Penn State Wrestling Dominates Early at Big Ten Championships

Nine Nittany Lions advance to the conference semifinals. Carter Starocci doesn't wrestle.

Penn State hasn't qualified 10 wrestlers for the NCAA Wrestling Championships in a decade. Technically it hasn't yet either this season, although the Nittany Lions' entire lineup is headed to Kansas City to defend its national title. That's how exceptional Penn State wrestled Saturday to begin the 2024 Big Ten Wrestling Championships.

Penn State went 13-1 in the first and quarterfinal rounds of the Big Ten tournament at Maryland's Xfinity Center. The only loss? Carter Starocci's injury default at 174 pounds, which ended his 64-match win streak and sent him to the consolation round. Starocci will take another injury default Saturday and will need to receive an (assured) at-large bid to the NCAA championships. So when that bid becomes official, Penn State will send its entire lineup to nationals for the first time since 2014.

Penn State was superb Saturday, advancing nine of its 10 wrestlers to the evening semifinals. The Nittany Lions won eight of those 13 bouts with bonus points, as Tyler Kasak (141) and Mitchell Mesenbrink (165) delivered pins. Penn State closed the first session with a commanding lead in the team standings. The Lions have 83.5 points, followed by Michigan (70.5) and Iowa (57).

Penn State highlights from Session I

Freshman Braeden Davis (125) delivered the most dramatic quarterfinal result, an 8-7 sudden victory over Wisconsin's Eric Barnett, a fifth-year senior and two-time All-American. As Davis drove toward the potential winning takedown in sudden victory, Barnett was called for an illegal hold.

Though Wisconsin's coaches argued the call, it stood, giving Davis the win. Davis (17-2) rallied from a 4-1 second-period deficit and reversed Barnett late in the third to force sudden victory. Davis will face Michigan's Michael DeAugustino in the semifinals. Davis won their regular-season bout 5-1.

Fellow freshman Tyler Kasak (149) joined Davis in the semifinals with a 3-2 win over Ohio State's fifth-seeded Dylan D'Emilio, an All-American last season. Kasak, who beat D'Emilio in February, reversed D'Emilio early in the third to take a 2-1 lead and clinched the win with riding time. Kasak meets top-seeded Ridge Lovett of Nebraska in the semifinals. Lovett, who won their regular-season match 7-3, is the only non-Penn State wrestler to defeat Kasak this season (Kasak lost to Beau Bartlett at an early season tournament).

Mitchell Mesenbrink (165) jumped all over Minnesota's Blaine Brenner, scoring three first-period takedowns en route to the fall in 4 minutes. Aaron Brooks (197) began pursuing his fourth Big Ten title with a quarterfinal technical fall. Greg Kerkvliet (285) capped the session with a technical fall.

Aaron Nagao (133), Beau Bartlett (141), Levi Haines (157) and Bernie Truax (197) will wrestle in the semifinals as well.

How to watch the 2024 Big Ten Wrestling Championships

The 2024 Big Ten Wrestling Championships are scheduled for March 9-10 at the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland. Big Ten Network will carry the key sessions live, while BTN+ will stream some consolation rounds. Here's the schedule (all times EST):

Saturday

• 5 p.m: Consolations (BTN+)
• 7 p.m.: Semifinals (Big Ten Network)

Sunday

• Noon: Consolation semifinals, seventh-place bouts (BTN+)
• 4:30 p.m.: Championship/medal bouts (Big Ten Network)

More Penn State Wrestling

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Penn State clinches fourth straight Big Ten regular season title

Penn State continues to headline the college wrestling rankings

Penn State demonstrates its dominance in milestone win over Rutgers

Penn State routs Iowa on a landmark night for Cael Sanderson

Penn State turns up the volume at 'awkwardly quiet' Rec Hall

Penn State tops Ohio State, but not without a struggle

Penn State routs Maryland 42-6 for 51st consecutive victory

Penn State sets dates for 2024 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials

AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.