Penn State wrestling shuts out Michigan State in Big Ten opener. ‘This team is special’

nate cobler

Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 11:18 p.m.·4 min read

Penn State wrestling trounced Michigan State, 55-0, at Rec Hall on Friday night in the Big Ten opener for both schools. The winning margin tied the program’s record set over Buffalo (55-0) on Feb. 18, 2018.

After the dual, 157-pound starter Tyler Kasak put into words what the statistics show: “This team is special.”

To put that into perspective, Penn State swept all 10 bouts and tallied bonus points in all of them. The Nittany Lions also didn’t give up a single takedown in the dual either, while amassing 36 of their own.

Just to add to the statistics, Penn State’s 10 starters are a combined 101-2 on the year. It has outscored its opponents, 323-9, and has recorded four shutouts.

Penn State wrestling coaches Cael Sanderson, Cody Sanderson and Nick Lee watch Shayne Van Ness during his 149 lb bout of the match on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Rec Hall.

“Everything about this program is really special. It’s a unique situation. You go up and down the lineup from 125 to heavyweight, two guys deep,” Kasak said, “I feel like we could be national champions at every weight. I know for me and pretty much everyone on this team, that’s the goal. We want to go out with with a bang. It’s all about out-performing our previous performances.”

The dual began at 285 pounds with Greg Kerkvliet wasting no time pinning Max Vanadia in 56 seconds. Kerkvliet’s was the first of five falls on the night.

Penn State’s Greg Kerkvliet pins Michigan State’s Max Vanadia in the 285 lb bout of the match on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Rec Hall.

Luke Lilledahl and Braeden Davis strung together back-to-back technical falls to give the Nittany Lions a 16-0 lead.

Lilledahl used four takedowns to record a 19-2 victory in 6:07. Davis had five takedowns and nearfall points for a 20-5 win in 5:25.

Beau Bartlett needed until the second period to get his offense going, but still was able to secure a 12-3 major decision over Jaden Crumple at 141 pounds. Shayne Van Ness followed by cranking a deep half nelson on Clayton Jones for a pin in 2:25.

Penn State’s Beau Bartlett trips up Michigan State’s Jaden Crumpler in the 141 lb bout of the match on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Rec Hall. Bartlett won by major decision, 12-3.

Penn State led 26-0 at the break.

“This team has a lot of opportunity to grow and become better and better as the weeks progress. Everyone feeds off each others’ energies, and everyone wants to learn,” Kasak said when asked how much better the team could be. “I think being around people that are self motivated and take a lot of pride in what they do, it just ups the level every week. The more time we spend with each other, that’s why we continue to improve, adapt and overcome obstacles.”

Out of the break, Kasak kept the pins going by cranking Braden Stauffenber to his back in an assassin for a victory in 3:46.

Penn State’s Tyler Kasak controls Michigan State’s Braden Stauffenberg in the 157 lb bout of the match on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Rec Hall. Kasak won by fall.

Mitchell Mesenbrink tallied six takedowns in his 20-5 technical fall of Jay Nivison at 165 pounds.

Levi Haines then started a pin parade when he put Ceasar Garza into a bow and arrow for a fall in 4:12. Carter Starocci put Ryan Boucher on his back in 5:48.

Penn State’s Carter Starocci rolls Michigan State’s Ryan Boucher in the 184 lb bout of the match on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Rec Hall.

Josh Barr closed out the dual by sticking Cory Thomas in 2:43.

“We just look at each individual, and what little things they can continue to improve on. Obviously, number one is just competing with gratitude and enthusiasm,” said Nittany Lions coach Cael Sanderson on how the team can get better. “There’s always little things. That’s what makes it fun, is you have the ability to continue to get better, and that’s the plan.”