Beau Bartlett announces return to Penn State wrestling for 2024-25 season
Penn State wrestling national finalist Beau Bartlett announced his return to the Nittany Lions for the 2024-25 season, according to Justin Basch.
Bartlett was an NCAA and Big Ten finalist this past season, falling short to Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez. He had one more year of eligibility and there were questions if he’d use it.
Currently preparing for the 2024 Olympic Trials, Bartlett has unfinished business at the collegiate level. He later confirmed the move to return to college next season.
Bartlett is 74-18 in his career and is a two-time All-American. He finished 2nd in 2024 and 3rd in 2023 at 141 pounds. He started his career at 149 where he went 8-3 in 2021 and 15-10 the following year, qualifying for NCAAs.
Bartlett looked like the best guy at 141 pretty much all season long. That was until Mendez eventually passed him in the Big Ten finals and at NCAAs.
Bartlett, who beat Mendez in a dual meet earlier this year, fell victim in their final two meetings.
“Bartlett, I have respect for him,” Mendez said after the NCAA finals. “I know every match will be a scrap. Just trying to find my offense. I knew this match wasn’t going to be settled on the mat. We’re both pretty good on bottom. Just finding that one score.
“He got real close at the end. But I wanted it too bad. Wanted it too bad to give it up. And I almost got taken down, kept wrestling ended up getting the takedown later in the third period.”
Penn State, which won another team national title in 2024, actually has a decent amount of lineup questions for next season based on weights and who will return or redshirt.
At least right now, Bartlett is good to go at 141 pounds, giving the Nittany Lions quite the lightweight.