Cole Mirasola Breaks Through in Overtime as Penn State Wrestling Makes History
On a night packed with dominance and milestones, it was a freshman heavyweight - undersized, unrelenting, and undeniably rising - who delivered the exclamation point.
Cole Mirasola, the first-year big man for Penn State, capped off a statement win over No. 2 Ohio State with the biggest moment of his young career: an overtime takedown of third-ranked Nick Feldman in front of a raucous, sold-out crowd at the Bryce Jordan Center. That win not only marked Mirasola’s first career victory over a top-five opponent - it also sealed Penn State’s NCAA-record 85th consecutive dual meet win.
And make no mistake: this wasn’t just a personal breakthrough. It was a performance that showed Mirasola is starting to figure things out - and fast.
Undersized, Overdelivering
At heavyweight, size is often the name of the game. But Mirasola has been flipping that script all season. Wrestling at a weight class where he’s routinely giving up 20-plus pounds, he’s relied on his speed, conditioning, and relentless attack to stay competitive against some of the nation’s best.
Friday night was no different. Feldman had the size advantage, the ranking, and the experience.
But Mirasola had the motor. He pushed the pace late in regulation and then wasted no time in overtime, hitting a clean takedown to ignite the crowd and put the final stamp on a 36-5 dismantling of the Buckeyes.
It was his sixth bout this season against a Top 10 opponent - and just his second win in that stretch - but the trajectory is clear. He’s been in every match, including narrow losses to Nebraska’s AJ Ferrari and Michigan’s Taye Ghadiali.
Now, he’s starting to close the gap. And with this win, he’s likely to climb from his No.
12 InterMat ranking.
Confidence Building, Ceiling Rising
“I took some losses this year, but I feel like I’m right there,” Mirasola said after the match. “I’m going to win a national title. Those losses aren’t going to define me.”
That’s not just post-match adrenaline talking. It’s a young wrestler who’s been through the fire and is coming out sharper, stronger, and more confident each time. At 13-4, Mirasola is trending up at the perfect time, with Penn State’s final home dual against Princeton on the horizon and the Big Ten Championships looming back in the Bryce Jordan Center two weeks later.
He’s also helping solidify what was one of the few question marks in Penn State’s otherwise loaded lineup. Against Ohio State, the Nittany Lions won nine of 10 bouts - and did it without three of the Buckeyes’ top starters in the lineup. Still, the 36-5 final score turned heads, and Mirasola’s match was the cherry on top.
Cael Sanderson: “He’s Just Going to Keep Getting Better”
Head coach Cael Sanderson has seen plenty of elite wrestlers rise through the Penn State ranks. And he sees something special in Mirasola.
“He just wrestled hard, smart against one of the best heavyweights in the country over the last couple of years,” Sanderson said. “It’ll be a big confidence boost for him.”
What stands out most? Mirasola’s offensive mindset - especially for a heavyweight.
“Very offensive-minded, right away,” Sanderson said, smiling. “Even if the game plan isn’t, ‘Shoot right away,’ he’ll shoot right away.
He attacks a lot. We love that about him.”
That aggression, paired with his ability to win scrambles and attack legs - a rare trait at his weight - gives Mirasola a ceiling that’s still being defined. And according to Sanderson, he’s just starting to tap into it.
A Ninth Contender Emerging?
Penn State already boasts six No. 1-ranked wrestlers and has outscored its opponents this season by a staggering 580 to 39 margin. Now, Mirasola is putting himself in position to be the ninth legitimate national title contender in a lineup that’s rewriting the definition of dominance.
And if Friday night is any indication, he’s not just filling a spot - he’s becoming a threat.
“This is what I live for - that environment, sold-out Bryce Jordan Center,” Mirasola said. “I want to do that my whole life.”
He might just get that chance. Because the way he’s wrestling right now, Cole Mirasola isn’t just part of the Penn State machine - he’s becoming one of its engines.