Penn State wrestling is heading south this weekend, but for head coach Cael Sanderson and his squad, it’s business as usual. The Nittany Lions will make their fourth road trip of the season, this time to Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, for Saturday’s Collegiate Duals.
On the surface, it’s another opportunity to get matches in, keep guys sharp, and tune up for the grind of January. But make no mistake: this weekend could also mark a historic milestone in college wrestling.
If Penn State (4-0) handles its business against North Dakota State and Stanford, the program will break the all-time Division I dual meet win streak. Two more wins would push the streak to 77, surpassing the 76 straight wins Oklahoma State strung together from the 1930s to the 1950s. That’s nearly a century-old record on the line-and Penn State is poised to rewrite the books.
The format for this year’s Collegiate Duals is a bit different. In previous years, teams competed in pool play with the top squads advancing to a second day of matchups.
This time around, it’s a one-day affair for Penn State, North Dakota State, and Stanford. The rest of the field-Lehigh, Cornell, Little Rock, Illinois, Ohio State, and Iowa State-will compete Sunday in two separate pods.
Saturday’s action, including both of Penn State’s duals, will stream live on FloWrestling.
For fans looking for drama, Sunday’s matchups-like Ohio State vs. Iowa State or Cornell vs.
Illinois-promise some tightly contested battles. But if you’re tuning in to see sheer dominance, Saturday belongs to Penn State.
The Nittany Lions open with North Dakota State (1-3) at 5 p.m. ET.
On paper, this one has all the makings of a rout. If Penn State posts a shutout, it would be the 29th under Sanderson’s leadership.
NDSU’s lineup features just one ranked wrestler, No. 19 Aidan Brenot, who’s set to face Penn State’s fourth-ranked Rocco Welsh.
That’s a tall task for Brenot, and the rest of the Bison lineup will face similar uphill battles.
North Dakota State also has Andrew McGonagle listed at 184 pounds, though he appears to be behind Brenot on the depth chart. McGonagle is a name some Pennsylvania wrestling fans might recognize-he’s a PIAA champ who competed for Huntingdon Area after starting at Williamsburg High.
NDSU is coached by Obe Blanc, a former All-American at Lock Haven who later wrestled for Oklahoma State and earned a master’s degree there in 2010. He’s trying to build a competitive program in Fargo, but this weekend, the Bison are walking into a buzzsaw.
The nightcap against Stanford (1-2) figures to be more compelling. The Cardinal may not shine in duals, but they’re built for tournament-style wrestling and currently sit at No. 8 in FloWrestling’s team tournament rankings. Stanford’s top-end talent should make the early bouts of this dual especially fun to watch.
Here’s what to keep an eye on:
- 125 lbs: No. 2 Luke Lilledahl (PSU) vs.
No. 11 Nico Provo.
Provo had a strong showing at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, placing third. Lilledahl is one of Penn State’s most promising young stars, and this will be a solid test.
- 133 lbs: No. 7 Marcus Blaze (PSU) vs.
No. 6 Tyler Knox.
Knox went 28-9 last season and became just the fourth freshman in Stanford history to earn All-America honors. This one’s a toss-up on paper and could be one of the best bouts of the night.
- 141 lbs: Nate Desmond or Cael Nasdeo (PSU) vs. No.
20 Jack Consiglio. Consiglio, a Malvern Prep product, is a three-time National Prep champ and Powerade finalist.
He also took third at the CKLV.
- 149 lbs: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) vs.
No. 12 Aden Valencia.
Valencia has already faced top competition this season, including a 13-8 loss to Penn State transfer David Evans, now at Utah Valley.
- 157 lbs: No. 11 PJ Duke (PSU) vs.
No. 4 Daniel Cardenas.
Cardenas is a proven threat, though he recently lost 11-2 to Oklahoma State’s standout freshman Landon Robideau. This could be a measuring stick match for Duke.
- 165 lbs: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) vs.
No. 5 Hunter Garvin.
Garvin, a three-time Iowa state champ, is a serious talent, though his current status is a bit uncertain-he didn’t compete at the CKLV. If he’s healthy, this is another marquee matchup.
Penn State fans will also be watching to see if Josh Barr makes his return at 197 pounds. The NCAA runner-up has been recovering from a rib injury suffered at the U-23 World Championships in October.
According to Sanderson, Barr has been practicing and is making the trip. If he gets the nod, he’s expected to face No.
20 Angelo Posada, who placed fifth at the CKLV. Connor Mirasola had been filling in for Barr but tweaked his ankle last week against Wyoming.
Stanford is led by head coach Chris Ayres, and his staff includes Hayden Hidlay, a Mifflin County native and former All-American at NC State. The Cardinal may not match Penn State’s depth across the board, but they’ll bring enough firepower to make this dual worth watching.
At the end of the day, this weekend is another step in Penn State’s march toward history. For Sanderson, it’s about continuing to build momentum heading into January. For the rest of the wrestling world, it’s a chance to witness a program on the verge of setting a new standard for sustained excellence.