2026 Wrestling Big Ten Tourney: Session II Recap & Session III Preview

Session II Results Consolation Rd. of 12 141 (6) Braeden Davis, Penn State vs (12) Danny Pucino, Illinois Davis came out aggressive, looking to work an Russian tie that he transitioned into a single. Pucino attempted to hit an elevator but Davis was able to keep Pucino planted on his back. Pucino tr

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Session II Results

Consolation Rd. of 12

141 (6) Braeden Davis, Penn State vs (12) Danny Pucino, Illinois

Davis came out aggressive, looking to work an Russian tie that he transitioned into a single. Pucino attempted to hit an elevator but Davis was able to keep Pucino planted on his back. Pucino tried turning off his back but Davis kept him there to get the fall at 36 seconds.

Consolation Quarterfinals

141 (6) Braeden Davis, Penn State vs (10) Joey Olivieri, Rutgers

Davis worked the same ties as his prior match, using them successfully to get in on a nice single. Despite being patient with it and not rushing into a finish, Olivieri won the ensuing scramble to get the takedown with short time

remaining in the period.

Olivieri won choice to start the second where he was quickly out for the escape. The ties and taps turned into blows, resulting in each wrestler being warned. Olivieri finished the second up 4-0.

Davis took bottom and worked out for the escape after nearly getting a reversal. Olivieri played keepaway for the rest of the period, drawing 2 stall calls but never giving Davis a chance to score, bouncing Braeden to the 7th place final.

Semifinals

125 – (1) Luke Lilledahl, Penn State vs (4) Jacob Moran, Indiana

Lilledahl spent a little time feeling Moran out before committing to a shot and scoring the opening takedown. He then continued to attack, getting a second takedown to finish the period up 6-2.

Moran chose bottom to start the second and Lilledahl built riding time up to over a minute before finally letting Moran up. Lilledahl got in on a low single and worked on the edge of the mat to complete the takedown at the buzzer to extend his lead to 9-3.

Lilledahl took bottom to start the third and was quickly out for the escape, keeping 1:02 in riding time advantage. Moran fired off a desperation shot that Lilledahl stuffed, winning the match by 11-3 major decision after the riding time point was awarded.

133 – (1) Marcus Blaze vs (5) Drake Ayala, Iowa

Ayala spent most of the first period on a knee, trying to keep his level as low as Blaze. Marcus tried working his ties to open an angle but Ayala stayed mostly square and circled in to avoid a stall call.

Ayala won choice to start the second and Blaze worked a series of mat returns before the wrestlers went out of bounds. On the restart Blaze made less effort to keep Ayala down and the Hawkeye made it out for the escape. Back in neutral Blaze continued looking for an opening while Ayala played mostly defense.

Blaze chose bottom to start the third and was quickly up and out for the escape. Both guys continued to work ties with neither wrestler committing to a shot.

In sudden victory Ayala feigned a quick shot off the whistle, initiating a scramble that both wrestlers attempted to score on. Later in the period Blaze finally found an opening an fired off a clean high crotch, cutting the corner and scoring the takedowm for the 4-1 victory.

149 – (1) Shayne Van Ness, Penn State vs (5) Lachlan McNeil, Michigan

Van Ness worked a series of snaps before getting in on a single. McNeil was able to catch Van Ness with his back exposed and the Nittany Lion conceded the takedown to avoid giving up near fall. Van Ness was out guy the escape and went right back on the attack. McNeil successfully countered another shot from Van Ness and rode out the period on top

Van Ness took bottom to start the second and was quickly out for the escape. Trailing 6-2, Shayne lined up a double (which drew a stall warning on McNeil) and this time was higher on the legs to get the takedown. Van Ness conceded the escape and continued looking for a takedown but couldn’t score.

McNeil took bottom to start the third and Van Ness conceded the escape. Van Ness continued to attack, taking McNeil to his back but was unable to score any near fall before settling for the takedowm. With the match tied, Van Ness let McNeil up again and we quickly in again on a shot to score the go ahead takedown. McNeil got out for the escape with short time remaining and Van Ness punched his ticket to the finals with the 11-10 decision.

157 – (2) PJ Duke, Penn State vs (3) Kannon Webster, Illinois

Duke came out hunting the far ankle of Webster before using a side body lock to get the takedown. Webster was out for the escape and started looking for a shot. Webster got an ankle at the end of the period but Duke fought it off until time expired.

Duke took bottom to start the second and quickly got out for the escape to extend his lead to 4-1. Duke looked to use his underhooks and ties to keep the action tight while Webster tried to keep some space with neither wrestler finding a scoring opportunity.

Webster took bottom to start the third and Duke didn’t put up much of a fight to keep the Illinois wrestler down. Back in neutral Webster tried his best to work Duke out of position but PJ avoided danger to win by 4-2 decision.

165 – (1) Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State vs (5) Andrew Sparks, Minnesota

Sparks came out looking to match Mesenbrink’s activity level as the wrestlers flurries for the first minute of the period. Mesenbrink finally found an opening to shoot but action was stopped for potentially dangerous. Mesenbrink was right back in on the restart, getting the takedown and nearly taking Sparks to his back. Mesenbrink attempted a few turns, drawing a stall call on Sparks, but never successfully turning the Gopher.

Mesenbeink chose bottom to start the second with over a minute in riding time built up and was quickly out for the escape. Mesenbrink continued his relentless attacks, finally scoring another takedown. Mesenbrink once again looked for a turn, attempting a bow and arrow followed by an arm bar, but was once again unable to find a turning combination.

Sparks took bottom and Mesenbrink let him up to look for more points. Mesenbrink continued attacking, scoring 4 more takedowns to end the match by 19-4 tech fall.

174 – (1) Levi Haines, Penn State vs (5) Carson Kharchla, Ohio State

Haines and Kharchla wrestled most of the first period working in the center of the mat. Kharchla kept looking for an underhook while Levi looked for a duck under opportunity. Both wrestlers traded attempts with Levi finding an opening but time ran out just as Levi was able to secure the second ankle.

Haines chose bottom to start the second and fought through the pestering of Kharchla for the escape. After trading attacks, Haines fired off a double to score at the end of the period.

Kharchla chose bottom to start the third and Haines put on a hard ride on top, letting the Buckeye on the mat. Haines worked a series of breakdowns to build up over a minute in riding time, often bellying out Kharchla, to ride out the third period and secure the 5-0 decision.

184 – (1) Rocco Welsh, Penn State vs (4) Brock Mantanona, Michigan

Mantanona dropped down on a single and worked his way up through the scramble to score the opening takedown. Welsh was out for the escape and quickly in on a single of his own but couldn’t finish on the edge of the mat. Rocco got in deep again but once again couldn’t finish as the action was stopped for potentially dangerous. Welsh fired off another shot off the restart, getting a leg and bringing it to his feet but Mantanona fought it off until the period expired.

Welsh took bottom to start the second and got out for the escape. Mantanona dropped in on another single, similar to the one from the first, but Welsh cut the corner and hooked the leg to win the scramble and take a 5-3 lead. Welsh attempted to keep the Wolverine down but Mantanona was able to finally get out for an escape.

Mantanona took bottom to start the third and got the escape before Welsh could build his riding time. With the match tied at 5, Welsh continued to attack. Mantanona played defense to take the match to overtime.

iIn sudden victory, Welsh fired off a double before switching off to a single. Mantanona attempted to roll through, but Welsh was ready and waited to cover the hips and score the deciding takedown to win 8-5.

197 – (1) Josh Barr, Penn State vs (5) Luke Geog, Ohio State

Barr opened the period by driving forward into the Buckeye, taking him off the mat twice and drawing a stall call on the second stoppage. Barr kept looking for an underhook, working a front headlock but failing to make much use of it. Barr reshot from space after feigning a shot and finished the double leg right at the end of the period.

With choice to start the second, Barr took bottom and was quickly out for the escape. Barr once again shot in on a double and switched off to a single to finish the shot and extend his lead to 7-0. After going out-of-bounds, Barr conceded the escape to continue the scoring. Back in neutral Barr once again backed Geog off the mat, drawing a second stall call. Barr again dropped in on a single and scored takedown to finish the period up 11-1.

Geog took bottom to start the third and nearly got a reversal, allowing Barr to build up his riding time advantage over a minute. Barr conceded the escape on a restart following a stalemate and quickly scored another takedown. Back in neutral, Barr countered a shot from Geog to score another takedown and rode out the period. With the riding time point, Barr secured the 18-3 tech fall.

285 – (5) Cole Mirasola, Penn State vs (1) Taye Ghadiali

Ghadiali dropped down for a single and the heavyweights scrambled with Mirasola nearly countering before Ghadiali could finish. Cole was quickly out for he escape and the action resumed with both wrestlers trading shots.

Ghadiali took bottom to start the second and was out for the escape. Cole was able to get in again on a single but Ghadiali was able to free his leg and thwart the attack. The period ended without any further scoring.

Mirasola took bottom to start the third and Ghadiali put on a hard ride, using his weight advantage to wear down Cole and build his riding time up over a minute. Cole made several attempts to escape, eventually starting a stall call after Ghadiali friend down on an ankle. Cole actually got out and once again got in on a single, this time bringing it up to his feet, but he was unable to finish as Mirasola lost the 4-2 decision.