Penn State Wrestling: Lions Showcase Veterans, New Talent at Journeymen Classic

The two-time defending champs introduce some new wrestlers into a loaded lineup.

Penn State provided a preview of its 2023-24 wrestling roster Sunday, one that could take its place among the best in program history. The top-ranked Nittany Lions delivered a standout performance at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic, winning 75 percent of its bouts at the round-robin tournament in Bethlehem, Pa.

Penn State, the two-time defending NCAA team champion, went 45-15 at the event, with most of its elite wrestlers competing. The Lions have wrestlers ranked in the InterMat top 20 at all 10 weight classes, with eight ranking among the top three. Returning NCAA champs Carter Starocci (174) and Aaron Brooks (197) dominated as usual, while the lineup newcomers made strong debuts.

Here's a look at how coach Cael Sanderson's team fared at the Journeymen Classic.

At 120, Robby Howard returned from a 2022 injury to go 1-2. Howard has not wrestled significantly since his 2020-21 freshman season, when he went 7-6 and qualified for the NCAA championships. Meanwhile, freshman Braeden Davis went 3-0 with two technical falls and a win over teammate Gary Steen.

Aaron Nagao (No. 3 at 135) did not compete but will take over Roman Bravo-Young's weight class when he returns. Nagao transferred to Penn State after placing fifth at last year's NCAA championships as a redshirt freshman at Minnesota.

Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 1 at 141, did not compete at the tournament, giving junior David Evans a chance to wrestle. Evans went 2-1 with 2-1 sudden victory over sixth-ranked CJ Composto of Penn. 

Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 2 at 149, rolled through his bouts with three first-period pins. Van Ness picked up assertively from the NCAA Tournament run, during which he went 5-1 to place third.

NCAA runnerup Levi Haines (No. 1 at 157) was dominant as well, going 3-0 with a fall, technical fall and major. Haines went on a remarkable postsesaon run last season, winning the Big Ten title and reaching the NCAA final as a true freshman.

Newcomer Mitchell Mesenbrink, who redshirted at Cal-Baptist last season, went 3-0 with two technical falls in his Penn State debut at 165. Mesenbrink, who won an 2023 under-20 world title, saw action as returning NCAA qualifier Alex Facundo did not compete. 

Carter Starocci, the three-time NCAA champ who recently announced his decision to return to Penn State, wrestled with his usual dominance at 174, scoring a pin and technical fall.

Graduate transfer Bernie Truax, a three-time All-American and two-time Pac-12 champ at Cal-Poly, takes over at Brooks' former weight class of 184. Truax cruised at 3-0 with two technical falls.

Aaron Brooks, meanwhile, began his shift to 197 after winning the past three NCAA titles at 184. Brooks, who also recently won a a world under-23 title, swept his day with two pins and a technical fall.

Top-ranked heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet punctuated the day with a 3-0 run with wins over two ranked opponents, including a 7-2 decision over No. 8 Owen Trephan of North Carolina State.

Penn State returns to action Nov. 19 at the Army Black Knight Invite.

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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.