Penn State Wrestling Handles No. 6 Nebraska in Gritty Test, Extends Dual Win Streak to 83
UNIVERSITY PARK - It wasn’t the smoothest ride of the season, but No. 1 Penn State wrestling showed once again why it’s the gold standard in college wrestling. The Nittany Lions faced their toughest test yet against sixth-ranked Nebraska and still came away with a convincing 26-12 win in front of a roaring Bryce Jordan Center crowd.
With the victory, Penn State extended its NCAA-record dual meet win streak to 83 - a streak that’s starting to feel as inevitable as it is impressive.
But this one came with a few bumps.
Davis, Duke Take Lumps - But PSU Responds
The night featured some rare adversity for Cael Sanderson’s squad. At 141 pounds, freshman Braeden Davis was pinned late by Nebraska’s Brock Hardy, a moment that shifted momentum - if only briefly - and cost Penn State an additional team point after Davis appeared to retaliate following the fall.
Then came the 157-pound matchup, where true freshman PJ Duke - one of the most talked-about young talents in the country - dropped his first collegiate match in a tight 2-1 tiebreaker to defending national champion Antrell Taylor. It was a gritty, grind-it-out bout, and while Duke came up just short, it was the kind of test that could pay dividends in March.
Still, even with those hiccups, Penn State did what it does best: dominate where it counts.
Veterans and Top Seeds Deliver
At 133, Marcus Blaze kicked things off with a composed 5-1 decision over No. 10 Jacob Van Dee, setting the tone early. Despite the setback at 141, Shayne Van Ness - ranked No. 1 at 149 - got things back on track with a clinical 12-5 decision over Chance Lamer, showing off his ability to control pace and punish mistakes.
After Duke’s loss at 157 narrowed the team score to 10-9, Mitchell Mesenbrink stepped up in a big way. The top-ranked 165-pounder wasted no time reasserting Penn State’s dominance, tech falling No. 7 LJ Araujo 20-5 in a statement win that turned the tide for good.
From there, it was all Nittany Lions.
Rocco Welsh and the Upper Weights Close the Door
Rocco Welsh, sitting atop the 184-pound rankings, put on a show with a 13-4 major decision over No. 6 Silas Allred - a matchup that could easily be a preview of a semifinal or final come tournament time. Welsh’s pace, pressure, and mat control were textbook, and his win pushed Penn State’s lead to 22-9.
By the time the final whistle blew, Penn State had once again shown why it’s the team to beat. Even on a night when not everything went their way, the Nittany Lions walked off the mat with a double-digit win over a top-10 opponent.
Next Up: Michigan on the Road
There’s no rest for the reigning champs. Penn State hits the road for a showdown with No.
10 Michigan in Ann Arbor on Friday, Feb. 6.
That one’s set for a 6 p.m. start on the Big Ten Network - and with just three duals left before the postseason, the stakes are only getting higher.
Full Match Results: Penn State vs. Nebraska
- 133: No. 4 Marcus Blaze (PSU) dec.
No. 10 Jacob Van Dee, 5-1
Penn State 3, Nebraska 0
- 141: No. 4 Brock Hardy (NEB) pins No.
12 Braeden Davis
Penn State 3, Nebraska 6
(PSU deducted 1 team point after Davis’ post-match reaction)
Updated: Penn State 2, Nebraska 6
- 149: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) dec.
No. 18 Chance Lamer, 12-5
Penn State 5, Nebraska 6
- 157: No. 5 Antrell Taylor (NEB) dec.
No. 3 PJ Duke, 2-1 (TB2)
Penn State 5, Nebraska 9
- 165: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) tech fall No.
7 LJ Araujo, 20-5
Penn State 10, Nebraska 9
- 174: Penn State wins by decision Penn State 13, Nebraska 9
- 184: No. 1 Rocco Welsh (PSU) major dec.
No. 6 Silas Allred, 13-4
Penn State 17, Nebraska 9
- 197: Penn State wins by decision Penn State 20, Nebraska 9
- 285: Penn State wins by decision Penn State 23, Nebraska 9
- Nebraska wins final bout by decision Final: Penn State 26, Nebraska 12
Adversity hit, but Penn State didn’t flinch. That’s what championship programs do. With March looming, the Nittany Lions look every bit like a team ready to chase title No. 13 under Sanderson - and maybe even more history along the way.