Penn State Wrestling Puts on a Clinic, Dominates Michigan 38-3 in Big Ten Showdown
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - If there was any doubt about who controls the mat in the Big Ten, Penn State erased it Friday night in Ann Arbor. The Nittany Lions steamrolled Michigan 38-3 in a dual that showcased not just talent, but total team dominance from top to bottom.
Penn State didn’t just win nine of ten bouts-they owned them. Five technical falls, a major decision, and a handful of statement victories turned this into more than just a win. It was a message.
Starting Fast and Never Looking Back
The action kicked off at 125 pounds, and Luke Lilledahl wasted no time setting the tone. Ranked No. 1 in the country, Lilledahl delivered a 21-5 technical fall over No.
23 Diego Sotelo in just 5:06. Six takedowns and a reversal later, the Nittany Lions were on the board-and they wouldn’t stop scoring.
Next up, it was true freshman Marcus Blaze at 133 pounds. Ranked No.
4, Blaze looked every bit the part, rolling to a 17-2 tech fall over Gauge Botero. With four takedowns and a slick four-point turn, Blaze handed Penn State a quick 10-0 lead and kept the momentum rolling.
Desmond Steps Up, Van Ness and Duke Deliver
With regular starter Braeden Davis sidelined at 141, Nate Desmond stepped in and delivered in a big way. Facing No.
26 Dylan Ragusin, Desmond battled through a back-and-forth match that went to sudden victory. Tied 5-5, Desmond scrambled for a clutch takedown to secure the 8-5 win-one of the night’s grittier performances.
At 149, Shayne Van Ness, the top-ranked junior, took control early and never let go. He dominated No. 13 Lachlan McNeil with two takedowns and nearly two minutes of riding time en route to a 9-1 major decision.
Then came one of the night’s most exciting bouts. True freshman PJ Duke, ranked No. 1 at 157, went toe-to-toe with No.
13 Cameron Catrabone in a high-scoring thriller. Duke sealed the deal with a late takedown to win 12-10, sending Penn State into halftime with a commanding 20-0 lead.
Second Half, Same Story
Penn State came out of the break with the same fire. Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, put on a takedown clinic, piling up six of them-plus a reversal-for a 20-5 tech fall over Justin Gates in 6:34.
At 174, senior Levi Haines showed why he’s top-ranked in the nation. He tore through No.
11 Beau Mantanona with six takedowns and a stall point, wrapping up a 19-4 tech fall in 6:58. That pushed the team score to 30-0, and the rout was officially on.
Rocco Welsh, another No. 1-ranked sophomore, kept the machine rolling at 184. He handled No. 7 Brock Mantanona with ease, using two takedowns, an escape, and over two minutes of riding time to notch an 8-1 decision.
Josh Barr followed at 197 with Penn State’s fifth tech fall of the night. The sophomore unleashed six takedowns to cruise to a 19-4 win over No.
20 Hayden Walters in 6:50. It was another dominant showing in a night full of them.
Michigan Avoids the Shutout at Heavyweight
The only blemish on Penn State’s night came at heavyweight. No.
12 Cole Mirasola gave No. 5 Taye Ghadiali all he could handle, nearly tying the match with a late takedown attempt.
But Ghadiali held on for a 4-1 decision, giving Michigan its lone win of the dual.
Still, the numbers tell the story: Penn State racked up a staggering 37-3 takedown edge and collected 11 bonus points from five tech falls and one major decision. The Nittany Lions didn’t just win-they dominated in every phase.
What’s Next
With the win, Penn State improves to 13-0 overall and a perfect 7-0 in Big Ten competition. Michigan drops to 8-4 (4-2 B1G).
The Nittany Lions will return to action next Friday, Feb. 13, when they host Ohio State at the Bryce Jordan Center. If Friday night was any indication, the Buckeyes better come ready-because this Penn State squad is firing on all cylinders.
Final Score: Penn State 38, Michigan 3
Bout Results:
- 125: Lilledahl (PSU) tech fall Sotelo, 21-5 (5:06)
- 133: Blaze (PSU) tech fall Botero, 17-2 (4:41)
- 141: Desmond (PSU) dec.
Ragusin, 8-5 (SV)
- 149: Van Ness (PSU) major dec.
McNeil, 9-1
- 157: Duke (PSU) dec.
Catrabone, 12-10
- 165: Mesenbrink (PSU) tech fall Gates, 20-5 (6:34)
- 174: Haines (PSU) tech fall B. Mantanona, 19-4 (6:58)
- 184: Welsh (PSU) dec. Br.
Mantanona, 8-1
- 197: Barr (PSU) tech fall Walters, 19-4 (6:50)
- 285: Ghadiali (MICH) dec. Mirasola, 4-1
Attendance: 6,131
Penn State didn’t just win a dual-they made a statement. And with the postseason just around the corner, the rest of the wrestling world is officially on notice.