UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Nittany Lion wrestlers Mitchell Mesenbrink and Rocco Welsh competed at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Ascuncion, Paraguay, on Friday, Aug. 22. Both claimed Gold Medals at the event, upping the week’s freestyle medal count to seven after five Nittany Lions earned medals at the U20 World Championships earlier in Bulgaria. All seven Penn State wrestlers who competed internationally this past week earned medals (4 Gold, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze).
Mesenbrink won Gold at 74 kg. He opened up the tournament with an 11-0 tech over Argentina’s Arnoldo Proboste in the quarterfinals. Mesenbrink followed that win up with another 11-0 tech, this time over Ricardo Oyoque Vasquez of Venezuela to advance to the finals. He took on Orisiandy Perdomo Brooks of Cuba in the title match and rolled to a 10-0 tech over Cuba’s Orisiandy Perdomo Brooks. Mesenbrink’s 3-0 run, all techs, earned him the U23 Pan American Gold Medal.
Welsh won Gold at 86 kg. The new Nittany Lion began the tournament with a tech over Juan Cardozo Ibata of Columbia in the quarterfinals. He then notched a second straight tech, posting an 11-2 tech over Brazil’s Max Franca Magalhaes de Almeida to move into the finals. Welsh met Cuba’s Geannis Garzon Tamayo in the Gold Medal bout and walked away with a 5-2 win. Welsh’s victory earned him the U23 Pan American Gold Medal and capped off a 3-0 run with two techs.
Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via X/twitter at @pennstateWREST, on Penn State Wrestling's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.