LIVE BLOG: Penn State wrestling hosts Iowa in top two showdown

The biggest dual of the season has arrived. Tonight, top-ranked Penn State wrestling will take on No. 2 Iowa in a battle that will shape the course of the Big Ten and national title discussion.

The Nittany Lions and Hawkeyes are set to take the mat inside the Bryce Jordan Center around 7 p.m. ET and will air live on the Big Ten Network.

For a full look at tonight’s action, check out our preview of the top-two clash.

Penn State vs. Iowa live blog

Match-by-match results can be found below. Please note, this page will not update automatically. to see the latest results, please refresh your browser.

125: No. 7 Luke Lilledahl  (PSU) def No. 26 Joey Cruz (IOWA) 22-6 by tech fall

Lilledahl came out firing early and got the single leg for the first takedown of the match. An impressive rideout to end the 1st period showed the dominance of the Nittany Lion wrestler and eventually wore Cruz down in the ensuing periods and absolutely put on a clinic in the 3rd period to led to the tech fall win.

No. 1 Penn State 5    No. 2 Iowa 0

133: No. 3 Drake Ayala (IOWA) def Kurt McHenry (PSU) by 19-4 tech fall

Braeden Davis didn’t get the start like everyone expected and instead it was Kurt McHenry who faced Ayala and it was over rather quickly. McHenry usually is a 125 pounder and looked significantly smaller than Ayala.

No. 1 Penn State 5   No. 2 Iowa 5

141: No. 3 Beau Bartlett def Cullan Schriever (IOWA) by 7-3 decision

Beau Bartlett came out fast and picked up two takedowns and led 6-2 after the first period. A period that took way longer than usual as there were 4 separate stoppages for Bartlett bleeding from his face. A pair of escapes for each wrestler the rest of the way in what was a defensive match. Bartlett never seemed to get much going outside of that first period, but still took care of business.

No. 1 Penn State 8   No. 2 Iowa 5

149: No. 4 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) def No. 2 Kyle Parco (IOWA) by 17-6 major decision

The first featured matchup of the night was a thriller. Van Ness came out firing and picked up a takedown in the opening seconds much to the delight of the Bryce Jordan Center crowd. Parco showed his poise and responded with a takedown of his own in the final minute to knot the score at 4-4 after one. Parco opened the 2nd period with a reversal to grab the lead back 6-4.

Van Ness then flipped the match on its head quite literally, taking down Parco and flipping him to his back for an additional four  points as the BJC erupted. It looked like there were multiple chances for the fall but nonetheless it was pushed the Nittany Lion to a 12-6 lead after two periods. Van Ness would pick up another takedown in the 3rd period and cruised to a dominant major decision.

No. 1 Penn State 12    No. 2 Iowa 5 

157: No. 3 Tyler Kasak(PSU) def No. 1 Jacori Teemer (IOWA) by 5-2 decision

The second featured matchup of the night saw a defensive first period as both wrestlers were feeling each other out. Kasak opened the scoring after picking up a quick escape within 5 seconds and then followed it up with a takedown to push the lead to 4-0. An attempted reversal by Teemer that took the two wrestlers off the mat caused a pretty major cut on Kasak’s forehead, leading to a long injury timeout with 20 seconds remaining in the 2nd period. Teemer was credited with the escape and despite a late takedown attempt by Kasak it was 4-1 after two.

Kasak made Keemer work hard for his escape and locked up the riding time point while doing so. After multiple attempts by Keemer, maybe the most memorable one of the match was the last one where Kasak picked the No. 1 ranked wrestler off the mat and proceeded to give a fist pump to the crowd as time winded down towards his victory. It was a season changing win for Tyler Kasak who now may have earned the new No. 1 ranking at 157 when they are released next week.

No. 1 Penn State 15   No. 2 Iowa 5

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165: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) def No. 2 Mikey Caliendo by 19-4 tech fall

It looked like Caliendo was in a good position to pick up the first takedown but Mesenbrink fought it off and finished the first period with two of his own to lead 6-2. Mesenbrink picked up another takedown before riding an exhausted Caliendo who also got a stalling call twice out to end the 2nd period 10-2. The 2nd period was foreshadowing of the 3rd period as Mesenbrink opened with a reversal before picking up a pair of takedowns and another stall call to win it.

No. 1 Penn State 20   No. 2 Iowa 5

174: No. 2 Levi Haines (PSU) def No. 6 Patrick Kennedy (IOWA) by 10-3 decision

It was a scoreless first period with both wrestlers having a few opportunities for points. Haines opened the 2nd period with an escape in just 8 seconds. Haines was able to get in on the leg with about 30 seconds to go in the period to pick up the takedown and lead 4-0 after two. The 3rd period was once again an example of just how well conditioned Penn State is as a team. Haines picked up two takedowns and seemed to gas Kennedy. He was unable to get the major decision though as Kennedy was able to pick up the escape with about 10 seconds remaining and the riding time was only at 55 seconds for Haines.

No. 1 Penn State 23   No. 2 Iowa 5

184: No. 1 Carter Starocci (PSU) def Angelo Ferrari (IOWA) by 3-1 decision

Ferrari came out defensive as one would expect a young wrestler to do against a four time national champ. In the process though he picked up two stall calls leading to a 1-0 lead for Starocci after one period. Most of the first period was wrestled around the edge of the circle with Starocci being the aggressor.

Ferrari did get the escape to tie it at one after the 2nd period but Starocci was able to get riding time over one minute. Starocci once again was unable to get any offense going as most of the period was wrestled too close to the edge. It was clear this was a strategy by Ferrari to use the boundary to his advantage.

Starocci picked up the escape in the riding time and won the match without scoring a takedown. It wasn’t the most dominant victory by Starocci but he was never in real danger of being scored on.

No. 1 Penn State 26   No. 2 Iowa 5

197: No. 1 Stephen Buchanan (IOWA) def No. 4 Josh Barr (PSU) by 5-1 decision

It was a scoreless 1st period but Barr was able to fend off a great shot by Buchanan to keep him off the board. The 2nd period saw Buchanan take his riding time over one minute before Barr was able to escape and take a 1-0 lead into the 3rd period. Buchanan escaped with a roll through to start the 3rd period and got out with 1:02 left of riding time on the clock.

Buchanan iced the match with a takedown with under 20 seconds remaining to take the match. It was the first time this season that Barr has been unable to record a takedown.

No. 1 Penn State 26   No. 2 Iowa 8

285: No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) def No. 11 Ben Kueter  (IOWA) by 12-2 major decision

Kerkvliet got things started early with a single leg takedown to open the scoring 3-0. Kueter got the escape, but Kerkvliet was able to drive through him and pickup a second takedown with under 10 seconds remaining to lead 6-1. After already picking up over a minute of riding time in the first period, Kerkvliet went to work once again in the 2nd to extend that time to well over three minutes.

Kerkvliet got the escape early in the 3rd to extend the lead to 7-1. The defending national champion would go on to add a few more points on his way to the major decision victory and keep his undefeated season alive.

No. 1 Penn State 30   No. 2 Iowa 8

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