The top-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions faced off against the #13 Lehigh Mountain Hawks in a much-anticipated wrestling dual held at the sold-out PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Fans were treated to an electrifying atmosphere as the event showcased the skills of some of the best collegiate wrestlers in the country.
The dual began with 125 pounds, where Penn State’s #23 Luke Lilledahl edged out Lehigh’s #17 Sheldon Seymour with a 4-1 decision. Lilledahl’s tenacity in the final moments secured the victory and gave Penn State an early lead.
Moving to the 133-pound match, Lehigh’s #1 ranked Ryan Crookham battled Penn State’s #8 Braeden Davis, winning narrowly by a score of 4-2, leveling the match at 3 points each.
At 141 pounds, Penn State’s #3 Beau Bartlett quickly took control against Carter Bailey, winning decisively 5-0, which put the Nittany Lions in front once again, 6 to 3.
The momentum continued for Penn State at 149 pounds, as #2 Shayne Van Ness delivered an impressive 17-3 major decision victory over Matt Repos. With this performance, Penn State extended their lead significantly to 10-3.
Penn State’s #4 Tyler Kasak also contributed to the score with a solid 5-2 victory against Logan Rozynski, bringing the total to 13-3.
The match at 165 pounds showcased the skills of Penn State’s #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, who dominated Thayne Lawrence with an 18-1 technical fall. Following him, #2 Levi Haines sealed the victory with a fall at 174 pounds, further widening the gap to 24-3.
At 184 pounds, the top-ranked Carter Starocci earned a major decision over Jack Wilt, finishing the period at 27-3. Josh Barr, ranked #21, continued the success with an 11-3 major decision at 197 pounds, pushing Penn State’s score to 31-3. Finally, heavyweight #2 Greg Kerkvliet ended the dual on a high note, achieving a 15-0 technical fall against Calvin Lachman, bringing Penn State’s final score to 36 and Lehigh’s to just 3.
In light of this dual, the Penn State wrestling team has shown its prowess, suggesting a promising outlook as they gear up for future competitions, including the Big Ten Wrestling Tournament and the NCAA Wrestling Championships in March 2025. Fans can continue to follow Penn State and the exciting college wrestling season through platforms like FloWrestling, which provides comprehensive coverage and live streams of matches.
Overall, this performance from the Nittany Lions not only reinforces their top-ranking position but also invigorates fan hope for a strong postseason come March.