Penn State wrestling closed out its regular season with a dominant 50-3 win over American University in front of a packed Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions secured their fifth consecutive undefeated dual, with nine of ten bouts resulting in bonus points for the home team.
Seniors Beau Bartlett and Carter Starocci led the way, each winning by technical fall or pin. Bartlett notched six first-period takedowns to secure a 21-5 victory over Elijah White, while Starocci finished off Lucas White with a 2:21 pin.
The Nittany Lions’ strong performance was highlighted by eight bonus-point wins, including five pins and four technical falls. Meanwhile, the Eagles secured their lone win, which came via a narrow 9-7 decision by Raymond Lopez.
Bald Eagle Area graduate Coen Bainey competed for American, but ultimately fell to Luke Lilledahl in a 20-3 technical fall. Despite the loss, Bainey praised his experience and vowed to improve for future matches.
Coach Cael Sanderson expressed confidence in the team’s readiness for the Big Ten Championship on March 8-9 in Evanston, Ill. The Nittany Lions look to build on their impressive regular season with a strong postseason run.
Source: https://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/penn-state-university/psu-wrestling/article300442589.html