No. 1 Penn State wrestling (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten) decimated Northwestern (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) 51-0 at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sunday afternoon.

The Nittany Lions won every match by bonus points, with falls by PJ Duke and Josh Barr to get the team’s 80th consecutive dual win.

How It Happened

174 Pounds

The first match was at 174 pounds, with No. 1 Levi Haines taking on No. 32 Eddie Enright. After some hand-fighting, Haines managed to get the bout’s first takedown. Enright couldn’t escape, and Haines finished the first period with almost a minute and a half of riding time.

Haines started the second period in the bottom position and got the escape immediately. The Nittany Lion followed it up with another takedown to extend his lead to 7-0. This time, Enright could escape. Haines managed a double-leg takedown before the end of the middle period to make it 10-1.

Enright started the final period with an escape before Haines got another takedown. Haines made it two more to get the 19-4 tech fall at 6:48.

184 Pounds

No. 4 Rocco Welsh matched up against JD Perez at 184. Welsh started with a takedown; it looked like he might get the pin, but Perez was able to flip his hips and escape. Welsh managed another takedown with Perez getting another escape. Perez escaped another Welsh takedown but managed to get a takedown of his own. Welsh got another takedown late to give him a 12-5 lead after one.

The second period started with two Welsh takedowns and two more escapes by Perez. The second ended with Welsh on top, amassing over two minutes of riding time.

Perez started the third on top and allowed the escape by Welsh. Welsh finished the match with another takedown to get the 22-7 tech fall at 5:37.

197 Pounds

At 197 was No. 1 Josh Barr versus Alex Smith. Smith started aggressively, but Barr countered with a single-leg takedown to open scoring. While on top, Barr switched to a cradle and managed to get the fall at 1:50.

Heavyweight

Next up was Cole Mirasola against Gabe Christenson. Mirasola started hot, getting two quick takedowns with Christenson escaping. Mirasola got another takedown and added four near-fall points after. An escape by Christenson, followed by another Mirasola takedown. A Christenson escape allowed for a final Mirasola takedown for the 19-4 tech fall at 2:47.

125 Pounds

No. 2 Luke Lilledahl and No. 26 Dedrick Navarro were the next matchup. Lilledahl started with a takedown, following a minute of riding time, Navarro got the escape. The period ended with no wrestler managing to score any more.

Navarro managed an escape after starting the second period in the bottom position. Another Lilledahl takedown and Navarro escape followed, before the Nittany Lion got his third takedown quickly after to close out the middle period.

Lilledahl got the escape after starting on bottom with another takedown soon after. Another Lilledahl takedown and Navarro escape occurred about a minute through the third. Lilledahl got another takedown and held on to get the 20-5 tech fall. Penn State took a 26-0 lead into the intermission.

133 Pounds

The first match out of the intermission was No. 4 Marcus Blaze versus No. 24 Sean Spidle. Blaze started the match with a single-leg takedown. After a reset, Spidle got the escape. Spidle had great defense but was given a stall warning before the end of the first.

Blaze got the escape to start the second after being in the bottom position. Blaze was awarded another point for stalling by Spidle. Good defense followed by Blaze after Spidle got hold of the Nittany Lions’ ankle to close the second period up 5-1.

Spidle started the final period with an escape. Blaze was awarded another point for Spidle pulling on his headgear. Blaze got another takedown, let Spidle escape, then got another. Blaze managed an ankle pick takedown for his third of the bout. Blaze would roll to a 15-4 major decision.

141 Pounds

No. 7 Braeden Davis took on No. 32 Billy Dekraker next. Davis called blood time for himself less than 30 seconds into the match. Plenty of hand-fighting followed before Davis got the first takedown with under a minute left in the period. Davis almost got the fall but had to settle for four near-fall points. After a reset, Davis held on to take a 7-0 lead into the second period.

Davis started on bottom and worked an escape to extend his lead to eight. Both wrestlers seemed content to go into the third with very little contact in the final 30 seconds; no stalling warning was given out to either wrestler.

Davis started the final period in the top position and didn’t allow an escape for the entire period. No points were awarded, and Davis gets the 9-0 major with 2:19 riding time.

149 Pounds

No. 1 Shayne Van Ness was next up for the Nittany Lions; he took on August Hibler. Van Ness started the match with a takedown. An escape by Hbler allowed for a single-leg takedown by Van Ness. Van Ness stayed on top for the rest of the period, closing out the first 6-1 with over two minutes of riding time.

Hibler got an escape to start the second before being taken down by Van Ness again. Van Ness was awarded four near-fall points before another escape by Hibler to end the second.

Van Ness managed an escape to open the final period. A double-leg takedown combined with riding time secured the tech fall for Van Ness.

157 Pounds

No. 3 PJ Duke went up against Gunnar Myers next. Duke started the match with a takedown, let Myers go, and got another takedown. Myers worked an escape before another Duke takedown. Duke continued to let Myers escape and got his fourth takedown. Another Myers escape led to a final Duke takedown as he worked the pin to get the fall at 2:42.

165 Pounds

Mitchell Mesenbrink was given the win by forfeit as Northwestern didn’t weigh a wrestler at 165 pounds. Penn State would get the 51-0 victory.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will come back home to take on Indiana at Rec Hall. The dual is scheduled for Friday, January 23, starting at 7 p.m. The match will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.