Penn State Dominates Ohio State in Wrestling Showdown, Reasserts National Supremacy
For much of the season, Ohio State has looked like one of the nation’s elite in college wrestling. But on Friday night, Penn State reminded everyone why it still sits atop the throne - and why that crown isn’t coming off anytime soon.
In a highly anticipated matchup between two undefeated powerhouses, the Nittany Lions delivered a statement in front of a raucous crowd at the Bryce Jordan Center, steamrolling the Buckeyes 36-5. It was Ohio State’s first loss of the season after a program-best 17-0 start - and it wasn’t close.
Penn State took nine of the ten bouts on the night, flexing its depth, dominance, and championship pedigree. Ohio State’s lone bright spot came at 141 pounds, where two-time national champ Jesse Mendez did what he does best - impose his will.
Mendez overwhelmed No. 12 Braeden Davis with an 18-2 tech fall, improving to 18-0 on the year and giving the Buckeyes their only points of the dual.
But outside of Mendez, it was all Penn State - and it started fast.
At 125 pounds, Ohio State’s No. 2 Nic Bouzakis had a golden opportunity to set the tone, but No.
1 Luke Lilledahl edged him in sudden victory with a clutch takedown. That opening loss stung, and it only got tougher from there.
In the very next match, No. 4 Marcus Blaze narrowly outlasted No.
2 Ben Davino at 133 pounds, using a reversal in the second tiebreak period to win 3-2.
Just like that, two of Ohio State’s best chances for early momentum had slipped away.
Then came Mendez’s dominant showing, but Penn State responded with a flurry of bonus-point wins that turned the dual into a rout.
No. 1 Shayne Van Ness poured it on at 149 pounds, rolling to a 20-5 tech fall over Brogan Fielding.
At 157, PJ Duke followed with a pin over Daxton Chase, igniting the crowd and putting more daylight on the scoreboard. After intermission, No.
1 Mitchell Messenbrink notched a 12-2 major decision over No. 16 Paddy Gallagher at 165, and No.
1 Levi Haines kept the bonus-point train rolling with a 16-1 tech fall over T.J. Schierl at 174.
That stretch - four straight matches with bonus points - was a knockout punch. Penn State wasn’t just winning; it was dominating, and doing so against a team that had beaten several top-10 opponents this season.
Still, there were moments where Ohio State showed fight. At 184 pounds, Dylan Fishback nearly pulled off a signature win over No.
1 Rocco Welsh - a former Buckeye himself - leading for most of the match before Welsh snatched a late takedown to win 7-6. That one stings a little extra for Ohio State, considering the connection.
The night closed with more Penn State firepower. Josh Barr, another top-ranked Nittany Lion, secured an 11-2 major over No.
10 Luke Geog at 197. And at heavyweight, No.
12 Cole Mirasola capped the night with a sudden-victory upset over No. 3 Nick Feldman, winning 4-1 and sealing the 31-point margin.
With the win, Penn State clinched its sixth straight Big Ten dual meet title and extended a dual meet win streak that dates back to 2020. The Nittany Lions are now the clear-cut favorites to win yet another NCAA championship - their fifth in a row and 13th in 15 seasons.
As for Ohio State, this was a humbling night. But it doesn’t erase what the Buckeyes have accomplished this season.
They’ve taken down some of the nation’s best - including Iowa State, Nebraska, Iowa (twice), N.C. State, Minnesota (twice), and Michigan.
That resume still makes them a strong No. 2 in the country.
What Friday night showed, though, is that there’s a sizable gap between No. 1 and everyone else - and if Ohio State wants to close it by the time the Big Ten or NCAA Championships roll around, there’s work to be done.
The Buckeyes will look to regroup quickly, with a regular season finale on the road at Maryland coming up Sunday. The postseason is looming - and if Friday was any indication, the road to a national title still runs through Happy Valley.