#1 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (15-0, 8-0 B1G)
2025 B1G CHAMPIONS -- 2025 REGULAR SEASON CHAMPS
125 #1 Luke Lilledahl Fr. Weldon Spring, Mo./Wyoming Seminary 19-2
(vs. the 2025 Field: 7-2 // Career in NCAA tournament: 0-0)
First trip to NCAA Championship
133 #8 Braeden Davis So. Belleville, Mich./Dundee 12-5
(vs. the 2025 Field: 6-4 // Career in NCAA tournament: 2-2)
Second Trip to the NCAA Championship
141 #2 Beau Bartlett Sr.+ Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary 21-1
(vs. the 2025 Field: 11-1 // Career in NCAA tournament: 10-4)
2X All-American (3rd, 2023; 2nd, 2024)
149 #3 Shayne Van Ness So. Somerville, N.J./Blair Academy 20-2
(vs. the 2025 Field: 11-2 // Career in NCAA tournament: 5-1)
1X All-American (3rd, 2023)
157 #1 Tyler Kasak So. Doylestown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic 17-1
(vs. the 2025 Field: 10-1 // Career in NCAA tournament: 7-1)
1X All-American (3rd, 2024/149)
165 #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink So. Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead 22-0
(vs. the 2025 Field: 10-0 // Career in NCAA tournament: 4-1)
1X All-American (2nd, 2024)
174 #2 Levi Haines Jr. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 20-1
(vs. the 2025 Field: 9-1 // Career in NCAA tournament: 9-1)
1X NCAA Champion (2024/157) -- 2X All-American (2nd, 2023/157; 1st, 2024/157)
184 #1 Carter Starocci Gr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 21-0
(vs. the 2025 Field: 9-0 // Career in NCAA tournament: 20-0)
4X NCAA Champion (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024/174); 4X All-American (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024/174)
197 #4 Josh Barr R-Fr. Davison, Mich./Davison 16-3
(vs. the 2025 Field: 7-3 // Career in NCAA tournament: 0-0)
First trip to NCAA Championship
285 #3 Greg Kerkvliet Sr.+ Inver Grove Heights, Min../Simley 18-1
(vs. the 2025 Field: 8-1 // Career in NCAA tournament: 17-4)
1X NCAA Champion (2024); 4X All-American (7th, 2021; 4th, 2022; 2nd, 2023; 1st, 2024)
Individual rankings listed are tournament seed // Team ranking InterMat TPI
THIS WEEK
The Penn State Nittany Lions (15-0, 8-0 B1G) will send 10 NCAA qualifiers will head to the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 20-22 in Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. The event features sessions on Thursday, March 20, at 12 and 7 p.m.; Friday at 12 and 8 p.m.; and Saturday at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
UP NEXT
Season complete :(
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THIS WEEK’S ACTION:
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (15-0, 8-0 B1G), winners of both the Big Ten Championship and the Big Ten Regular Season Championship, will have four top seeds, nine top-four and ten top-eight seeds at the 2025 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia, Pa. Penn State will take all ten national qualifiers to the three-day event, which runs Thursday through Saturday, March 20-22, in Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center.
This marks the 12th time in head coach Cael Sanderson’s tenure at Penn State that his team has qualified nine or more wrestlers for the tournament and the fourth time Penn State will take ten. Penn State’s four top seeds are Luke Lilledahl at 125, Tyler Kasak at 157, Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165 and Carter Starocci at 184. All ten Penn State wrestlers are seeded in the top eight.
True freshman Luke Lilledahl is the No. 1 seed at 125 and will take on the winner of the No. 32 vs. No. 33 bout between Caleb Weiand of Michigan State and Marcello Milani of Cornell. Lilledahl won the 2025 Big Ten title at 125 this past weekend with a 4-0 run through the weight class. He is 19-2 overall and is making his first trip to the NCAA tournament. Lilledahl is 7-2 vs. the field this year, his first trip to nationals.
Sophomore Braeden Davis is the No. 3 seed at 133 and will battle No. 25 Kurt Phipps of Bucknell in the first round. Davis took fourth at 133 in the Big Ten tournament last weekend. He is 12-5 overall and making his second straight trip to the NCAA tournament. Davis is 6-4 vs. the field this year and 2-2 at the tournament all-time.
Senior+ Beau Bartlett is the No. 2 seed at 141 and will take on No. 31 Jordan Titus of West Virginia in the first round. Bartlett placed third at 141 at Big Tens last weekend. He is 21-1 overall and is heading to nationals for the fourth time. He is a two-time All-American and was national runner-up last year in Kansas City. Bartlett is 11-1 vs. the field this year and 10-4 at the tournament all-time.
Sophomore Shayne Van Ness is the No. 3 seed at 149 and will face No. 30 Gabe Willochell of Wyoming in the first round. Van Ness took third at 149 in Evanston last weekend. He is 20-2 overall and is making his second trip to NCAAs. Van Ness was an All-American as a true freshman in 2023, placing third. Van Ness is 11-2 vs. the field this year and 5-1 at the tournament all-time.
Sophomore Tyler Kasak is the No. 1 seed at 157 and will battle the winner of No. 33 Richard Fadelan of Columbia and No. 32 Landen Johnson of Northern Illinois in the opening round. Kasak won the Big Ten championship at Northwestern last weekend with a 3-0 run in Evanston. He is 17-1 overall and is making his second straight trip to nationals and his first up at 157. Kasak was an All-American last year, taking third at 149. Kasak is 10-1 vs. the field this year and 7-1 at the tournament all-time.
Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink is the No. 1 seed at 165 and will face the winner of No. 33 Chandler Amaker of Central Michigan and No. 32 Jared Keslar of Pittsburgh. Mesenbrink won his second straight Big Ten title last weekend, one of Penn State’s five champions. Mesenbrink is 22-0 overall and is making his second straight trip to NCAAs. Mesenbrink was an All-American last season, advancing to the finals and finishing as national runner-up. Mesenbrink is 10-0 vs. the field this year and 4-1 at the tournament all-time.
Junior Levi Haines is the No. 2 seed at 174 and will battle No. 31 Avery Bassett of Lock Haven in the first round. Haines won his third straight Big Ten title last weekend in Evanston and his first up at 174. Haines is 20-1 overall and is making his third trip to the national tournament. Haines is a two-time All-American, having won the NCAA individual title at 157 last year. He was the national runner-up at 157 two years ago as well. Haines is 9-1 vs. the field this year and 9-1 at the tournament all-time.
Graduate Carter Starocci is the No. 1 seed at 184 and will take on the winner of No. 32 Caden Rogers of Lehigh and No. 33 TJ McDonnell or Oregon State in the first round. Starocci won his third Big Ten title last weekend at Northwestern and his first up at 184. Starocci is 21-0 overall and is making his fifth straight trip to the national tournament. Starocci is a four-time All-American and four-time NCAA national champion, having won the last four in a row at 174. Starocci is 9-0 vs. the field this year and 20-0 at the tournament all-time.
Redshirt freshman Josh Barr is the No. 4 seed at 197 and will face No. 29 Tucker Hogan of Lock Haven in the first round. Barr won his first bout at Big Tens last weekend before losing to the eventual champion in sudden victory in the semifinals. Barr suffered an injury default in his next match and bowed out of the tournament. Barr is 16-3 overall and is making his first trip to the national championship tournament. Barr is 7-3 vs. the field this year, his first trip to NCAAs.
Senior+ Greg Kerkvliet is the No. 3 seed at 285 and will take on No. 30 Sam Mitchell of Wyoming in the first round . Kerkvliet took second at 285 last weekend at Big Tens, losing in the title bout. Kerkvliet heads to Philadelphia with an 18-1 overall record and is making his fifth trip to NCAAs. Kerkvliet is a four-time All-American and was the NCAA national champion at 285 a year ago. Kerkvliet is 8-1 vs. the field this year and 17-4 at the tournament all-time.
The 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships are in Philadelphia, Pa., this year. The three-day event runs Thursday through Saturday, March 20-22, 2025, at the Wells Fargo Center. Thursday’s sessions are set for 12 and 7 p.m. Friday’s sessions are at 12 and 8 p.m. Saturday’s sessions are slated for 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Penn State closed out the 2024-25 dual slate with a 15-0 mark, 8-0 in Big Ten action, claiming the B1G Regular Season Championship. The Nittany Lions won their ninth Big Ten Championship at Northwestern on March 8-9 as well.
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.
NOTES:
NITTANY LIONS HEAD TO NCAAS WITH 10 WRESTLERS,
4 TOP SEEDS, ALL SEEDED TOP 8
Penn State will head to Philadelphia for the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships will all 10 of its wrestlers for the second straight year. This year’s squad sees all 10 of its entrants seeded in the top eight, including four #1 seeds: Luke Lilledahl, #1 at 125; Braeden Davis, #8 at 133; Beau Bartlett, #2 at 141; Shayne Van Ness, #3 at 149; Tyler Kasak, #1 at 157; Mitchell Mesenbrink, #1 at 165; Levi Haines, #1 at 174; Carter Starocci, #1 at 184; Josh Barr, #4 at 197; Greg Kerkvliet, #3 at 285.
CARTER STAROCCI AND CAEL SANDERSON EARN
BIG TEN POST-SEASON HONORS
Graduate Carter Starocci was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year on Sunday, March 9, after Penn State won the 2025 Big Ten Championship at Northwestern. Starocci won his third Big Ten title (and first at 184) and was honored by the conference’s head coaches with the award. Head coach Cael Sanderson was also named Big Ten Coach of the Year, earning the award for the ninth time after leading Penn State to its ninth conference crown (all under Sanderson’s tutelage).
PENN STATE CROWNS FIVE BIG TEN CHAMPIONS,
TYING SCHOOL RECORD FOR CHAMPS
The Penn State Nittany Lions had five wrestlers win individual Big Ten titles at the 2025 Big Ten Championships at Northwestern. True freshman Luke Lilledahl won at 125 and sophomore Tyler Kasak won at 157, both earning their first crowns. Mitchell Mesenbrink won his second at 165. Levi Haines (174) and Carter Starocci (184) both won their third, albeit at new weights for each wrestler. The five individual champions ties a school record for most champs in a season (2011 and 2024). Penn State won the 2025 Big Ten title with 181.5 points, also a school record.
KERKVLIET, BARTLETT, VAN NESS, DAVIS, BARR
ALL PLACE AT B1GS, EARN NCAA BIDS
Penn State qualified all 10 wrestlers for the national tournament. In addition to its five champions, Greg Kerkvliet (2nd at 285), Beau Bartlett (3rd at 141), Shayne Van Ness (3rd at 149), Braeden Davis (4th at 133) and Josh Barr (6th at 197) all earned automatic bids to Philadelphia with their performances in Evanston.
NITTANY LIONS WIN NINTH BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP,
SETTING NEW SCHOOL RECORD FOR POINTS SCORED
Penn State ran away from the field at the 2025 Big Ten Championships in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9. In addition to crowning five champions and qualifying all ten wrestlers for nationals, the Nittany Lions set a new school record for points scored at the event, tallying 181.5 and breaking the old mark of 170.5 set last year in 2024. Penn State was a full 44.5 points ahead of second place Nebraska (137.0).
NITTANY LIONS HAMMER AMERICAN IN DUAL FINALE
The Nittany Lions capped off their dual meet season on Friday, Feb. 21, with a 50-3 win over visiting American University in Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions picked up five pins (Tyler Kasak, Levi Haines, Carter Starocci, Josh Barr, Greg Kerkvliet) and four technical falls (Luke Lilledahl, Beau Bartlett, Shayne Van Ness, Mitchell Mesenbrink) in the win. Braeden Davis did not wrestle.
BEAU BARTLETT EARNS B1G W.o.W honors (2/19)
Bartlett continued his outstanding 2024-25 season, going 2-0 in two road duals for 2025 Big Ten Regular Season Champion Penn State. He began the weekend road trip by downing No. 1 Jesse Mendez 4-2 in the Nittany Lions’ 27-13 victory at Ohio State. Bartlett notched the only takedown of the bout in the first period and added an escape in the hard-fought win. Two days later, Bartlett dominated No. 17 Danny Pucino of Illinois, rolling to a 9-2 win. Bartlett’s victory helped Penn State clinch the 2025 Big Ten Regular Season title with a 29-9 victory at Illinois. Bartlett earned Penn State’s 11th award of the year with the honor.
NITTANY LIONS CLINCH 11TH B1G REGULAR SEASON
CHAMPIONSHIP WITH 29-9 VICTORY AT ILLINOIS
The Penn State Nittany Lions closed out the conference portion of their dual meet schedule with a dominant 29-9 win at #19 Illinois on Sunday, Feb. 16, clinching their 11th Big Ten Regular Season Championship in the process. The Nittany Lions won seven of ten bouts with a tech fall, three majors, and Carter Starocci’s DQ win (on six forced stalls) over #12 Edmond Ruth.
BARTLETT DOWNS MENDEZ AS LIONS ROLL OVER
BUCKEYES IN COLUMBUS
Nittany Lion Beau Bartlett used a first period takedown and a second period escape to defeat then top-ranked Jesse Mendez 4-2 in Penn State’s 27-13 victory over Ohio State in Columbus. Bartlett’s win was one of seven for Penn State, which also got technical falls from Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165, Carter Starocci at 184 and Josh Barr at 197. Levi Haines also took down #5 Carson Kharchla at 174, Braeden Davis beat #11 Nic Bouzakis at 133 and Shayne Van Ness beat #7 Dylan D’Emilio at 149.
JOSH BARR NAMED B1G FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK (2/11)
Nittany Lion freshman Josh Barr was Josh Barr has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the week ending February 12, 2025. Barr earns the honor after a 2-0 weekend for the Nittany Lions, who continued to dominate Big Ten competition. The award is the 10th of the year for the Nittany Lions (Wrestler and Freshman). He used a late reversal to beat then No. 2 Josh Cardenas of Michigan Friday night and then teched Maryland’s Chase Mielnik on Sunday.
PENN STATE HOLDS MARYLAND TO NO TAKEDOWNS
IN LOPSIDED VICTORY IN REC HALL
The Nittany Lions kept their foes from securing a single takedown for the second time in three days when Penn State beat Maryland 35-10 on Sunday, Feb. 9, in Rec Hall. Led by Carter Starocci’s 20-3 tech fall over #11 Jaxon Smith, Penn State tallied five tech falls in the lopsided win. Joining Starocci with techs in the dual were Luke Lilledahl, Shayne Van Ness, Mitchell Mesenbrink and Josh Barr.
BARR DOWNS #2 CARDENAS AS NITTANY LIONS
SHUT OUT MICHIGAN 39-0 IN BJC DUAL
Penn State won all ten bouts in a rousing 39-0 shutout of visiting Michigan on Friday, Feb. 7, in another BJC Dual. The win featured pins from Luke Lilledahl and Levi Haines and a 3-2 tiebreaker win for Josh Barr over then No. 2 Jacob Cardenas at 197. The Nittany Lions did not give up a takedown in the dual.
kasak and lilledahl win b1g weekly honors
after lions dominated iowa
Sophomore Tyler Kasak and true freshman Luke Lilledahl swept Big Ten wrestling’s weekly honors after the Nittany Lions dominated Iowa 30-8 in the Bryce Jordan Center. Kasak posted a 5-2 win over then top-ranked Jacori Teemer at 157 to earn Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honors. Lilledahl rolled to a 22-6 tech fall over #26 Joey Cruz at 125 to earn B1G Freshman of the Week laurels.
PENN STATE WINS 8 OF 10 IN 30-8 VICTORY OVER #2 IOWA
Penn State won eight of ten bouts against #2 Iowa in a 30-8 win over the Hawkeyes in the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday, Jan. 31. The Lions thrilled a record-tying crowd of 15,998, for largest dual meet attendance for an indoor wrestling match. Penn State also owns the other two, against Iowa, in the BJC. Penn State got a tech fall from Luke Lilledahl at 125, a win from Beau Bartlett at 141, a major from Shayne Van Ness at 149, a win from Tyler Kasak at 157, a tech fall from Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165, a win from Levi Haines at 174, a win from Carter Starocci at 184 and a major from Greg Kerkvliet at 285. This marks the second straight year that Penn State has won eight of ten bouts against the Hawkeyes.
SOPHOMORE TRIO NOTCHES TOP-2 WINS
IN VICTORY OVER IOWA
Sophomores Tyler Kasak, Mitchell Mesenbrink and Shayne Van Ness each notched impressive top-two victories over their respective combatants in Penn State’s 30-8 win over Iowa on Friday, Jan. 31, in the Bryce Jordan Center. Van Ness dominated #2 Kyle Parco at 149, rolling to a 17-6 major. Kasak took down #1 Jacori Teemer 5-2 at 157 to send Penn State into halftime with a 15-5 lead. Mesenbrink began the second half by controlling #2 Mikey Caliendo in a convincing 19-4 technical fall (6:24).
PENN STATE ROARS AT RUTGERS
The Penn State Nittany Lions roared in front of a sold out Jersey Mike’s Arena crowd at Rutgers on Friday, Jan. 24 in Piscataway, N.J. Penn State won nine of ten matches, including four tech falls, to roll to a 35-3 win over #25 Rutgers. Shayne Van Ness (149), Mitchell Mesenbrink (165), Carter Starocci (184) and Josh Barr (197) all posted tech falls. Barr’s tech fall, of note, featured 22 unanswered points in less than 3:00 in the third period. He turned a 0-0 tie heading into the third into a 22-6 tech fall over #16 Josh Poznanski, a returning All-American, at 6:19. Carter Starocci teched #18 Shane Cartagena-Walsh 17-2, a bout that saw Starocci force the Knight into four stall warnings.
NITTANY LIONS ROUT #4 NEBRASKA IN LINCOLN,
LIONS WIN 8 OF 10 IN FRONT OF NEARLY 7K FANS
Penn State routed homestanding Nebraska 31-7 in Lincoln, Neb., on Friday, Jan. 17, winning eight of ten bouts in front of a Nebraska record crowd of over 6,600 fans. Penn State used three tech falls and a major, as well as a number of impressive regular decisions, to grab the win. True freshman Luke Lilledahl downed #6 Caleb Smith 4-2 at 125 and sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink posted a 20-3 tech fall (5:39) over #7 Bubba Wilson as well.
NITTANY LIONS TIE ALL-TIME MARGIN OF VICTORY RECORD
WITH 55-0 SHUTOUT WIN OVER MICHIGAN STATE
The Penn State Nittany Lions opened up Big Ten dual action on Friday, Jan. 10, by shutting out visiting Michigan State 55-0 in Rec Hall. Penn State tied its all-time record for margin of victory with the effort (Buffalo, 55-0, Feb. 18, 2018). The Nittany Lions had six pins (Greg Kerkvliet, Shayne Van Ness, Tyler Kasak, Levi Haines, Carter Starocci, Josh Barr), three technical falls (Luke Lilledahl, Braeden Davis, Mitchell Mesenbrink) and a major (Beau Bartlett).
BECKETT RUNNER-UP AT F&M, 5 LIONS COMPETE
Senior Sam Beckett went 4-1 with three majors to take second place at 174 in the Franklin & Marshall Open on Friday, Jan. 10. Four other Lions competed as well: Cael Nasdeo picked up two wins at 141, Brock Weiss grabbed two wins at 149 and Ty Watson won twice at 157. Tim Levine picked up a victory at 141.
ZACK RYDER NAMED B1G FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK (1/8)
Freshman Zack Ryder was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the week ending Jan. 5, 2025. Ryder was one of nine Penn State Nittany Lion wrestlers to head to the 2025 Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Jan. 4-5. He rolled through a strong field at 184 to claim the 184-pound title as a true freshman. Ryder went 5-0 overall with a pin and a tech fall. He posted a dominant 9-2 win over No. 22 DJ Parker of Oklahoma in the quarterfinals and then pinned No. 25 TJ Stewart of Virginia Tech in the semifinals. He downed Northern Colorado’s Al Heeg 6-1 (sv) in the finals.
THREE LIONS WIN SCUFFLE TITLES, FIVE PLACE AT UTC
Penn State sent nine individuals to Chattanooga for the 2025 Southern Scuffle on Jan. 4-5 and three true freshmen won titles. Five Penn Staters placed overall. Zack Ryder went 5-0 with a pin and a tech to win the crown at 184. He beat #22 DJ Parker of Oklahoma 9-2 in the quarters and pinned #25 TJ Stewart of Virginia Tech in the semis on his way to the championship. Connor Mirasola went 5-0 with a pin, two techs and a major to win at 197, downing #30 Patrick Brophy of The Citadel 7-3 in the finals. Cole Mirasola went 4-0 with two techs and a major to win at 285. He downed #29 Connor Barkett of Duke in the quarters and majored #25 Lucas Stoddard of Army in the finals. Sophomore Connor Pierce went 4-1 to place second at 149 and senior+ Kurt McHenry went 6-2 to take fifth at 125.
NASDEO WINS EDINBORO OPEN CROWN; BECKETT SECOND
True freshman Cael Nasdeo went 3-0 with a tech and a major (plus a non-collegiate win) to claim the 141 pound title at the Edinboro Open on Jan. 4. Redshirt freshman Sam Beckett went 2-1 at 174 and took second place.
PENN STATE NEARLY PERFECT IN NASHVILLE
The Penn State Nittany Lions went 3-0 at the 2024 Journeymen Collegiate Duals in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in dominant fashion. The Nittany Lions notched two shutout wins and went 29-1 overall in their three duals. Penn State shutout Binghamton 52-0 and #15 Little Rock 44-0 and downed #8 Missouri 41-3. The Nittany Lions had 29 wins, 22 for bonus (four majors, eight technical falls, eight pins and two forfeits) and outscored its three opponents 135-3.
PENN STATE ROARS TO 41-3 WIN OVER #8 MISSOURI
TO CLOSE OUT COLLEGIATE DUALS IN NASHVILLE
Penn State roared to a 41-3 win over #8 Missouri on Sunday, Dec. 22, to close out the 2024 Journeymen Collegiate Duals in Nashville. Beau Bartlett posted a 4-1 win over #16 Josh Edmond at 141 and Carter Starocci majored #10 Colton Hawks 10-1 at 184 to lead Penn State. Levi Haines, ranked #2 at 174, lost a thrilling 4-1 sudden victory decision to #1 Keegan O’Toole in the dual’s marquee match up.
NITTANY LIONS POST THIRD STRAIGHT SHUTOUT,
BLANKING #15 LITTLE ROCK AT JOURNEYMEN
Josh Barr posted a 4-1 (sv) win over #5 Stephen Little at 197 and Braeden Davis downed #5 Nassir Bailey 1-0 at 133 to spark Penn State to a 44-0 shutout win over #15 Little Rock in its second dual at the Journeymen Collegiate Duals on Dec. 22. The shutout was Penn State’s third straight. The Lions also got ranked wins from Shayne Van Ness, who pinned #16 Jordan Williams at 149; Tyler Kasak, a 4-2 winner over #20 Matty Bianchi at 157; and Mitchell Mesenbrink, who roared to a 17-1 tech over #21 Joey Bianchi at 165.
PENN STATE SHUTS OUT BINGHAMTON in Nashville
The Nittany Lions opened up the 2024 Journeymen Collegiate Duals with a 52-0 shutout win over Binghamton. Luke Lilledahl posted a 19-4 tech over #33 Carson Wagner and Carter Starocci pinned #23 Will Ebert to spark Penn State.
BARR EARNS SECOND B1G FRESHMAN
OF THE WEEK AWARD (12/25)
Redshirt freshman Josh Barr was named Big Ten Freshman of the week for the week ending Dec. 22, 2024, his second honor of the season. Barr went 3-0 at the Journeymen Collegiate Duals in Nashville on Sunday, Dec. 22. He had a tech fall in PSU’s win over Binghamton and a pin in the Lion win over Missouri. Barr also used a takedown in extra time to post a thrilling 4-1 (sv) win over #5 Stephen Little in the Nittany Lions’ victory over Little Rock.
BARTLETT AND LILLEDAHL EARN
B1G WEEKLY HONORS (12/18)
Senior+ Beau Bartlett was named B1G Wrestler of the week and true freshman Luke Lilledahl was named B1G Freshman of the Week for the week ending Dec. 18, 2024. Bartlett pinned No. 28 Cole Brooks and Lilledahl posted a 20-5 tech fall at 4:25 over Jack Braman in Penn State’s 54-0 shutout win over visiting Wyoming in the Bryce Jordan Center.
PENN STATE SHUTS OUT WYOMING 54-0 IN JORDAN CENTER
The Penn State Nittany Lions rolled to a 54-0 shut out win over visiting Wyoming on Sunday, Dec. 15. The dual, moved to the Bryce Jordan Center earlier in the week due to scheduling conflicts with the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament in Rec Hall, was wrestled in front of over 7,300 fans, turning a Rec Hall sellout into an even bigger crowd for the Cowboy dual. Penn State had five pins, four technical falls and a major in posting its second most lopsided win ever (55-0 over Buffalo on Feb. 18, 2018).
JOSH BARR MAJORS #6 BEARD TO LEAD PENN STATE
IN 36-3 WIN OVER LEHIGH IN ALLENTOWN’S PPL CENTER; named B1G freshman of the week
Red shirt freshman Josh Barr tallied three takedowns (one in the second and two in a dominant third) to roll to an 11-3 major decision over #6 Michael Beard at 197, leading Penn State to a 36-3 win over the Mountain Hawks. The dual was wrestled in Allentown’s PPL Center in front of a sold out crowd of nearly 10,000 fans. Penn State won nine of ten bouts, also picking up a win from true freshman Luke Lilledahl over #15 Sheldon Seymour at 125. Barr was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week (12/12) for his efforts.
KELLY WINS MAT-TOWN I TITLE, LEVINE RUNNER-UP
Jack Kelly went 3-0 with two pins (in 0:13 and 0:46 seconds) to win the 174 pound title at the Mat-Town Invitational on Dec. 1 in Lock Haven, Pa. Tim Levine went 1-1 plus a non-collegiate victory to earn a runner-up finish at 133 while Sam Beckett went 2-1 to place third at 174.
MITCHELL MESENBRINK EARNS B1G W.O.W. HONORS (11/27)
Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink went 4-0 with four technical falls at the Black Knight Invitational on Sunday, Nov. 24, to earn the 165 pound title at West Point, N.Y., earning tournament Outstanding Wrestler honors. He was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending Nov. 24, 2024, for his efforts.
NITTANY LIONS DOMINATE BLACK KNIGHT INVITATIONAL
The Penn State Nittany Lions dominated the 2024 Black Knight Invitational at Army West Point on Nov. 24. The Nittany Lions won nine of the 10 individual titles, 18 of their 22 competitors placed in the top six and every Penn Stater garnered at least one win. With results against teammates not counting as official NCAA bouts, three of Penn State’s titles included shared crowns with teammates not wrestling each other in the title bouts. Luke Lilledahl (125), Beau Bartlett (141), Shayne Van Ness (149), Tyler Kasak (157), Mitchell Mesenbrink 165), Levi Haines/Matt Lee (174), Carter Starocci/Zack Ryder (184), Lucas Cochran (197) and Greg Kerkvliet/Cole Mirasola (285) were champs. Alex Facundo (157) and Lucas Cochran (197) were runners-up. Kurt McHenry (125) and Connor Mirasola (197) placed third. Penn State rolled up a 55-9 overall record at the event, including seven majors, 24 tech falls and 15 pins (46 of its 55 wins were for bonus). Various matches that pitted Nittany Lions against each other are not included in those totals.
NITTANY LIONS ROLL OVER DREXEL
41-3 IN SEASON OPENER
The Penn State Nittany Lions opened up the regular season with a 41-3 victory over visiting Drexel on Sunday, Nov. 17, in Rec Hall. True freshman Luke Lilledahl received a forfeit win at 125 in his collegiate debut and Greg Kerkvliet closed out the dual with a pin at 285. In between, the Nittany Lions picked up three decisions and four straight tech falls in the second half to roll to the win. Levis Haines (174) and Carter Starocci (184) competed the night before in the NWCA All-Star Classic Exhibition and posted tech falls the next day in the win over the Dragons. Also grabbing victories were Braeden Davis (133), Connor Pierce (149), Alex Facundo (157), Mitchell Mesenbrink (165) and Lucas Cochran (197).
PSU SHINES AT ALL-STAR CLASSIC EXHIBITION
While Penn State’s official season began on Sunday, Nov. 17, in Rec Hall when the Nittany Lions beat Drexel, five Nittany Lions took part in the NWCA All-Star Classic exhibition the night before. The exhibition, not an official NCAA event and does not count towards wins, losses or RPI, featured Beau Bartlett (141), Shayne Van Ness (149), Tyler Kasak (157), Levi Haines (174) and Carter Starocci (184). Bartlett dropped a hard-fought 4-1 decision to No. 2 Jesse Mendez of Ohio State, Van Ness rolled to a 16-4 major over No. 3 Ty Watters of West Virginia, Kasak posted a 4-2 win over No. 3 Peyten Keller of Ohio, Haines notched a 7-0 win over No. 3 Cade DeVos of South Dakota State and Starocci grabbed a hard-fought 4-1 (sv) win over No. 2 Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa.
#FUNSTATS HEADING INTO THE 2025 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
// Most Individual NCAA Titles Since 2011 -- PENN STATE 38, Cornell 14, Oklahoma State 10, Ohio State 10, Iowa 7
// Penn State National Finalists Since 2011 -- 56
// Penn State in NCAA Finals Since 2011 -- 38-18 (Since 2011, winning percentage in NCAA finals is .679)
// Penn State in NCAA Semifinals Since 2011 -- 56-8 (Since 2011, winning percentage in NCAA semis is .875)
// Penn State Team Championships Since 2011 -- 11 (of 13, no NCAA tournament in 2020)
// Penn State Percentage of Team Titles Won Since 2011 - .846 (no NCAA tournament in 2020)
// Penn State has 12 NCAA Championships (11 under Sanderson), third most in NCAA history
// Penn State is the only team in the nation to win at least one individual title at EACH WEIGHT in the last decade
// Penn State is one of only two teams in NCAA history to have five individual champions in one year TWICE.
// Penn State’s Cael Sanderson has won 11 NCAA titles as a coach, second most in NCAA history (tied).