In a highly anticipated collegiate wrestling showdown on Friday night, No. 1 Penn State dominated No. 3 Iowa with a commanding 29-6 victory at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. The Nittany Lions secured wins in eight out of ten bouts, earning bonus points in five matches, and extending their dual-meet winning streak to 53 consecutive matches. This triumph also marked head coach Cael Sanderson’s 200th career win at Penn State.

 

Standout performances included Beau Bartlett’s 7-2 decision over second-ranked Real Woods at 141 pounds, solidifying his top ranking. Aaron Nagao (133 lbs) and Bernie Truax (184 lbs) both rebounded from previous losses with major decisions, contributing significantly to the team’s score. Additionally, Carter Starocci extended his personal winning streak to 62 matches with a 13-5 major decision at 174 pounds.

 

Iowa’s only victories came at 125 and 149 pounds, where Drake Ayala and Caleb Rathjen secured decisions. Despite the challenging environment of Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Penn State’s wrestlers managed to control the tempo and deliver a dominant performance.

 

This victory not only underscores Penn State’s dominance in collegiate wrestling but also sets the stage for their pursuit of the program’s 1,000th win in an upcoming match against Rutgers.