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UNIVERSITY PARK — The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (12-0, 8-0 B1G) will take part in the 2024 Big Ten Championship at the University of Maryland on March 9-10. The two-day event in College Park, Md., starts on Saturday, March 9, with session 1 at 10 a.m. and session 2 at 5:00 p.m. Sunday’s sessions 3&4 start at 12 p.m. with the Big Ten finals set for 4:30 p.m. All rankings listed are InterMat/InterMat TPI.
The Nittany Lions are coming off a 55-0 shutout win over Edinboro in their season dual finale on Feb. 25. Penn State won all ten bouts with four pins, five techs and a forfeit with no bouts hitting the third period. The win capped off Penn State’s dual meet season at 12-0, including an 8-0 Big Ten record (good enough for the 2024 Big Ten Regular Season Championship).
Head coach Cael Sanderson’s squad was impressive during the regular season. Going 12-0 in duals, the Nittany Lions outscored their opponents 428-69, winning by an average score of 35.7-5.8. Penn State went 101-19 in overall matches, posted a 278-45 takedown edge, had three shutouts on the year and only lost more than two bouts in a dual meet one time.
Penn State’s line-up for the Big Ten tournament begins with true freshman Braeden Davis, who is 16-2 and ranked No. 9 at 125 by InterMat. Sophomore Aaron Nagao is 10-4 and ranked No. 11 at 133. Senior Beau Bartlett is 18-0 and ranked No. 1 at 141. True freshman Tyler Kasak is 13-3 and No. 9 at 149. Sophomore Levi Haines is 15-0 and ranked No. 1 at 157. Freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink is 19-0 and No. 5 at 165. Senior Carter Starocci is 12-0 and No. 1 at 174. Graduate Bernie Truax is 11-3 and No. 6 at 184. Senior+ Aaron Brooks is 14-0 and ranked No. 1 at 197 and senior Greg Kerkvliet is 12-0 and No. 1 at 285.
The Nittany Lions have won seven Big Ten titles under head coach Cael Sanderson. Penn State has crowned 59 Big Ten Champions all-time, including four last season and 40 under Sanderson.
Penn State’s NCAA qualifiers, earned at the Big Ten Championship, will head to the 2024 NCAA Championships on March 21-23 in Kansas City, Mo. The three-day event runs Thursday through Saturday in Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center.
The 2023-24 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by the Family Clothesline. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via X at @pennstateWREST, on Penn State Wrestling’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.
#1 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (12-0, 8-0 B1G)
2024 BIG TEN REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS
125 #9 Braeden Davis Fr. Belleville, Mich./Dundee 16-2
(CR = 5 // Career vs. B1G: 8-2 // Career in B1G Trn: 0-0)
133 #11 Aaron Nagao So. La Habra, Calif./Esperanza 10-4
(CR = 9 // Career vs. B1G: 9-4 // Career in B1G Trn: 3-1)
141 #1 Beau Bartlett Sr. Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) 18-0
(CR = 1 // Career vs. B1G: 38-13 // Career in B1G Trn: 7-5)
149 #9 Tyler Kasak Fr. Doylestown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic 13-3
(CR = 9 // Career vs. B1G: 5-3 // Career in B1G Trn: 0-0)
157 #1 Levi Haines So. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 15-0
(CR = 1 // Career vs. B1G: 21-0 // Career in B1G Trn: 3-0)
165 #5 Mitchell Mesenbrink Fr. Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead 19-0
(CR = 5 // Career vs. B1G: 11-0 // Career in B1G Trn: 0-0)
174 #1 Carter Starocci Sr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 12-0
(CR = 1 // Career vs. B1G: 40-2 // Career in B1G Trn: 9-1)
184 #6 Bernie Truax Gr. Oceanside, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista 11-3
(CR = 6 // Career vs. B1G: 21-10 // Career in B1G Trn: 0-0)
197 #1 Aaron Brooks Sr.+ Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown 14-0
(CR = 1 // Career vs. B1G: 49-2 // Career in B1G Trn: 11-1)
285 #1 Greg Kerkvliet Sr. Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley 12-0
(CR = 1 // Career vs. B1G: 38-9 // Career in B1G Trn: 10-4)
Individual Rankings listed are InterMat and Team Rankings are
Intermat Tournament Power Index (as of 2/27/24)
THIS WEEK
Penn State (12-0, 8-0 B1G) travels to the University of Maryland for the 2024 Big Ten Championship on Saturday and Sunday, March 9-10. The two-day event serves as the national qualifier for the conference’s 14 teams. Action begins on Saturday with session 1 at 10 a.m. and session 2 at 5:00 p.m. Sunday’s sessions 3&4 are set for 12 p.m. with the Big Ten finals at 4:30 p.m.
UP NEXT
Penn State’s NCAA qualifiers will take part in the 2024 NCAA Championships on March 21-23 in Kansas City, Mo. The three-day event runs Thursday through Saturday in Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center.
ON THE AIR
TV – B1G Network / B1G+
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Live Web Video – B1G+