Penn State wrestling bonuses its way to Cael Sanderson’s 250th coaching victory

As snow fell outside the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday afternoon, Penn State’s wrestling team was putting on a show inside.

The Nittany Lions didn’t drop a single bout in their 54-0 victory over Wyoming, in a venue that had been changed to accommodate the women’s volleyball team taking on Creighton in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in Rec Hall. During the dual, Penn State also claimed bonus points in all 10 bout wins.

“Wyoming is a little banged up. Coming in, a couple of their top guys weren’t in their lineup. We really appreciate them still throwing 10 guys out there,” Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said. “I know that’s not always easy to do, if your guys are beat up a little bit. I thought our guys wrestled with really solid enthusiasm and the effort was great. A lot of good scrambles.”

With the win, Sanderson earned his 250th coaching win — 206 of which have been at the helm of Penn State’s program.

Penn State amassed a 29-1 takedown advantage, while gathering all of those bonus points along the way. It had five pins, four technical falls and a major decision.

Luke Lilledahl started things off at 125 pounds by recording the most takedowns for the Nittany Lions, with six in his 20-5 technical fall in 4:25 over Jack Braman, who filled in for No. 7 Jore Volk. Lilledahl had four alone in the first period with a nice duck under and counter takedown as part of those.

“I thought Luke looked great. He was just kind of flowing around the mat, and putting multiple things together. He’s a student of the game,” Sanderson said, “and just always trying to get better, playing with the things that he’s working on in competitions; it’s not easy to do. He’s willing to do that. He looked really sharp.”

Braeden Davis held a 12-3 advantage after two periods of wrestling thanks to four takedowns — two in each period. He opened the third with some aggression by picking up a quick reversal and throwing Stockton O’Brien to his back for nearfall points.

Davis didn’t get the pin, but collected an 18-3 technical fall in 5:27.

Beau Bartlett and Shayne Van Ness had back-to-back falls to push Penn State’s lead to 22-0.

Bartlett needed just 43 seconds to take care of No. 28 Cole Brooks. Van Ness, who gave up the lone takedown of the match, stuck No. 22 Gabe Willochell, who is a Pennsylvania native, in 4:26.

Tyler Kasak closed out the first half of the dual by earning a 16-3 major decision over No. 19 Jared Hill.

Mitchell Mesenbrink kept his perfect season in tact by rolling to a 15-0 technical fall in 3:17. He held an 11-0 lead after one period thanks to a quick takedown and two sets of nearfall points.

He now has seven wins, with all of them coming by way of the technical fall.

“Every time that I get to go out there, it’s a new creative act, it’s a new canvas, and time to have fun. A lot of the things tonight that I was able to hit, I don’t usually hit those things,” Mesenbrink said. “Progressing as a wrestler, I don’t think ever ends. When you think that’s done, then maybe that should be the time that you tie it up and be done. Wrestling is a sport, like it’s an art. You can constantly keep getting better at it. I’m not really thinking about tech falls or whatever, because I love to battle too. If it goes into triple (overtime), I love that too.”

Following Mesenbrink came a pin parade, with a pair coming with the bow and arrow.

Levi Haines continues to excel as his new weight of 174 pounds. He took Riley Davis to his back and cranked his foot toward his head for the fall with 36 seconds remaining in the first period.

“Levi looks great. He’s big and strong. His conditioning is outstanding. He’s wrestling at a high pace, using every second with his hand fighting, the pressuring and the snapping,” Sanderson said. “He looks great on top like we saw today. He’s able to get in there and do what he does. It’s been a really nice transition for him.”

Carter Starocci followed with the identical move as Haines on Ethan Ducca, but in a quicker finish with 1:12 left in the first period.

Josh Barr got the nod again at 197 pounds, which seems to indicate he’s earned that starting spot after his win last Sunday at Lehigh. He built up a 16-3 lead on Brant Whitaker before sticking him in 1:48.

Greg Kerkvliet finished off the barrage by securing a 20-3 technical fall of Kevin Zimmer in 3:28.

“We wrestled full strength, and I know our opponents weren’t. Those are things you kind of wonder about, but our guys just need the matches. I think they wrestled well,” Sanderson said. “Thinking through the match, I got to give a lot of props always to Coach (Casey) Cunningham, because a lot of leg turns today, that’s his specialty. We’re happy and healthy.”

No. 1 Penn State 54, Wyoming 0

Sunday at University Park

125: No. 16 Luke Lilledahl, PSU, tech. fall Jack Braman, 20-5 (4:25)

133: No. 11 Braeden Davis, PSU, tech. fall Stockton O’Brien, 18-3 (5:27)

141: No. 3 Beau Bartlett, PSU, pinned No. 28 Cole Brooks, :43

149: No. 2 Shayne Van Ness, PSU, pinned No. 22 Gabe Willochell, 4:26

157: No. 4 Tyler Kasak, PSU, major dec. No. 19 Jared Hill, 16-3

165: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU, tech. fall Cooper Voorhees, 15-0 (2:17)

174: No. 2 Levi Haines, PSU, pinned Riley Davis, 2:25

184: No. 1 Carter Starocci, PSU, pinned Ethan Ducca, 1:38

197: No. 7 Josh Barr, PSU, pinned Brant Whitaker, 1:48

285: No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet, PSU, tech. fall Kevin Zimmer, 20-3 (3:28)

Takedowns: W 1, PSU 29

Records: Wyoming (2-3), Penn State (3-0)

Next match: Penn State vs. Binghamton, Little Rock and Missouri, Journeymen Collegiate Wrestling Duals, Nashville, TN, Dec. 22, 2 p.m.