By Andy Stine

astine@altoonamirror.com

UNIVERSITY PARK — There was one last dual meet before a long holiday break on Sunday afternoon for the Penn State wrestling team. The Nittany Lions turned in a solid effort against Hofstra, scoring bonus points in every bout they won in a 43-10 victory over the Pride in front of 6,589 fans at Rec Hall.

PSU had four pins, three technical falls, and a major decision, and that was with four more wrestlers making their Rec Hall debut. The Lions had five compete for the first time in Rec Hall last Sunday in the 30-10 win over Lehigh.

“It was just a good opportunity for these guys to go score points, and do the things they’re working on in practice,” PSU coach Cael Sanderson said. “It was a good day for us. It’s a nice match going into the holiday. It’s something to build on.”

The four wrestlers making their Rec Hall debuts went a combined 2-2 on the day. Braeden Davis picked up an 11-2 major decision at 125, while David Evans finished with a 19-4 technical fall at 141. Connor Pierce lost by major decision at 149, while A.J. Fricchione was pinned at heavyweight to end the dual meet.

Davis was up 8-2 late in the match against Hofstra’s Dylan Acevedo-Switzer, but got a takedown with 10 seconds left to get the 11-2 major decision.

Sanderson said the staff is getting closer to making a final decision for a starter at 125 pounds.

“Davis is competing hard,” Sanderson said. “He’s a competitor. He’s tough. He looked good today. Going out and getting the takedown to get the major says a lot that he was willing to do that.”

Evans was filling in for Beau Bartlett as he prepares for the 2023 Senior Nationals next weekend in an effort to qualify for the U.S. Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center in April. Heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet will also be competing in the Senior Nationals.

Evans made the most of his time on the mat, picking up a 19-4 technical fall.

“We didn’t have all of our starters in there, but we have some great kids in there that are ready to come in and wrestle,” Sanderson said. “Evans is one of them. He’s really scrappy. He has quite a bit of experience, and he’s a competitor. Evans could certainly fill in at 49 and do really well there.”

Aaron Nagao was knocked off by Lehigh’s Ryan Crookham last week, but rebounded in a big way on Sunday with a 21-6 technical fall of the Pride’s Ryan Arbeit. Nagao had seven takedowns in the bout.

“I didn’t honestly change too much,” Nagao said. “I prepared the same. Obviously I did some working on some technical things, but off the mat I’m feeling confident in what I’m doing.”

Levi Haines and Mitchell Mesenbrink both didn’t spend too much on the mat with both collecting first period falls at 157 and 165, respectively.

At 174, it was a little bit of a frustrating day for Carter Starocci. Yes, he dominated like usual with a 19-4 technical fall over Hofstra’s Eric Shindel. But he was called numerous times for potentially dangerous, and Shindel was called for stalling four times to give up four points.

Still, a match day is better than the alternative for Starocci.

“I’m getting out of bed and I’m all smiley. These days are a lot better than going in the room and training.”

Bernie Truax (184) and Aaron Brooks (197) both got pins before Fricchione was pinned by the Pride’s Keaton Kluever to end the dual meet.

Penn State will be back in action on Jan. 5 as they go across the country to wrestle at Oregon State.

“We just have a really exciting team,” said Sanderson of his team’s first month of the season. “Obviously a very talented team with a lot of experience. I think this group of guys has always stepped up in the big moments. As the moments get bigger and bigger, we’re going to have some fun. We have to compete against some great teams and great individuals, but I like where we’re at. It’s a lot of fun to go into battle with these guys and this staff. We have some pretty dang good wrestlers right now.”

125 – Braeden Davis (PSU) maj. dec. Dylan Acevedo-Switzer (H), 11-2. 133 – Aaron Nagao (PSU) tech. fall Ryan Arbeit (H), 21-6 4:20. 141 – David Evans (PSU) tech. fall Alex Turley (H), 19-4 6:13. 149 – Noah Tapia (H) maj. dec. Connor Pierce (PSU), 11-2. 157 – Levi Haines (PSU) pinned Dylan Zenion (H), 1:02.

165 – Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) pinned Matt Waddell (H), 1:24. 174 – Carter Starocci (PSU) tech. fall Eric Shindel (H), 19-4 5:38. 184 – Bernie Truax (PSU) pinned Will Conlon (H), 1:51. 197 – Aaron Brooks (PSU) pinned Nikolas Miller (H), 4:22. 285 – Keaton Kluever (H) pinned AJ Fricchione (PSU), 4:32.

Records: Hofstra (0-2); Penn State (2-0).

Attendance: 6,589