Penn State’s Levi Haines made sure his last appearance at Rec Hall was unforgettable, leading the Nittany Lions to a dominant display as they gear up for the college wrestling postseason. The top-ranked squad secured their eighth shutout of the season, overpowering Princeton with a 50-0 victory. Haines, a standout from Biglerville, showcased his signature bow-and-arrow move to pin Cody Tavoso in 4:06 at 174 pounds.
Haines, who received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 6,356 during his Senior Night ceremony, also took home the Ernie Lucas Outstanding Wrestler award. Fans flocked to him post-match for autographs, celebrating his impressive career record of 91-4, including an NCAA title and two All-America honors.
Reflecting on his journey, Haines said, “When you’re focused on mastering your craft, time just flies by.” As he looks forward to the Big Ten and NCAA championship tournaments, Haines maintains his perspective: “Every tournament is just another opportunity to get better.”
Penn State wrapped up the season undefeated at 15-0, extending their NCAA-record winning streak to 86 matches. They dominated opponents with a staggering 630-39 score differential, winning 139 of 150 bouts, 108 of which were by bonus points, including nine in their latest triumph.
The night featured a unique bout at 125 pounds, where Lightning Luke Lilledahl earned six points without a takedown against Princeton’s Mark Anthony-McGowan. McGowan’s reluctance to engage led to multiple stalling penalties and a disqualification, a rare occurrence that even left Penn State coach Cael Sanderson surprised.
Sanderson commented, “Stalling should be penalized for avoiding action. It’s the style we want to wrestle, and it benefits the sport.”
Order resumed at 133 pounds with freshman Marcus Blaze securing an 11-3 major decision over Ethan Rivera. Braeden Davis followed at 141 with a hard-fought 11-8 decision against Matthew Martino. Top-ranked Shayne Van Ness and freshman PJ Duke delivered strong performances at 149 and 157 pounds, respectively, both securing major wins.
Mitchell Mesenbrink kicked off the second half with a pin in 3:31 at 165 pounds, while Rocco Welsh, now 17-0, delivered a technical fall at 184 pounds. Josh Barr and Cole Mirasola finished the night with impressive pins and technical falls at 197 and 285 pounds.
In a brief Senior Night ceremony, Penn State honored Haines, Brian Borden, and Aaron Nagao. Borden, unable to compete this season due to medical reasons, and Nagao, who faced a shoulder injury, were recognized for their contributions.
PENN STATE 50, PRINCETON 0
- 125: Luke Lilledahl, PS won by DQ over Marc-Anthony McGowan
- 133: Marcus Blaze, PS major dec Ethan Rivera 11-3
- 141: Braeden Davis, PS dec Matthew Martino 11-8
- 149: Shayne Van Ness, PS major dec Eligh Rivera 14-6
- 157: PJ Duke, PS tech fall over Gavin Hawk 5:08 (24-8)
- 165: Mitchell Mesenbrink, PS pin Ty Whalen 3:31
- 174: Levi Haines, PS pin Cody Tavoso 4:06
- 184: Rocco Welsh, PS tech fall over Xavier Giles 4:11 (21-6)
- 197: Josh Barr, PS pin Conor McCloskey 1:29
- 285: Cole Mirasola, PS tech fall over Sebastian Garibaldi 3:46 (21-6)