ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A sellout crowd of 9,769, the second-largest home dual meet crowd in Lehigh history, saw the 22nd-ranked Mountain Hawks battle No. 1 Penn State Sunday at PPL Center. The three-time defending national champions flexed their muscle, winning nine bouts in a 36-3 victory over the Brown and White in the 112th meeting of Lehigh's most-contested dual series.
 
Sophomore Ryan Crookham delivered the lone win of the day for the Mountain Hawks with a 4-2 decision over Braeden Davis in a matchup of top 10-ranked wrestlers at 133, but the visiting Nittany Lions claimed six bonus point wins among their nine victories to earn their 14th straight dual victory against the Mountain Hawks.

Post Penn State reaction with coach Pat Santoro and Ryan Crookham 👇 pic.twitter.com/2egTS2GDZB

— Lehigh Wrestling (@LehighWrestling) December 8, 2024

 
The dual began at 125 with a matchup of nationally ranked junior Sheldon Seymour and Luke Lilledahl. The bout was tied 1-1 late in the third period when Lilledahl was able to score a late takedown to secure a 4-1 decision, giving Penn State the early 3-0 lead.
 
The top-ranked Crookham improved to 2-0 on the season with his 4-1 decision over Davis. Crookham scored the only takedown of the bout late in the first period and added a second period escape, before Davis scored two points in the third via an escape and a late stalling point.
 
From there, Penn State went on to claim the final eight bouts.
 
At 141, third-ranked Beau Bartlett won a 5-0 decision over junior Carter Bailey. Second-ranked Shayne Van Ness followed with a 17-3 major decision over first-year Matt Repos at 149 and then No. 4 Tyler Kasak held off first-year Logan Rozynski 5-2 at 157 to give the Nittany Lions a 13-3 lead at intermission.
 
The final five weights for Penn State included four wrestlers ranked No. 1 or No. 2 nationally, with all four delivering bonus point victories.
 
At 165, No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink claimed a second period technical fall over senior Thayne Lawrence and then second-ranked Levi Haines pinned sophomore Rylan Rogers in the second period at 174.
 
No. 1 Carter Starocci won a 15-1 major decision over junior Jack Wilt at 184, with the Nittany Lions losing a team point in the bout for unsportsmanlike conduct.
 
Penn State secured an upset win at 197 as No. 23 Josh Barr won an 11-3 major decision over sixth-ranked senior Michael Beard. After a scoreless first period, Beard reversed to open the second period but it was all Barr after that. An escape and takedown put Barr up 4-2 after two and Barr added two more takedowns in the final period to secure the major.
 
Second-ranked heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet closed out the dual with a first-period technical fall over first-year Calvin Lachman.
 
The Mountain Hawks will now break for final exams and will return to action on Friday, Dec. 20, when Lehigh hosts the Sheridan Tournament at Stabler Arena, with action beginning at 10 a.m.
 
The 2024-25 Lehigh wrestling season is presented by the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.
 
No. 1 Penn State 36, No. 22 Lehigh 3
125 – Luke Lilledahl (PSU) dec. Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh) 4-1
133 – Ryan Crookham (Lehigh) dec. Braeden Davis (PSU) 4-2
141 – Beau Bartlett (PSU) dec. Carter Bailey (Lehigh) 5-0
149 – Shayne Van Ness (PSU) major dec. Matt Repos (Lehigh) 17-3
157 – Tyler Kasak (PSU) dec. Logan Rozynski (Lehigh) 5-2
165 – Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) tech fall Thayne Lawrence (Lehigh) 18-1, 4:37
174 – Levi Haines (PSU) Fall Rylan Rogers (Lehigh) 4:12
184 – Carter Starocci (PSU) major dec. Jack Wilt (Lehigh) 15-1*
197 – Josh Barr (PSU) major dec. Michael Beard (Lehigh) 11-3
285 – Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) tech fall Calvin Lachman (Lehigh) 15-0, 2:07
Attendance – 9,769
* - Penn State was deducted a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct
 
Follow Lehigh Wrestling on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.