Penn State Wrestling Extends Historic Dual Streak Behind Rocco Welsh’s Breakout Performance
Penn State wrestling just keeps rolling. The Nittany Lions added another chapter to their dynasty Friday night, notching a 26-12 win over Nebraska and setting a new NCAA record with their 83rd consecutive dual meet victory. But this wasn’t just about the streak - it was about a sophomore transfer stepping into a massive role and delivering in a big way.
Rocco Welsh, the former Ohio State Buckeye turned Nittany Lion, was the spark Penn State needed in a tightly contested meet inside the Bryce Jordan Center. With the dual hanging in the balance at 10-9, Welsh took the mat at 184 pounds and put on a clinic against No. 6-ranked Silas Allred, a senior All-American and past Big Ten champion.
Welsh didn’t just win - he dominated. Two takedowns in the first two minutes set the tone, and from there, he controlled every phase of the match. Allred’s only points came on escapes, as Welsh racked up a 14-5 major decision that flipped the momentum entirely in Penn State’s favor.
“He’s firing on all cylinders, he’s confident,” head coach Cael Sanderson said post-match. “He had several different takedowns.
Everything looks solid. He looks like he’s getting better every match.”
That’s high praise from one of the sport’s most respected minds - and it’s well-earned. Welsh, now 14-0 on the season, is stepping into the shoes of Carter Starocci, the only five-time individual national champion in NCAA history.
That’s no small task. But Welsh isn’t just filling the spot - he’s making it his own.
It wasn’t long ago that Welsh was battling Starocci as a true freshman at Ohio State, including a narrow loss in the NCAA finals at 174 pounds. Now, in Nittany Lion blue and wrestling up at 184, he’s become one of the team’s most reliable weapons.
His win Friday night kicked off a four-match run for the top-ranked Lions that turned a nail-biter into a comfortable win. And they needed it - this wasn’t a flawless performance from Penn State.
The Lions dropped three bouts, their most in any dual this season. At 141 pounds, Braeden Davis built a big early lead over No.
4 Brock Hardy but got caught and pinned in the third period. To make matters worse, he was hit with an unsportsmanlike penalty after the fall.
At 157, true freshman PJ Duke suffered the first loss of his college career, falling 2-1 in sudden victory to defending national champ Antrell Taylor. It was a gritty, low-scoring battle that went deep into tiebreakers - a learning moment for the rising star.
And in the final match of the night, redshirt freshman heavyweight Cole Mirasola came up just short, losing 2-1 on riding time. It was a tough end to the dual, but by then, the outcome had already been sealed.
Despite the setbacks, Penn State’s depth and star power once again carried the day. Welsh’s breakout performance was the exclamation point - a sign that the Nittany Lions aren’t just maintaining their standard, they’re evolving with new faces ready to rise.
Eighty-three straight dual wins. A new NCAA record. And a sophomore who looks ready to write his own legacy in a program full of legends.
Penn State’s streak lives on - and it’s being fueled by more than just history.