UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (14-0, 8-0 B1G) routed visiting Ohio State (17-1, 6-1 B1G) 36-5 in the Bryce Jordan Center Friday night in the Big Ten dual meet finale for head coach Cael Sanderson’s squad. The win clinched the 2026 Big Ten Regular Season Championship for the Nittany Lions in front of 16,006 fans, a new NCAA and Penn State wrestling indoor attendance record.
This year’s regular season championship is the sixth straight for Penn State and the 12th overall (all since Sanderson’s arrival as head coach for the 2009-10 season). Penn State also capped off its 11th unbeaten/untied Big Ten regular season in school history. The new attendance record of 16,006 breaks the old mark of 15,998, also held by Penn State on three different occasions (the latest was last year vs. Iowa on Jan. 31, 2025). Penn State and the BJC are now the site of every top ten indoor attendance mark in NCAA history. The Nittany Lion line-up in tonight’s dual meet featured six underclassmen (freshmen and sophomores).
The dual began at 125. Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 1 at 125, battled No. 2 Nic Bouzakis through regulation, ending in a 1-1 tie. Lilledahl then turned a single into a scramble and a winning takedown in the extra period, posting the 4-1 (sv) win. True freshman Marcus Blaze, ranked No. 4 at 133, also went to extra time against No. 2 Ben Davino. After a 1-1 tie through regulation and sudden victory and a Davino escape in the tie-breaker, Blaze used a reversal to post a thrilling 3-2 (tb) win.
Junior Braeden Davis, ranked No. 12 at 141, lost a tough 18-2 (TF; 5:49) to No. 1 Jesse Mendez, cutting Penn State’s lead to 6-5. Junior Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 1 at 149, answered that result with a tech fall of his own. Van Ness tallied six takedowns in a 20-5 tech fall (6:17) over Brogan Fielding. True freshman PJ Duke, ranked No. 4 at 157, capped off an outstanding first half for Penn State with the dual’s first fall. Duke, leading big in the second period, took Maddox Shaw down and to his back early in the second period for the pin at 3:28. Penn State led 17-5 at halftime.
Junior Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, dominated No. 16 Paddy Gallagher to start the second half. Mesenbrink used three takedowns, an escape, stall points and 3:43 in riding time to roll to a 12-2 major decision. Senior Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, continued the Nittany Lion bonus point parade. Haines rolled up three takedowns and two nearfall turns to post a 16-1 tech fall at 4:16 to put Penn State up 26-5.
Sophomore Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 1 at 184, gave up an early takedown to No. 8 Dylan Fishback and fell behind 4-0 in the second. But the Lion sophomore battled his way back, using a furious third period and a last second takedown to post the thrilling 7-6 win. Sophomore Josh Barr, ranked No. 1 at 197, picked up yet another bonus point win for Penn State. Barr dominated No. 10 Luke Geog, posting the convincing 11-2 major decision to put Penn State up 33-5. Redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 12 at 285, closed out the Championship clinching night with a thrilling sudden victory win over No. 3 Nick Feldman. Mirasola battled Feldman to a 1-1 tie in regulation and then ended the night with a takedown in extra time, winning 4-1 (sv). Mirasola’s victory put the exclamation point on Penn State’s 36-5 win.
The Nittany Lions dominated the dual, posting a 25-5 margin in takedowns and winning nine of ten bouts. Five of Penn State’s nine wins were for bonus as the Nittany Lions tallied nine bonus points off one pin (Duke), two tech falls (Van Ness, Haines), and two majors (Mesenbrink, Barr).
The Nittany Lions improve to 14-0 overall, 8-0 in the Big Ten. Ohio State falls to 17-1, 6-1 B1G. Penn State closes out the dual meet season next weekend with a non-conference battle against Princeton. The Nittany Lions host the Tigers on Friday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall.
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 36, #2 Ohio State 5
February 13, 2026 – Bryce Jordan Center – University Park, Pa.
125: #1 Luke Lilledahl PSU dec. #2 Nic Bouzakis OSU, 4-1 (sv) 3-0
133: #4 Marcus Blaze PSU dec. #2 Ben Davino OSU, 3-2 (tb) 6-0
141: #1 Jesse Mendez OSU tech fall #12 Braeden Davis PSU, 18-2 (TF; 5:49) 6-5
149: #1 Shayne Van Ness PSU tech fall Brogan Fielding OSU, 20-5 (TF; 6:17) 11-5
157: #4 PJ Duke PSU pinned Daxton Chase OSU, WBF (3:28) 17-5
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU maj. dec. #16 Paddy Gallagher OSU, 12-2 21-5
174: #1 Levi Haines PSU tech fall PJ Schierl OSU, 16-1 (TF; 4:16) 26-5
184: #1 Rocco Welsh PSU dec. #8 Dylan Fishback OSU, 7-6 29-5
197: #1 Josh Barr PSU maj. dec. #10 Luke Geog OSU, 11-2 33-5
285: #12 Cole Mirasola PSU dec. #3 Nick Feldman OSU, 4-1 (sv) 36-5
Attendance: 16,006 (Penn State has wrestled in front of 90 sellouts in its last 97 home events, including 79-straight in Rec Hall and 11 of 18 in the BJC) – NEW NCAA AND PENN STATE INDOOR ATTENDANCE RECORD
Records: Penn State 14-0, 8-0 B1G; Ohio State 17-1, 6-1 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: Home vs. Princeton, Friday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m. – Rec Hall
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 1 at 125, battled No. 2 Nic Bouzakis. Lilledahl controlled position in the middle of the mat through the first minute plus. He worked his way in on a low shot at the 1:20 mark and Bouzakis tried to counter the move. Lilledahl rolled through the scramble and action resumed in neutral at :55. The first period finished in neutral, tied 0-0. Bouzakis chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 1-0 lead at 1:45. Lilladahl and Bouzakis battled on the Nittany Lion logo through the 1:00 mark with each wrestler trading shots in the middle of the mat. Like the first period, the second ended with the wrestlers on their feet and Lilledahl trailing 1-0. Lilledahl chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. The wrestlers once again traded slight low shots through the final period’s first minute. Lilledahl continued to pressure Bouzakis backwards as time wound down. Lilledahl nearly finished off a takedown at the buzzer, but time ran out and the bout moved to sudden victory tied 1-1. Lilledahl worked his way into a single early in extra time and, after a brief scramble, finished off the takedown for a 4-1 (sv) win.
133: Marcus Blaze, ranked No. 4 at 133, took on No. 2 Ben Davino. Blaze controlled position in the middle of the mat, holding his spot on the Nittany Lion logo through the first two minutes. Blaze continued to move forward, forcing Davino to circle. Blaze side stepped a quick Davino shot at the :30 mark and the bout moved to the second period tied 0-0. Davino chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 1-0 lead. Like the opening stanza, Blaze maintained his position in the middle of the mat through the opening minute. The second period ended in neutral and Blaze trailed 1-0 after two. Blaze chose down to start the third period and worked his way to an escaped and a 1-1 tie at 1:41. Davino worked his way into control of Blaze’s right ankle at the 1:10 mark. Blaze battled through the move and forced a stalemate at :51. Like the prior bout, Blaze and Davino went to sudden victory tied 1-1. Davino took a quick shot, Blaze countered and Davino skipped away as the clock hit 1:25 in sudden victory. Blaze nearly connected on a single at :20 but Davino defended the effort and the bout went to a tie-breaker. Davino chose down for the first tie-breaker session and escaped after a :09 ride. Blaze pushed Davino backwards and then chose down for his tie breaker after blood time. Blazer worked to escape, after over :09 passed, Blaze scrambled through Davino’s ride and worked his way to a reversal and a 3-2 lead. He finished the period on top and posted the thrilling 3-2 (tb) win.
141: Braeden Davis, ranked No. 12 at 141, met No. 1 Jesse Mendez. Davis and Mendez battled evenly through the first minute plus. Davis defended a Mendez shot on the edge of the mat at 1:10 and then circled back into the center of the mat as the clock moved towards :30. Mendez notched a takedown at :19 to take a 3-0 lead into the second period. Mendez chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 4-0 lead. Davis took a slight shot and Mendez countered for a takedown and three near fall points to lead 10-2 after a Davis escape. Mendez took him down again to lead 13-3 and added two more back points for a 15-1 lead after two periods. Davis chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 15-2 score. Mendez finished off the match with a final takedown for an 18-2 tech fall at 5:49.
149: Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 1 at 149, wrestled Brogan Fielding. Van Ness controlled the action in the middle of the mat, holding position on Fielding as the clock moved towards the 1:00 mark. He pulled the Buckeye towards him for a takedown and a 3-0 lead at 1:13. Van Ness controlled the action for the rest of the period and led by three after one. Fielding chose down to start the second stanza, and Van Ness cut him loose to a 3-1 score. He quickly moved in through a high double and a 6-2 lead after another cut. Van Ness added a third takedown and cut at 1:09 to lead 9-3, then Van Ness picked up a stall point at :12 and added a fourth takedown at the buzzer to lead 13-3 after two. Van Ness chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 14-3 lead. He bulled through another double for a takedown but gave up a penalty point in the process and led 17-4 at 1:16. He cut Fielding loose and then finished off the match with a final takedown, posting the 20-5 tech fall at 6:17.
157: PJ Duke, ranked No. 4 at 157, faced Daxton Chase. Duke came out firing on offense. He took Chase down quickly and cut him loose to lead 3-1. The Lion freshman added a quick second takedown to up his lead to 6-1 before :45 had passed. Chase escaped to a 6-2 score at 1:45 and Duke went back to work on offense. Duke tacked on a third takedown, then a fourth, and led 12-3 at 1:16. Duke picked up a fifth takedown in the opening period with seconds left, finished on top, and led 15-4 after one. Duke chose neutral to start the second period and quickly took Chase down and to his back. Duke settled in and picked up the pin at the 3:28 mark.
165: Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, battled No. 16 Paddy Gallagher. Mesenbrink took Gallagher down quickly, scoring early to open up a 3-0 lead just over :10 into the bout. He went to work on top, looking to turn the Buckeye for nearfall points. Mesenbrink forced a stall at 1:20 with a strong ride. He controlled the Buckeye through the :30 mark and nearly turned him for back points. Gallagher rolled through but gave up a stall point as well. Mesenbrink led 4-0 with 2:47 riding time after one. Mesenbrink chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-0 lead. Gallagher turned a high single into a scramble at 1:45. Mesenbrink fought off the effort for nearly a minute and forced a reset at :49. Mesenbrink countered a Gallagher shot at :20 and worked his way to a takedown at :01 to lead 8-0 after two periods. Gallagher chose down to start the third period. Mesenbrink, with riding time clinched, went to work on top again while Gallagher bellied out. Mesenbrink cut Gallagher loose at 1:07 and took him down again to lead 11-1 at :55. He cut the Buckeye again and went to work on his feet once more. Mesenbrink chased Gallagher around the mat for the final seconds. He added 3:43 in riding time and rolled to the 12-2 major.
174: Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, met TJ Schierl. Haines used a quick single to takedown Schierl down early and lead 3-0. Haines cut Schierl loose to a 3-1 score after working his riding time up over 1:00. He quickly took the Buckeye down again and led 6-1 as the clock hit 1:00. Haines turned Schierl to his back for two near fall points and led 8-1 after one. Haines chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 9-1 lead. He took Schierl down again, then turned him to his back, nearly pinning him. He settled for four back points and posted the dominant 16-1 tech fall at 4:16.
184: Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 1 at 184, took on No. 8 Dylan Fishback. Welsh worked the center of the mat, holding his position while Fishback circled around to the outside. Fishback turned a low shot into a takedown and a 3-0 lead at 1:32. Fishback built up over 1:00 in riding time before giving up a stall warning at :05. Welsh trailed 3-0 after one. Fishback chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 4-0 lead at 1:48. Welsh worked to break through Fishback’s defense as the second period moved bast the 1:00 mark, Fishback turned a low shot into a scramble and Welsh countered to a stalemate. Welsh turned a low shot into a scramble but Fishback held position and led 4-0 after two. Welsh chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 4-1 score at 1:32. Welsh notched his first takedown to tie the match at 4-4 with 1:10 left. With Fishback holding riding time, Welsh cut Fishback loose and worked his way to the outside circle and scrambled his way to a winning takedown with just :10 left. The late flurry gave Welsh the 7-6 win (Fishback had riding time).
197: Josh Barr, ranked No. 1 at 197, wrestled No. 10 Luke Geog. Barr held his position on the Nittany Lion logo through the first minute and a half. He forced Geog into defense and the bulled through a strong double leg takedown to lead 3-0 at the :43 mark. Barr controlled the action on top for the rest of the period and carried that lead into the second period. Barr chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped toa 4-0 lead. He worked Geog’s head to the mat and forced a scramble on the edge of the mat. Geog was able to flee out of bounds at :51 and force a reset. Barr forced a first stall warning and then used a fast low double for a second takedown and a 7-0 lead at :26. Barr finished the period on top and led 7-1 with 1:01 in time after two. Geog chose down to start the third period and Barr cut him loose to a 7-1 score. Geog turned a high single into a scramble. Barr countered the effort, worked his way into control of the Buckey and notched the counter takedown to lead 10-1 at :40. Geog added a late escape and Barr added 1:39 in riding time to roll to the convincing 11-2 major decision.
285: Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 12 at 285, faced No. 3 Nick Feldman. Mirasola set a fast pace from the onset. The duo worked in neutral with Mirasola hold position on the Loin log through the opening minute. Mirasola took two quick low shots that Feldman was able to back away from as the clock moved past the 2:00 mark. Mirasola continued to shoot and Feldman continued to defend as time ticked below 1:00. Mirasola forced Feldman into a stall warning at 1:40 and connected on a low single. Feldman was able to work his way out of bounds for a reset at 1:17. Mirasola looked to scramble his way to a counter takedown at :55 but no call was made. Penn State challenged the call and the no takedown held. Mirasola trailed 1-0 at :45. Mirasola continued to shoot Feldman backwards as the period ended and trailed by one after two. Mirasola chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. The duo battled on the Lion logo through the 1:00 mark. Mirasola continued to work his offense and Feldman defended to the end of the period. Tied 1-1, the bout moved to sudden victory. Mirasola continued to work his offense and finished off the dual with a takedown to post a 4-1 (sv) win.