ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Penn State (13-0, 7-0 B1G) dominated homestanding Michigan (8-4, 4-2 B1G) in Big Ten wrestling action Friday night in Ann Arbor. The Nittany Lions won nine bouts, including five by technical fall, in a 38-3 rout over the Wolverines.
The dual began at 125. Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 1 at 125, opened up the dual meet with a strong 21-5 technical fall over No. 23 Diego Sotelo (5:06). Lilledahl had six takedowns and a reversal in the win. True freshman Marcus Blaze, ranked No. 4 at 133, followed that up with a tech fall of his own. Blaze used four takedowns and a four-point turn to roll to a 17-2 tech over Gauge Botero, giving Penn State a 10-0 lead.
With No. 12 Braeden Davis not competing at 141, Nate Desmond moved up and took on No. 26 Dylan Ragusin. The duo traded takedowns, escapes and reversals to move to sudden victory tied 5-5. Desmond then clinched the win with a scrambling takedown to post the 8-5 (sv) win. Junior Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 1 at 149, dominated No. 13 Lachlan McNeil in the next bout. Van Ness tallied two takedowns and had nearly 2:00 riding time in posting a 9-1 major decision. True freshman PJ Duke, ranked No. 1 at 157, capped off a thrilling bout against No. 13 Cameron Catrabone with a late takedown to post a 12-10 win. Duke’s victory gave Penn State a 20-0 lead at halftime.
Junior Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, began the second half with Penn State’s third technical fall in the first six bouts. Mesenbrink tallied six takedowns and a reversal to roll to a 20-5 win over Justin Gates at 6:34. Senior Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, rolled over No. 11 Beau Mantanona next. Haines used six takedowns and a stall point to post a 19-4 tech fall at 6:58 to give the Nittany Lions a 30-0 lead.
Sophomore Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 1 at 184, dominated No. 7 Brock Mantanona, using two takedowns, and escape and 2:26 in riding time to roll to an 8-1 win. Sophomore Josh Barr, ranked No. 1 at 197, picked up Penn State’s fifth tech fall of the dual, riding six takedowns to a 19-4 win over No. 20 Hayden Walters at 6:50. Redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 12 at 285, battled No. 5 Taye Ghadiali to the final seconds, nearly tying the match with a takedown in the waning seconds but dropping a hard-fought 4-1 decision. Penn State walked away from Ann Arbor with a convincing 38-3 win.
The Nittany Lions rolled to a 37-3 takedown advantage. Penn State picked up 11 bonus points off five tech falls (Lilledahl, Blaze, Mesenbrink, Haines, Barr) and one major (Van Ness).
Penn State is now 13-0, 7-0 in the Big Ten. Michigan is now 8-4, 4-2 B1G. The Nittany Lions return to action next weekend, hosting Ohio State in the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday, Feb. 13., at 7 p.m.
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 38, #13 Michigan 3
February 6, 2026 – Ann Arbor, Mich.
125: #1 Luke Lilledahl PSU tech fall #23 Diego Sotelo MICH, 21-5 (TF; 5:06) 5-0
133: #4 Marcus Blaze PSU tech fall Gauge Botero MICH, 17-2 (TF; 4:41) 10-0
141: Nate Desmond PSU dec. #26 Dylan Ragusin MICH, 8-5 (sv) 13-0
149: #1 Shayne Van Ness PSU maj. dec. #13 Lachlan McNeil MICH, 9-1 17-0
157: #4 PJ Duke PSU dec. #13 Cameron Catrabone MICH, 12-10 20-0
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU tech fall Justin Gates MICH, 20-5 (TF; 6:34) 25-0
174: #1 Levi Haines PSU tech fall #11 Beau Mantanona MICH, 19-4 (TF; 6:58) 30-0
184: #1 Rocco Welsh PSU dec. #7 Brock Mantanona MICH, 8-1 33-0
197: #1 Josh Barr PSU tech fall #20 Hayden Walters MICH, 19-4 (TF; 6:50) 38-0
285: #5 Taye Ghadiali MICH dec. #12 Cole Mirasola PSU, 4-1 38-3
Attendance: 6,131
Records: Penn State 13-0, 7-0 B1G; Michigan 8-4 , 4-2 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: Home vs. Ohio State, Friday, Feb. 6, BJC Dual, 7 p.m.
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 1 at 125, met No. 23 Diego Sotelo. Lilledahl turned a high single at the 2:00 mark into a takedown and a 3-0 lead. He controlled action on top for :33 before Sotelo escaped to a 3-1 score. Lilledahl used a fast low single for another takedown and a 6-1 lead at :55. Lilledahl worked his riding time up over 1:00 before cutting Sotelo at the :22 mark. He blew through a high double for a third takedown and led 9-2 after one. Lilledahl chose neutral to start the second period. He pulled Sotelo to the ground and took him down a fourth time for a 12-3 lead after another cut. Lilledahl picked up a fifth takedown seconds later, gave up a reversal, and escaped to a 16-5 lead at :35. Lilledahl forced a stall at :15 and took Sotelo down once more to lead 19-5 after two periods. Sotelo chose top to start the third and Lilledahl quickly reversed him to end the bout, winning by technical fall, 21-5 at 5:06.
133: Marcus Blaze, ranked No. 4 at 133, battled Gauge Botero. Blaze controlled the action from the onset, forcing Botero backwards through the opening minute-plus. He countered a slight Botero shot and notched the first takedown to lead 3-0 at 1:39. Blaze controlled Sotelo for over a minute before the Wolverine escaped. Blaze took him down on the edge of the mat with :08 left, turned him to his back for four nearfall points, and led 10-1 after one. Blaze chose down to start the second period and escaped to an 11-1 lead at 1:25. Blaze muscled Botero to the mat and worked his way around for a takedown and a 14-1 lead. He cut Botero loose after a reset at :45. Blaze ended the bout with a final takedown, winning by tech fall as well, 17-2 at 4:41.
141: With No. 12 Braeden Davis not competing at 141, true freshman Nate Desmond moved up and faced No. 26 Dylan Ragusin. Desmond controlled position on the Michigan logo through the first minute. He took a handful of shots, forcing Ragusin to defend each, as the clock moved below 1:20. Desmond fought off a Ragusin shot, countered and forced a scramble, and the duo battled back to their feet as the period wound down. Ragusin chose down to start the second period. Desmond gave up a stall warning before Ragusin escaped to a 1-0 lead at 1:28. Desmond took a fast shot, Ragusin countered and Desmond continued to flow through the action for a takedown and a 3-1 lead. Desmond gave up a stall point during the ride and Ragusin reversed him in the final seconds to take a 4-3 lead into the third period. Desmond chose down to start the third period. He reversed Ragusin to take a 5-4 lead and Ragusin escaped to a 5-5 tie at :49. Desmond pressured Ragusin to the outside circle, forcing the Wolverine to back away as the clock hit :25. Desmond fought off a late Ragusin shot and the bout moved to sudden victory. Desmond forced the action early and, as the wrestlers scrambled on the edge of the mat, the Nittany Lion came out on top for a takedown to clinch the 8-5 (sv) win.
149: Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 1 at 149, took on No. 13 Lachlan McNeil. Van Ness worked to control the middle of the mat as McNeil pushed back on defense. Two minutes passed on the Michigan logo with Van Ness working for an opening. The duo battled in neutral for the final minute as well and the bout moved to the second stanza tied 0-0. McNeil chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 1-0 lead. Van Ness picked up a penalty point after McNeil was called for repeated violations. Van Ness then turned a single into a scramble and a 4-1 lead with a takedown at 1:01. Van Ness worked a strong ride into over 1:00 riding time and finished the period on top to lead 4-1 after two periods. Van Ness chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 5-1 lead at 1:22. Van Ness shot low off a reset and turned the low single into a takedown and an 8-1 lead. Van Ness built his time back over 1:00 and finished the period on top once more. His 1:51 in riding time gave Van Ness the 9-1 major decision.
157: PJ Duke, ranked No. 4 at 157, faced No. 13 Cameron Catrabone. Catrabone worked his way in on a single early in the bout and took a 3-1 lead with a takedown and a quick Duke escaped. Duke called for injury time seconds later and Catrabone chose down on the reset. Catrabone escaped to a 4-1 lead. Duke worked in neutral through 1:00, taking a series of low shots that Catrabone stepped back from. Duke trailed 4-1 after one. Catrabone chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. Duke quickly took the Wolverine down and cut the lead 6-4 after cutting Catrabone loose. Duke forced a scramble and finished off a takedown with :28 on the clock to take a 7-6 lead. He finished the period on top and led by one after two. Duke chose neutral to start the third period. The duo worked the center of the mat through the 1:00 mark. Catrabone took a 9-7 lead, Duke escaped and then swiftly moved in for another takedown to lead 11-9. Catrabone escaped in the final seconds, and Duke added a riding time point to post the thrilling 12-10 win.
165: Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, met Justin Gates. Mesenbrink connected on a low shot, pulled a fleeing Gates back on to the mat and finished off a takedown to lead 3-0 at 2:25. Mesenbrink cut Gates loose at 1:50, then quickly took the Wolverine down a second time to lead 6-1 at 1:39. He built his riding time up over 1:10, forced a stall warning, and finished the period on top to lead 6-1 with 2:15 in riding time after the opening period. Mesenbrink chose down to start the second period and quickly reversed Gates to lead 8-1. He cut him loose at 1:30 then quickly took him down against to lead 11-2. Mesenbrink cut Gates again, took him down to a 14-3 edge and finished the period on top again to take that lead and clinched riding time (3:45) into the third. Gates chose down to start the third, Mesenbrink cut him, took him down again and cut him to a 17-5 lead. He finished off the bout with a final takedown, posting the 20-5 tech fall at 6:34.
174: Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, battled No. 11 Beau Mantanona. Mantanona forced a scramble with a solid shot, but Haines deftly scrambled through the effort and countered his way to a takedown and a 3-0 lead at 1:48. Haines began working to turn the Wolverine, building riding time up over 1:00 before Mantanona escaped to a 3-1 score. Haines continued to press on offense and took the Wolverine down with :25 left and led 6-1 after one. Mantanona chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 6-2 score. Haines countered another slight Michigan shot for a third takedown and a 9-1 lead with 1:00 on the clock. Haines forced a stall warning and continued to work on top for the rest of the period. He led 9-2 with 2:38 in time after two. Haines chose neutral to start the third period. He continued to pressure Mantanona backwards and took a 12-3 lead with a takedown and cut at :48. Haines picked up a stall point at :37, then took him down again at :32 to lead 16-4. With :15 left, Haines moved in for a final takedown and finished off the tech fall with just :02 on the clock. He posted the 19-4 win at 6:58.
184: Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 1 at 184, wrestled No. 7 Brock Mantanona. Welsh held position on the Michigan logo over the first minute-plus. He stepped away from a quick Mantanona shot at 1:40 then went back to work in neutral, setting up his offense. Welsh used a high single to take a 3-0 lead with a takedown at 1:19. Welsh worked on top, building his riding time up over 1:00. Welsh finished the period in control and led 3-0 with 1:19 in time after one. Welsh chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead. The Lion sophomore turned a high single into a scramble, but Mantanona forced a reset at 1:11. The period ended in neutral and Welsh led 4-0 with 1:08 riding time after two. Mantanona chose down to start the third period. Welsh worked his time edge up over 2:00 as the clock moved to 1:00. Mantanona escaped to a 4-1 sore at :55. Welsh worked his way in on a single at :30 but Mantanona worked his way out of bounds. Welsh blew through a high double for a final takedown at :12 and, with 2:26 in riding time, posted the convincing 8-1 win.
197: Josh Barr, ranked No. 1 at 197, met No. 20 Hayden Walters. Barr took a quick 3-0 lead with a takedown at 2:04. He then spent the next minute-plus working to turn Walters for back points. Walters was able to keep from being turned by Barr, but the Nittany Lion finished the period in control and led 3-0 with 2:04 in riding time after the opening stanza. Walters chose down to start the second period. Barr cut him loose at 1:45 and then took him down to a 6-1 lead seconds later. Barr forced a stall warning, cut Walters again, and then moved in for a third takedown and a 9-3 lead with :40 on the clock. Barr finished on top and carried that lead with over 3:00 in time into the third. Barr chose neutral to start the third period, picked up a stall point and took a 13-3 lead with a takedown and cut. Barr took Walters two more times in the final minute, posting the 19-4 tech fall at 6:50.
285: Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 12 at 285, faced No. 5 Taye Ghadiali. Mirasola worked the center of the mat through the first minute, battling Ghadiali in neutral as the clock ticked below 1:30. The duo worked through the 1:00 mark before Mirasola nearly connected on a high single. Ghadiali was able to fight off the effort and the match moved to the second stanza tied 0-0. Mirasola chose down to start the second period. Ghadiali was able to control the action for over a minute before Mirasola escaped to a 1-0 deficit. Mirasola forced a scramble at :20 but Ghadiali was able to counter for a takedown and a 3-1 lead after two. Ghadiali chose down to start the third period. Mirasola controlled action on top, working off some riding time before Ghadiali escaped to a 4-1 score at 1:21. Mirasola forced a stall warning at :55 and continued to shoot the Wolverine backwards. Mirasola forced a scramble with a low single late, but Ghadiali was able to fight off the effort through the final seconds. Mirasola dropped the 4-1 decision.