Penn State wrestling ready to get dual meet portion of season underway with No. 20 Lehigh
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When Penn State’s wrestling schedule was released in October, it looked different than in past years. In fact, it’s the first time in 20 years — minus the 2020-2021 season — that the Nittany Lions didn’t have their first dual until December.
That first dual of the season happens Sunday with a matchup with Lehigh at Rec Hall.
“Yeah, definitely it was strange. I think we’re ready to wrestle. Obviously, (we have a) big matchup with Lehigh,” Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said Tuesday during media availability. “(There is) a lot of tradition, a very strong program and a great coaching staff. It’s always a great match. We’re excited to compete, and return to Rec Hall and get our first dual of the year going.”
It will be the 111th meeting between the Nittany Lions and Mountain Hawks, though the series has been rather one sided. Penn State has won 73 of the duals, including the last 12 matchups. Lehigh enters Rec Hall with a loss already on its record, 21-12 to Pittsburgh on Nov. 19 at home.
The series has been known for several great matchups and this year’s dual is no different.
One of the most anticipated matchups will be at 197 pounds as No. 1 Aaron Brooks faces off with former teammate Michael Beard, who is No. 10 in the country.
“I’m sure they wrestled and trained together a lot. I don’t really recall a lot of that,” Sanderson said. “Mike is good friends with everybody (on the team). He’s just a good dude, fun to be around, and obviously a great wrestler.”
Fans will get treated to another good matchup at 133 pounds as No. 3 Aaron Nagao faces off with No. 5 Ryan Crookham.
Crookham made a name for himself on the PIAA-level by claiming three state titles. He could’ve won four, but had to sit out a year after transferring from Notre Dame-Green Pond to Saucon Valley.
He quickly put the NCAA field on notice when he topped reigning NCAA champ, Vito Arujau of Cornell, in the Journeymen Collegiate Classic on Nov. 12.
Those two could be followed up by another top-10 tilt as No. 2 Beau Bartlett takes on No. 10 Malyke Hines.
Following 141 pounds, there will be just two other matchups of ranked wrestlers before Brooks and Beard hit the mat. Those matches will take place at 157 and 165 pounds, where the Nittany Lions’ Levi Haines (No. 1) and Mitchell Mesenbrink (No. 16) are heavily favored.
The dual will end on a high note with No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet taking on No. 12 Nathan Taylor. These two have already faced off this year when Kerkvliet beat Taylor, 6-1, at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic.
“It’s been a little bit. It’ll be fun. I think the guys are ready to compete and are looking good,” Kerkvliet said of the dual on Tuesday. “It’ll be exciting.”
No. 20 Lehigh (0-1) at No. 1 Penn State (0-0)
When: 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Rec Hall
Radio: WOWY (103.1 FM)
TV: Big Ten Network
Online: Radio, Lionvision at GoPSUsports.com
Twitter: @byncobler, @pennstatewrest
Nittany Lions | vs. | Mountain Hawks |
125: Robert Howard (3-4) OR Gary Steen (6-2) OR Braeden Davis (7-0) | vs. | Sheldon Seymour (4-3) |
133: No. 3 Aaron Nagao (4-0) | vs. | No. 5 Ryan Crookham (7-0) |
141: No. 2 Beau Bartlett (7-0) | vs. | No. 10 Malyke Hines (7-1) OR Carter Bailey (7-4) |
149: No. 2 Shayne Van Ness (3-0) | vs. | Drew Munch (5-2) |
157: No. 1 Levi Haines (3-0) | vs. | No. 24 Max Brignola (6-1) |
165: No. 16 Mitchell Mesenbrink (7-0) | vs. | No. 32 Jake Logan (6-2) |
174: No. 1 Carter Starocci (3-0) | vs. | Thayne Lawrence (2-3) |
184: No. 2 Bernie Truax (3-0) | vs. | Caden Rogers (4-2) OR Jack Wilt (5-2) |
197: No. 1 Aaron Brooks (3-0) | vs. | No. 10 Michael Beard (7-1) |
285: No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet (3-0) | vs. | No. 12 Nathan Taylor (7-2) |
