Image Source: Cari Greene
Key Takeaways
- The Penn State Nittany Lions are set to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in their first Big Ten conference dual of the season
- Both teams have question marks in their lineups, with Rutgers’ Joey Olivieri and Penn State’s Aaron Nagao dealing with injuries
- Penn State is looking to extend their NCAA record of consecutive dual meet victories
- The dual will feature several highly-ranked matchups, including #1 Luke Lilledahl vs. #29 Ayden Smith at 125 pounds
- Penn State is expected to win the dual, with a predicted score of 43-0
Introduction to the Dual
The Big Ten season is officially underway, and the Penn State Nittany Lions are set to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in their first conference dual of the season. The dual will take place at Rec Hall in University Park, PA, on Saturday, January 10, at 4 PM EST. As head coach Cael Sanderson noted in his media availability, "We’re excited to get started with the Big Ten season, and we know that Rutgers will be a tough test for us." Rutgers comes into the dual with a veteran team, featuring several ranked wrestlers, including #5 Joey Olivieri, who has been out recently with an injury.
Injury Concerns
Both teams have question marks in their lineups, with Rutgers’ Olivieri and Penn State’s Aaron Nagao dealing with injuries. Nagao, who made a return to the mat at the Southern Scuffle, had to medically forfeit out of the tournament and his availability for the rest of the season is now in doubt. As Sanderson said, "We’re not sure what’s going to happen with Aaron, but we’re preparing for all possibilities." Penn State’s Braeden Davis, a returning All-American, may be called upon to fill the void at 133 pounds, although his redshirt status is still uncertain. True freshman Nate Desmond is also an option to fill the spot.
Weight-by-Weight Breakdown
The dual will feature several highly-ranked matchups, starting at 125 pounds where #1 Luke Lilledahl will take on #29 Ayden Smith. As one observer noted, "Luke is one of the title favorites, and this bout should be over pretty quickly, with Luke just shy of a tech fall, going for the final three at the buzzer." At 133 pounds, #5 Marcus Blaze will face off against #24 Dylan Shawver, a returning Big Ten champion. Blaze is expected to win by tech fall, as he has been dominant this season. The 141-pound matchup features #9 Aaron Nagao, or possibly Nate Desmond or Braeden Davis, against #5 Joey Olivieri or Tahir Parkins. If Olivieri takes the mat, it could be a close bout, but if Parkins gets the nod, Penn State’s wrestler is expected to win.
Middle Weights
The middle weights will feature several exciting matchups, including #1 Shayne Van Ness against #31 Andrew Clark at 149 pounds. Van Ness is expected to win by tech fall, as he has been nearly unbeatable this season. At 157 pounds, #4 PJ Duke or Joe Sealey will face off against #32 Tony White. Duke is expected to win by tech fall, as he has been impressive in his freshman season. The 165-pound matchup features #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink against #21 Andrew Barbosa, and Mesenbrink is expected to win by tech fall.
Upper Weights
The upper weights will feature several highly-ranked matchups, including #1 Levi Haines against #9 Lenny Pinto at 174 pounds. Haines is expected to win by decision, as Pinto is a dangerous wrestler who has qualified for the NCAAs three times. At 184 pounds, #4 Rocco Welsh will face off against #15 Shane Cartagena-Walsh, and Welsh is expected to win by decision. The 197-pound matchup features #1 Josh Barr against #18 Remy Cotton, and Barr is expected to win by major decision. As Barr said, "I’m feeling good, and I’m ready to go out there and wrestle."
Conclusion
Overall, Penn State is expected to win the dual, with a predicted score of 43-0. The Nittany Lions have a deep and talented roster, and they should be able to overpower the Scarlet Knights. As Sanderson noted, "We’re looking forward to getting out there and competing, and we’re excited to see what our guys can do." The dual will be a great test for Penn State, and it will be interesting to see how they perform against a tough Rutgers team.
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/penn-state-wrestling/83341/wrestling-preview-1-penn-state-vs-4-rutgers