UNIVERSITY PARK — The top-ranked Penn State wrestling team opened Big Ten competition on Sunday at Rec Hall and delivered what may be an all-time statement to the rest of the conference — as dominant as the Nittany Lions have been, they may be setting new standards.

Penn State (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) swept all 10 bouts from Indiana (3-2, 0-2), scoring bonus points in nine, to win its 48th consecutive dual meet 46-0 over the No. 21 Hoosiers.

It was the first shutout for the Nittany Lions since a 45-0 whitewash of Rider on Feb. 20, 2022 and the 21st in Cael Sanderson’s 15-year tenure.

And, in what may be a first in the 115-year history of the program, Penn State didn’t allow a takedown, while piling up 35.

“I think our guys wrestled pretty well today. We matched up pretty well with them. I mean, I think the matches are a little tougher than maybe the score indicated,” Sanderson said in a humble assessment.

“We just want our guys to just try to keep getting better and focusing on improvement over you know, trying to win and lose. And I think we’re seeing that some more freshmen, the younger guys, are opening up.”

Three of those freshmen — Braeden Davis (125 pounds), Tyler Kasak (149) and Josh Barr (184) — produced bonus-point wins. Davis won 16-3, Kasak earned a 15-0 technical fall over No. 14 Graham Rooks and Barr, subbing for a reportedly ill Bernie Truax, turned in a dominating 13-4 major decision.

“They fill in really well. I think that’s a credit to our coaches. I mean, you see that year after year, at least from my standpoint,” Carter Starocci said.

“We had Roman (Bravo-Young) on the team, Nick Lee and then Max (Dean) and then you kind of think like, dang, losing those guys is gonna hurt and then we got to fill some holes. Then the freshmen every year just keep getting better and better and I’m sure it’s gonna keep continuing when me and Aaron (Brooks) are gone. They’re gonna keep getting better. So, I just think that’s a credit to our coaches.”

Both Starocci and Brooks said they thought Barr had a bright future.

“I think he’ll be a future national champ, I think multiple-time national champ for sure. I mean, he’s one of those kids like, you just got to kill him because he’s gonna keep coming after you just like non stop,” Starocci said.

“I remember when I first grabbed him. When I wrestle someone for the first time, I just like to see what their breaking point is. And he just like never stopped and I’m just I do like, ‘we gotta be done here.'”

Brooks related an opinion he formed recently about Barr.

“Funny story about him … I just wrestled with Barr like two days ago,” he said. “And we went hard. He looks at me and says ‘we have to start going more often.’ I’m like ‘yeah, let’s do it.’ He’s always up for the challenge. He doesn’t avoid anyone in the room. He’ll enjoy the fruits of that.”

Davis and Kasak could both be starters the rest of the season. Davis has exhausted the five competition dates the NCAA allows and still retain a redshirt year. Kasak is at four. Sanderson said there are “some difficult discussions ahead” when it comes to their eligibility. Both have shown clear improvement.

“Confidence is key, obviously. Just believing in yourself is something that’s hard to help someone with,” Sanderson said. “They both believe in themselves. That’s the major foundation piece.”

The veterans on the team dominated as usual. Starocci used five first-period takedowns and a four-point second-period turn for a 19-4 technical fall in 3:42. Brooks scored six takedowns and tacked on an escape for a 19-4 tech in 3:56.

Levi Haines (157) and Aaron Nagao (133) also piled up tech falls. Nagao earned his with a takedown in the third to lock up a 19-4 win in 5:24. Haines’ takedown in the third ended a 17-0 win in 6:05.

Greg Kerkvliet (285) cruised to a 14-2 major decision. Beau Bartlett, at 141, countered a takedown for one of his own and four nearfall points with 12 seconds left in the match for an 8-1 win.

Mitchell Mesenbrink, who has soared to No. 10 in the rankings in his first season, had built a 10-2 lead before his opponent injury defaulted in 2:07.

Sanderson summed up the day, and his assessment of his ascending freshmen, by heaping praise on his standouts.

“I don’t know how you wrestle on this team with guys like Carter and Aaron and Greg and who we have in the lineup and not be inspired and motivated to go out there and score more points,” he said. “I think they are.”

No. 1 Penn State 46, No. 21 Indiana 0

(Sunday at University Park)

125: Braeden Davis, PSU, maj. Dec. Michael Spangler, 16-3.

133: No. 4 Aaron Nagao, PSU, won by tech. fall over Isaac Thornton, 19-4 (5:24).

141: No. 2 Beau Bartlett, PSU, dec. No. 23 Dan Fongaro, 8-1.

149: Tyler Kasak, PSU, won by tech. fall over No. 14 Graham Rooks, 15-0 (6:59).

157: No. 1 Levi Haines, PSU, won by tech. fall over Zack Rotvkich, 17-0 (6:05).

165: No. 10 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU, won by inj. Def. over No. 23 Tyler Lillard, 2:07.

174: No. 1 Carter Starocci, PSU, won by tech. fall over Robert Major, 19-4 (3:42).

184: Josh Barr, PSU, maj. Dec. Roman Rogotzke, 13-4.

197: No. 1 Aaron Brooks, PSU, won by tech. fall over Gabe Sollars, 19-4 (3:56).

285: No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet, PSU, maj. Dec. Nick Willham, 14-2.

Ridge Riley Award winner: Tyler Kasak.

Attendance: 6,466.

Takedowns: Indiana 0; Penn State 35.

Records: Indiana 3-2, 0-2 Big Ten; Penn State 4-0, 1-0.

Next match: Penn State at Michigan, 6 p.m. Friday.