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From Mirror reports
CORVALLIS, OR. -- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team improved its dual-meet record to 3-0 Friday night, thanks to a 36-3 road win at No. 18 Oregon State.
The Beavers dropped to 4-2.
Three Nittany Lion freshmen came up with big wins, and the Nittany Lions tallied four second-half tech falls in the road victory.
A near-capacity crowd of 8,540 filled Oregon State's Gill Coliseum for the dual, an all-time record crowd for Oregon State wrestling.
The dual meet began at 125 where true freshman Braeden Davis opened up the dual by dominating No. 15 Brandon Kaylor. Davis notched three takedowns in an 11-6 win with 2:10 in riding time.
Sophomore Aaron Nagao, ranked No. 4 at 133, then controlled the action against No. 26 Gabe Whisenhunt, winning scrambles on his way to a 9-0 major with 2:52 in riding time. Penn State led 7-0 early.
Senior Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 2 at 141, battled No. 25 Cleveland Belton through regulation and used a counter takedown late in extra time to post a hard-fought 8-5 (sv) win.
True freshman Tyler Kasak got the nod at 149. Kasak battled No. 12 Nash Singleton tough and used a third period takedown to post the thrilling 4-1 victory, giving Penn State a 13-0 lead.
Sophomore Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 157, used two third period takedowns for a rousing 10-8 comeback win over Oregon State's Isaiah Crosby. That made Penn State's lead 16-0 at halftime.
Freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 12 at 165, then got Penn State off to a fast start in the second half with a convincing 17-2 technical fall over No. 10 Matthew Olguin. Mesenbrink notched four takedowns and a turn in the bout, the final takedown at 3:44.
Senior Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, followed that tech up with one of his own, rolling up six takedowns in a resounding 19-3 tech fall over No. 8 Travis Wittlake at the 6:32 mark.
Graduate student Bernie Truax, ranked No. 2 at 184, gave up an early takedown to No. 6 Trey Munoz and dropped a hard-fought 5-2 decision as OSU picked up its first win of the dual.
Senior Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 197, notched Penn State's third tech of the second half, rolling up six takedowns in a lopsided 19-4 win over No. 30 Justin Rademacher at the 4:53 mark.
Senior Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 1 at 285, then capped off the dual meet with Penn State's fourth tech fall of the second half. He rolled up seven takedowns in a 21-5 tech fall over No. 12 Boone McDermott at the 5:17 mark.
Match notes
n The Nittany Lions won nine of the 10 bouts that were wrestled. Penn State owned a 33-5 edge in takedowns and the Nittany Lions picked up nine bonus points off four tech falls (Mesenbrink, Starocci, Brooks, Kerkvliet) and a major (Nagao).
n Two true exhibition bouts that do not count towards the wrestlers' overall records or the dual score, were contested before the dual meet. Terrell Barraclough majored Kekana Fouret 11-1 at 165. Lucas Cochran posted a 22-6 technical fall (5:51) over Mason Christiansen at 197.
n The Nittany Lions return to action, and open up the Big Ten schedule at the same time, when they host Indiana on Sunday, Jan. 14. The dual, in Rec Hall, is set to begin at 1 p.m.
n Penn State beat Oregon State, 31-3, last season.