Unheralded Penn State Wrestlers Shine in Rutgers Win

On the first day of 2024 without NFL football, it was only appropriate that we had a rare edition of “Monday Night Wrestling” on the Big Ten Network. Fresh off a dominant win over number three Iowa, top-ranked Penn State hosted #14 Rutgers for a dual inside their Bryce Jordan Center. The home of the 2024 Olympic Team Trials, the Bryce Jordan Center is typically used once a year for a marquee dual meet. 

Though the final result ended up quite lopsided (35-3) in favor of the defending champions, the dual started off with some fireworks through the first five bouts. 

In the first bout of the evening, Braeden Davis needed overtime to get past Dean Peterson. Extra time was needed in the second match, as well. Dylan Shawver shocked returning All-American Aaron Nagao with an early takedown, then proceeded to engage in one of the most entertaining bouts of the season. If you missed it, go back and watch. The bout featured plenty of great scrambles from both wrestlers. Shawver converted one in sudden victory for the winning takedown. 

At 141 lbs, Max Hermes bumped up for Rutgers to take on top-ranked Beau Bartlett. Hermes gave Bartlett all he could handle and the bout was knotted at one late into the contest. With under :20 seconds remaining, Bartlett secured the only takedown of the match and rode Hermes for a 4-1 victory. 

149 lbs saw a pair of freshmen get after it. Tyler Kasak ultimately prevailed 7-5 over Michael Cetta, but the recent addition to the national rankings, stayed in the match and proved he’ll be a dangerous out for anyone in March. 

From 157 lbs on Penn State rolled, as expected. Some highlights from the back half of the dual included wins from backups over highly-ranked opposition. At 174 lbs, Terrell Barraclough bumped up and knocked off #13 Jackson Turley on the strength of a riding time point. The night was capped off by Lucas Cochran earning a pair of takedowns in an 8-3 victory over #8 Yaraslau Slavikouski. 

Penn State will be back in action Sunday against fourth-ranked Nebraska. Rutgers will close out their Big Ten slate hosting Maryland on Friday. 
 

Penn State 35 Rutgers 3

125 - Braeden Davis (Penn State) dec Dean Peterson (Rutgers)  4-1SV

133 - Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) dec Aaron Nagao (Penn State)  9-6SV

141 - Beau Bartlett (Penn State) dec Max Hermes (Rutgers)  4-1

149 - Tyler Kasak (Penn State) dec Michael Cetta (Rutgers)  7-5

157 - Levi Haines (Penn State) fall Dylan Weaver (Rutgers)  1:31

165 - Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) tech Tony White (Rutgers)  18-3

174 - Terrell Barraclough (Penn State) dec Jackson Turley (Rutgers)  4-3

184 - Bernie Truax (Penn State) dec Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers)  7-0

197 - Aaron Brooks (Penn State) fall Michael Toranzo (Rutgers)  1:46

285 - Lucas Cochran (Penn State) dec Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers)  8-3