Meredith and Bartlett entertain at NLWC dual on Tuesday

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The Nittany Lion Wrestling Club hosted its second dual on Tuesday night, which was streamed live on Rokfin. The night featured 12 freestyle matches, including two women’s bouts and 10 men’s bouts.

Highlighting the evening was the highly anticipated showdown at 67 kg/148 lbs., where two-time NCAA finalist for Wyoming Bryce Meredith edged out incoming Penn State freshman Beau Bartlett in a back-and-forth battle.

Meredith struck first early in the bout with a takedown, but Bartlett quickly answered with a takedown of his own and rolled right into a gut wrench for the lead. In the last 90 seconds of the period, Meredith recorded back-to-back takedowns for a 6-4 advantage at the break.

The second period featured two key scrambles, with Bartlett and Meredith each winning one, respectively. Ultimately, it was Meredith who claimed the victory 8-6.

In the night’s headlining bout, three-time NCAA champion and U.S. National Team member Jason Nolf wrapped up his match with MMA star and 2011 NCAA champ for Arizona State Bubba Jenkins in 2:59 with a 10-0 shutout.

Current college standout Roman Bravo-Young was featured in the penultimate match of the night, defeating three-time NCAA qualifier for Pittsburgh Shelton Mack, 11-0, thanks to a four-pointer early in the second period to end the bout.

In the two women’s matches of the night, it was Mexico vs. USA when Jane Valencia faced Vayle-Rae Baker at 60 kg and Alejandra Romero Bonilla took on Alexis Porter.

Valencia, who is the first Mexican woman to qualify her weight for the Olympics, dominated two-time Cadet World Team member Baker in 13-2 with five takedowns. Romero, the first woman for Mexico to win a Junior World medal, outlasted 2016 Junior World bronze medalist Porter in a 3-0 battle.

Another match that highlighted athletes representing other countries came at 77 kg/170 lbs., where Bekzod Abdurakhmonov, a two-time World bronze medalist for Uzbekistan, overpowered American-born Nestor Taffur, who wrestles for Colombia, 12-2. Both competed at the NCAA level, with Abdurakhmonov earning All-American honors at Clarion and Taffur qualifying for NCAAs for Boston University.

At 196 pounds, two-time NCAA finalist Brett Pfarr took out 2012 Olympic silver medalist Jaime Espinal of Puerto Rico with a 10-0 technical fall, using three takedowns to spur him to victory.

In addition to Bartlett and Bravo-Young, five other current Penn State athletes were victorious on Tuesday, including Terrell Barraclough, Jarod Verkleeren, Carter Starocci, Michael Beard and Daniel Kerkvliet.

All of tonight’s matches will be archived and available to view Wednesday on Rokfin with a subscription.

Results
155 lbs. - Terrell Barraclough df. Kyle Shoop, 15-9
155 lbs. – Jarod Verkleeren df. Brock Zacherl, 15-4
196 lbs. – Brett Pfarr df. Jaime Espinal, 10-0
77kg/170 lbs. – Bekzod Abdurakhmonov df. Nestor Taffur, 12-2
60kg/132 lbs. – Jane Valencia df. Vayle-Rae Baker, 13-2
182 lbs. – Carter Starocci df. Devin Skatzka, fall 2:59
205 lbs. – Michael Beard df. Greg Bulsak, 10-9
HWT – Greg Kerkvliet df. Demetrius Thomas, 10-0
68 kg/150 lbs. – Alejandra Romero Bonilla df. Alexis Porter, 3-0
67 kg/148 lbs. – Bryce Meredith df. Beau Bartlett, 8-6
140 lbs. – Roman Bravo-Young df. Shelton Mack, 11-0
167 lbs. – Jason Nolf df. Bubba Jenkins, 10-0