The Penn State Nittany Lions are coming off of a huge win over the #2 Hawkeyes and they will be meeting Ohio State this week. A couple good matchups should be going down at the upperweights but overall should be a Penn State dominated dual meet. As we creep closer and closer to the postseason this will be good for the guys to see where they stand in the conference as well as the big ten.
125- #6 Drew Hildebrandt vs #10 Malik Heinselman
Two of the veterans in the weight class and should be a bloodbath in this top ten matchup. Hildebrandt came out on top 7-5 in sudden victory the last time they wrestled so this in theory should be another close bout again.
With Hildebrandt now at Penn State there has been obvious improvement with his vastly harder schedule compared to CMU. I do not see anything changing in this bout but Hildebrandt should be able to take this bout in regulation
Penn State 3
Ohio State 0
133- #1 Roman Bravo-Young vs Dylan Koontz
Koontz is solid but this match seems to be somewhat more out of his hands with the returning national champion RBY coming off of a big win over #3 Austin Desanto last week. RBY has a tech fall victory over King Sandoval this season who defeated Koontz 10-0 so it somewhat depends on whether RBY wants to go for the fall or not.
Penn State 8
Ohio State 0
141- #1 Nick Lee vs Dylan D’Emilio
Another bout that is just out of the hands of Ohio State. Last time these guys wrestled it was an early second period tech fall by the national champion Nick Lee 17-1. Lee is coming off of a huge win over #2 Jaydin Eierman in a national finals rematch.
I do not see Penn State throwing in any backups here or at 133 to wrestle OSU’s weaker guys but it could very well happen. If Lee goes out he should have no problem dominating this bout.
Penn State 13
Ohio State 0
149- #18 Beau Bartlett vs #2 Sammy Sasso
This match is a lot closer than it seems with Bartlett giving Sasso a solid fight only losing 5-3 as a freshman. Sasso has looked on point this season and his loss to Yianni Diakomihalis seemed to push him a bit.
I do not see Sasso dropping this match but that being said he should push for a bonus here if they want a chance to keep it close.
Penn State 13
Ohio State 3
157- Terrell Barraclough vs #33 Jashon Hubbard
Barraclough seems to be one of those guys that is starting to come into his own in a weight class that was considered to be the “downfall” of Penn State if they were going to have any. He managed to keep it respectable against the All American Kaleb Young last weekend and he took #19 Chase Saldate to the wire as well in the Michigan State dual.
Hubbard has been a solid guy as well for the Buckeyes in a program that is looking to break into the top 10 at nationals this year but I might just have to give this one to Barraclough here.
Penn State 16
Ohio State 3
165- #11 Brady Berge vs #4 Carson Kharchla
I don’t know if Berge had a poor showing against Marinelli or if Marinelli needed this wake up call from Kharchla this season but Berge got dominated in that bout where I would have liked to see him keep it within 3-4 points.
Kharchla had an early 1 point loss to national champ Shane Griffith earlier in the season but that seemed to have pushed the freshman to another level. I would have to give a major to Kharchla at the moment but if Berge can figure some things out something crazy might happen here.
Penn State 16
Ohio State 7
174- #1 Carter Starocci vs #7 Ethan Smith
What a match Starocci had last week against Kemerer. Starocci has been able consistently in his career grit out tough matches against the best guys in the country and he might just have to do it again this time vs Ethan Smith.
Smith has looked solid in his own right as he only dropped a 6-3 bout vs Kemerer who will most likely meet Starocci again in the big ten and national finals.
Penn State 19
Ohio State 7
184- #1 Aaron Brooks vs #6 Kaleb Romero
Romero is my dark horse in the weight class and I have been preaching that ever since his dominant win over Taylor Venz at CKLV. I do not think these guys have ever met in college due to Romero’s recent weight change.
Brooks has looked on point this season and his ability to stay poised in hard matches is why he is the best in the country. He will have a tough match here but he should very well be able to get the win over a very good Romero.
Penn State 22
Ohio State 7
197- #2 Max Dean vs #21 Gavin Hoffman
Hoffman looked solid against Jacob Warner of Iowa where he held the All American to a 1 point victory. Max Dean’s top offense may just be a problem for Hoffman and I think it will be. With how crazy 197 has been in the big ten this year I will not doubt anything.
There really is not much to dissect in this match but Dean has only one loss and Caffey is somewhat of an unorthodox wrestler so he should have to problem winning this bout.
Penn State 25
Ohio State 7
285- #5 Greg Kerkvliet vs #13 Tate Orndorff
Whether there was something wrong with Kerk the last match against Cassioppi I don’t really know but that is a bout he should not have lost and probably will not lose again time come big tens at nationals.
Orndorff has been solid this season but Kerk’s speed and ability to get to quick shots will probably have this score lopsided here.
Penn State 29
Ohio State 7
