A shorthanded Rutgers wrestling team ran into a runaway, national-record setting freight train Saturday afternoon at Penn State University's Rec Hall.

The 174-pound bout features a rematch between Penn State’s top-ranked Levi Haines and No. 10 Lenny Pinto (7-3), the Stroudsburg High graduate who transferred from Nebraska. Haines, who will be seeking his 85 th career win, beat Pinto 9-2 last season at Nebraska.

After breezing through its nonconference schedule, a record-setting Penn State wrestling team opens Big Ten action Saturday against No. 19 Rutgers at Rec Hall.

Record-breaking Penn State wrestling has five No. 1 competitors heading into their first Big Ten match of the season on Jan. 10.

Aaron Nagao was the starter for the Nittany Lions to begin the season, but injuries have been plaguing him, leaving his availability in limbo.

Penn State wrestlers are ranked in all 10 weight classes following the non-conference portion of the 2025-2026 season. The Nittany Lions kick off Big Ten action on Saturday afternoon when Rutgers comes to State College for a 4 p.

The Nittany Lions wrestler withdrew from a Japanese tournament in December while "working through" a medical issue, Sanderson said.

Penn State’s Pierce put on an impressive showing with six straight wins, averaging 10 points per bout and finishing off the run with a 13-6 finals win over Little Rock’s Brock Herman after yielding the opening takedown. Pierce was able to get to Herman’s legs for a takedown in each period.