Penn State Wrestling: The Cael Sanderson Era Dominance
An exploration of Penn State wrestling’s historical dominance and the culture of excellence built by coach Cael Sanderson.
CLEVELAND − Penn State wrestling heads into Saturday night’s semifinals of these NCAA Championships on another record pace.
The Nittany Lions won 10 of their 11 early second-day matches here in the Rocket Arena to open a historic lead in the team points race. Semifinal action begins at 8 p.m.
The Lions, remarkably, still have eight wrestlers alive in the national title hunt. Their unprecedented lineup of No. 1 seeds produced a dominant quarterfinal round today with bonus-point victories from PJ Duke, Levi Haines, Rocco Welsh and Josh Barr.
Stream Penn State wrestling in the NCAA Championships live
Penn State owns a second-day points total of 105.5 − 15 points ahead of their record pace last year. They lead second-place Nebraska (66 points), Oklahoma State (64.5), Iowa (50.5) and the rest of the field with three sessions still to go.
The Lions become only the third team ever to have eight national semifinalists (Iowa twice, the last in 1991).
Feature matches tonight include Luke Lilledahl vs. Oklahoma State’s Troy Spratley at 125 pounds and season rematches between Marcus Blaze and Ohio State’s Ben Davino (133 pounds), Levi Haines and Iowa’s Patrick Kennedy (174) and Rocco Welsh and Michigan’s Brock Mantanona (184).
Follow along with live updates, scores and highlights from Saturday’s Big Ten Wrestling Championships right here by REFRESHING your browser and scrolling down. Or follow York Daily Record Penn State beat writer Frank Bodani on X (formally Twitter).
NCAA Wrestling Championships, Semifinals
Josh Barr will go back to the NCAA finals at 197 pounds − and he helped the Nittany Lions tie their own NCAA record, in the process.
Barr defeated Wyoming’s Joey Novak, 14-3, to give Penn State six finalists tomorrow evening here. That ties the record they hold with Iowa.
Barr also kept his season-long bonus point streak alive, as well.
Rocco Welsh delivered his best when it counted most against Michigan’s Brock Mantanona.
Welsh hit his only scoring move, a smooth takedown shot, with about a minute left to win and advance to his second NCAA finals. The sophomore held on to beat Mantanona, 4-3.
Welsh lost to Penn State’s Carter Starocci in the 174 pound finals two years ago as an Ohio State Buckeye.
Levi Haines is wrestling like he’s on a mission to win his second national title.
Haines systematically broke down familiar foe, Patrick Kennedy of Iowa, to win his semifinal match by technical fall, 18-3.
Haines, who recently tied a school record by winning his fourth Big Ten Championship, has dominated each of his NCAA opponents.
Haines had defeated Kennedy in three previous meetings before tonight. Haines won a national title at 157 pounds two years ago. He finished third at 174 last year.
Mitchell Mesenbrink is now a three-time NCAA finalist.
The undefeated junior applied relentless pressure from the start and nearly pinned Columbia’s Cesar Alvan as the first period ended.
No matter, Mesenbrink (26-0) kept attacking and delivered the technical fall, 15-0, just moments into the second.
He’s qualified for his third NCAA finals − his only collegiate defeat coming there as a freshman.
The two freshmen went into overtime, fighting for their first final chance
And PJ Duke couldn’t quite pull off his first shot at a national title, falling in the tiebreaker overtime period. He lost, 3-1, to Oklahoma State’s Landon Robideau.
This came after Duke appeared to have won the match in the first OT period when he was credited with a winning takedown − one that was overturned on a challenge review.
Duke, now 22-2 in his first college season, will wrestle in Saturday’s consolation semifinals.
Shayne Van Ness ruled his semifinal re-match from beginning to end.
The undefeated junior will now wrestle for his first national title. He’s the Nittany Lions’ second finalist, joining Luke Lilledahl at 125 pounds.
Van Ness quickly attacked and secured an early takedown and nearly much more over Nebraska’s Chance Lamer, the 20th seed at 149 pounds.
Van Ness (25-0) finished the technical fall, impressively so, early in the third period at 22-1.He had defeated Lamer by decision, 12-5, during their dual meet in January.
Van Ness will now face Stanford’s Aden Valencia, who he defeated, 10-4, in a December dual in Nashville.
It was the tightest of matches, yet again, between Marcus Blaze and Ohio State’s Ben Davino.
Even a bit controversial.
This third showdown would go into multiple overtime periods − the pro-Ohio State crowd erupting when they believed Davino secured a winning takedown in sudden victory that was not called. Then, again, when it was not overturned on review.
It would not matter.
Davino would win the match on riding time in tiebreakers to advance to the finals. Blaze (24-2), with both loses to Davino, now heads to Saturday’s consolation semifinals.
Sophomore Luke Lilledahl is an NCAA finalist for the first time.
Lighting Luke started fast and strong in his 125-pound semifinal against Oklahoma State’s Troy Spratley with an early takedown that he turned into extra points. He led 8-2 after one period and kept pressing.
He won it 8-3.
Lilledahl will now wrestle for a national title Saturday night against Princeton’s Marc-Anthony McGowan, who he beat last month in a dual meet − winning by stalling disqualification.
The Nittany Lions have a few NCAA records in their sights heading into the semifinals:
Team points: 177. (PSU has broke the record in back-to-back years).
Most individual finalists: 6 (PSU and Iowa are tied)
Most individual champions: 5 (PSU and Iowa are tied)
The Nittany Lions enter tonight’s semifinalists with a record-tying eight wrestlers.
Here are tonight’s matchups:
125 pounds: Luke Lilledahl (23-0) vs. Oklahoma State’s Troy Spratley (19-3)
133 pounds: Marcus Blaze (24-2) vs. Ohio State’s Ben Davino (30-1)
149 pounds: Shayne Van Ness (24-0) vs. Nebraska’s Chance Lamer (20-8)
157 pounds: PJ Duke (22-1) vs. Oklahoma State’s Landon Robideau (19-2)
165 pounds: Mitchell Mesenbrink (25-0) vs. Columbia’s Cesar Alvan (30-8)
174 pounds: Levi Haines (24-0) vs. Iowa’s Patrick Kennedy (21-4)
184 pounds: Rocco Welsh (23-0) vs. Michigan’s Brock Mantanona (22-6)
197 pounds: Josh Barr (22-0) vs. Wyoming’s Joey Novak (20-3)
NCAA Wrestling Championships, Consolations
Redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola sees his season ends in the third consolation round.
Mirasola gave up a second-period lead to Wyoming’s Christian Carroll and lost, 9-6. He gave up two late takedowns and could not counter.
Mirasola was 19-8 in his first year as a starter.
Carroll had defeated Mirasola, 11-4, in their dual meet back in December.
The up-and-down season for junior Braeden Davis has ended here in the third consolation round.
Davis, wrestling his first NCAA tournament at 141 pounds, loses 5-2 to two-time All-American CJ Composto of Penn, the No. 11 seed. He desperately tied for the tying takedown in the final minute but could not connect.
Davis’ season ends at 14-7.
The Lions have nine wrestlers remaining in these NCAA’s, including consolation heavyweight Cole Mirasola.
Redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola rebounded from a disappointing start to his first NCAA Championships by winning his first consolation bout, decisively.
Mirasola moves on to a third-round conso bout by beating No. 23 seed Stephen Monchery of Appalachian State by technical fall, 18-3. He set the pace with three takedowns in the opening period.
Mirasola improved to 19-7 on the season.
The Lions have now won all 10 of their second-day bouts.
NCAA Wrestling Championships, Quarterfinals
Josh Barr dominates in impressive fashion, rolling up another technical fall in less than five minutes.
His 19-3 victory over Stanford freshman Angelo Posada ensures that the Nittany Lions will feature a remarkable eight wrestlers in tonight’s semifinals.
The Lions are owning the tournament with a 27-2 record and 103.5 team points. The closest competitor? Nebraska with just 57.5.
Barr is now the only wrestler in the nation with a 100 percent bonus rate this season. He’s won all 22 of his matches by major decision, technical fall or pin.
Rocco Welsh earned the semifinal-clinching victory in another bout stopped by injury.
Welsh earned the injury default over Nebraska’s Silas Allred of Nebraska. Welsh led 7-1 when action was halted due to an apparent right leg injury for Allred.
The Cornhusker could not continue with about a minute left and had to be helped from the mat by trainers.
Welsh had beaten Allred by major decision in late January.
Levi Haines dominated his quarterfinal match from beginning to end.
The PSU senior took apart Michigan’s Beau Mantanona, the ninth seed, for the second time this season.
Mantanona never stood a chance this time. Haines drilled him with six takedowns and secured the technical fall with riding time, winning 18-3.
Mitchell Mesenbrink’s long-standing scoring streak is over.
But the junior who is now 80-1 in his Penn State career will move on to the semifinals for the third time.
He defeated No. 9 Bryce Hepner of North Carolina, 6-0, in a bout stopped for a few minutes for injury. Hepner stayed down on the mat and was attended by trainers for an apparent concussion scare, according to Penn State radio announcer Jeff Byers.
Hepner continued and impressively fought off most every one of Mesenbrink’s patented flurry of scoring moves.
This was the first bout of the season that Mesenbrink did not win with bonus points.
PJ Duke showed again why he may be the most dominating wrestler in the entire tournament.
For the second time in two weeks, he obliterated previous No. 1-ranked Ohio State wrestler Brandon Cannon. He rolled through a stunning seven takedowns through just two periods to win by technical fall, 21-5.
That followed his two first-period pins in Thursday’s NCAA opening.
Duke had beaten Cannon by major decision in the Big Ten Championships.
Duke now advances to tonight’s semifinals along with teammates Luke Lilledahl, Marcus Blaze and Shayne Van Ness.
Another PSU quarterfinal match went to overtime.
This time, top seed and undefeated Shayne Van Ness ended it in dramatic fashion. The junior pressed hard late and scored the bout-winning takedown with just a second on the clock in sudden victory over Oklahoma State’s Casey Swiderski, the 8th seed.
The 5-2 victory sends Van Ness to tonight’s semifinals, joining teammates Luke Lilledahl and Marcus Blaze.
Penn State is now 22-2 in the tournament and leads the team points race with 62 over Oklahoma State (47.5), Nebraska (42.5) and Ohio State (41.5).
Braedan Davis stayed alive in the tournament with a hard-fought consolation bout at 141 pounds.
Davis and West Virginia’s Jordan Titus, the 29th seed, traded early scoring moves. David then seemed to gain strength and control of the bout.
Davis (14-6) hit another takedown and rode out the third period to win, 10-6.
NCAA Wrestling Championships, Quarterfinals
Marcus Blaze made a second-period takedown hold up in the end.
The Penn State rookie and No. 3 seed at 133 pounds did control the action throughout, though he was unable to hit another scoring move on Iowa’s Drake Ayala. Blaze yielded a late escape and stalling penalty but won, 5-3.
It was Blaze’s third tight victory over Ayala this season.
He’s now 24-1 and will look to avenge his only loss in tonight’s semifinals, against Ohio State’s Ben Davino.
The Lions have scored 70 takedowns through 22 NCAA bouts so far. They’ve given up, incredibly enough, only four.
Luke Lilledahl conquered an overtime quarterfinal match this time.
Last year, the PSU freshman lost in OT and had to battle back through consolations to finish third at NCAA’s.
On Friday, he took down Iowa’s Dean Peterson, winning by the narrowest of margins, by riding time in the second overtime period. Lilledahl (23-0) will now wrestle in tonight’s semifinals.
Neither wrestler scored on offense through regulation and the first OT, ending there at 1-1.
Lilledahl beat Peterson, a senior, convincingly by decision earlier this year, first in their dual in January and then at the Big Ten Championships.
The Nittany Lions have eight wrestlers working the quarterfinals this afternoon − most of them in Big Ten-season rematches.
The action begins with No. 1 Luke Lilledahl at 125 pounds facing Iowa’s Dean Peterson for the third time this season. Lilledahl won convincingly both times.
Here are the other quarterfinal matchups:
133 pounds: Marcus Blaze will wrestle Iowa’s Drake Ayala for the third time, as well. Though both of Blaze’s victories were tight affairs, one going to overtime.
149 pounds: Top-seeded Shayne Van Ness goes against Oklahoma State’s Casey Swiderski, the No 8 seed.
157 pounds: PJ Duke will wrestle former No. 1-ranked Brendan Cannon of Ohio State, who beat by major decision in the Big Ten Championships.
165 pounds: Mitchell Mesenbrink vs. No. 9 Bryce Hepner of North Carolina
174 pounds: Levi Haines vs. No. 9 Beau Mantanona of Michigan, who he beat decisively in February.
184 pounds: Rocco Welsh vs. No. 8 Silas Allred of Nebraska, who he beat decisively in January.
197 pounds: Josh Barr vs. No. 9 Angelo Posada of Stanford, who he beat in December.
What TV channel is Penn State wrestling on in the NCAA Championships today?
The NCAA Championships on Friday and Saturday can be streamed live on ESPN+
Penn State wrestling in the NCAA Championships time today
- Dates: Friday and Saturday, March 20-21
- Session times: Friday (noon and 8 p.m.), Saturday (11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.)
- Location: Rocket Arena, Cleveland (18,200)
Penn State lineup in the NCAA Championships
(Individual national rankings via InterMat)125 pounds: No. 1 Luke Lilledahl (23-0), 1st seed133 pounds: No. 2 Marcus Blaze (24-1), 3rd seed141 pounds: No. 14 Braeden Davis (14-7), 14th seed149 pounds: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness (24-0), 1st seed157 pounds: No. 4 PJ Duke (22-1), 1st seed165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (25-0), 1st seed174 pounds: No. 1 Levi Haines (24-0), 1st seed184 pounds: No. 1 Rocco Welsh (23-0), 1st seed197 pounds: No. 1 Josh Barr (22-0), 1st seedHeavyweight: No. 12 Cole Mirasola (19-8), 9th seed
Penn State wrestling schedule 2025-26
- Nov. 14: OKLAHOMA, W, 45-0
- Dec. 5: at Drexel, W, 43-3
- Dec. 7: LEHIGH, W 36-6
- Dec. 13: at Wyoming, W, 40-7
- Dec. 20: vs. North Dakota State (Collegiate Wrestling Duals), W, 46-0
- Dec. 22: vs. Stanford (Collegiate Wrestling Duals), W, 42-0
- Jan. 10: RUTGERS, 4 p.m., W, 46-0
- Jan. 16: at Iowa, W, 32-3
- Jan. 18: at Northwestern, W, 51-0
- Jan. 23: INDIANA, W, 48-0
- Jan. 24: at Maryland, W, 51-0
- Jan. 30: NEBRASKA, W, 26-12
- Feb. 6: at Michigan, W, 38-3
- Feb. 13: OHIO STATE, W, 36-5
- Feb. 20: PRINCETON, W, 50-0
- March 7-8: Big Ten Championships (Penn State, Bryce Jordan Center)
- March 19-21: NCAA Championships (Cleveland, Rocket Arena)
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State wrestling for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
