Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1532761
6 8 M A R C H 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M THREE BEST WRESTLERS Mitchell Mesenbrink | So. | 165 After finishing second a year ago at the NCAA Tournament, Mesenbrink entered the 2024-25 season with a plan to not just finish first but also to be the most dominant wrestler in the country. Over the course of the dual meet season, he has been exactly that. The Penn State standout leads the nation in technical-fall victories with 15 and is the clear No. 1 in his weight class entering the postseason. Mesenbrink, 19-0, will also be in con- tention for the Hodge Trophy, which goes to the nation's top collegiate wrestler. Carter Starocci | Gr. | 184 A new weight class has been no problem all year for the four-time NCAA champ. Starocci set the tone early by beating Northern Iowa's Parker Keckeisen, the defending 184-pound champ, 4-1, in sudden victory at the NWCA All-Star Classic back in November. That was an exhibition event. In matches that count for statistical purposes, the Erie, Pa., native has won every match but two this season by either major decision, tech fall or pin. He rolls into the postseason on track for a record- setting fifth NCAA title and, like Mesenbrink, is fighting for the Hodge Trophy, which he has yet to win despite his illustrious career so far in blue and white. Beau Bartlett | Sr.+ | 141 A two-time All-American who has finished sec- ond and third at the national tournament so far in his career, Bartlett hopes to go out on top. At the very least, he will enter the postseason there. The Arizona native beat familiar foe Jesse Mendez of Ohio State, 4-2, in February, scoring the match's only takedown to knock the Buckeye out of the top spot while claiming it for himself. He is 18-0 on the year and winning his way, which means ex- emplary defense and scoring the deciding points in many close matches. KEY MOMENT Sophomore Tyler Kasak was already ranked third in the 157-pound weight class when he stepped onto a raised platform at the Bryce Jor- dan Center against then-No. 1 Jacori Teemer of Iowa. After seven minutes of wrestling, the two would reverse spots in the InterMat rankings. Following a scoreless first period, Kasak es- caped in the second and then scored the bout's first takedown for a 4-0 lead. His Hawkeye op- ponent would eventually escape in the second and third periods but could not take Kasak down. With 2:06 in riding time and a bloody forehead, after it was cut during the match, Kasak won, 5-2, and secured the top spot at 157. BEST HIGHLIGHT Junior Levi Haines will be the Big Ten Tourna- ment's No. 1 seed at 174 pounds in March. He has plenty of wins to account for that seeding, none bigger than the one he secured in the third period over Ohio State's Carson Kharchla. Trailing 3-1 after three minutes of wrestling and 3-2 after two periods, the Nittany Lion gave up an escape to start the third and found himself in a 4-2 hole. Haines, the defending national champ at 157 pounds, then started pushing the action, re- sulting in a scramble that led to his first takedown and lead of the match at 5-4 with 1:15 to wrestle. He rode out the period to secure a riding time point and a 6-4 victory. BOLD PREDICTION Only one team, Minnesota in 2000-01, has ever had 10 All-Americans at the NCAA Tournament. Remarkably, the Golden Gophers achieved that feat and claimed the overall team title without producing a single finalist. Penn State will become the second team with 10 All-Americans, but it will have champions, too. Entering the postseason, the Lions have top- ranked wrestlers in three weight classes, and four Nittany Lions are ranked second. We predict that of the 10 All-Americans, five will be finalists. — Greg Pickel PENN STATE WRESTLING SUPERLATIVES J A N . 2 4 – F E B . 2 1 Graduate 184-pounder Carter Starocci is chasing a record fifth NCAA championship this year. He heads into the postsea- son with an 18-0 record that includes 3 major decisions, 7 technical falls and 6 pins. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS