Wrestling team cruises to another crown at 2026 Big Ten Wrestling Championships

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (15-0, 8-0) rolled through the field to win 2026 Big Ten Championship on March 8 in their very own Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State, hosting the event for the first time since 2021, crowned seven individual championships as well. The Nittany Lions won the team race with 184.0 points, a new school record.

The Nittany Lions were nearly 40 points ahead of second place Ohio State, which had 148.5 points. The championship is the 10th for Penn State, all under head coach Cael Sanderson.

Penn State has qualified all 10 of its wrestlers for the 2026 NCAA Championship in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 19-21 in Rocket Arena. All rankings listed are InterMat as of Feb. 24. True freshman PJ Duke was honored as the 2026 Big Ten Championship Outstanding Wrestler.

This is Penn State’s tenth conference championship, having also won in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2023, 2024, 2025 and now 2026. Penn State now has 76 Big Ten champions spread among 41 individuals. Penn State’s seven champions is a new school record, set in 2024 and 2011.

Penn State’s list of NCAA qualifiers for the NCAA championships on March 19-21 are: Luke Lilledahl, 125; Marcus Blaze, 133; Braeden Davis, 141; Shayne Van Ness, 149; PJ Duke, 157; Mitchell Mesenbrink, 165; Levi Haines, 174; Rocco Welsh, 184; Josh Barr, 197; Cole Mirasola; 285.

Sophomore Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 1 at 125, took on No. 13 Jore Volk of Minnesota in the title bout. Lilledahl set the early pace offensively, taking a series of fast shots that put Volk on the defensive. The first period clock moved below 1:00 with both wrestlers hold firm in the center of the mat and the first period ended in a 0-0 tie. Volk chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 1-0 lead at 1:46. Lilledahl connected on a fast low shot at :20 but Volk countered and forced a scramble that ended the period. Trailing 1-0, Lilledahl chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Lilledahl forced a scramble that nearly led to a takedown in the final :30 but Volk was able to battle to zeroes and the match moved to sudden victory. Lilledahl nearly scored :25 into extra time but Volk was able to work his way out of bounds, giving up a stall warning. Lilledahl went right back to work on offense, moving in on a low double and finishing off the winning takedown at 1:04. Lilledahl posted the 4-1 (sv) win to earn his second straight Big Ten xhampionship. Lilledahl went 3-0 with a major to win the crown.

True freshman Marcus Blaze, ranked No. 2 at 133, met No. 3 Ben Davino of Ohio State in the finals. The duo battled evenly through the first two minutes, working in neutral on the Nittany Lion logo. The first period ended in a 0-0 tie. Davino chose down to start the second period. Blaze and Davino battled in neutral for the next minute-plus. Davino got in on a low single, forcing a scramble. Blaze defended the effort for the rest of the period and action moved to the third with Blaze trailing 1-0. Blaze chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Blaze took a couple quick shots at 1:17 but Davino stepped away from each. The Nittany Lion freshman fought off a solid Davino shot at 15, killing the clock once again and sending the bout to sudden victory. Blaze and Davino battled evenly through the first minute of extra time. Blaze nearly connected on a low shot at :07 but Davino defended and the bout moved to a tie-breaker. Blaze was down first and escaped at :13, giving Davino :17 riding time. Davino was down next and escaped quickly to tie the bout. Davino owned :14 in riding time. Blaze went 2-1 with a major to finish as the Big Ten runner-up as a true freshman.

Junior Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 1 at 149, met No. 6 Ethan Stiles of Ohio State in the title bout. Stiles worked a high single into a scramble at 1:50 but Van Ness fought off the effort and forced a reset with 1:40 on the clock. Van Ness fought off another Stiles shot at 1:05, forcing another stalemate at :40. The first period ended in a 0-0 tie. Stiles chose down to start the second period. Van Ness took advantage of the decision and quickly turned Stiles to his back. The Nittany Lion got the fall at 3:28 and earned his first Big Ten championship. Van Ness went 3-0 with a pin to claim the crown.

True freshman PJ Duke, ranked No. 4 at 157, met No. 1 Antrell Taylor of Nebraska in the finals. Duke and Taylor worked the center of the mat through the first minute, battling for position on the Lion logo. Duke worked Taylor to the sidelines and forced a first stall at 1:40. Duke continued to move forward and tripped Taylor to the mat with a low double, taking a 3-0 lead at 1:01. Taylor worked his way to an escape and a 3-1 score at :10 and Duke led by two after one with :35 riding time. Taylor chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 3-2 score. Duke pressed forward while Taylor backed away through the 1:00 mark. Duke scored again on a quick go-behind at :31 to open up a 6-2 lead. Taylor escaped and Duke led 6-3 after two with :59 in riding time. Duke chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-3 lead. Duke scored on a fast shot at 1:14, taking a 10-4 lead after cutting Taylor loose. Duke forced another stall for an 11-4 lead and, with 1:00 riding time, rolled to the Big Ten title with a 12-4 major decision. Duke won the title as a true freshman with a 3-0 mark, including two majors.

Junior Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, met No. 3 Mikey Caliendo of Iowa in the championship match. Mesenbrink scored quickly, taking Caliendo down to open up a 3-1 lead after a quick Caliendo escape. Mesenbrink used a high single to a takedown and led 6-2 after Caliendo escaped once more. Mesenbrink led 6-2 after one. Mesenbrink chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. He then blew through a high single for a takedown and a 10-2 lead at 1:25. The Nittany Lion junior forced a stall warning with a strong ride, then picked up a point on a second stall to lead 11-2. He finished the period on top and led by nine after two. Caliendo chose down to start the third period. Mesenbrink maintained control until the 1:42 mark when Caliendo escaped. Mesenbrink fought off a Caliendo shot, working through a scramble and forcing a stalemate at :37. The bout ended in neutral and, with 2:07 in riding time, Mesenbrink rolled to his third Big Ten championship with a 12-3 major decision. Mesenbrink went 3-0 with two majors and a tech fall to claim the crown.

Senior Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, met No. 4 Christopher Minto of Nebraska in his fourth Big Ten title bout. Haines connected on a low single :40 into the bout. Minto battled through the next minute and forced a stalemate at 1:31. The rest of the period was contested in neutral and the match moved to the second period knotted in a scoreless tie. Minto chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 1-0 lead :26 into the period. Haines forced another scramble with a low double, working Minto to the mat at :45. Minto fought off the effort but was called for an illegal hold at :16, tying the bout up at 1-1. Nebraska challenged the call, but it stood after review. Tied 1-1, Haines chose down to start the third period. He quickly escaped to a 2-1 lead and turned in on offense. Haines sued a high double to work action to the mat but Minto was once again able to force a stalemate. Haines continued to shoot Minto backwards. The duo worked the clock down to :15 with a scramble and the match ended in neutral. Haines won yet another Big Ten Championship with a 2-1 win. He went 3-0 with a tech fall to claim the crown. Haines becomes Penn State’s fourth four-time Big Ten champion (the last was Aaron Brooks in 2024).

Sophomore Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 1 at 184, met No. 4 Max McEnally of Minnesota in the title bout. Welsh maintained position on the Nittany Lion logo through the first minute-plus, forcing McEnally towards the outside circle early on. The opening period ended in a 0-0 tie. Welsh chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Action resumed in neutral with Welsh and McEnally battling for position on their feet. Welsh shot McEnally off the mat at 1:11. The second period ended with Welsh leading 1-0. McEnally chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. The duo worked the clock down below 1:00. Welsh took a shot at :25, then :15, but McEnally was able to defend and the match moved to sudden victory. Welsh took a quick shot in extra time, reset, then fought off a McEnally shot at 1:28 to keep the bout tied 1-1. Welsh nearly locked a high single at :35 but McEnally once again defended the effort and the bout went to tie-breakers. Welsh was down first. He quickly rolled out of control and escaped in just :03. He fought off a McEnally shot at :07 and then a second McEnally effort nearly led to a takedown in the final seconds. Welsh chose neutral to start the next tie breaker and Welsh defended the Gopher’s late effort to win his first Big Ten championship with a 2-1 (tb) victory. McEnally went 3-0 to claim his first conference title.

Sophomore Josh Barr, ranked No. 1 at 197, battled No. 10 Camden McDanel of Nebraska in the finals. Barr set a fast pace off the whistle. After a first shot was defended by McDanel, the Nittany Lion took a 3-0 lead with a takedown at 1:22. McDanel escaped to a 3-1 score and Barr quickly took him down again. He finished the period on top and led 6-1 after one. McDanel chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 6-2 score. Barr muscled McDanel to the mat at the :50 mark and opened up a 9-2 lead. He finished the period on top and led 9-2 after two. Barr chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped. He then zipped through a low double to lead 13-3 after cutting McDanel loose. Barr used a low double to open up a 16-4 lead at :48. He finished off the technical fall with a final takedown at 6:46, winning 19-4. Barr picked up his first Big Ten title with a 3-0 run in the BJC, all by technical fall.

Redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 5 at 285, took on No. 8 Ben Kueter of Iowa in the consolation semifinals. Mirasola and Kueter worked in neutral through the first minute-plus, trading slight shots. Mirasola worked a high single into a scramble at the 1:05 mark, forcing action to the mat. Kueter battled through the effort and countered. Mirasola fought off the counter move but gave up a first stall warning and the first period ended in a 0-0 tie. Kueter chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 1-0 lead. Mirasola maintained his position on the Lion logo, shooting the Hawkeye backwards through the 1:00 mark. Trailing 1-0, Mirasola chose down to start the third period. The Lion freshman was unable to escape and dropped the 2-0 decision, dropping to the fifth place bout. He was to battle No. 8 Braxton Amos of Wisconsin once again but the Badger took a medial forfeit, giving Mirasola the win, fifth place and two bonus points. Mirasola went 3-2 with a fall and a forfeit in his first Big Ten tournament.

Junior Braeden Davis, ranked No. 14 at 141, met Northwestern’s Billy DeKraker in the seventh place bout at 141 needing one win to become Penn State’s 10th NCAA qualifier. Davis fired off the opening whistle, taking DeKraker down to open up an early 3-0 lead (he was called for stalling quickly during the initial ride). DeKraker escaped to a 3-1 score and action resumed in neutral. The first period ended in neutral and Davis led 3-1 after one. DeKraker chose down to start the second period. Davis controlled the Wildcat on top, building his riding time up over 1:00. The Nittany Lion junior maintained control of DeKraker for the entire period and led 3-1, with 2:22 in riding time, after two. Davis chose down to start the third period and DeKraker cut him loose to a 4-1 score. DeKraker worked his way in on a shot and Davis quickly countered the move, scrambling to his own takedown and a 7-1 lead with 1:33 on the clock. Davis clinched his riding time point and continued his control on top. He finished the match on top and, with 4:01 in riding time, clinched seventh place and a trip to the NCAA championship with an 8-1 win. Davis went 3-2 with a pin over the weekend.

Penn State went 9-2 on March 8 and ends the tournament with a 29-5 overall record. The Nittany Lions earned 20.0 bonus points off five majors, four tech falls, three pins and a forfeit.

Penn State’s seven Big Ten champions have all earned first team All-Big Ten honors: Lilledahl, Van Ness, Duke, Mesenbrink, Haines, Welsh and Barr. Penn State’s runner-up, Blaze, earned second team All-Big Ten laurels.

The NCAA selection committee will announce 42 at-large qualifiers on March 10. The official tournament brackets and seeding will be announced at 8 p.m. on March 11 on NCAA.com.