PSU wrestlers sink Navy in home opener

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: November 11, 2019

By BRIAN CARSON

UNIVERSITY PARK – Dominant. Commanding. Powerful.

Penn State opened up its 2019-20 wrestling season in impressive fashion with a 45-0 thumping of Navy Sunday afternoon at Rec Hall.

The Nittany Lions (1-0) scored bonus points in six of ten bouts recording four falls, a tech fall, a major and four decisions as Penn State extended its winning streak to 60 matches.

“I didn’t really come into the match with a lot of expectations,” Sanderson said. “We were just hoping our kids would compete hard, and we won some close matches. These guys did a nice job and we’re happy with the way they competed. We didn’t wrestle at our best. I’m sure they didn’t feel like they wrestled at their best, but it’s November, that’s just kind of to be expected.

“I think they put a great effort in, and something we know we can work on moving forward, so that’s the point of these early competitions.”

Brody Teske (125), Luke Gardner (149), Creighton Edsel (184) and Kyle Conel (197) picked up victories in their Penn State debuts.

Teske, a redshirt freshman from Iowa, had an escape in the first and a stall point in the third to record the 2-1 win.

Gardner had two takedowns in the first period before slapping on a tight cradle for the fall in 1:46 over John Park. Gardner beat Jarod Verkleeren 3-2 in eliminations to earn the starting spot.

“I’ve just been staying the course and doing everything the coaches asked me to do so, when the time presented itself, I jumped on it. I’m very grateful for that opportunity,” Gardner said.

Edsel, in for the banged–up Shakur Rasheed, eked out a 5-2 victory over Andrew Buckley. The redshirt freshman from Wyalusing took a 2-0 lead with a single-leg in the first. Buckley escaped late in the period and added another in the second to even things up at 2-all. Edsell chose down and had an escape and late takedown in the third for the win.

“It’s definitely an awesome feeling, definitely very energetic,” Edsell said when asked about hearing the crowd. “It’s something I’ve never really felt before. I come from a really small town, so I didn’t really have that back where I was from, but very awesome, very energetic.”

Conel, a senior transfer from Kent State, pulled out a hard-fought 4-3 win over Jake Koser. Conel took a 2-0 lead with a takedown, but Koser escaped to make it 2-1 after the first. Koser tied it with an escape in the second. Conel took the lead and the victory with a reversal in the third.

Third–ranked Nick Lee started things off for the Nittany Lions with a pin in 6:16 over Cody Trybus at 141. Lee built an 18-5 lead thanks to six takedowns and a reversal.

Gardner followed with his win to make it 12-0 and Bo Pipher, subbing for the injured Brady Berge, won a tight 7-6 matchup against Scout Skidgel at 157 with an escape at the buzzer.

Top–ranked Vincenzo Joseph made mincemeat out of Tanner Skidgel at 165 with a 20-5 technical fall in 6:02. The three-time NCAA finalist and two-time champion racked up six takedowns and two sets of four-point nearfalls.

Joseph received the Ridge Riley Award for outstanding wrestler of the dual meet.

“Yeah, it’s taken me four years to get a Ridge Riley award, so I’m psyched. And Zain (Retherford) gave it to me, so I got to take a picture with Zain, so that was cool,” Joseph said. “I’m just doing everything I can to be on top of my game. I love everything about this place, I love wrestling here, and I just want to cherish all of it.”

At 174, Midshipman Spencer Carey made the mistake of locking up and trying to throw top-ranked Mark Hall. The Nittany Lionsenior went overhooks on Carey and tossed him to his back for the pin in 58 seconds, making it 26-0.

After the Edsell and Conel victories made it 32-0, defending national champion Anthony Cassar showed no signs of rust in a 4:41 fall over Jon Birchmeier at heavyweight. Cassar had three takedowns with his blast double before running the bar for the pin.

Third–ranked Roman Bravo-Young closed things out with a 17-6 major decision over Casey Cobb at 133. The Nittany Lionsophomore had seven takedowns and a three-point nearfall in the win.

Penn State dominated with a 29-3 takedown edge. Next up for the Nittany Lions is the Army/West Point Invite on Sunday.

“Generally, it’s a lot easier to build off of success. These guys did a nice job and we’re happy with the way they competed. More than anything it’s getting started so we know where we’re at,” Sanderson said. “You want to figure out how to be at your best in every match. If you have the ability to get a fall, then you want to get the fall. If winning a one-point match is your besteffort, then that’s great, too.”

#1 Penn State 45, Navy 0

141: #3 Nick Lee PSU pinned Cody Trybus Navy, 6:16

149: Luke Gardner PSU pinned Jon Park Navy, 1:46.

157: Bo Pipher PSU dec. Scout Skidgel Navy, 7-6.

165: #1 Vincenzo Joseph PSU technical fall #11 Tanner Skidgel Navy, 20-5 (6:02).

174: #1 Mark Hall PSU pinned #17 Spencer Carey Navy, :58.

184: Creighton Edsell PSU dec. Andrew Buckley Navy, 5-2

197: #3 Kyle Conel PSU dec. Jacob Koser Navy, 3-0 .

285: #1 Anthony Cassar PSU pinned John Birchmeier Navy, 4:41.

125: Brody Teske PSU dec. Logan Treaster NAVY, 2-1

133: #3 Roman Bravo-Young PSU major dec. Casey Cobb NAVY, 17-6

Records: Penn State (1-0), Navy (2-2).