ALTOONA, Pa. -- You'd think going up against the No. 4 team in the country that Penn State would face a significant challenge.
Ha!
It was business as usual for the No. 1 Nittany Lions as they clobbered No. 4 Ohio State, 29-9, on the road Friday night in Columbus.
Penn State won its 40th consecutive dual meet, yet another in the long line of impressive feats by the program. The Lions haven't lost a meet since falling to Iowa in January of 2020.
Penn State lost only two of the eight bouts against Ohio State on the way to a dominant victory. The only losses were at 125, where Gary Steen was pinned, and 149, where Shayne Van Ness dropped a 6-3 decision. The 125 weight class continues to be an issue for the Lions, but at this stage of the season, there's probably little that can be done to correct it.
Most of the other bouts were heavily one sided. There was a great bout, though, at 184 between No. 1 Aaron Brooks and No. 5 Kaleb Romero, who gave the Penn State defending national champ a tough battle before losing a 3-2 decision.
Penn State is now 12-0 overall and 5-0 in the Big Ten. Ohio State dropped to 11-2 and 5-1.
The Lions have another road dual meet coming up Sunday afternoon at Indiana.
Following is the box score and a bout-by-bout breakdown from Penn State's release at GoPSUSports.
125: #10 Malik Heinselman OSU pinned Gary Steen PSU, pin (1:56) -- 0-6
133: #1 Roman Bravo-Young PSU dec. Jesse Mendez OSU, 8-2 -- 3-6
141: #5 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. #19 Dylan D'Emilio OSU, 4-2 -- 6-6
149: #3 Sammy Sasso OSU dec. #13 Shayne Van Ness PSU, 6-3 -- 6-9
157: #9 Levi Haines PSU maj. dec. Paddy Gallagher OSU, 14-2 -- 10-9
165: #8 Alex Facundo PSU dec. #12 Carson Kharchla OSU, 4-1 -- 13-9
174: #1 Carter Starocci PSU dec. #7 Ethan Smith OSU, 11-5 -- 16-9
184: #1 Aaron Brooks PSU dec. #5 Kaleb Romero OSU, 3-2 -- 19-9
197: #4 Max Dean PSU pinned #17 Gavin Hoffman OSU, pin (4:17) -- 25-9
285: #2 Greg Kerkvliet PSU maj. dec. #18 Tate Orndorff OSU, 9-0 -- 29-9
125: Gary Steen met No. 10 Malik Heinselman. Heinselman got in on a quick low single and quickly scrambled his way to a takedown and a 2-0 lead. Steen worked to get off the bottom but Heinselman was able to turn him for four back points and a 6-0 lead at 1:48. Steen was called for stalling at 1:11 and then Heinselman turned him for four back points and pinned him at the 1:56 mark.
133: No. 1 Roman Bravo-Young took on No. 9 Jesse Mendez at 133. Bravo-Young and Mendez worked the middle of the mat to start the bout. Mendez took a slight shot that Bravo-Young nearly countered for a takedown at 2:20 but Mendez was able to slide back and keep the bout scoreless at the 2:00 mark. The action continued in neutral past the 1:00 mark, still tied 0-0. Bravo-Young turned a fast high single into a slick takedown and a 2-0 lead at the :33 mark. He then controlled the action from top for the rest of the period, finishing with a rideout, and led 2-0 after one. Trailing 2-0, Mendez chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 2-1 score at the 1:41 mark (Bravo-Young had :50 in riding time). Bravo-Young continued to shoot Mendez backwards deep into the second period, forcing the Buckeye into defense. He worked his way through a low scrambling shot for a second takedown in the final seconds of the period and led 4-1 after two. Bravo-Young chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. Bravo-Young continued to dominated on his feet, using a high shot for a third takedown and a 6-1 lead with 1:12 on the clock. Bravo-Young built his riding time up over 1:00 and then cut Mendez loose to a 7-2 lead. Mendez took a high double and Bravo-Young nearly locked up a throw at :20. But Mendez worked out of trouble and, with 1:04 in riding time, rolled to the 8-2 win.
141: Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 5 at 141, met No. 19 Dylan D'Emilio. Bartlett took a flurry of quick shots in the opening minute-plus, forcing D'Emilio into defense on the middle of the mat. Bartlett's pressure paid off with a fast takedown at the 1:26 mark, giving the Nittany Lion a 2-0 lead. Bartlett then put together a strong ride, maintaining offensive control deep into the period, building his riding advantage up over a minute. After a reset at :26, Bartlett gave up one stall warning and finished the period on top to lead 2-0 after one. D'Emilio chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-1 score. Bartlett paced the center of the mat, controlling the tempo as he looked to work his offense. With the clock dipping below 1:00, Bartlett defended a D'Emilio shot and nearly connected on a low single. D'Emilio was able to defend the shot and action continued in neutral for the rest of the period. Bartlett chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead, maintaining his riding time. He forced D'Emilio into a stall warning then fought off a Buckeye shot as the clock hit 1:30. Bartlett got in on another low shot but D'Emilio forced a stalemate with :35 left to wrestle. Bartlett gave up a stall point, but picked up the riding time point, and posted the 4-2 win.
149: Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 13 at 149, took on No. 3 Sammy Sasso. Van Ness came out and nearly connected on a quick low single off the whistle. But Sasso defended the early shot, worked his way out of trouble, and kept the bout scoreless in the opening seconds of the match. Sasso took a shot, forcing a scramble at 1:45 and Van Ness countered the action, rolling through the move for a takedown and a 2-1 lead. Van Ness continued to set the offensive tempo, controlling position in the middle of the mat. He worke4d his way in on a low single and nearly took Sasso down again. But Sasso countered the move and forced a scramble that led to a Sasso takedown with :15 left. Sasso carried the 3-2 lead into the second period. Leading by one, Sasso chose down to start the second period. He scrambled his way to a reversal and a 5-2 lead before Van Ness escaped to a 5-3 score with 1:10 on the clock. Van Ness continued to pressure on offense but Sasso's defense allowed him to kill the clock and the bout moved to the third period with Van Ness trailing 5-3. Van Ness chose down to start the third period. He fought off a quick cradle from Sasso but could not work his way free of the Buckeye's ride as the clock moved below 1:00. Sasso finished the period with a rideout and Van Ness dropped the 6-3 decision.
157: No. 9 Levi Haines battled No. 25 Paddy Gallagher at 157. Haines took a quick 2-0 lead with a takedown at the 1:52 mark. He then went to work on top, controlling the action as the clock moved to 1:00. Haines maintained position until Gallagher escaped to a 2-1 score with 1:00 left in the period. Haines continued to work on offense, turning a low shot into a takedown and a 4-1 lead with :45 left in the period. Haines turned Gallagher for a handful of seconds but never got the near fall call and led 4-1 with 1:30 in riding time after one. Gallagher chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 4-2 score at 1:40. Haines had 1:48 in riding time. Haines continued to press forward as the Buckeye backed away from the Lion. Haines notched his third takedown at the 1:10 mark and then built his riding time over 2:00 while trying to turn the Buckeye for back points. Haines lifted Gallagher and returned him to the mat with :20 left and then broke the Buckeye down for the rest of the period to finish on top. Haines chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. With riding time clinched, Haines went to work on offense, took Gallagher down once more to up his lead to 9-2 and then turned Gallagher for four back points as the clock hit :50. Leading 13-2, Haines looked for one more turn to secure a tech fall. But Gallagher was able to fight off the late swipes and Haines settled for a dominating 14-2 major with 4:10 in riding time.
165: No. 8 Alex Facundo took on No. 12 Carson Kharchla at 165. The bout started with a high tempo on the Buckeye logo. Facundo stepped back from a quick Ohio State shot at 2:15 in the first real threat of the opening period. After a reset at 2:08, Kharchla got in on a high single but Facundo quickly settled his hips to force a stalemate and action continued in neutral. The Lion began to set up his offense over the next minute and nearly worked a counter move for a takedown at :56. Facundo worked two quick shots that Kharchla had to defend at :30 and nearly turned a blast double into a late takedown. But Kharchla defended the shot and the bout moved to the second period tied 0-0. Facundo chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The Nittany Lion freshman continued to shoot Kharchla backwards as the clock hit 1:20. Kharchla gave up a penalty point with another slap at Facundo's face and the Nittany Lion led 2-0 at :47. Facundo defended a late Kharchla shot and carried the 2-0 lead into the third period. Kharchla chose down to start the third period. Facundo went to work on top, working the clock down to 1:16 with a strong ride before Kharchla escaped to a 2-1 Facundo lead. Facundo continued to take low shots that forced Kharchla into defense for the rest of the match and the Nittany Lion added a final counter takedown in the final seconds. He walked away with a strong 4-1 win.
174: Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, faced off against No. 7 Ethan Smith. Starocci set a high tempo, taking a series of quick shots. Smith took a shot at the 2:15 mark but Starocci quickly countered, gained control of the Buckeyes leg and notched the counter takedown with 1:53 on the clock to lead 2-0. Smith worked his way to an escaped to cut the Lion lead to 2-1 with 1:10 on the clock. Starocci continued to shoot Smith backwards as the clock moved below 1:00. He worked his way through a high single to a takedown and a 4-1 lead in the latter seconds of the period. Smith managed a late escape and Starocci led 4-2 after one. Smith chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 4-3 score with 1:45 on the clock (Starocci had 1:10 in riding time). Starocci continued to take shot after shot as Smith worked to defend each effort. The Nittany Lion blitzed through a lightning quick single for a third takedown at the :35 mark to open up a 6-3 lead. Starocci finished the period on top and led 6-3 with 1:49 in riding time after two. Starocci chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-3 lead. Smith managed a low double to take Starocci down at 1:30, cutting the Nittany Lion's lead to 7-5). Starocci scrambled to an escape and an 8-5 lead after a reset, maintaining his riding time edge. The Lion took Smith down one more time and finished on top. With 1:32 in riding time, Starocci rolled to the 11-5 win.
184: Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 184, battled No. 5 Kaleb Romero. Brooks set the offensive tempo off the opening whistle, forcing Romero towards the outside circle in the first minute of the bout. Romero took a shot on the edge of the mat but Brooks was able to quickly defend it and forced a stalemate at 1:49. Brooks chased Romero around the mat for the next minute-plus. Romero was able to back way out of trouble and the first period ended in a 0-0 tie. Brooks chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The Nittany Lion continued to press the Buckeye backwards as the clock hit 1:10. Romero connected on a high shot with 1:05 left but Brooks once again forced a stalemate and a reset. Brooks chased Romero around the mat once again but the Buckeye was able to kill the clock and Brooks led 1-0 after two. Romero chose down to start the third period, trailing by one, and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Brooks was finally able to chase Romero down, collecting his ankle, and then pulling the fleeing Buckeye back onto the mat for a takedown and a 3-1 lead with 1:10 left to wrestle. Brooks controlled the action on top, working the block down to :30. Action moved out of bounds, forcing a reset and Romero was able to escape to a 3-2 score with :25 on the clock. Brooks' third period takedown gave the Nittany Lion a 3-2 win.
197: No. 4 Max Dean met No. 17 Gavin Hoffman at 197. Dean connected on a low single quickly, forcing Hoffman to defend the shot over the next minute. Dean continued to work the single and was awarded the takedown with 1:55 on the clock, but the officials reviewed the action and took the takedown away. Dean continued to work on his feet and forced another scramble late in the period. Dean worked his way into control and picked up the late takedown to lead 2-0 after one. Hoffman chose down to start the second period and Dean went to work on top. The Lion senior built up a over 1:00 in riding time with strong offense, breaking Hoffman down in the middle of the mat. Dean eventually worked the Buckeye over to his back, turning him for a four-swipe before settling in for the fall at the 4:28 mark.
285: No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet took on No. 18 Tate Orndorff at 285. Kerkvliet scored quickly, taking Orndorff down in the opening seconds to lead 2-0. Kerkvliet then went to work on top, looking for a chance to turn the Ohio State big man. Kerkvliet's riding time moved over 1:00 as the clock hit 1:40. He continued to work on top, looking to turn Orndorff. Kerkvliet was unable to turn Orndorff but finished the period on top to lead 2-0 with 2:44 in riding time after one period. Kerkvliet chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 3-0 lead at 1:22. Kerkvliet then turned a quick high single into another takedown and a 5-0 lead. Kerkvliet once again went to work on top, trying to turn Orndorff for back points. The Nittany Lion big man finished the period on top and led 5-0 with 3:26 in riding time after two. Orndorff chose neutral to start the third period and Kerkvliet quickly turned a single into a lift and a takedown with 1:20 on the clock. Leading 7-0 with riding time clinched, Kerkvliet worked on offense. He picked up a stall point and finished the match on top to post the 9-0 major with 4:53 in riding time.
• Coming up Sunday
See what running back Nicholas Singleton had to say about his outstanding freshman season, plus how he feels about sharing carries with Kaytron Allen. I'll have that story Sunday.
• Hockey team picks up good win over Buckeyes
While the wrestling team was taking down the Buckeyes in Columbus, Penn State's hockey team also beat Ohio State on the road.
The Lions got a game-winning goal from Kevin Wall with 2:20 remaining for a 4-3 win over the Buckeyes. Wall and Connor MacEachern each scored two goals for Penn State.
The No. 9 Lions (19-9-1, 9-9-1 Big Ten) had been scuffling, dropping three of their last four before taking down the No. 7 Buckeyes in this one.
The two teams will play again Saturday night at 6:30 on BTN.
• Basketball team visits Nebraska for must-win game
The Lions play at Nebraska on Sunday at 4:30 on BTN. Penn State cannot afford to lose this game because of its situation on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
The Lions are 5-6 in the Big Ten and 14-8 overall. Their NET ranking is solid at No. 54, but being under .500 in the league has them on the wrong side of the bubble right now.
ESPN's Joe Lunardi has Penn State as the fifth team out right now. So, as has been the case for a while, there's very little margin for error.
Nebraska has lost four in a row and six out of seven. The Lions beat the Cornhuskers last month at the Bryce Jordan Center, 76-65.
But, this is weird. Despite having a terrible league record and being just 10-13 overall, Nebraska somehow has a NET ranking of No. 99.That makes very little sense, but hey, that's computer rankings for you.
Nebraska is 7-3 at home and has been difficult to beat there over the years. The Lions must be ready for this game, because a loss might be enough to sink their tournament hopes, barring some kind of miracle finish.
• Men's volleyball nets another solid win
The No. 4 Lions improved to 7-1 with a 3-1 victory over No. 10 USC on Friday night at Rec Hall as part of the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge.
Penn State has a huge match coming up Saturday night at 7 against No. 2 UCLA.
• Baseball season right around the corner
We're less than two weeks away from the start of Penn State's baseball season. The Lions open up Feb. 17 with a three-game series at Miami.
Penn State will play down South for the first month, as usual, and play its home opener March 15 against Navy at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
