Penn State Wrestling Keeps Rolling, Blanks Indiana for 81st Straight Dual Meet Win
Another night, another dominant performance from the Penn State wrestling machine. The Nittany Lions extended their dual meet win streak to 81 straight with a 48-0 shutout over Indiana on Friday night - and they didn’t even need all 10 bouts to clinch it.
From the opening whistle, this one was all Penn State. The Nittany Lions came out firing, racking up six straight bonus-point victories to jump out to a 31-0 lead before Indiana could catch its breath. By the time the dust settled, Penn State had posted its sixth shutout in just nine dual meets this season - the most in a single season during the Cael Sanderson era, and there are still five duals left on the schedule.
Let’s break down how it happened.
Lilledahl Sets the Tone
The night kicked off at 125 pounds, and No. 1 Luke Lilledahl wasted no time making a statement.
He pinned Indiana’s Jacob Moran, not only putting Penn State on the board early but also avenging a high school loss to Moran from 2022. That’s six straight wins over ranked opponents for the true freshman, who continues to look like a veteran out there.
Blaze, Davis Keep the Momentum Going
At 133, No. 4 Marcus Blaze kept his undefeated season alive with a 19-4 tech fall over Blaine Fraiser. Blaze has been nothing short of spectacular this year, and his ability to control matches from start to finish is rare for a first-year wrestler.
Then came No. 11 Braeden Davis at 141, who bounced back from a tough loss in Iowa City with arguably his best offensive performance in college so far.
He poured it on against No. 24 Henry Porter, racking up a 24-10 major decision that showed just how dangerous he can be when he’s in rhythm.
Van Ness, Duke, Mesenbrink Dominate in the Middle
No. 1 Shayne Van Ness followed at 149 and kept the bonus-point train rolling with a 20-3 tech fall over Joey Buttler. Van Ness was in complete control from the jump, showing off his relentless pace and arsenal of attacks.
Then came another true freshman making waves - No. 3 PJ Duke at 157.
Duke needed just over a period to drop 21 points on Bryce Lowrey in a tech fall win that was as lopsided as the score suggests. Duke’s blend of speed, strength, and mat awareness is already elite.
At 165, top-ranked Mitchell Mesenbrink sealed the team win with a pin over No. 19 Tyler Lillard. Mesenbrink continues to be one of the most dangerous finishers in the country, and he didn’t waste any time putting this one away.
Penn State Keeps Its Foot on the Gas
Even with the dual already decided, Penn State didn’t let up.
- At 174, No. 1 Levi Haines delivered a 17-1 tech fall over Orlando Cruz, showcasing his usual mix of technical precision and offensive firepower.
- At 184, No. 1 Rocco Welsh took on a tough opponent in No.
15 Sam Goin and came away with a 15-9 decision - one of the more competitive bouts of the night, but still a clear win for the Nittany Lion.
- At 197, No.
1 Josh Barr continued the trend with a 14-6 major decision over No. 14 Gabe Sollers.
Barr controlled the pace and dictated the action throughout.
- And at heavyweight, No.
12 Cole Mirasola capped the night with a 22-6 tech fall over Indiana’s Marzolino, putting an exclamation point on a flawless team performance.
Complete Results
- 125: No. 1 Luke Lilledahl (PSU) pins Jacob Moran - PSU 6, Indiana 0
- 133: No. 4 Marcus Blaze (PSU) tech fall Blaine Fraiser, 19-4 - PSU 11, Indiana 0
- 141: No. 11 Braeden Davis (PSU) major No.
24 Henry Porter, 24-10 - PSU 15, Indiana 0
- 149: No.
1 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) tech fall Joey Buttler, 20-3 - PSU 20, Indiana 0
- 157: No.
3 PJ Duke (PSU) tech fall Bryce Lowrey, 21-5 - PSU 25, Indiana 0
- 165: No.
1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) pins No. 19 Tyler Lillard - PSU 31, Indiana 0
- 174: No. 1 Levi Haines (PSU) tech fall Orlando Cruz, 17-1 - PSU 36, Indiana 0
- 184: No. 1 Rocco Welsh (PSU) dec No.
15 Sam Goin, 15-9 - PSU 39, Indiana 0
- 197: No.
1 Josh Barr (PSU) major No. 14 Gabe Sollers, 14-6 - PSU 43, Indiana 0
- 285: No. 12 Cole Mirasola (PSU) tech fall Marzolino, 22-6 - PSU 48, Indiana 0
The Takeaway
This was vintage Penn State: relentless, efficient, and deep at every weight class. With six shutouts already this season and a roster full of top-ranked talent - including multiple true freshmen performing like seasoned vets - the Nittany Lions are showing no signs of slowing down.
If anything, they’re getting stronger. And with five duals remaining, it’s fair to say the rest of the college wrestling world is officially on notice.