Penn State Nittany Lions didn’t just meet expectations…
 In what was billed as the “Dual of the Year,” the top-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions didn’t just meet expectations they shattered them. Before a record-breaking crowd of 16,006 at the Bryce Jordan Center on February 13, Penn State delivered a 36-5 masterclass against No. 2 Ohio State, clinching their sixth consecutive Big Ten Regular Season Championship.
The victory marks the 12th regular-season title under head coach Cael Sanderson, further cementing a dynasty that has redefined collegiate wrestling. With the win, Penn State improved to 14-0 (8-0 B1G) and extended their historic dual-meet winning streak to 85 matches.
A Night of Record Attendance and Resilience
The atmosphere was electric as the Nittany Lions set a new NCAA indoor dual-meet attendance record. The fans were treated to a dominant display of “Penn State style” wrestling, as the Lions won nine of ten bouts and secured a 25-5 margin in takedowns.
The dual began with back-to-back overtime thrillers. At 125 pounds, No. 1 Luke Lilledahl set the tone with a 4-1 sudden victory over No. 2 Nic Bouzakis. Immediately following, true freshman Marcus Blaze (133 lbs) upset No. 2 Ben Davino in a gritty 3-2 tiebreaker, proving that the future of the program is as bright as its present.
Bonus Point Parade
While Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez provided the Buckeyes’ lone highlight with a technical fall at 141 pounds, the Nittany Lions responded by slamming the door shut. The middle of the lineup unleashed a “bonus point parade” that turned a close contest into a rout:
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149 lbs: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness dominated with a 20-5 technical fall.
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157 lbs: Freshman PJ Duke electrified the arena by pinning Maddox Shaw at the 3:28 mark.
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174 lbs: Senior Levi Haines showed why he is a perennial title favorite, cruising to a 16-1 technical fall.
Closing the Door
The dominance continued into the upper weights. No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (165 lbs) and No. 1 Josh Barr (197 lbs) both secured major decisions, while sophomore Rocco Welsh (184 lbs) mounted a furious third-period comeback to edge out Dylan Fishback 7-6.
The night concluded with an exclamation point at heavyweight. Redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 12, took down No. 3 Nick Feldman in sudden victory to seal the 36-5 final score.
Looking Ahead
With the Big Ten regular-season crown secured, the Nittany Lions now turn their attention to the postseason. They will host the 2026 Big Ten Championships on March 7-8, where they seek their 10th tournament title under Sanderson.
“Our guys love to compete in these environments,” Sanderson said following the win. “They push each other to be better every day, and it showed tonight.”
