COLLEGE PARK, Md. (WJAC) — Penn State wrestling wins the Big Ten team title, as 5 champions are crowned champions.
The Nittany Lions advanced 7 wrestlers to the finals, a school record.
The championship round opened with Penn State’s Braeden Davis’ decision over Minnesota’s Patrick McKee, 8-1. Davis, the 6th seed in the tournament, is a true freshman and ends his first season with a Big Ten Championship.
Top seeded Beau Barlett came up short, dropping a 4-1 decision to Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez, picking up his first loss of the season. The wrestlers were tied at 1 with just seconds to go in the third period when Mendez picked up a takedown. Bartlett qualified for the National Championships.
The Lions secured the team championship with Levi Haines’ 4-1 sudden victory win at 157. Haines’ entered the tournament as the top seed wrestler and scored a takedown to defeat 7th seeded Michigan’s Will Lewan. The win is Haines’ second Big Ten title in a row.
The evening’s excitement for Lions’ fans came at 165 lbs. Redshirt freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink came back from being down 9-3 in the third period to score a takedown and back points to upset Wisconsin’s Dean Hamiti. Mesenbrink was the number two seed, Hamiti was number one.
In the battle of two seniors at 184, Penn State’s Bernie Traux avoided being pinned in sudden victory. After ending the third period tied a 1, Minnesota’s number 1 seeded Isaiah Salazar scored at takedown and back points
Aaron Brooks picked up his fourth Big Ten title with a tech fall against Iowa’s Zach Glazier. The senior won on a series of takedowns and escapes to end the 197 championship match 19-3 with under a minute remaining in the third period. Brooks remains undefeated and heads to the National Championships looking for his fourth national title as well.
Penn State’s fifth title came at heavyweight when senior Greg Kerkvliet picked up his first championship. He took down Ohio State’s freshman Nick Feldman to win a decision 9-3.
The Nittany Lions scored 170.5 team points. Michigan was second, 47 points behind Penn State.
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