Penn State vs. Maryland: A Wrestling Showdown for the Ages!
Rec Hall Erupts as the Nittany Lions Dominate the Terrapins!
Wrestling fans, fasten your seatbelts! It was an electric night at Rec Hall in State College, Pennsylvania, as the #1-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions squared off against the Maryland Terrapins in an NCAA wrestling showdown that had it all—lightning-fast takedowns, jaw-dropping reversals, and an unfortunate injury default that left the crowd stunned.
With a packed house and an atmosphere buzzing with anticipation, the Nittany Lions were out to prove why they are the nation’s top team, while Maryland was determined to make a statement of their own.
125 lbs: The Lightning Bolt Strikes—Luke Lilledahl Electrifies!
The opening match saw Penn State’s #9-ranked Luke “Lightning” Lilledahl take on Maryland’s Tyler Garvin, and boy, did Lilledahl live up to his nickname! Before fans could even settle into their seats, Lilledahl snatched a takedown within 15 seconds and never looked back. A massive pancake throw had Garvin flat on his back, earning Lilledahl four near-fall points and putting him in total control.
Garvin, to his credit, showed resilience, scrambling and escaping, but Lilledahl’s relentless offensive pressure was overwhelming. The second period saw more of the same as Lilledahl racked up takedown after takedown, mercilessly pushing the pace until he secured a dominant 19-4 technical fall victory.
✅ Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) def. Tyler Garvin (Maryland) | Tech Fall (19-4)
Penn State 5 – Maryland 0
Lilledahl takedown!#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/0s5lb1YUGF
— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) February 9, 2025
133 lbs: Tactical Chess Match Ends with Maryland’s First Win
With Penn State resting their usual starter, Braeden Davis, Kyison Garcia stepped in to face Maryland’s #11 Braxton Brown. The first period was a tactical battle, with neither wrestler finding an opening.
Brown struck first in the second period, securing a reversal to take a 2-1 lead. As the third period unfolded, Brown unleashed a barrage of tilts, exposing Garcia’s back for a four-point near fall. With his riding time secured, Brown stormed to a 9-1 major decision, putting Maryland on the board!
✅ Braxton Brown (Maryland) def. Kyison Garcia (Penn State) | Major Decision (9-1)
Penn State 5 – Maryland 4
141 lbs: Beau Bartlett Paints a Masterpiece on the Mat!
Penn State’s #3-ranked Beau Bartlett wasted no time showing why he’s one of the best in the country. Facing Maryland’s Dario Lemus, Bartlett executed a flawless takedown in under 15 seconds before rolling Lemus into a brutal Jonesy tilt, securing near-fall points that set the tone for the match.
With the crowd roaring, Bartlett kept his foot on the gas, chaining together beautiful takedowns and racking up a 17-3 major decision in a dominant display of technical mastery.
✅ Beau Bartlett (Penn State) def. Dario Lemus (Maryland) | Major Decision (17-3)
Penn State 9 – Maryland 4
A man on a mission 🫡
No. 3 at 141 lbs Beau Bartlett secured a dominant 17-3 major decision for the Nittany Lions 👊#B1GWrestling x @pennstateWREST pic.twitter.com/4Ua5UqOMiy
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 9, 2025
149 lbs: Shayne Van Ness Brings the Fireworks!
The first ranked matchup of the night pitted #3 Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) against #32 Kal Miller (Maryland), and it did not disappoint. Van Ness wasted no time, powering through a double-leg takedown and slapping in a brutal ride that nearly ended the match in the first period.
Miller, to his credit, fought hard, escaping a near pin in the final frame. But Van Ness was relentless, eventually securing a 17-2 technical fall in a performance that had the Rec Hall faithful on their feet!
✅ Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) def. Kal Miller (Maryland) | Tech Fall (17-2)
Penn State 14 – Maryland 4
VanNess!#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/3El97K6DJs
— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) February 9, 2025
157 lbs: The Showdown That Never Was—Kasak’s Unfortunate Exit
In what was supposed to be the night’s marquee matchup between #1 Tyler Kasak (Penn State) and #6 Ethen Miller (Maryland), the bout was cut short in a shocking turn of events.
The two top-10, undefeated wrestlers were locked in a tactical battle when an accidental head clash sent Kasak crashing to the mat. After a brief medical evaluation, he was placed into concussion protocol, resulting in a heartbreaking injury default victory for Miller.
A stunned crowd looked on as Maryland took the unexpected win, but all eyes are now on Kasak’s recovery as the postseason looms.
✅ Ethen Miller (Maryland) def. Tyler Kasak (Penn State) | Injury Default
Penn State 14 – Maryland 10
No. 1 Mitch Mesenbrink continues to prove why he’s the best at 165 lbs in the country 🔥#B1GWrestling x @pennstateWREST pic.twitter.com/XdEFVwAVsO
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 9, 2025
165 lbs & Beyond: The Penn State Avalanche!
With Maryland momentarily closing the gap, Penn State’s murderers’ row of wrestlers took over.
#1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (165 lbs) made quick work of Alex Uryniak (Maryland), unleashing takedown after takedown en route to an 18-2 tech fall victory.
#2 Levi Haines (174 lbs) faced surprising resistance from Branson John (Maryland) but still managed to grind out an 8-1 decision, proving that even his “off nights” are dominant.
#1 Carter Starocci (184 lbs) was nothing short of unstoppable, bulldozing #10 Jaxon Smith and securing a 20-3 tech fall in one of the most lopsided victories of the night.
Carter Starocci 👏#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/A6MUS28bSI
— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) February 9, 2025
#4 Josh Barr (197 lbs) continued Penn State’s onslaught, dismantling Chase Mielnik (Maryland) with a 17-2 tech fall, showcasing a beautiful blend of power and finesse.
#2 Greg Kerkvliet (285 lbs) finished the night in style, manhandling #12 Seth Nevills (Maryland) to an 8-3 victory, capping off another dominant team performance.
Final Score: Penn State 35 – Maryland 10
No. 4 at 197 lbs Josh Barr gets a Tech Fall for the Nittany Lions 🙌#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/VBEod7PczF
— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) February 9, 2025
Another victory in the books for Cael Sanderson’s Nittany Lions!
Penn State once again proved why they are the kings of NCAA wrestling, delivering a crushing performance against Maryland. The only blemish? The unfortunate injury to Tyler Kasak, which left fans hoping for a speedy recovery ahead of the Big Ten and NCAA Championships.
Maryland, despite the lopsided final score, showed moments of promise, with Braxton Brown and Ethen Miller delivering standout performances. But Penn State’s depth, dominance, and sheer firepower were simply too much to handle.
Can anyone stop Penn State this season?
Will Tyler Kasak bounce back in time for the postseason?
What’s next for this juggernaut of a team?
The road to NCAA glory continues, and if tonight was any indication, the Nittany Lions are only getting started!
Stay tuned, wrestling fans—the best is yet to come!
