COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (11-0, 5-0 B1G) shut out homestanding Maryland (4-6, 0-5 B1G) 51-0 for yet another Big Ten road win. The Nittany Lions picked up bonus points in all ten matches in the lopsided victory in College Park, Md., on Saturday.
Penn State, now 11-0 on the year, has earned shutouts in seven of those wins. The Nittany Lions are 5-0 in the Big Ten, four by shutout.
The dual began at 125. Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 1 at 125, used five takedowns and 2:33 in riding time to roll to a 19-4 technical fall over Abram Cline at 7:00. True freshman Marcus Blaze, ranked No. 4 at 133, followed that win up by controlling No. 15 Braxton Brown for the entire bout, walking away with a 15-3 major decision to give the Nittany Lions a 9-0 lead. Junior Braeden Davis, ranked No. 11 at 141, then majored Dario Lemus, riding five takedowns to an 18-4 win.
Junior Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 1 at 149, then put on an offensive show against No. 7 Carter Young. Van Ness gave up an early takedown and four back points to trail 7-1 after one. The Lion junior then rolled up nine takedowns (five in the second and four in the third) to post a stunning 31-15 technical fall at the 6:41 mark. True freshman PJ Duke, ranked No. 3 at 157, capped off a superb first half for the Nittany Lions by pinning Mekhi Neal in the first period (1:54). Penn State led 24-0 at halftime.
Junior Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, opened up the second half with a 15-0 technical fall victory over AJ Rodrigues. Mesenbrink used a takedown and three near fall turns in the first period to lead 14-0 after one and capped off the tech with an escape for the victory at 3:32. Senior Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, then collected seven takedowns in a strong 23-8 tech fall over Seth Digby at the 6:36 mark. Sophomore Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 1 at 184, opened up a big lead on Sepanta Ahanj-Elias before picking up another Nittany Lion pin. Welsh got the fall at 3:52.
Sophomore Josh Barr, ranked No. 1 at 197, dominated No. 13 Branson John next. Barr tallied six takedowns in rolling to a convincing 19-4 tech fall at the 6:51 mark, Penn State’s fifth tech of the dual meet. Redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 12 at 285, wrapped up an outstanding weekend for Penn State by pinning Maryland’s Joey Schneck in the second period. Mirasola took the Terrapin down and locked up a cradle for the fall at 3:56. Mirasola’s pin, the third of the dual for Penn State, capped off the Nittany Lions’ 51-0 shutout victory.
Penn State amassed a whopping 46-2 takedown edge. The Nittany Lions picked up 21 bonus points off three pins (Duke, Welsh, Mirasola), five tech falls (Lilledahl, Van Ness, Mesenbrink, Haines, Barr) and two majors (Blaze, Davis).
Penn State is now 11-0 on the year, 5-0 in the Big Ten. Maryland falls to 4-6, 0-5 B1G. Penn State returns to action next Friday, Jan. 30, when it hosts Nebraska in a BJC Dual. Action begins at 8 p.m. in the B1G Network national telecast.
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. The Family Clothesline is the presenting sponsor for the 2025-26 Nittany Lion wrestling season. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.
#1 Penn State 51, Maryland 0
January 25, 2026 – College Park, Md.
125: #1 Luke Lilledahl PSU tech fall Abram Cline MD, 19-4 (TF; 7:00) 5-0
133: #4 Marcus Blaze PSU maj. dec. #15 Braxton Brown MD, 15-3 9-0
141: #11 Braeden Davis PSU maj. dec. Dario Lemus MD, 15-3 13-0
149: #1 Shayne Van Ness PSU tech fall #7 Carter Young MD, 31-15 (TF; 6:41) 18-0
157: #3 PJ Duke PSU pinned Mekhi Neal MD, WBF (1:54) 24-0
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU tech fall AJ Rodriguez MD, 15-0 (TF; 3:24) 29-0
174: #1 Levi Haines PSU tech fall Seth Digby MD, 23-8 (TF; 6:36) 34-0
184: #1 Rocco Welsh PSU pinned Sepanta Ahanj-Elias MD, WBF (3:52) 40-0
197: #1 Josh Barr PSU tech fall #13 Branson John MD, 19-4 (TF; 6:51) 45-0
285: #12 Cole Mirasola PSU pinned Joey Schneck MD, WBF (3:56) 51-0
Records: Penn State 11-0, 5-0 B1G; Maryland 4-6, 0-5 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: Home vs. Nebraska, Friday, Jan. 30, 8 p.m. – BJC Dual
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 1 at 125, met Abram Cline. Lilledahl controlled the center of the mat, working on the Terrapin logo until turning a low single into a takedown and a 3-0 lead at 2:06. Lilledahl worked on top through the 1:00 mark, looking to turn Cline while building up a sizeable riding time advantage. He cut the Terrapin loose at 1:02 and went back to work on offense. Lilledahl forced a stall warning at :30 and led 3-1 after one. Cline chose down to start the second period and Lilledahl went to work, looking for a turn. He worked his time edge up to 1:49 before cutting Cline loose to a 3-2 score. He picked up a stall point and then blew through a low double for a second takedown and a 7-2 lead. Another cut led to another takedown at :12 and a 10-3 lead after two periods. Lilledahl chose down to start the third period and escaped to an 11-3 lead at 1:47. Lilledahl picked up another takedown at 1:10 to lead 14-3 with clinched riding time. He cut Cline loose again, picked up a stall point at :50, and took him down once more for an 18-4 lead with :18 left in the bout. He finished the period on top and, with 2:33 in time, picked up the riding time point and a 19-4 tech fall at 7:00.
133: Marcus Blaze, ranked No. 4 at 133, battled No. 15 Braxton Brown. Blaze controlled position on the UM logo through the first minute of action. Brown was able to defend Blaze, backing away as the clock dipped below the 1:00 mark. Blaze snapped Brown’s head down, then transitioned to a single and a takedown with :44 left in the period. Blaze finished the period on top and led 3-0 after one. Lilledahl chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead. Blaze took a 7-0 lead with a second takedown at the :55 mark, forced a stall warning and then cut Brown loose. Blaze used a low shot to force a late scramble, but Brown was able to fight off the effort until the period ended and Blaze led 7-1 after two. Brown chose down to start the third, Blaze worked his time edge up over 1:00 and cut Brown loose to a 7-2 score. The Nittany Lion freshman took another low shot and took Brown down on the edge of the mat to lead 10-3 after cutting Brown loose again. Blaze picked up a stall point at 1:00 and continued to move forward. Brown continued to back up. Blaze finished the match off with a scrambling takedown at the :01 mark and, with riding time, posted the 15-3 major decision.
141: Braeden Davis, ranked No. 11 at 141, faced Dario Lemus. Davis began the period by nearly locking up a cement mixer in the opening minute. Lemus fought off the effort and Davis quickly turned a low double into a takedown and a 3-1 lead at 1:52 after a quick Maryland escape. Davis continued to force the action, taking shots as he chased Lemus to the outside circle. Davis forced a stall warning and then swiftly took Lemus down a second time to open up a 6-1 lead. He worked on top, looking to turn the Terrapin, and settled for a rideout and a 6-1 lead after one. Lemus chose down to start the second period. Davis worked his riding time up over 1:00 with a strong ride. Lemus escaped to a 6-2 score at 1:25, Davis turned a high single into a third takedown at 1:10. With a 9-2, Davis pushed his riding time edge up over 2:00 before cutting him loose on a reset at :32. Lemus forced a scramble with a shot and Davis countered his way into control and a takedown at :12 to lead 12-3 with 2:15 in time after two periods. Davis chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 13-3 lead. Davis shot at Lemus’ right ankle and bulled his way to another takedown and a 16-3 lead with 1:05 on the clock. With riding time clinched, Davis worked to turn the Terrapin through the :30 mark. He picked up a stall point at :18, cut him loose at :10 looking for a tech but settled for the 18-4 major decision with 3:04 in riding time.
149: Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 1 at 149, met No. 7 Carter Young. Van Ness and Young battled evenly through the first 1:00 before Van Ness forced a scramble. Young countered the effort and took Van Ness down, locking a cradle for four back points and a 7-1 lead after Van Ness escaped at 1:20. Van Ness worked on his feet while Young moved to the outside circle. Young turned a high shot into a scramble, but Van Ness countered to the end of the period and trailed 7-1 after one. Van Ness chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 score. He picked up his pace, took Young down, forced a stall warning and cut him loose to a 7-5 score. He then took the Terrapin down a second time, cut him loose, repeated the takedown combination two more times and led 14-11 at the :30 mark. Van Ness picked up another takedown at :18 to up his lead to 17-11 after two. Young chose down to start the third, Van Ness picked up a stall point, cut him and quickly took him down to lead 21-13. He added another takedown and led 24-14 after another cut at 1:00. Van Ness continued his offensive showcase with a takedown at :38, and a final with just :19 on the clock to chalk up a stunning 30-14 technical fall at 6:41.
157: PJ Duke, ranked No. 3 at 165, met Mekhi Neal. Duke controlled the action from the get-go, taking Neal down for an early 3-1 lead. He added a second takedown and cut to lead 6-1 and then picked up a third to lead 9-2. Duke then locked up a cradle and picked up the first period fall, pinning Neal at the 1:54 mark.
165: Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, tangled with AJ Rodrigues. Mesenbrink moved in on offense off the opening whistle, locking up the Terrapins ankle and working his way to a takedown and a 3-0 lead at 2:16. Mesenbrink worked on top, looking to turn Rodriguez. He used an arm bar to turn his opponent and grab four back points and 1:06. Mesenbrink maintained control, turning Rodgriguez for three more back points and a 10- lead at :32. Mesenbrink added a late four point turn and led 14-0 after one. Mesenbrink chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 15-0 technical fall victory at 3:24.
174: Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, battled Seth Digby. Haines took Digby down to open up a 3-0 lead at the 2:15 mark. Haines worked for a turning combination through the 1:30 mark, building his riding time up over 1:00 before cutting Digby loose at :51 to lead 3-1. Haines picked up a second takedown with just :18 on the clock, finished the period on top, and led 6-1 with 1:58 in time after one. Haines chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-1 lead. He used a fast low shot to take Digby down again and up his lead to 10-1. Haines cut Digby loose, then took the Terrapin down and third time to lead 13-2 with :45 on the clock. Haines finished the period on top and led 13-2 after two with clinched riding time. Digby chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 13-3 score. He then used a low shot for his first takedown, cutting Haines’ lead to 14-6 after Levi escaped. Haines scrambled his way to a takedown at 1:08, cut Digby, took him down again and led 20-8. Haines finished off the bout with a final takedown and posted the 23-8 tech fall at 6:36.
184: Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 1 at 184, faced Sepanta Ahanj-Elias. Welsh forced an early scramble with a shot, Elias countered and action resumed in neutral at 2:20. Welsh continued to work on offense and took a 3-0 lead with a takedown at 2:08. Welsh controlled the action on top, building up a big riding time edge while trying to turn the Terrapin for back points. He cut Elias loose and quickly took him down a second time to lead 6-1 at the :38 mark. Welsh finished the period on top and carried that lead, with 1:51 in time, into the second stanza. Welsh chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-1 lead. He used a low single to work Elias to the mat and take a 10-1 lead with his third takedown. He then locked Elias’ head and shoulders, rolled him to his back and picked up the fall at 3:52.
197: Josh Barr, ranked No. 1 at 197, met No. 13 Branson John. Barr and John battled evenly through the first two minutes. Barr moved away from a solid John shot and the turned in on offense for the bout’s first takedown with :24 on the clock. Barr finished the period on top and led 3-0 after one. Barr chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead. The duo worked in the middle of the mat with Barr chasing John down through the 1:00 mark. John, playing defense, was unable to hold Barr off for long. Barr used a high shot to take the Terrapin down and led 7-0. Barr finished the period on top once again and carried that lead, with :59 in time, into the third period. John chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 7-1 score. Barr had 1:06 in riding time. Barr quickly took John down a third time and nearly pinned him with a quick turn. But John rolled through without giving up back points and Barr led 10-2 after cutting John loose at 1:20. Barr turned a high single into another takedown and cut, then another, then a final one with just :09 left. Barr’s takedown flurry led to a 19-4 tech fall at the 6:51 mark.
285: Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 12 at 285, met Joey Schneck. Mirasola took Schneck down three times in the first minute and led 9-3 early on in the bout. Mirasola forced a stall warning at 1:22. He worked in the center of the mat and the n fought off a slight Schneck effort to move action out of bounds with :49 on the clock. Mirasola and Schneck finished the opening period in neutral, and the Nittany Lion led 9-3 after one. Schneck chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 9-4 score. Mirasola took Scheck down once more in the second, locked up a cradle and finished off the match by pinning Schneck at the 3:56 mark.