Penn State dominates in Philadelphia for the second time in 2025.
Penn State traveled to Philadelphia on Friday night to take on the Drexel Dragons. The Nittany Lions returned to the City of Brotherly Love nine months after setting the NCAA tournament scoring record back in March. The Drexel Dragons were heavily outmatched, but anything can happen on the mat.
125: #2 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State Maj Dec. Desmond Pleasant, Drexel 19-7
1st
Luke was on the attack right away, quickly getting in on a single and ultimately fighting through Pleasant’s defense to score the takedown. The wrestlers traded reversals as Lilledahl got a little sloppy before
Pleasant worked out for the escape to make the match 5-3. Pleasant got in on a deep shot but Lilledahl was able to fend it off, nearly getting exposure before action was stopped for a stalemate. Lilledahl closed out the period with a final takedown, locking up a cradle but unable to turn Pleasant to his back before breaking the hold.
2nd
Pleasant chose bottom to start the second, working out for the escape after about 20 seconds. The wrestlers traded shots in the center of the mat where Lilledahl fired off a counter shot that he quickly converted to extend his lead to 11-5.
3rd
With 1:41 in riding time advantage, Luke chose bottom to start the period and was immediately out for the escape. Pleasant continued to wrestle offensively and Lilledahl countered again for his 4th takedown of the match. After Luke briefly locked up another cradle attempt and then looked for an arm bar, Pleasant worked out for another escape. Luke was immediately back in, scoring one more takedown to extend his lead to 18-6. Pleasant was hit with another stall call underneath before once again getting back to his feet for the escape. The period came to a close and Lilledahl was awarded the riding time point to win by a 19-7 major decision.
Penn State 4, Drexel 0
133: #11 Marcus Blaze, Penn State WBF Kyle Waterman, Drexel (4:33)
1st
Blaze came out and immediately controlled the action. He worked a front headlock into a takedown before putting on a good ride to accrue 41 seconds in riding time before the wrestlers went out of bounds. On the restart Blaze elected for an optional start, giving up the escape. Blaze continued to use his ties to once again work a front headlock into a takedown and extend his lead to 6-1. Marcus went to work again on top, getting Waterman bellied out but unable to find a way to turn him before eventually letting him up for another escape. The wrestlers once again tied up in the center of the mat but this time Blaze fired off a shot from distance that he converted for his third takedown of the period. The period ended with Blaze still in control and 1:53 in riding time banked for the Nittany Lion.
2nd
Blaze chose bottom to start the second. After an initial delay he was quickly out for the escape. Blaze worked another snap down to get behind Waterman and get another takedown. Blaze conceded another escape to continue working his offense in neutral. Marcus once again used a front headlock for a takedown, this time catching Waterman in a cradle and taking the Drexel wrestler to his back to get the fall.
Penn State 10, Drexel 0
141: Jordan Suriano, Drexel dec. Cael Nasdeo, Penn State 8-5
Both wrestlers were active to start the match before Nasdeo was able to get in on a single that he finished from his feet for a takedown. Nasdeo put on a good ride, building over 1 minute in RT before the wrestlers went out of bounds. Soriano was quickly out off the restart for the escape and looked to increase the pace. Nasdeo got in deep on a low single as the wrestlers scrambled in the center of the mat but he was unable to complete it before the period expired.
2nd
Nasdeo started the second on bottom where Soriano brought the riding time back under a minute. Nasdeo was finally able to get out near the 1 minute mark in the period but quickly found himself in trouble as Soriano fired off a shot that he converted into a takedown on the edge of the mat to tie the bout at 4. Nasdeo was close to getting a reversal but Soriano kept control until he was finally able to draw a stalemate with short time remaining in the period. Nasdeo would be unable to get out off the restart before the period expired.
3rd
Soriano took bottom to start the third and fought out for the escape to take a 5-4 lead. Nasdeo got in on a low single and looked to collect both legs of Soriano but no takedown was awarded. The Penn State staff challenged the lack of a takedown but the call on the mat was upheld. With 32 seconds remaining and needing a takedown to win, Nasdeo came out aggressively looking to find an opening. Soriano was able to capitalize, countering one of Nasdeo’s shots for a takedown and extending his lead to 4. Nasdeo got out for a final escape as time expired and Drexel put their first points on the board of the night.
Penn State 10, Drexel 3
149: #1 Shayne Van Ness, Penn State TF Patrick Kelly, Drexel 20-4 (6:50)
1st
Van Ness stalked Kelly off the whistle before dropping down for a single to earn a takedown. Van Ness got himself into an awkward position following a roll that allowed Kelly to score a reversal. Kelly got a good ride going, eventually getting a leg in and building up over a minute of riding time on Ness who struggled to get out. After methodically working on Kelly’s ankles, Van Ness was finally able to get the separation he needed for a reversal of his own. Shayne was able to get Kelly turned but the period expired before he was able to get the second swipe.
2nd
Kelly chose bottom to start the second and Van Ness immediately let him up for the escape. After snapping Kelly down to the mat, Van Ness used a series of back and forth spin attempts to get Kelly out of position and lock up a cradle. Shayne took Kelly to his back several times but it was all in one continuous hold so only earned 4 NF for his efforts. Along with the back points to make the match 12-3, Shayne also built his riding time back up to over a minute.
3rd
Shayne took neutral to start the third and got another takedown to extend his lead 15-3. He worked an arm bar to get 2 near fall swipes before losing control and letting Kelly out for the escape. Van Ness scored the final takedown to end the match by tech fall.
Penn State 15, Drexel 3
157: #15 PJ Duke, Penn State WBF Luke Nichter, Drexel (1:15)
1st
Duke took the action to Nichter right off the whistle, eventually throwing the Drexel wrestler by for a takedown. The wrestlers were quickly back on their feet after a Nichter escape and Duke went right back on the attack. He dropped in on a low single that he quickly converted for his second takedown before conceding another escape. Duke continued the attack, getting in on another low shot that he finished to go up 9-2 in the first minute of the period. After conceding another escape to continue scoring points, Duke locked up a cradle and took Nichter over to his back to get the fall.
Penn State 21, Drexel 3
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State TF Cody Walsh, Drexel 19-4 (5:11)
1st
It took all of about 7 seconds for Mesenbrink to work himself in on a leg of Walsh that he used to score the opening takedown. Mitchell let Walsh up shortly after only to score an immediate takedown as soon as the wrestlers were back on their feet. He alternated between trying to turn Walsh and playing catch and release to rack up 2 more takedowns and end the period up 12-3.
2nd
Mesenbrink chose bottom to start the second and quickly worked Walsh out of position to score a reversal. He drew a stall call on Walsh before letting him up for another round of catch and release. After the takedown to put himself up 17-4, Mesenbink committed to try and turn Walsh, nearly hitting a bow and arrow. Walsh was bellied out for over 30 seconds but apparently did just enough to avoid a second stall call as the period expired.
3rd
Walsh chose top to start the third and Mesenbrink quickly hit a granby roll to score a reversal and end the match by technical fall 19-4.
Penn State 26, Drexel 3
174: #1 Levi Haines, Penn State MD #17 Jasiah Queen, Drexel 12-1
1st
The wrestlers stayed squared up in the center of the mat for the first minute of the period, trading feints and working ties. Eventually they started committing more to shots and the action picked up. Haines was unable to do much with a front headlock and the wrestlers went out of bounds. Haines continued his attack, working Queen into a front headlock again and this time managing to get behind for the takedown. Levi went on to ride out the rest of the period, drawing a stall call and banking 51 seconds of riding time.
2nd
Haines chose bottom to start the second and was quickly out for the escape. Queen caught the ankle of Haines but Levi fought it off and got another front headlock. Queen was hit with a second stall call after Levi used the front headlock to drive him off the mat on his knees. Once the action resumed, Haines scored another takedown to increase his lead to 8-0 and went on to ride out the period.
3rd
Queen took bottom to start the third and Haines immediately conceded the escape to look for more points. Haines got in on a deep single but Queen was able to fend it off at the edge of the mat before eventually getting out of bounds without drawing another stall call. Haines scored a takedown on the restart and nearly got back points but couldn’t keep Queen turned long enough to get consecutive swipes. With the riding time point, Levi Haines won by major decision 12-1.
Penn State 30, Drexel 3
184: #4 Rocco Welsh, Penn State MD Ethan Wilson, Drexel 13-3
1st
The wrestlers worked ties and fought for hand control throughout the first minute of action before Welsh got in on a tentative high crotch that he followed through on to score the opening takedown. Wilson got out for the escape and returned the action to their feet where Welsh used collar ties to keep Wilson on the edge of the mat and draw a stall call.
2nd
Welsh took bottom to start the second and quickly worked out for the escape. Rocco took a series of shots that earned another stall call on Wilson before picking an ankle to score a takedown and extend his lead to 8-1.
3rd
Wilson chose bottom to start the third and got out for the escape. Welsh quickly dropped in again on a single, caught the second ankle, and dropped Wilson to the mat for another takedown. Wilson once again got out for the escape and Welsh went right back on the attack. Wilson drew yet another stall call after going off the mat fending off a charging Welsh. Rocco continued to attack for the remainder of the period, nearly scoring twice but coming up short both times. He finished 3 seconds shy of earning the riding time point.
Penn State 34, Drexel 3
197: Connor Mirasola, Penn State TF Justin Griffith, Drexel 22-5 (5:28)
1st
It was Connor Mirasola who took the mat for Penn State despite the hopes that we’d see Josh Barr’s first appearance of the season. Drexel sent out their backup 197 pounder, Justin Griffith, and Connor quickly went to work. He scored a takedown in the opening 30 seconds before cutting Griffith to look for more points. Connor continued to play catch and release, scoring 2 more takedowns before riding out the period and building up over a minute in riding time.
2nd
Trailing 9-2, Griffith chose bottom to start the second. He fought to his feet and out for the escape which was answered by another takedown from Mirasola. Connor continued to pile on the offense, drawing two more stall calls and scoring two more takedowns to end the period up 19-5.
3rd
Connor chose neutral to start the third, needing a takedown for the tech fall. It didn’t take long to get it as he hit a double for a takedown to stop the match prematurely by technical fall 22-5.
Penn State 39, Drexel 3
HWT: #10 Cole Mirasola, Penn State MD Nate Schon, Drexel 10-2
1st
Cole took the mat against a slightly larger Schon. Mirasola caught the right ankle of Schon and eventually worked his arm free for a takedown. Schon got out for the escape and started to work for hand control to keep some distance between himself and Mirasola. As the wrestlers were trading ties, Schon got hit for an illegal hold for pulling the headgear of Mirasola. Drexel challenged the call but it was upheld. On the restart, Schon quickly got in on a single and Mirasola displayed some impressive athleticism for a heavyweight as he was just able to keep his other leg free before the wrestlers went out of bounds with 20 seconds left. Mirasola was hit with a stall warning for fleeing the mat. Schon once again shot off the whistle, attempting to roll through for a takedown but Mirasola fended it off.
2nd
Cole took bottom to start the second and was quickly out for the escape to extend his lead to 5-1. Neither wrestler made much of an attempt at shooting but Mirasola controlled the action throughout most of the period.
3rd
Schon chose bottom to start the third and looked for a switch off the whistle. Mirasola stayed clear and gave up the escape to avoid risking the reversal. Back in neutral Mirasola drove Schon to the edge of the mat once again. Cole shot in, presumably looking to draw a stall call, but in the ensuing scramble Schon looked to tweak his knee and requested injury time. When the action restarted, Mirasola had 6 points which seems to indicate a stall call was awarded for backing off the mat. With choice due to the injury time Cole took bottom, getting out for the escape and scoring a final takedown to earn the 10-2 major decision.
Penn State 43, Drexel 3
The Takery
While anything can happen in sports, this match wasn’t expected to be close and that turned out to be the case. A stacked Penn State team took on an overmatched Drexel squad and turned a competition into an exhibition. But despite the match being one-sided, there were still a few things to note:
- 141 will likely be up for grabs throughout the entire season unless Nagao is able to come back. Nasdeo was aggressive throughout that match and looked to be the better wrestler most of the time but unfortunately couldn’t come up with the win.
- PJ Duke certainly made a statement with a whole lot of offensive domination.
- Haines looks to have fully grown into 174 and that’s trouble for everyone else. His strength was most on display when he fought off a good single by Queen but looked comfortable controlling the action.
- Still no Josh Barr at 197, but it’s better for him to get fully healthy than to rush back when he’s not needed in the lineup.
One thing is for sure, this lineup is posed to be dominant for years to come. Three of Penn State’s starters will have the option to redshirt at some point. Two returning All Americans are redshirting this year – and that’s not to mention a world champion that’s also redshirting and will be joining the roster next year.
We are spoiled and I’m here to enjoy every minute of it.
Next Up – vs. Lehigh, Rec Hall, 12/7 @ 1 PM
