No. 1 Penn State knocks off No. 3 Michigan in Ann Arbor, 29-6
by Penn State Athletics
Photo of Aaron Brooks by Sam Janicki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Penn State Nittany Lions (12-0, 4-0 B1G), ranked No. 1 in the latest InterMat Tournament Power Index (TPI), rolled to a dominating 29-6 win at No. 3 Michigan (5-1, 1-1 B1G) on Friday night. Penn State won every match after halftime once again as the Nittany Lions picked up a critical road victory.
The dual meet featured 17 ranked wrestlers. Penn State opened up a big lead at halftime and once again did not lose in the second half in the B1G Network national telecast. The dual was wrestled in front of over 6,100 fans in Michigan's Crisler Arena.
Senior Drew Hildebrandt (Granger, Ind.) ranked No. 7 at 125, battled No. 1 Nick Suriano for seven minutes but dropped a 2-1 decision on riding time for the Wolverine. Senior Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 1 at 133, dominated No. 8 Dylan Ragusin, using a first period takedown and a four-point turn in the third to roll to an 8-1 win. No. 1 Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.) returned to the line-up for Penn State and rolled up seven takedowns as he posted a 21-6 technical fall over Drew Mattin at the 6:36 mark to put Penn State on top 8-3.
Sophomore Beau Bartlett (Tempe, Ariz.), ranked No. 19 at 149, came out fast at 149, locking Cole Mattin's shoulders up and taking him down for two points and a four-point near fall to lead 6-0 in just 0:13. Mattin called for injury timeout and could not continue, giving Bartlett the injury default win at the 0:13 mark. Sophomore Terrell Barraclough (Kaysville, Utah) got the call at 157 and lost a hard-fought 5-2 decision to No. 15 Will Lewan. The Nittany Lions carried a 14-6 lead into the halftime break.
Senior Brady Berge (Mantorville, Minn.), ranked No. 16 at 165, extended Penn State's lead with a thrilling 3-1 win over No. 10 Cameron Amine, using a first period takedown to post the win and put Penn State up 17-6. Sophomore Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 174, used a first period takedown to post a hard-fought 3-2 win over No. 6 Logan Massa to give Penn State a 20-6 lead.
Junior Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md.), ranked No. 1 at 184, used a third period takedown to beat No. 2 Myles Amine in one of many marquee matchups in the dual. The late score gave Brooks a thrilling 3-1 victory. Junior Max Dean (Lowell, Mich.), ranked No. 2 at 197, rode No. 8 Patrick Brucki for the entire third period, picking up riding time to send a 4-4 match into sudden victory. Dean ended the bout quickly in extra time, taking Brucki down in seconds to post a thrilling 6-4 (sv) win. Sophomore Greg Kerkvliet (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), ranked No. 4 at 285, controlled the action against No. 2 Mason Parris is the dual's final bout. Kerkvliet had two takedowns in the first period and then broke open a close match with an escape, takedown and 1:06 riding time in the third period to roll to an impressive 8-5 win. Kerkvliet's victory made the final score 29-6 in Penn State's favor.
Penn State allowed Michigan only five takedowns as it posted a 16-5 margin. The Nittany Lions picked up five bonus points off one injury default (Bartlett) and a tech fall (Lee).
Penn State is now 12-0 overall, 4-0 in Big Ten action. Michigan falls to 5-1, 1-1 B1G. Penn State visits Michigan State on Sunday at 1 p.m. in a B1+ streamed dual.
All rankings listed by Penn State wrestling are InterMat individual and team TPI. The 2021-22 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by the Family Clothesline. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter 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 29, #3 Michigan 6
January 21, 2022 – Ann Arbor, Mich.
125: #1 Nick Suriano MICH dec. #7 Drew Hildebrandt PSU, 2-1
133: #1 Roman Bravo-Young PSU dec. #8 Dylan Ragusin MICH, 8-1
141: #1 Nick Lee PSU tech fall Drew Mattin MICH, 21-6 (TF; 6:36)
149: #19 Beau Bartlett PSU inj. def. Cole Mattin MICH, Ing. Def. (0:13)
157: #15 Will Lewan MICH dec. Terrell Barraclough PSU, 5-2
165: #16 Brady Berge PSU dec. #10 Cameron Amine MICH, 3-1
174: #1 Carter Starocci PSU dec. #6 Logan Massa MICH, 3-2
184: #1 Aaron Brooks PSU dec. #2 Myles Amine MICH, 3-1
197: #2 Max Dean PSU dec. #8 Patrick Brucki MICH, 6-4 (sv)
285: #4 Greg Kerkvliet PSU dec. #2 Mason Parris MICH, 8-5
Attendance: 6,185
Records: Penn State (12-0, 4-0 B1G); Michigan (5-1, 1-1 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: at Michigan State, Sunday, Jan. 23, 1 p.m. (B1G+)