Since Iowa, the current No. 2 team in collegiate wrestling, proved on Friday that it was unable to compete with No. 1 Penn State, the nation is looking for a new No. 2 squad.
In sports, a 1 versus. 2 usually indicates a competitive environment. Although the Jordan Center sold out with 15,998 spectators, it was utter misery for Iowa as the Nittany Lions (10-0/4-0) won eight of ten fights, including four that resulted in bonus points, and easily won 30-8 on a 24-8 edge in takedowns.
With the exception of the Hawkeyes, most folks didn’t want this game to finish. There were six top-10 fights in this one, and Penn State, who have now won 66 straight, won five of them. Also, No. 3 Tyler Kasak defeated Iowa’s top-ranked Jacori Teemer at 157 in back-to-back victories, and No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink defeated Iowa’s second-ranked Michael Caliendo 19–4.
In his 5-2 triumph, Kasak equaled Teemer’s strength and speed. When Teemer faced Levi Haines of Penn State in the 157-pound NCAA championship last year, which Haines won 5-0, Kasak was asked if Haines had provided a scouting report.
He actually didn’t tell me anything, to be honest. After the game, Kasak remarked, “He just told me to go smash him.” I believe I performed that fairly well.
Kasak was so good that he slipped underneath Teemer, hoisted him up, and kept him in the air until the clock ran out while countering a late Teemer shot. Kasak was able to keep Teemer in the air with one arm while making a joyous fist with the other, if the crowd wasn’t already amped.
I kind of lost my mind about the celebration and that type of thing. Kasak remarked, “I’m thankful for the chance to wrestle a team like Iowa, and I have no idea what I really did.
In a statement match, it was a statement fight. Kasak, who had stitches above his right eye from the battle, stated, “I think we kind of already knew or felt like this team was pretty special.” Everyone was motivated, in my opinion, when you play the nation’s second-best team and you manage them rather well—not just in terms of the scoreboard, but also in terms of effort and attitude.
For No. 1 Penn State, Shayne Van Ness excels, defeating Kyle Parco of Iowa by a significant margin.
How it happened: No. 1 Penn State defeats No. 2 Iowa 30-8
Clay Steadman, the general manager of Penn State wrestling, discusses Cael Sanderson’s training methods, the NIL approach, and more on the PennLive wrestling podcast.
Five hours priorCael Sanderson, the coach of Penn State, concurred. He remarked, “We’re just trying to be our best in big moments, right?” The key is consistency, and that’s what that sentence is all about. Simply pushing oneself and constantly trying to improve is more enjoyable.
That is currently Tom Brands’ challenge. Teemer and Parco, who were ranked higher, dropped their matches, which infuriated the Iowa coach. When things don’t go your way, you must be prepared to leave, and if things are going your way and then suddenly there is a shift, you must also be prepared to leave. Brands claimed that we did not manage those shifts well.
Luke Lilledahl got off to a fast start for the Nittany Lions, taking a 7-1 lead on Joey Cruz of Iowa at 125. He then used a barrage of single-legs to create a five-takedown third period, winning 22-6 via technical fall in 6:43.
Iowa swiftly regained those five team points after Braeden Davis was sidelined at 133 due to injury. Drake Ayala, ranked second and the NCAA runner-up from the previous year, dominated on his feet against Kurt McHenry, a former Michigan wrestler who transferred in the previous season. In only 3:42, Ayala made six three-pointers for a 19-4 tech to knot the score at 5-5. He also had his way in the neutral position.
Cullen Schriever of Iowa loses to Beau Bartlett of Penn State 7-3.
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Beau Bartlett of Penn State won 7-3 over Cullan Schriever after connecting on two first-period takedowns at 141 to give Penn State an 8-5 lead.
At 165, Mitchell Mesenbrink of Penn State outscores Mikey Caliendo of Iowa 19–4.
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Van Ness, Kasak, and Mesenbrink replied, and the remainder of the match was essentially must-see, high-profile fights. No. 2 Kyle Parco was stopped by Van Ness 17–6, and Mesenbrink recorded five takedowns in his tech out of Caliendo.
Like the most of the other Nittany Lions, Levi Haines continued to put pressure on No. 6 Patrick Kennedy, and it paid off in the last session as the Lions won 10-3 and had two takedowns to effectively end the match.
Angelo Ferrari, a rookie, was a worthy opponent, losing only 3-1 at 184, but Carter Starocci’s matchup with Gabe Arnold did not happen. In his 3-1 triumph, Starocci managed a time point but failed to record a takedown.
No. 1 Stephen Buchanan’s strength and slicks were a bit too much for No. 4 Josh Barr, as Iowa ended a six-bout losing streak at 197. Buchanan won 5-1 thanks to his late takedown and escape, earning him a time point.
Greg Kerkvliet defeated Ben Keuter 12–2 at heavyweight to wrap things up.
Sanderson attributed Penn State’s six-out of eight victories over Iowa to the Lions’ adherence to their strategy of pressing forward and exerting consistent pressure. “We’re going to go ahead and try to score points, and I believe that was the case with very few exceptions,” he said.
NOTES:Nittany Lions Wrestling Club Olympians were honored at the break and Aaron Brooks, Zain Retherford, Kyle Dake and Kyle Snyder got a standing ovation.
IOWA 8, Penn State 30,
125: At 6:43 (22–6), Luke Lilledahl, PS tech, falls over Joey Cruz.
133: At 3:42 (19-4) Drake Ayala, I tech fall over Kurt McHenry.
141: Cullan Schriever, PS dec. Beau Bartlett 7-3.
149: Kyle Parco is defeated 17–6 by Shayne Van Ness, PS major.
157: Jacori Teemer is defeated 5-2 by Tyler Kasak.
165: At 6:36 (19-4) Mitchell Mesenbrink, PS tech, falls over Michael Caliendo.
174: PS dec Patrick Kennedy 10-3, Levi Haines.
184: Starocci, Carter PS: 3-1 for Angelo Ferrari
197: Josh Barr, I defeat Stephen Buchanan 5-1
285: Greg Kerkvliet, PS major dec Ben Kueter 12-2.