Penn State wrestling remains atop latest NWCA poll ahead of unbeaten clash with No. 2 Iowa

Penn State’s entire starting lineup remains ranked in the top seven of each respective weight class in the latest Intermat individual wrestling rankings.

Only 125-pounder Luke Lilledahl saw movement this week, dropping down one spot from No. 6 to No. 7 after losing his match to Dean Peterson from Rutgers, 4-1. Peterson is ranked No. 10 at 125 pounds.

Two Nittany Lions are ranked No. 1 in their class, with Mitchell Mesenbrink and Carter Starocci holding down the top spot at 165 pounds and 184 pounds, respectively.

Beau Bartlett (No. 3, 141 pounds), Shayne Van Ness (No. 4, 149 pounds), Tyler Kasak (No. 3, 157 pounds), Levi Haines (No. 2, 174 pounds), Josh Barr (No. 4, 197 pounds) and Greg Kerkvliet (No. 2, 285 pounds) all remained in the top five of their class, while 133-pounder Braeden Davis is at No. 7.

Many of Penn State’s wrestlers will face some of the best competition they will see this weekend when they take on Iowa Friday night in the Bryce Jordan Center. Seven of the Hawkeyes’ 10 starters are ranked in the top 10, with Jacori Teemer (157 pounds) and Stephen Buchanan (197 pounds) leading the way as the top-ranked wrestlers in their classes.

Nittany Lions remain atop team standings

Penn State is the unanimous No. 1 team in the country once again, according to the latest NWCA Division I men’s wrestling coaches poll. The Nittany Lions received all 16 first-place votes in the poll.

They remained at the top after dominating Rutgers, winning nine of 10 matches against the Scarlet Knights on their way to a 35-3 win to get to 9-0 on the season.

All three of the top three teams in the country (PSU, Iowa and Oklahoma State) are undefeated, with Friday’s clash between the Nittany Lions and Hawkeyes set to take one of the three out of the ranks of the unbeaten.

Three of the top four teams in the poll are in the Big Ten, with No. 4 Ohio State joining No. 1 Penn State and No. 2 Iowa.

Those teams are joined by fellow Big Ten schools Nebraska (No. 7), Minnesota (No. 8), Rutgers (No. 12), Illinois (No. 14), Michigan (No. 19), Indiana (No. 23) and Maryland (No. 25) in the rankings.

NWCA Top 25 Poll

Others Receiving Votes: Lehigh 13, Navy 12, Penn 11, Arizona State 6, Northern Colorado 3, Wyoming 3, Campbell 2, Utah Valley 1, Virginia 1.