For these dynastic Nittany Lion grapplers, this event isn’t specifically about showcasing the heights of their powers; that comes in the B1G dual season and especially in March. Instead, per Cael, it’s a growth opportunity:
We just want them to get matches in and compete. We want them to practice competing the way we want them to: with enthusiasm, hustle, and scoring points, whatever that means to each individual. The name of the game is just to keep getting better, and that’s what we want to do.
Well, for fans, it’s also a chance to see some rising stars (some of whom may not yet be ready for the full limelight of the PSU postseason) perform. I, for one was eager to see the debut of the likes of Asher Cunningham, Will Henckel, and Nate Desmond. Like anyone following the strengths of the PSU starters for long, I didn’t expect them to win the tournament—and in that, I suppose we were all treated to a surprise.
Record Note: I’ve listed the actual wins and losses of each wrestler in their respective weight classes—but remember that due to Kevin Dresser’s shenanigans to get more of his squad a favorable RPI rating a few years ago, wins or losses against teammates no longer count on the “official” record.
All final brackets, courtesy of FloWrestling.
125: Nate Desmond (Fr.), 4—0, 1st Place., #1 Luke Lilledahl (So.), 2-1, 2nd Place
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The biggest headline of the day happened at 125 lbs. While we knew he was a very solid recruit and would be entering the best possible room in the country, true freshman Nate Desmond just kicked the door to that room off the hinges.
Desmond went 3-0 on the day, beating 3 ranked wrestlers, to claim the title, capped by a gritty 5-3 decision over teammate and No. 1-ranked Luke Lilledahl in the finals. Lilledahl looked dominant early, racking up two tech falls to cruise to the title bout, but Desmond found a way to get it done in the all-PSU talent showcase.
133: #14 Marcus Blaze (Fr.), 4-0, 1st Place; Kyison Garcia (So.), 3-2, 6th Place.
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If any were still wondering if the hype around Marcus Blaze was real, consider this your answer. The true freshman, the bracket with a 4-0 record. He wasn’t just winning; he was ending things. Blaze posted a pin (a sweet pancake), two techs, and a major decision.
In the finals, he dismantled Army’s No. 27 Ethan Berginc with a 21-6 technical fall. Sophomore Kyison Garcia, who saw some spot dual duty last year, also looked solid, going 4-2 with a tech and two majors to finish sixth.
141: #10 Aaron Nagao (Jr.), 3-1, 2nd Place; Cael Nasdeo (R-Fr.), 1-2, 4th Place.
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This weight brought a mix of dominance and frustration. No. 10 Aaron Nagao looked crisp early, using two technical falls (including a nice Winn-Dixie) and a decision to reach the finals. However, in the title bout, Nagao suffered an injury that had Jeff Byers reading major concern on the faces of coaches and trainer Dan Monthly, against Army’s Braden Basile. Join me in wishing Aaron a speedy recovery.
Elsewhere in the bracket, redshirt freshman Cael Nasdeo battled his way to fourth place. He started hot with a win over Columbia’s ranked Lorenzo Frezza but dropped his final two bouts.
149: #1 Shayne Van Ness (Jr.), 4-0, 1st Place; Connor Pierce (Jr.), 3-1, 2nd Place; Dalton Perry (Fr.), 1-1 MFF, DNP.
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Shayne Van Ness looks like he is on a mission to remind everyone what he’s capable of. The junior, ranked No. 1, went 3-0 with two pins (He’s also an Archer this year) and a tech fall to breeze into the finals. There, he met teammate Connor Pierce in a high-scoring affair, where Pierce was able to take down and even almost turn Shayne, but Van Ness ultimately took the 14-7 victory.
The very capable Pierce deserves a nod here, too; he went 3-0 with bonus points in every match (pin via near-side cradle, tech, major) on his way to the second-place finish.
The downside at this weight was true freshman Dalton Perry, who looked great with a tech fall in his opener but was forced to bow out of the tournament with an injury default in his second match.
157: PJ Duke (Fr.), 4-0, 1s2 Place; Joe Sealey (R-Fr.), 3-1, 2nd Place.
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#1 recruit in the land, true freshman PJ Duke, reluctant, born leader of the proverbial “Duke Mafia,” emerged from his own Godfather baptism scene of on-mat carnage, recording three first-period falls (nearside cradle, Levi-eque turk, and a ruthless foot-sweep) just to get to the championship match.
Waiting for him was redshirt freshman Joe Sealey, who had posted a pin, tech, and major of his own. In a tight, defensive battle between two elite prospects, Duke edged out Sealey for a 2-1 victory on one of those edge stall warnings that seems like you see go either way any given day to take the crown. Even with AA Tyler Kasak on the redshirt shelf, if this is the depth chart, we are in very good hands.
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165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Jr.), 4-0, 1st Place; Sam Beckett (Sr.), 3-1, 5th Place.
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Mitchell Mesenbrink did exactly what we all pay the price of admission (of begrudgingly, Flo subscriptions) to see—but in 2025-26, with more falls. The No. 1 ranked junior rolled to a 4-0 record, collecting three pins (2 arm-bars and a cross-face/half nelson) and a technical fall. He capped off the day by pinning Army’s No. 18 Gunner Filipowicz in the finals at the 2:03 mark. There appears to be a strong focus from Mitchell this early season on his work from top, and he’s showing success with it—the field should be suitably afraid.
Senior Sam Beckett bounced back from an opening-round loss to rattle off three straight wins, taking fifth place.
174: #1 Levi Haines (Sr.), 4-1, 1st Place; William Henckel (Fr.), 3-1, 2nd Place.
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Reigning world silver medalist Levi Haines is all business. The senior No. 1 seed tech-falled his way to the finals with three straight dominant wins (throwing in a couple of leg laces in his semifinal, perhaps to remind the field of his credentials in freestyle, or perhaps shaking off the synapses of his summer campaign). The final was a tactical yet gentlemanly battle against teammate and heir-apparent William Henckel, a true freshman who looks every bit the part.
Haines controlled the pace to win 4-0, but Henckel’s run to second place—featuring two tech falls of his own—proved he’s ready for this level of competition.
184: #4 Rocco Welsh (So.), 3-0, 1st Place; Asher Cunningham (Fr.), 2-1, 2nd Place.
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An offensively-minded Rocco Welsh remains a problem for the rest of the country. The sophomore went 2-0 with a tech and a major to reach the finals comfortably.
The final was another all-PSU meeting, as Welsh squared off against a kid of watched compete since his youth days in State College: true freshman (and son of coach Casey) Asher Cunningham. Cunningham made a splash in his collegiate debut, displaying funk and “old man tricks” from top, and picking up two major decisions to reach the title bout, but Welsh’s experience, clean technique, and horsepower were too much, resulting in a 13-5 major decision for the champ.
197: Connor Mirasola (R-Fr.), 3-0, 1st Place.
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With presumed starter, and 2025 NCAA finalist Josh Barr still recovering from a rib injury, Connor Mirasola handled business at 197 pounds in impressive fashion. The redshirt freshman went 3-0 with a pin and two technical falls.
He didn’t take his foot off the gas in the finals, dismantling Army’s No. 25 William Frable with a 17-2 technical fall. It was a complete performance that continues to beg the question of just where these two teammates might place if the NCAA tournament were an open.
285: #10 Cole Mirasola (R-Fr.), 4-0, 1st Place; Lucas Cochran (Sr.), 2-1, 3rd Place.
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Penn State capped the day with one more title at heavyweight. No. 10 Cole Mirasola went 3-0, including two pins and a hard-fought win over teammate Lucas Cochran in the semifinals. Heading into the competition, that semifinal was the match of greatest import for Nittany Lions and their fans. Throughout the offseason, rumors swirled of Cochran’s bulking (per Byers, he’s typically around 232 to Mirasola’s 228). It was a tight bought, with room familiarity obvious in how well each had answers for echoer’s attacks. A late 3rd period double-leg by Cole ended up being the difference.
The Takery
I’m not sure what all we can take from some of the PSU vs PSU results. In some cases, I tend to think a clear early season starter has been now been selected (Cole Mirasola seems to have that lined up for now). In the case of 125, to me, it feels like Luke Lilledahl is probably still our starter. But boy-howdy, did Desmond look great! Luke and Nate were teammates at Wyoming Seminary, and like that tense heavyweight bout, you could tell both were well-informed on how to counter the other’s offense. But Desmond won the day, and now, if not before, we have another name to eagerly anticipate seeing in the lineup in the weeks/months/years come.
With a seemingly scary injury to Aaron Nagao, 141 is now a big question mark: but with a lot of options. Nasdeo could fill the gap until Nagao is healed up. If Aaron is out long-term, I wonder if the very capable seeming Connor Pierce might vie for the slot. AA Braeden Davis could theoretically be available, should he decide to burn his redshirt. Or, speaking of redshirting phenoms, we have World Champion Masa Ono, who could possibly slide into 133lbs, and see Marcus Blaze move up to 141. Time will be our only guide in knowing which of these options are necessary/best. Having so many high-level options after an inured All-American is clearly a testament to PSU’s perhaps never-before-seen roster depth.
Next Up – at Drexel, Philadelphia, PA, Fri, Dec 5, 7:30 pm EST (FloWrestling, Lionvision)
