Top‑ranked Penn State wrestling routed second‑ranked Ohio State 36‑5 on Friday, extending its NCAA‑record winning streak to 85 matches and clinching a sixth straight Huge Ten regular‑season title. The dual‑meet victory also marked coach Cael Sanderson’s 12th conference title in 17 years.
Match Overview
Ohio State, entering the meet at 17‑1, competed without three starters, including top‑ranked 157‑lb Brandon Cannon. Despite the depleted lineup, the Buckeyes provided excitement with overtime victories at 125, 133 and 285 lb and a comeback win at 184 lb by former Buckeye Rocco Welsh.
Penn State improved to 14‑0 on the season and completed an unbeaten 8‑0 Big Ten slate, securing the dual‑meet title early and positioning the squad for the conference tournament.
RELATED: At 46, Cael Sanderson still wrestles with purpose
Key Individual Performances
125 lb – No. 1 Luke Lilledahl (PS) def. No. 2 Nic Bouzakis 4‑1 (SV)
Lilledahl secured his first takedown a half‑second after the third period expired and then won in sudden victory, handing Bouzakis his first dual‑match loss of the season. His decisive stretch brought him to 16‑0.
133 lb – No. 4 Marcus Blaze (PS) def. No. 2 Ben Davino (OS) 3‑2 (TB)
Blaze survived an early escape by Davino in the first tiebreaker and clinched the win with a reversal in the second tiebreaker, preserving his undefeated record.
157 lb – No. 4 PJ Duke (PS) pin Daxton Chase 3:28
Duke dominated early, scoring five takedowns for a 15‑4 lead before converting his sixth takedown into a pin, extending his season total to eight falls.
165 lb – No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PS) def. No. 16 Paddy Gallagher 12‑2
Mesenbrink earned a major decision while posting nearly four minutes of riding time, maintaining his 100 % bonus‑point rate for the season.
174 lb – No. 1 Levi Haines (PS) tech. Fall T.J. Schierl 16‑1 in 4:16
Haines recorded his ninth technical fall of the season, adding an 11‑5 lead for Penn State after a strong third‑period finish.
184 lb – No. 1 Rocco Welsh (PS) def. No. 8 Dylan Fishback 7‑6
Welsh, a former Ohio State wrestler, rallied in the final seconds to secure the win, improving to 16‑0.
197 lb – No. 1 Josh Barr (PS) def. No. 10 Luke Geoghegan 11‑2
Barr kept his perfect bonus‑point streak, delivering his fourth major decision of the season.
285 lb – No. 12 Cole Mirasola (PS) def. No. 3 Nick Feldman 4‑1 (SV)
Mirasola landed a monster takedown in sudden victory to earn his biggest win of the season.
What’s Next for Penn State?
Penn State will host Princeton on Feb. 20 at Rec Hall to close the dual‑meet season, then welcome the Big Ten Championships on March 7‑8 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many consecutive matches has Penn State won?
Penn State’s winning streak reached an NCAA‑record 85 consecutive matches after the Ohio State victory.
What attendance record did Penn State set?
The program broke its own NCAA indoor attendance record with more than 16,000 fans (16,006) at the Bryce Jordan Center.
What does the win signify for the upcoming Big Ten Championships?
Clinching the regular‑season title and maintaining an unbeaten conference record positions Penn State as the clear favorite heading into the Big Ten Championships.
How do you think Penn State’s depth will influence their performance at the Big Ten tournament?
