The Nittany Lions rolled over their in-state rival, extending their dual win streak to 74.
The Lehigh wrestlers came into Rec Hall for the 113th Dual Meet with the host Nittany Lions and left beaten and battered to the tune of 36-6 team score with the good guys winning 8 of the 10 matches. PSU now leads the all-time series 76 wins, 34 losses, and 3 ties. That’s 15 straight over Lehigh and 74 straight dual wins overall dating back to 2021.
Recap
125 Luke Lilledahl technical fall over Logan Wadle, 17-2, 3:21
Wadle took the edge of the mat off the whistle and Lightning Luke gave chase. It always strikes me how big the mat looks with the lightweights out there. Wadle had plenty of room to run but nowhere to hide. Luke got to Wadle’s leg for the first takedown followed by a quick escape. Then, in honor of Cenzo (now a Lehigh assistant) coming to visit, Luke and Wadle get in an upper body lock and Luke hits the inside trip to put Wadle on his back for a 7 point move. One more takedown and the first period ended with Lilledahl up 14-2. Luke chose the down position and, as fast as Byers could tell us that Luke needed just an escape and takedown for the tech fall, Luke did and it was over.
133 Marcus Blaze technical fall over Mason Ziegler, 19-4, 5:37
Marcus Blaze wrestles with absolutely zero wasted motion. He squares up to his opponent, keeps his elbows tight, and stalks him in a very Starocci-like manner. Ziggy danced around and Marcus closed in, scored on a quick single leg and added a couple of slide-bys and a high double to finish with 6 take downs, Ziegler’s only points coming off 4 escapes.
141 Cael Nasdeo drops a 5-1 decision to Carter Bailey
This outing looked to be the opposite what Nasdeo showed us on Friday night against Drexel. In that one, Cael came out with aggression, scored an early takedown but let it slip away. This time, he fell behind on an early takedown and rideout with Bailey leading 3-0 and a minute and a half of riding time after 1. Nasdeo worked hard trying to get a takedown of his own for the next two periods. He got close on a couple of shots at the end but it wasn’t enough and the time expired. Nasdeo’s working hard, soon some of these decisions will come his way.
149 Shayne Van Ness major decision over Owen Reinsel, 19-6
The dreaded 13 point major. Just one more takedown needed for the tech fall. And, Shayne was a bit lucky to get that. Shayne dominated most of this match but got a little sloppy and was lucky to not give up back points as Reinsel put a good ride on him in the 2nd period. The 3rd period was all Van Ness as he put the bow and arrow on Reinsel for 4 near fall points but not able to get the pin. None the less, SVN gives us his big grin as he gets his hand raised.
157 Peter John Duke by injury default over tenth ranked Logan Rozynski
You hate to see anyone get injured but poor Rozynski was unable or unwilling to protect himself in this match. I’m leaning towards unwilling because Rozynski started backing up from go in this one. The first stall warning came a minute into the match before PJ was able to get into Rozynski’s legs, lifted him and threw him to his back but couldn’t secure the takedown before Rozynski scooted off the edge. (Would have been a 4 point throw in freestyle.)The first period ended with no score. Duke picked up the pressure in the second with a takedown, 2 stall points and another takedown for an 8-2 lead into the 3rd. Two more takedowns in the 3rd and Rozynski appeared to have had enough. On a restart after that 4th takedown PJ comes around to the front of Rozynski offering a free escape but Rozynski refuses to get off his knees and engage. PJ senses this, comes in and cranks up under Rozynki’s shoulder and damn near took off the arm with it. That was all for Rozynski as he couldn’t continue. Hopefully it’s not a serious injury because Lehigh has had their share with Crookham and Stanich still on the shelf.
165 Mitchell Mesenbrink major decision over Max Brignola, 15-7
For the first time this season Mitchell goes a full seven minutes and Brignola only gives up 4 team points. Mitchell may have actually gassed himself in this one as he looked a little worn at the end and even surrendered a first takedown of the season. It sure looked to me though that Brignola was playing dead for a bit there, Mitchell forced a stall call and seemed to have a lapse in concentration allowing Brignola to score a takedown. As a result, Mitchell has to go the distance for the first time this season. Surprisingly though, Mesenbrink was awarded the Ridge Riley award for the dual.
174 Levi Haines win by fall over Bekruz Sadriddinov, 2:15
Archery season is open and Levi failed to disappoint. Levi scored a quick takedown, gave up the escape and followed it up with a second takedown before stringing up his bow. Bekruz had no chance as Levi cranked him over and flattened him.
184 Rocco Welsh by decision over Rylan Rogers, 4-2
After Levi lights up the crowd these guys come on and just suck all the life out of Rec Hall spending the first minute of the match exerting as little energy as possible. Rocco looked for a shot at the end of the first but got nothing. Welsh earned his 1 point for the escape at the start of the second and the snoozefest continued. The referee was bored half to sleep and couldn’t even bother to raise his fist for a stall call; on to the third. An escape by Rogers, finally a takedown by Rocco and, ho-hum, another escape by Rogers for the final score. Are you not entertained?
197 Connor Mirasola by decision over Remy Brancato-Roed, 8-3
A second straight match with a scoreless first period did nothing to get the crowd back in the match. Connor though was making an effort but Brancato kept backing out of every tie up. Mirasola finally scores a takedown and Brancato seems content to lie on his stomach. Mirasola was able to add another takedown late in the 3rd. Not a whole lot of action here.
285 Cole Mirasola drops a decision to Nathan Taylor, 7-2
Nathan Taylor is a mountain of a man and in a year where there are few large heavyweights he has a chance to do some damage. Cole’s found some things to work on though and he’ll need to find a way to score on this guy if they meet again. Taylor weighed in with a 38 pound weight advantage and it showed. Cole had several taps at Taylors good knee through the early going but never pulled the trigger with a committed shot until the second period and Taylor made him pay. As big as he is, Taylor is still agile on the mat and he turned Cole’s shot into a take down of his own. Third period was more of the same, Cole shoots, Taylor wins the scramble. Lesson learned, let’s move on.
The Takery
In Summary this dual played out about as we expected. PSU with way too much firepower though Lehigh took advantage where they could. You learn a few things that you take with you into the next match. Speaking of which, PSU heads west to Laramie Wyoming and a chance to fight some Cowboys. A couple of interesting matches await including a resurgent Christian Carroll at Heavyweight and a stellar match up at 197 with Joey Novak.
What we’ve learned one month into the wrestling season.
We’re a little over a month into the season and here’s a few items of interest:
tOSU wins the Paycom Duals Invitational, will they hang a banner alongside all those Recruiting National Champion banners? The Bucks take on NC State in a dual on Friday Night.
Wrestlers still on the shelf – Josh Barr heads the lists for our interests. Crookham and Stanich remain out for Lehigh with rumors are flying around that Crookham has a torn labrum and will not return this season.
Cornell wrestlers are short handed as several navigate Ivy League eligibility rules. Grad students cannot participate so a number of wrestlers are sitting out the first semester. Shapiro, Fernandez, Cornella and Greg D are all expected back in January.
At 197 Rocky Elam returns from redshirt in a new singlet, now with Iowa State. He has some nice wins over Mo Endene in the CyHawk dual and a CKLV title over Justin Rademacher and Joey Novak. 197 is surprisingly weak in the B1G outside of Endene and Barr/Mirasola so it may be the most interesting weight to follow at NCAAs.
The rise of the Freshmen- Duke, Blaze, the Larkins at ASU and a handful of Cowboys continue to impress. David Taylor is getting the most out of the freshmen, Ramirez, Vega, Robideau and Lockett, while the transfers stumble. Swiderski is struggling, Facundo and Ryder are scuffling, and Richie Figs is following in the footsteps of Parco and Teemer last year. Caveat Emptor Lucifer.
Coming back from redshirting – Bastida, Amos (after 2 years on the shelf), Ghadiali, Taylor and Carroll are all back and battling for the podium.
Ridge Riley Winner: Mitchell Mesenbrink
Next Up – at Wyoming, Laramie, WY, Sat, Dec 13, 8:00pm EST (FloWrestling, Lionvision)
Category: General Sports
