Mitchell Mesenbrink just keeps rolling. The Penn State sophomore notched his 70th career college win Friday night in dominant fashion, putting together a 20-5 technical fall over Michigan’s Justin Gates. But the scoreboard wasn’t the only thing that told the story - by the end of the match, Mesenbrink was bleeding from a cut on his head, the kind of gash that even made head coach Cael Sanderson do a double take.
“It was pretty nasty, actually,” Sanderson said. “When I saw our trainer pull his hair up and kind of pull the skin, it was pretty nasty.
But the doctors did a nice job, and he’s a quick healer, and he’s Mitchell. So he’ll just keep doing what he does.”
That’s been the theme of Mesenbrink’s season - just keep doing what he does. And what he’s doing is nothing short of elite.
He’s a perfect 17-0 on the year, and here’s the kicker: every single one of those wins has come with bonus points. That’s a 100% bonus rate, a stat that puts him in rare air and squarely in the conversation for the Hodge Trophy - college wrestling’s highest individual honor.
As for the cut, Sanderson said he didn’t catch exactly how it happened, but it was clear the match had turned into a bit of a scramble-heavy, high-contact battle.
“He was flying around, and his opponent was flying around with elbows and knees,” Sanderson explained. “Not intentionally, that’s just the way the match was going. But yeah, he got hit pretty good and got a pretty nasty cut, and to his credit, was able to just keep his composure and just go get that next takedown and end the match.”
That kind of mental toughness - staying locked in while bleeding and still pushing for the finish - is exactly what separates the elite from the rest. Mesenbrink didn’t just ride out the clock after the injury. He stayed aggressive, stayed composed, and closed it out in dominant fashion.
Now, the next test comes in the form of Ohio State’s Paddy Gallagher, currently ranked No. 16.
The two were slated to face off at last year’s Big Ten Championships, but Gallagher had to medically default. This time, barring any setbacks, fans should finally get the matchup they’ve been waiting for.
And while Mesenbrink and Sanderson would probably prefer a blood-free bout this time around, Friday night proved that if things get gritty, Mitchell Mesenbrink is more than ready to handle it.
Seventy wins. Zero losses this season.
A perfect bonus rate. And a stitched-up head that didn’t slow him down for a second.
The Hodge Trophy race is heating up - and Mesenbrink is right in the thick of it.