match, so I think he was definitely frustrated.
Leigh 3 PENN STATE 36
125: Sheldon Seymour is defeated 4-1 by Luke Lilledahl, PS.
133: L dec Braeden Davis 4-2, Ryan Crookham.
141: Carter Bailey is defeated 5-0 by Beau Bartlett, PS.
149: PS major dec. Matt Repos 17-3, Shayne Van Ness.
157: Logan Rozynski is defeated 5-2 by Tyler Kasak, PS.
165: At 4:37 (18-1) Mitchell Mesenbrink, PS tech, falls over Thayne Lawrence.
174: Rylan Rogers, PS pin Levi Haines 4:12.
184: Jack Wilt 15-1, Carter Starocci, PS major dec.
197: Michael Beard is defeated 11-1 by Josh Barr, PS major.
285: At 2:07 (15-1) Greg Kerkvliet, PS tech, falls over Calvin Lachman.
*Penn State’s unsportsmanlike behavior costs them a team point.
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