3 takeaways from Penn State wrestling's 27-9 win over Michigan
Penn State wrestling has won its 49th consecutive dual meet. The No. 1 Nittany Lions blasted No. 11 Michigan 27-9 on Friday night at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. Head coach Cael Sanderson’s side earned the takedown advantage and never trailed en route to their second Big Ten victory of the season. Our top takeaways from the match are below.
1. Mitchell Mesenbrink continues to roll
If anyone was doubting Mitchell Mesenbrink’s ability to hit the All-American stand at nationals and possibly win something greater during the 2023-2024 season, it’s time to stop doing so. The first-year Nittany Lion and second-year college wrestler joined the team after a year at Cal Baptist. Ever since, the former Wisconsin prep star has been dominant. A technical fall win over then No. 10 Matthew Olguin of Oregon State at the start of January put Mesenbrink on the national scene. His profile grew on Friday night as the currently No. 9 Nittany Lion rag-dolled Michigan’s No. 7 Cameron Amine by major decision, 12-1. Mesenbrink forced four stalling calls on the three-time All-American and never trailed. He will jump up the rankings from here and put the nation on notice Friday night.
2. Lions roll without two starters, and one reserve impressed
Penn State 174-pound multi-time national champion Carter Starocci was out of the lineup Friday night due to illness. He did not work out Thursday night or Friday, per program radio announcer Jeff Byers, before sitting out. Terrell Barraclough impressed in Starocci’s absence. He bumped up from 165 pounds and lost only by decision, 2-1, to the nation’s No. 4 174-pounder, Shane Griffth, despite giving up nearly 10 pounds in the match. It was a good loss for the veteran Nittany Lion.
At 149 pounds, freshman Tyler Kasak, now the man at that weight class with All-American Shayne Van Ness out for the year due to injury, was also out of the lineup due to being sick. Junior David Evans filled in for him and won by decision, 5-2, over Michigan backup
3. Odds and ends
–No. 14 Braeden Davis officially burned his redshirt on Friday night. The Nittany Lion freshman broke a 1-1 tie late in the third period with a takedown and tacked on a riding time point after securing 1:07 of it to win 5-1 over No. 5 Michael DeAugstino.
–Cael Sanderson’s Penn State teams are now 114-2 in dual meets since 2015-2016.
–No. 4 Aaron Nagao lost in sudden victory by fall to No. 6 Dylan Ragusin, who came off of a redshirt this year due to a teammate’s injury. The Wolverine caught Nagao from neutral in the extra frame and stuck his shoulders to the mat midway through the additional minute
–Penn State has now won 995 dual meets all-time.
–Levi Haines won by decision, 2-1, after No. 9 Will Lewan was called for stalling and penalized a point in the third period. It gave the Lions a lead they didn’t relinquish in a match that started at 157 pounds.
–PSU did not surrender a takedown for 19 straight matches dating back to the Oregon State dual before Aaron Nagao surrendered one at 133 pounds.
–The Lions return to action on Sunday at Michigan State. The bout starts at 1 p.m. ET. B1G+ will stream it.
Penn State-Michigan dual meet box score
The match started at 157 pounds. Full results are below:
157 pounds: No. 1 Levi Haines, PSU d. No. 9 Will Lewan, Michigan, 2-1
165 pounds: No. 9 Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State md. No. 7 Cameron Amine, UM, 12-1
174 pounds: No. 4 Shane Griffith, Michigan d. Terrell Barraclough, Penn State, 2-1
184 pounds: No. 5 Bernie Truax, PSU d. No. 15 Jaden Bullock, UM, 4-1
197 pounds: No. 1 Aaron Brooks, Penn State TF No. 32 Bobby Striggow, Michigan, 20-5 (4:16)
285 pounds: No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet d. No. 4 Lucas Davison, UM, 8-3
125 pounds: No. 14 Braeden Davis, Penn State d. No. 5 Michael DeAugustino, Michigan, 5-1
133 pounds: No. 6 Dylan Ragusin, UM WBF in sudden victory No. 4 Aaron Nagao, PSU (7:28)
141 pounds: No. 2 Beau Bartlett, PSU d. No. 25 Sergio Lemley, Michigan, 7-5
149 pounds: David Evans, PSU d. Fidel Mayora, UM ,5-2
