Penn State wrestling November superlatives: Three stars, biggest news of the month, and more
Penn State wrestling has wrapped up its first month of competition during the 2023-2024 season. The Nittany Lions had two team events where individual wrestlers competed. And, there was the NWCA All-Star exhibition classic at Rec Hall, as well. It featured five Nittany Lions.
Here’s a look at our top superlative picks from November.
Three stars
Shayne Van Ness | So. | 149
Van Ness has had a fantastic start to his second season as a starter in the Nittany Lions lineup. At the Journeymen Collegiate Classic, he was a perfect three-for-three. And, every win came by a first period fall. Then, No. 2 Van Ness closed out the month by beating No. 3 Kyle Parco of Arizona State 5-1 in the NWCA All-Star Classic. The Nittany Lion led 4-0 after two periods and controlled the matchup throughout.
Beau Bartlett | Sr. | 141
Bartlett is the nation’s No. 2 grappler at 141 pounds. Despite that, he was not invited to the NWCA All-Star Classic. So, he took care of business elsewhere to start his season. At the Army Black Knight Invitational, Bartlett won the title by stomping three straight opponents by fall before beating freshman teammate Tyler Kasak in the finals. A week before, the Penn State grappler scored two ranked victories, including wins over the No. 13 and No. 12 ranked wrestlers at the time.
Greg Kerkvliet | Jr. | HWT
Kerkvliet dominated Air Force second-ranked wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson in the NWCA All-Star Classic. He mashed the Falcon by technical fall, 18-2, in 4:48 in front of a raucous Rec Hall crowd to make his NCAA Tournament win over Hendrickson from the 2022-2023 season stand up. Before, that the heavyweight started his season at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic, where the Penn State star was a perfect 3-0 thanks to a technical fall and two decision victories.
Biggest Penn State wrestling news of the month
This is an easy pick this month. Penn State started the year with a question mark regarding who its starter would be at 165 pounds. That question has now been answered. First-year Nittany Lion Mitchell Mesenbrink will take the first-team job as returner Alex Facundo has opted to take an Olympic redshirt season. Mesenbrink, a former prep star in Wisconsin, is a redshirt freshman. He was 2-0 at Cal Baptist last year before coming to State College. Five of his seven wins to start the year have come by bonus points.
Best highlight
There was little question that senior Carter Starocci is back with his sights set on winning a fourth straight NCAA title. And, he announced that he is ready to do just that at the NWCA All-Star Classic. He pounded Virginia Tech star Mehki Lewis in dominating fashion, 11-0. He dominated the entirety of the match and cemented his status as a favorite to win again at 174 pounds.
Bold prediction for Penn State wrestling
The 125-pound starting job will not go to Robbie Howard. Penn State welcomed the returner back after he missed the last two seasons due to injury. He is working hard and is a key cog in the room. But, freshman Braedan Davis is off to a perfect start after the first two events and looks very capable of winning the job outright. He will ultimately do so by the time January arrives.
