Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1486024
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 2 47 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M The Penn State wrestling program earned two big recruiting wins in November when it flipped brothers Erik and Mason Gibson, both of whom had originally planned to attend Cornell. Erik is a 157-pounder who will arrive on campus next fall, while younger brother Mason is among the top juniors in the country, ranking No. 3 nationally at 126 pounds and No. 30 pound for pound, all classes, in the country, per FloWrestling. He projects at either 125 pounds or 133 at the next level. Erik Gibson signed with Cornell in December 2021 but began reconsidering his options before ever seeing action for the Big Red. He is currently taking classes at a community college in Ithaca, N.Y. Mason Gibson decommitted when he learned in early November that his brother would not be wres- tling for Cornell. "We got the news that Erik decommitted, and that really made me second-guess, because he was a big part of why I verbally committed to Cornell," Mason Gibson told BWI. "He had a good talk with me and my mom and dad. Erik had his options open, and then Penn State really came to his mind, and he kind of talked me into it. It felt good, because he's going to Penn State, and I'm going to Penn State as well. It's always cool to have brothers on the same team." Both are from Johnstown, Pa., and work out with David Taylor and the group at the M2 training center in Pleasant Gap, Pa. They will continue doing so until both make it to State College. Erik will do so first, and then Mason will follow a year later. Fourth-Ranked 2024 Prospect Picks Nittany Lions Penn State made an enormous splash in its 2024 recruiting efforts when it earned a commitment on Oct. 31 from Joe Sealey of High Point, N.C. The nation's No. 4 pound-for-pound wrestler in the junior class, per FloWrestling.com, Sealey wrestles for Pennsylvania power Wyoming Seminary. He ranks third in Flo's 160-pound rankings and is No. 13 overall pound-for-pound nationally regardless of age clas- sification. Penn State also has received a 2024 commitment from New York's Zack Ryder, who is Flo's top-ranked junior and its No. 7 overall wrestler in the pound-for- pound rankings regardless of age classification. Sealey is the reigning U17 world champion. Penn State's 2024 recruiting class of Ryder and Sealey was ranked No. 1 in the country in early No- vember by FloWrestling. Penn State Trio Excels At NWCA All-Star Classic Three Penn Staters registered impressive perfor- mances at the National Wrestling Coaches Associa- tion All-Star Classic in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 22. Junior 174-pounder Carter Starocci was involved in the headliner bout against Virginia Tech's Mekhi Lewis, whom he defeated by overtime rideout in the 2022 NCAA finals. Neither Starocci nor Lewis could penetrate the other's legs for successful takedowns, but Starocci's second-period escape and rugged third-period ride netted him a 2-0 victory. Senior Aaron Brooks did show a lot of offense — 5 takedowns, in fact — and subdued Northern Iowa's Parker Keckeisen, ranked No. 2 behind Brooks, by a 12-8 score. Brooks converted on 2 takedowns in each of the first two periods and tallied 4 more points in the final two minutes for a 12-8 triumph. And Greg Kerkvliet, the junior heavyweight who had dropped three prior decisions to Iowa's Tony Cassioppi, avenged those losses and then some in the 285-pound bout, winning 8-5. Backups Gain Experience At Bearcat Open Freshman Connor Pierce led the way for a 12-man Penn State contingent at Binghamton University's Bearcat Open on Nov. 13. The freshman racked up a pin and two majors before losing in the 149-pound finals. Senior Konner Kraeszig was third at 197. His only loss at the tournament was to Cornell's 11th-ranked Chris Foca. David Evans (141), Levi Haines (157) and Donovan Ball (184) placed fifth in their respective weight classes. Lions Dominate Black Knight Invitational Penn State was terrific at the Black Knight Invita- tional on Nov. 20 at West Point, N.Y. Eight Nittany Lions made the finals, five left with titles, and 11 of 13 wrestlers hit the podium. Three of the tournament's first-place bouts fea- tured two Nittany Lion wrestlers. At 141 pounds, junior Beau Bartlett defeated sophomore David Evans 3-1 in sudden victory. At 157, junior Terrell Barra- clough dropped a 2-1 decision to freshman backup Levi Haines. Finally, in the 165-pound final, redshirt freshman Alex Facundo beat sophomore Matt Lee by major decision, 10-2. Redshirt freshman Shayne Van Ness (149 pounds) and senior Max Dean (197) also won titles. Dean was named the tournament's most outstanding wrestler after winning twice by fall, once by technical fall, and once by medical default. Additional Penn State placers included: redshirt freshman Gary Steen (third at 125 pounds), junior Donovan Ball (third at 184) and redshirt freshman Lucas Cochran (fifth at 197). Other News • Class of 2023 commit Tyler Kasak will not wrestle his senior high school season at Bethlehem (Pa.) Catholic, according to The Allentown Morning Call. The U17 World silver medalist and Pennsylvania state champ will instead train and compete on his own, likely in conjunction with David Taylor's M2 Training Center. • Penn State did not have the services of 125-pounder Robbie Howard last year. It won't have them again this winter, either. Coach Cael Sanderson confirmed in early November that the Nittany Lion sophomore will miss another season due to an un- specified injury. — Greg Pickel Carter Starocci held on for a 2-0 win over Virginia Tech's Mekhi Lewis at the NWCA All-Star Classic. Last March, Starocci defeated Lewis in overtime for the NCAA cham- pionship at 174 pounds. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL Penn State Commitment Rankings As of November 9 Wrestler State Year P4P Rank Wt. / Rank Erik Gibson Pennsylvania HS Grad. — 174 / — Josh Barr Michigan Sr. 9th 170 / 2nd Tyler Kosak Pennsylvania Sr. 23rd 145 / 2nd Braedon Davis Michigan Sr. 19th 126 / 6th Cael Nasdeo Pennsylvania Sr. — 120 / — Mason Gibson Pennsylvania Jr. 30th 126 / 3rd Zach Ryder New York Jr. 7th 182 / 2nd Joe Sealey Pennsylvania Jr. 13th 160 / 3rd Dalton Perry Pennsylvania So. — 132 / 15th All rankings from FloWrestling P4P – pound for pound all classes and all weights Gibson Brothers Announce Plans To Attend Penn State