Penn State Wrestling Breaks Historic Dual Meet Record with Statement Wins in Nashville
It was only a matter of time-and now it's official. The Penn State wrestling juggernaut has etched its name into the history books once again, breaking the all-time NCAA Division I record for consecutive dual meet victories. With back-to-back dominant performances at the Journeymen Collegiate Duals on Saturday night in Nashville, Cael Sanderson’s squad claimed its 77th straight dual win, surpassing a record that had stood for nearly 75 years.
Let’s put that into perspective: Oklahoma State’s mark of 76 straight dual wins had been untouched since the mid-20th century. Now, Penn State owns the streak, and the way this team is rolling, it might be a long time before anyone catches them.
Two Duals, Two Shutouts, One Historic Night
The Nittany Lions didn’t just break the record-they bulldozed through it. First came a 46-0 rout of North Dakota State, tying the record.
Then, just hours later, Penn State blanked Stanford 42-0 to make history. That’s two Power Five opponents, zero team points allowed, and a whole lot of dominance from top to bottom.
These weren’t just wins-they were statements. Ten bouts, ten wins against North Dakota State.
Ten more against Stanford. And this wasn’t a case of weak competition, either.
Stanford brought ranked wrestlers to the mat. Penn State just brought more firepower.
Sanderson’s Relentless Machine Keeps Rolling
If you’re wondering whether Cael Sanderson is stopping to soak this in, don’t count on it. The head coach, who’s turned Penn State into the gold standard of collegiate wrestling, kept his focus on the bigger picture.
“We’re just trying to get better,” Sanderson said earlier in the week. “Just trying to make progress as the year goes on... looking forward to a couple more fun matches.”
That’s classic Sanderson-never satisfied, always building. And that mindset has fueled a dynasty that’s now tied with Division II powerhouse St.
Cloud State for the longest NCAA dual win streak at any level. Penn State can claim that record outright on January 10, when it returns to Rec Hall to face Rutgers.
Match-by-Match: Total Domination
Let’s take a look at how it all unfolded, starting with the win over North Dakota State:
Penn State 46 - North Dakota State 0 (76th consecutive dual win)
- 125: #2 Luke Lilledahl edged #31 Ezekiel Witt 6-5 in a tight decision to kick things off.
- 133: #10 Marcus Blaze opened it up with an 11-3 major over #29 Tristan Daugherty.
- 141: Nate Desmond kept the momentum going with a 4-1 decision.
- 149: #1 Shayne Van Ness put on a clinic with a 19-2 technical fall.
- 157: #8 PJ Duke followed with a 16-5 major over #21 Gavin Drexler.
- 165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink showed why he's atop the rankings with an 18-1 tech fall.
- 174: #1 Levi Haines pinned Tyler Secoy in just 1:38.
- 184: #4 Rocco Welsh added another tech fall, 19-4 over Andrew McMonagle.
- 197: Josh Barr kept the bonus-point train rolling with a 19-3 tech fall.
- 285: #13 Cole Mirasola closed it out in style-pinning Andrew Blackburn-Forst in just 33 seconds.
That’s four technical falls, two pins, and a shutout on the scoreboard.
Penn State 42 - Stanford 0 (77th consecutive dual win - new NCAA DI record)
- 125: Lilledahl edged #11 Nico Provo 4-2 in a ranked battle.
- 133: Blaze delivered a fall over #6 Tyler Knox-huge win at a key weight.
- 141: Desmond earned a 9-0 major over #20 Jack Consiglio.
- 149: Van Ness stayed perfect with a 10-4 decision over #12 Aden Valencia.
- 157: Duke knocked off #4 Daniel Cardenas 5-2 in one of the night’s most impressive wins.
- 165: Mesenbrink struck again, pinning EJ Parco.
- 174: Haines racked up another major, 14-4 over Lorenzo Norman.
- 184: Welsh controlled Abraham Wojcikiewicz in a 5-1 decision.
- 197: Barr posted a 19-3 tech fall over #20 Angelo Posada.
- 285: Mirasola didn’t need bonus points this time-just a steady win to close the door.
Ten bouts, ten wins. Five bonus-point victories. Another shutout.
What’s Next for This Powerhouse?
With the non-conference slate wrapped up for 2025, Penn State now sets its sights on the Big Ten schedule. There will be stiffer tests ahead-this is, after all, the toughest wrestling conference in the country-but the Nittany Lions are the clear frontrunners once again.
If they keep this up, they’re on track for their 13th national title in 15 seasons under Sanderson. That’s not just a dynasty-it’s one of the most dominant runs in college sports, period.
And with a roster stacked with top-ranked talent at nearly every weight, the streak doesn’t look like it’s ending anytime soon.
So circle January 10 on your calendar. That’s when Penn State returns home to Rec Hall, aiming to break the all-division NCAA dual meet record. If history is any guide, they won’t just break it-they’ll blow right through it.