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Match Notes: #1 Penn State vs #5 Nebraska

Match Notes: #1 Penn State vs #5 Nebraska

All the action of the NCAA wrestling dual meet between Penn State and Nebraska brought to you in real-time!

Jan 16, 2025 by Andrew Spey
Match Notes: #1 Penn State vs #5 Nebraska

The Penn State Nittany Lions have been on a tear this season, winning the Black Knight Invite and dropping just three individual matches over the course of a 7-0 dual meet record. 

Coach Sanderson's Lions have their toughest test of the 2024-25 NCAA D1 wrestling season tonight as they are in Lincoln to take on the #5 ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Devaney Center. 

NCAA National Rankings | Penn State vs Nebraska Preview

Projected Lineups

125: #16 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State vs #6 Caleb Smith, Nebraska

133: #6 Braeden Davis, Penn State vs #16 Jacob Van Dee, Nebraska

141: #3 Beau Bartlett, Penn State vs #6 Brock Hardy, Nebraska

149: #2 Shayne Van Ness, Penn State vs #4 Ridge Lovett, Nebraska

157: #3 Tyler Kasak, Penn State vs #5 Antrell Taylor, Nebraska

165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State vs #13 Christopher Minto, Nebraska

174: #2 Levi Haines, Penn State vs #13 Lenny Pinto, Nebraska

184: #1 Carter Starocci, Penn State vs #7 Silas Allred, Nebraska

197: #4 Josh Barr, Penn State vs #26 Camden McDanel, Nebraska

285: #2 Greg Kerkvliet, Penn State vs #26 Harley Andrews, Nebraska

As soon as the Iowa vs Illinois wraps up (which is going to be a lopsided victory for the Hawkeyes) we'll flip over to Shane Sparks Jim Gibbons and the BTN crew in Lincoln for the final dual in this Friday night double-header. 

Penn State won the coin toss and decided to start at 174, perhaps to catch Lenny Pinto off the scale? Pinto, Taylor, and Allred all slimmed down a weight class in the off-season. 

Broadcast let us know we are in the midst of Cael Sanderson's 16th season at PSU, where he's won 210 duals. Pretty good. 

174: #2 Levi Haines, Penn State vs #13 Lenny Pinto, Nebraska

1st period: Haines a national champ at 157 last year, Pinto an bloodrounder at 184, now both at 174. Haines in on a single leg early but Pinto dives over top, grabs a leg of his own and there's a scramble. It's eventually stalemated. Back to the center. Pinto swim move into a high-crotch but Haines stuffs it and goes behind for three. Arm bar goes in for Haines and he's got a Pinto tied up on bottom. Arm bar stays in for over a minute of riding time. No turns but Haines takes a 3-0 lead and 1:18 of riding time into the second. 

2nd period: Haines chooses down. Haines stands and is out in under 10 seconds. Another low shot from Pinto and he gets his hands on Haines' leg but a big sprawl stops Pinto's momentum and they're back to neutral. Haines with a low shot but Pinto able to turn it into a scramble. Haines nearly had the takedown and the referee even initially signaled for one but then waved it off. Pinto keeps scrambling and we get to the third period, 4-0 Haines. 

3rd period: Pinto takes down in the final period. Haines throws a leg in on the right side and after about 30 seconds of no improvement we get a stalemate. Pinto tries a granby roll and is stopped, but a hip heist catches Haines off balance and Pinto gets a reversal. It's 4-2 and Pinto cuts Haines to make it 5-2. Riding time secured so Pinto needs a TD and rideout. Crowd getting behind Pinto. Shot from Pinto, scramble from Haines, short time left in the period, and Haines shuts the door on a potential comeback by getting a takedown. Plus one for riding time and it's a 9-2 decision for Levi Haines to start this dual!

174: #2 Levi Haines (PSU) over #13 Lenny Pinto (NEB) (Dec 9-2)

Penn State 3, Nebraska 0

184: #1 Carter Starocci, Penn State vs #7 Silas Allred, Nebraska

1st period: Four-time national champ Carter Starocci is up a weight from last season. Allred, a two-time bloodrounder, down from 197. Starocci taking ground, Allred fights off an attack. Tough hand fight going on. Starocci more than comfortable with that kind of match. Starocci finds an opening and a quick finish off a high-crotch and Starocci has a 3-0 lead. Starocci with a good ride but Allred mostly staying up on his knees. Now Starocci has a leg in, muscles up an arm bar, has Allred flat but the period runs out. 3-0 with over a minute of RT for Carter. 

2nd period: Allred chooses down. He stands and is up and out in about 20 seconds. Shot by Allred, he's got a single leg but Starocci gets his hips back and action is stalemated. High-c attempt to the right and Starocci powers through for three more. 6-1 now with Starocci riding tough again. He'll ride out the period, 2:36 of RT. 

3rd period: Starocci chooses down. He stands and escapes in about 6 seconds. 7-1. Allred low single, he knee slides and is in deep but Starocci thunders his hips back down and he muscles his way through Allred for another takedown. Too much power and it's 10-1. Starocci cutting Allred loose and it's 10-2. Right back on a shot but Carter runs out of real estate. Riding time long since locked up. Allred on the attack in short time. Starocci trying for one last go behind but Allred holds on. Still a major decision as Starocci officially wins 11-2!

184: #1 Carter Starocci (PSU) over #7 Silas Allred (NEB) (MD 11-2)

Penn State 7, Nebraska 0

197: #4 Josh Barr, Penn State vs #26 Camden McDanel, Nebraska

1st period: Barr comes out of the gates shooting. Redshirt freshman from Michigan has McDanel, a true freshman, reacting. Good action but no takedowns after one minute.Good level change from Barr and he's in deep but McDanel turns it into a scramble and with limbs twisted in a lot of odd directions we get a potentially dangerous call. Shot by McDanel but Barr defense. Short time in the period, another shot by Barr and this time he finishes clean with a deep double leg. The well timed attack makes it 3-0 going into the second. 

2nd period: Barr chooses down, stands, hits a switch, almost has a reversal but now McDanel is trying to get away. Barr has a single leg but no escape, now McDanel slips his leg free and it's 4-0 for Barr. Underhook throw by to a single leg and Barr quickly has a 7-0 lead. McDanel gets to his feet but Barr corrals him and then figure fours a leg. Nice shout out by Shane Sparks of the time when Levi Haines beat Josh Barr at Who's Number One. That was in October of 2021 by the way. Okay back to action. The period ends, Barr on top. 

3rd period: McDanel takes bottom. McDanel out quickly as Barr is hunting for more takedowns. And he gets one. Quick escape, quick underhook throw by to a single for three more. They go out of bounds and Barr asks for a neutral start. It's 10-2 early in the third. Barr looking for a tech at this point. Another takedown. 13-2, optional start, 13-3. Throw by to low single and it's 16-3. 16-4 with 46 seconds on the clock. McDanel not quitting, he's in on a leg with 30 seconds. But Barr turns it into his points and it's a 19-4 tech fall for Josh Barr!

197: #4 Josh Barr (PSU) over #26 Camden McDanel (NEB) (TF 19-4)

Penn State 12, Nebraska 0

285: #2 Greg Kerkvliet, Penn State vs #26 Harley Andrews, Nebraska

1st period: NCAA champ Greg Kerkvliet taking on redshirt sophomore Harley Andrews. Kerkvliet on the attack, Harley flexes double overs and goes for the throw! Kerkvliet doesn't go over and instead gets the takedown but the crowd appreciates the effort from the young Andrews. Two-on-one cross-wrist tilt attempt from Kerkvliet but Andrews kicks back over to his stomach and it's a one count at most, no score. 3-0 still for Kerkvliet with a minute left in the period, 1:20 and counting of riding time for Kerk. Andrews getting creative on bottom but Kerkvliet keeps him down. 3-0 at the end of the period.

2nd period: Kerkvliet chooses down. Kerkvliet shows Andrews how to his a roll through on bottom and he ends up on top with a reversal for a 5-0 lead. Kerkvliet tying to muscle up a cross face cradle. Kerk with a two-on-one tilt again, now he gets swipes. But then Andrews kicks free and it's a reversal for Andrews! Two reversals for Nebraska so far this dual. Kerkvliet bucks Andrews double boots off and he gets an escape. 9-2 now for Kerkvliet. Tack on a takedown and it's 12-2 going into the third. 

3rd Period: Andrews elects to go underneath again. Kerkvliet makes him pay by throwing in a leg and stretching Andrews out for a four count. Hammer lock the next combo and Kerkvliet gets another count and it's a tech-fall for Gerg Kerkvliet!

285: #2 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) over #26 Harley Andrews (NEB) (TF 20-2)

Penn State 17, Nebraska 0

125: #16 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State vs #6 Caleb Smith, Nebraska

1st period: It doesn't necessarily get "easier" for Nebraska but the next five matches should be closer than the last three. But maybe not, that's why they wrestle them! Smith could be considered a favorite here but Lilledahl, as a true freshman is better than his ranking would suggest. He'll shoot up the rankings with a win here, but Smith will have something to say about it! Halfway through the period and no scores yet. Very measured, tactical first 90 seconds. Lilledahl picking up pace, firing off a few shots. Smith defends and looks for counter opportunities. Down to 30 seconds remaining in the 1st. And the double bagels will stay on the scoreboard after 3 minutes. 

2nd period: Smith chooses bottom. Smith stands and is out in 5 seconds. Smith doing some more on offense but no points for either wrestler still. No scrambles either, just very short flurries. Lilledahl shooting and reshooting from different angles but Smith reacting in time and the second period ends with just a 1-0 lead for Smith. 

3rd period: Now Lilledahl gets a turn on bottom. Smith with an opportunity here. Lilledahl stands and after about 15 seconds he's out. 1-1, no stalling, this is as tied as a match gets. Except there's a stall on Smith after Lilledahl fires off a shot. Nice flurry at the edge but no takedown. 60 seconds on the clock. Lilledahl pressing, Smith throws in an underhook. Action picking up. 30 seconds. Duck from Smith, Lilledahl looking for a go behind, roll through from Smith, Lilledahl floats and covers for three with just 15 seconds left! Smith gets an escape but that's it. True Freshman Luke Lilledahl with the 4-2 win!

125: #16 Luke Lilledahl (PSU) over #6 Caleb Smith (NEB) (Dec 4-2)

Penn State 20, Nebraska 0

133: #6 Braeden Davis, Penn State vs #16 Jacob Van Dee, Nebraska

1st period: And we got a new attendance record for Nebraska! Didn't get the number but it had to be around 6,000 or more. True sophomore and bloodrounder Davis on a shot right off the whistle. Van Dee, a redshirt sophomore and national qualifier, defends, then commits to a jonesy-tile and rolls Davis through for a takedown and nearfall. Switches off to a bow and arrow and Van Dee will get at least four nearfall. Looking for the pin! Great fight from Davis to belly out. Switch from Davis and Van Dee avoids the reversal and concedes the escape. They're in neutral. Deep shot from Davis and he doubles Van Dee to the mat with authority. Davis with a big response to make it 7-4. But now Van Dee with the reversal and he might get some more swipes! No nearfall and an escape from Davis makes is 9-5 as the period finally comes to an end. What a wild 3 minutes!

2nd period: Davis chooses down. After about 30 seconds he get an escape to make it 9-6 Van Dee still. How much will stamina come into play? So far neither wrestler looks particularly fatigued but that was an intense four minutes of wrestling so far. In neutral, action slowing slightly. 30 seconds. Shot by Davis but Van Dee sprawls and they're back to neutral. The period ends still 9-6. 

3rd period: Van Dee chooses bottom. Davis with a half-hearted effort to ride and Van Dee is out quickly. 10-6 Van Dee. 90 seconds left in the third period. Davis goes for a big throw but he doesn't have it. Attempt is stopped and Van Dee covers for three more and that's big for the Husker. 13-6 Van Dee leads. Davis escapes but there's less than a minute to work. Final 30 seconds, crowd is getting into to it. 10 seconds. Van Dee will get a riding time point. And the Huskers get the upset at 133, 14-7!

Also attendance officially announced at 6,736!

133: #16 Jacob Van Dee (NEB  over #6 Braeden Davis (PSU) (Dec 14-7)

Penn State 20, Nebraska 3

141: #3 Beau Bartlett, Penn State vs #6 Brock Hardy, Nebraska

1st period: Hardy does have a win over Bartlett in his career, in folkstyle and freestyle, but Bartlett won the last two college matches they wrestled. Single leg early for Bartlett and he converts for the first takedown. Hardy stands, reaching back for a leg and then he converts that for the reversal. And Hardy is shook up a bit. May have taken a shot to the head. He tries to walk it off but we'll go to concussion protocol. And Hardy is good to go. And Now Bartlett flips the script on the script that Hardy already flipped and gets a reversal for himself. 5-2 now Bartlett leads. Quick escape to make it 5-3 in Beau's favor. 30 seconds left in the first. It stays 5-3 at the buzzer. 

2nd period: Bartlett back underneath. He stands and is out quickly 6-3 Bartlett leads. Hardy on the attack. Bartlett picks up a stall warning midway through the period. Bartlett picking up the pace, he's in on a single leg. Hardy cuts the corner and the period ends with no other scores. 

3rd period: Hardy goes back on bottom. He's up and away and it's 6-4. Takedown for Hardy gives him the lead. Double leg for Hardy and he converts quickly to make it 7-6! Hardy slips in a leg and starts chewing up clock. 60 seconds remaining. Riding time getting close to a minute for Hardy. Bartlett trying to shake Hardy free. Hardy slipping off. Bartlett gets the reversal! And the riding time goes under a minute! Bartlett wins 8-7! Or does he? The refs are going to take a closer look at the clock. Nebraska hoping Hardy hung on long enough to lock up riding time. Doesn't look like it on the review though. And the call stands. Bartlett escapes with the victory by the skin of his teeth! That's about as dramatic as you can do it!

141: #3 Beau Bartlett (PSU) over #6 Brock Hardy (NEB) (Dec 8-7)

Penn State 23, Nebraska 3

149: #2 Shayne Van Ness, Penn State vs #4 Ridge Lovett, Nebraska

1st period: A marquee matchup of All-Americans who have never faced each other before in college. Shot in the first minute by Van Ness but Lovett somersaults out of danger. Fun flurry and we're back to neutral. No scores half way through the period. Van Ness with a knee slide single but Lovett counters and we get another nice flurry. Double donuts on the board after 3 minutes. 

2nd period: SVN chooses down. Mat return by Lovett. Can Lovett get a ride going? He cannot! Van Ness bucks him off his back and pounces for a reversal. Man, reversals are in style today. Quick escape by Lovett makes it 2-1 and Lovett retains 34 seconds of riding time. No more scores in the period. 

3rd period: Now it's Lovett's turn on bottom. Stand and cartwheel attempt by Lovett, Van Ness stops the first attempt but then Lovett gets to his feet again and frees himself after a scramble. And Lovett is right back in on a shot and he's got Van Ness in trouble. Takedown for Lovett and he leads 5-2! Still over a minute left in the match. Van Ness needs to get an escape though to go to work. But Lovett has other plans, a leg and a head and arm lock and Lovett's got nearfall. Four swipes makes it 9-2. And Lovett will ride out the rest of the match and it's a 10-2 major for Ridge Lovett! Big win for Ridge Lovett in front of the biggest crowd in Husker history!

149: #4 Ridge Lovett (NEB) over #2 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) 

Penn State 23, Nebraska 7

157: #3 Tyler Kasak, Penn State vs #5 Antrell Taylor, Nebraska

1st period: Another marquee bout with wrestlers that changed weights over the summer. Kasak moved up from 149, Taylor moved down from 165. They were both All-Americans last year. Great action in the first minute but no scores. Now Kasak strikes. He's in deep, finishes with a Metzger and Taylor is on his back. Taylor has to fight to bellow out and he does. Takedown and four nearfall for Kasak though as he takes a big 7-0 lead. Kasak gets just over a minute of riding time before Taylor escapes. Period ends 7-1.

2nd period: Kasak takes down, and he's out to make it 8-1. Taylor with a big step in, looking for a throw but Kasak defends. Back and forth as both wrestlers attack and look for openings. Under a minute left in the period, still 8-1. And that's how the period ends. 

3rd period: Taylor back on bottom. Kasak with a mat return and his RT is back over a minute for Tyler. Taylor stands and rolls but Kasak sticks to him and then plants him on the mat. Bottom leg turked and Kasak chewing up a lot of clock. They go out of bounds with 59 seconds left in regulation. Taylor stands and is out on the restart. 8-2 but time running out for Antrell. Overhooks for Taylor and he runs Kasak out of bounds, who picks up his second stall call to make it 8-3. Kasak will coast to a victory but the major decision slips away. Still an impressive win for Kasak over an All-American! 

157: #3 Tyler Kasak (PSU) over #5 Antrell Taylor (NEB) (Dec 9-3)

Penn State 26, Nebraska 7

165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State vs Bubba Wilson, Nebraska

1st period: Out first surprise in the lineups comes in the last match of the day as no Christopher Minto this time but senior Bubba Wilson. Mesenrbink doing Mesenbrink things, firing off shot after shot. Close to the half way mark of the period and Wilson gets dinged for stalling. Mesenrbink on a single leg and he skies it and trips for the finish and it's 3-0 with a minute remaining in the period. Mesenrbink rides tough for the rest of the period but doesn't get any nearfall, still 3-0 at the buzzer. 

2nd period: Mesenbrink underneath and he stands and is free in a hurry. 4-0 and then a perfectly timed level change and Mesenrbink has a clean finish for three more. 7-0. Claw and hammerlock for Mesenbrink and he was close to nearfall but just one swipe. And Mesenbrink gets hit with an illegal hold for pulling the hammerlock off Wilson's back. So 7-1, now 7-2 ad Mesenrbink says lets fo back to neutral. Wilson defense a couple of shots but Mesenrbink would not be denied before the period ends, getting another three and it's 11-2. Ooh and he gets a quick tilt in the final seconds to pick up a few more. 14-2 now going into the final stanza.

3rd period: Wilson chooses down but Mesenrbink says lets stand up. 14-3 but not for long, quick takedown and it's 17-3. Armbar gets Mesenbrink three more but no pin as Wilson fights off his back. 20-3 and more bonus for Mitchell Mesenbrink!

165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) over Bubba Wilson (NEB) (TF 20-3)

FINAL SCORE: Penn State 31, Nebraska 7

Very fun dual! Great crowd in Lincoln and great wrestling from both the Nittany Lions and the Huskers!

Appreciate you all for following along! See you next time!