UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State wrestling team (12-0, 6-0 B1G) rolled over No. 5 Nebraska (9-6, 2-3 B1G) 26-12 for a Big Ten victory in the Bryce Jordan Center. The Nittany Lions won seven bouts on their way to the lopsided win, wrestling their sixth dual meet in 20 days.
The dual began at 125. Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 1 at 125, gave Penn State a 5-0 lead early with a resounding 20-4 technical fall over Alan Koehler at 5:36. True freshman Marcus Blaze, ranked No. 4 at 133, notched the only takedown of the bout in a strong 5-1 win over No. 10 Jacob Van Dee. Junior Braeden Davis, ranked No. 12 at 141, opened up an early 6-2 lead over No. 5 Brock Hardy but was pinned during a scramble at 5:55. The Nebraska win cut Penn State’s lead to 8-6.
Junior Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 1 at 149, came back from an early deficit to dominate No. 18 Chance Lamer. Van Nes tallied three takedowns after giving up the first and rolled to a 12-5 win to put Penn State up 11-6. True freshman PJ Duke, ranked No. 3 at 157, battled No. 5 Antrell Taylor through regulation and sudden victory before dropping a tough 2-1 (tb) decision. Penn State led 10-9 at halftime.
Junior Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, started the second half the same way Lilledahl started the first. Mesenbrink rolled through five take takedowns for a 20-5 technical fall over No. 7 LJ Araujo, upping Penn State’s lead to 15-9. Senior Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, used a third period takedown to grab a hard fought 8-6 win over No. 4 Christopher Minto. Sophomore Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 1 at 184, dominated No. 6 Silas Allred in the next bout. Welsh tallied four takedowns in a 14-5 major decision over Allred.
Sophomore Josh Barr, ranked No. 1 at 197, mirrored the major decision, rolling to a 21-9 major decision over No. 9 Camden McDanel to give PSU a 26-9 lead.. Redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 12 at 285, battled No. 4 AJ Ferrari through an even 7:00 before dropping a hard-fought 2-1 bout on riding time. Penn State walked away with a 26-12 win.
The Nittany Lions posted a 29-5 takedown differential in the dual meet. Penn State won seven of ten bouts and picked up six bonus points off two tech falls (Lilledahl, Mesenbrink) and two majors (Welsh, Barr). Penn State lost one team point (Davis).
Penn State is now 12-0 on the year, 6-0 in the Big Ten. Nebraska falls to 9-6, 2-3 B1G. The Nittany Lions return to action next Friday, Feb. 6, when they visit Michigan in Ann Arbor. The dual is set for 6 p.m. and is a 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 26, #5 Nebraska 12
January 30, 2026 – Bryce Jordan Center – University Park, Pa.
125: #1 Luke Lilledahl PSU tech fall Alan Koehler NEB, 20-4 (TF; 5:36) 5-0
133: #4 Marcus Blaze PSU dec. #10 Jacob Van Dee NEB, 5-1 8-0
141: #4 Brock Hardy pinned #12 Braeden Davis PSU, WBF (5:55) 7-6*
149: #1 Shayne Van Ness PSU dec. #18 Chance Lamer NEB, 12-5 10-6
157: #5 Antrell Taylor NEB dec. #3 PJ Duke PSU, 2-1 (tb) 10-9
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU tech fall #7 LJ Araujo NEB, 20-5 (TF; 7:00) 15-9
174: #1 Levi Haines PSU dec. #4 Christopher Minto NEB, 8-6 18-9
184: #1 Rocco Welsh PSU maj. dec. #6 Silas Allred NEB, 14-5 22-9
197: #1 Josh Barr PSU maj. dec. #9 Camden McDanel NEB, 21-9 26-9
285: #4 AJ Ferrari NEB dec. #12 Cole Mirasola PSU, 2-1 26-12
* One team point deducted from Penn State, unsportsmanlike
Attendance: 13,225
Records: Penn State 12-0, 5-0 B1G; Nebraska 9-6, 2-3 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, took on Alan Koehler. Lilledahl scored quickly, turning a low single into takedown and a 3-0 lead just :25 into the bout. Koehler escaped to a 3-1 score on a reset and Lilledahl went back to work on offense. Lilledahl took a 6-1 lead with a second takedown midway through the opening period and worked his riding time up to nearly a minute before cutting Koehler loose. He picked up a third takedown seconds later and led 9-2 at the :32 mark. Lilledahl finished the period on top and took that lead, plus 1:33 in time, into the second stanza. Koehler chose down to start the second and escaped to a 9-3 score. Lilledahl worked a high shot into a fourth takedown and a 12-3 lead at 1:33. Lilledahl worked a bow and arrow, turned Koehler for two near fall points and then fought off reversal attempt at :35. Lilledahl finished the period on top and led 14-3 with 3:17 in time after two. Lilledahl chose neutral to start the third period. He blew through a low double to lead 17-4 after another cut and finished off the bout with a final takedown for a 20-4 technical fall at 5:36.
133: Marcus Blaze, ranked No. 4 at 133, met No. 10 Jacob Van Dee. Blaze controlled position on the Nittany Lion logo, worked Van Dee’s head to the mat at the 1:10 mark. The Husker was able to play defense through the 1:00 mark while Blaze continued to press forward. Blaze blew through a fast high single for a takedown and a 3-0 lead at the :21 mark and finished the period in control. Van Dee chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 3-1 score. Blaze continued to hold his spot in the center of the mat as Van Dee defended each Lion effort. Blaze worked to snap Van Dee down, but the Husker was able to circle towards out of bounds through the :30 mark. Blaze picked up a penalty point at :20 and led 4-1 after two. Blaze chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 5-1 lead at 1:37. The Lion freshman continued to force Van Dee to the outside circle as the Husker played it safe on defense. Blaze finished the bout controlling his spot in the center of the mat and walked away with a 5-1 win.
141: Braeden Davis, ranked No. 12 at 141, battled No. 4 Brock Hardy. Davis came out fast, taking Hardy down off the opening whistle to open up an early 3-0 lead less that ten seconds into the bout. Davis maintained control of Hardy for :49 before the Husker escaped to a 3-1 score. Davis worked another low single into another takedown and a 6-1 lead at the 1:16 mark. Hardy escaped to a 6-2 score at :55 and action continued in neutral. Davis worked Hardy towards the outside circle and the bout moved to the second period with Davis leading 6-2 with 1:09 in riding time. Davis chose down to start the second period. Hardy controlled action for :32 before Davis escaped to a 7-2 lead. Davis forced a first stall at 1:14. The Lion stepped back from one hard shot then gave up a stall warning. Hardy picked up a late takedown to cut the Davis lead to 7-5 after two. Hardy chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-6 score. Davis forced a stalemate at 1:25, leading by one. Davis took a low single and Hardy countered, finishing off a cradle for a fall at the 5:55 mark. Penn State lost a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct on Davis.
149: Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 1 at 149, wrestled No. 18 Chance Lamer. Lamer notched the bout’s first takedown, opening up a 3-1 lead in the opening minute. Van Ness worked the center of the mat as the clock moved below the 1:30 mark, looking to work through the Husker’s defense. Lamer was able to back away over the final minute and Van Ness trailed 3-1 after one. Lamer chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-1 lead. Van Ness turned a high double into a takedown and a 4-4 tie at 1:20. He then maintained control for the rest of the period, forcing a stall in the process. Van Ness and Lamer went to the third period tied 4-4 with Van Ness owning 1:07 in riding time. Van Ness chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 5-4 lead at 1:40. Van Ness continued to shoot the Husker backwards and used another high double for a takedown and an 8-4 lead at 1:10. Lamer escaped to an 8-5 score. Van Ness added a third takedown at :15 and, with 1:33 in riding time, posted the 12-5 win.
157: PJ Duke ranked No. 3 at 157, faced No. 5 Antrell Taylor. Duke and Taylor battled in neutral, trading shots on the Nittany Lion logo through the 1:30 mark. Duke held his spot in the center of the mat while Taylor began to back towards the outside circle. Duke turned a high single into a scoring opportunity and Taylor fought off the effort by moving out of bounds, getting hit with stalling in the process. The first period ended in a 0-0 tie. Taylor chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Duke moved in on offense, forcing Taylor back. With the Husker taking a knee at :55, Duke continued to shoot Taylor backwards. The period ended in neutral and Duke trailed 1-0 after two. Duke chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 1-1 tie at 1:42. Duke continued to move forward and Taylor backwards as the clock hit 1:00. The action stayed in the center of the mat with Duke taking shots and Taylor backing away until the end of regulation. The match moved to sudden victory tied 1-1. Duke and Taylor battled in neutral through the 1:00 mark with Duke continuing to move forward without getting the stall call. The bout moved to sudden victory tied 1-1. Taylor chose down to start the tie-breaker. Taylor escaped to a 2-1 lead at :13, with Duke nearly rolling him for back points but action moving out of bounds. Duke was down next, needing to escape in :13. Duke was unable to escape, and Taylor held on for a 2-1 (tb) win.
165: Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, took on No. 7 LJ Araujo. Mesenbrink scored quickly, turning a shot off the whistle into a scramble and a takedown at the 2:48 mark. Mesenbrink cut Araujo loose, worked a low shot into another takedown and led 6-1 aft 2:09. The Nittany Lion cut Araujo loose at 1:35 and quickly took him down a third time at 1:20 to lead 9-2. Mesenbrink led 9-3 after one. Mesenbrink chose neutral to start the second period. He continued to press on offense, forced a first stall warning and then added a fourth takedown. He cut Araujo loose to a 12-4 score and picked up a point on another stall to lead 13-4 after two. Mesenbrink chose down to start the third period. He forced a stall while trying to escape and then zipped around the Husker for a reversal and a 16-4 lead. Mesenbrink cut Araujo loose, took him down to a 19-5 lead at :40 and finished the period on top. He added 2:10 in riding time and posted the 20-5 tech fall at 7:00.
174: Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, met No. 4 Christopher Minto. Haines worked Minto to the outside circle, forcing him out of bounds and picking u pa stall. But Haines was hit with unsportsmanlike conduct and Minto was given a point to lead 1-0. Haines battled for a final takedown in the waning seconds of the period, but time ran out and Haines trailed 1-0 after one. Haines chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 1-1 tie. Haines gave up a takedown at the :58 mark and trailed 4-1. He escaped off a reset to a 4-2 score and went to work on offense. Haines turned a high shot into a takedown late in the period to take a 5-4 lead into the third period. Minto chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-5 tie. Haines worked to control the center of the mat as the clock hit 1:26. He battled to work Minto’s head down as the Husker shot and rolled through him for a takedown and an 8-5 lead at :40. Haines controlled action until a Nebraska escape at :09 and walked away with an 8-6 win.
184: Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 1 at 184, faced No. 6 Silas Allred. Welsh scored first, taking Allred down for a 3-1 lead at the 2:10 mark after a quick Husker escape. Welsh kept pushing the offense and took a 6-1 lead on the edge of the mat with another takedown at 1:25. Allred escaped again and action resumed in neutral. Welsh maintained position in the center of the mat for the rest of the period and led 6-2 after the opening stanza. Allred chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 6-3 score. But Welsh continued to connect on offense, turning a shot on the edge of the mat into a third takedown and a 9-3 lead. Welsh, leading 9-4, chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 10-4 lead. Welsh forced a stall then blew through a high double to open up a 13-4 lead with over 1:00 in riding time. Allred escaped to a 13-5 score and Welsh held position in the center of the mat. The action finished in neutral and Welsh, with 1:22 in riding time, rolled to an impressive 14-5 major decision with 1:22 in riding time.
197: Josh Barr, ranked No. 1 at 197, took on No. 9 Camden McDanel. Barr scored first, taking McDanel down in the opening minute to lead 3-0. Barr maintained control of McDanel for :38 before the Husker escaped to a 3-1 score. Barr moved in on a low shot, took McDanel down again to lead 6-1, and built his riding time up to 1:07 before McDanel escaped. Barr took McDanel down a third time at the :34 mark, cut him loose at :32, and took him down a fourth time with :09 on the clock to lead 12-3 after one. Barr chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 13-3 lead. He forced a stall, then took McDanel down and cut him to lead 16-4. He fought off a McDanel shot at :45 and led 16-4 after two. McDanel chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 16-5 score. Barr used a low single to control McDanel’s foot, pulled him in bounds and finished a takedown at 1:21 to lead 19-6 after cutting McDanel loose again. McDanel picked up his first takedown to cut Barr’s lead to 19-9 at 1:00. Barr escaped to a 20-9 score at :30 and, with 1:04 in riding time, posted a strong 21-9 major decision.
285: Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 12 at 285, battled No. 4 AJ Ferrari. Mirasola worked to hold position in the center of the mat while Ferrari backed towards the outside circle through the 2:00 mark. Mirasola fought off a Ferrari counter shot on the edge of the mat to force a reset at 1:50. The duo worked in neutral as the clock hit 1:00 with Mirasola owning the middle and Ferrari circling to the outside circle. The first period ended in a 0-0 tie. Ferrari chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 1-0 lead. Mirasola continued to chase Ferrari around and nearly connected on a shot at the :40 mark. Ferrari was able to work his way out of bounds and a reset was called at :34. Trailing 1-0, Mirasola chose down to start the third period. He battled through over a minute, working to escape. Mirasola escaped to a 1-1 tie, but Ferrari’s riding time edge gave the Husker a 2-1 victory.