Starting the Season with a Mix-tape of Bonus Points
Penn State started the 2025-26 NCAA Wrestling Season in large part right where they left off. Duals are indeed something the Lions “are good at” (dominating), and this night was like most of the others
during this run of now 72 straight wins: Some artists have changed, due to eligibility and the ever present rise of new talent, but the tenor of the playlist is the same—score points, dominate, be grateful.
This evening’s potentially engaging scuffle with Oklahoma took a hit when it became clear that several Sooners were dinged up or otherwise not available to compete, but the show went on, and a few of the Oklahoma kids were able to display some fight, even if they were outmatched at every turn.
As a season-long dual meet challenge, I began an effort to collect the walk-out songs of our squad in a playlist. I failed with a few (sorry, Mirasolas, and Marcus), but was able to start to assemble the songs that reflect the tastes of these mighty Lions. See if you can guess who chose what, and look for answers below:
The evening started with acknowledgement of the 2025 campaign, with spotlights illuminating a pre-raised NCAA Championship banner (that will likely soon move alongside its dozen brothers in Rec Hall). Then the team was introduced, and apparent captains, Shayne Van Ness, Levi Haines & Lucas Cochran walked to center mat to kick off the season with the red/blue coin toss.
Penn State 50, Oklahoma 0 Recap
197 Connor Mirasola, Penn State Major Decision vs #8 DJ Parker, Oklahoma, 13-3
In his PSU dual meet debut, Connor Mirasola aimed to prove that Penn State has more than one title contender at 197 lbs, vs Oklahoma’s best chance at a win this night, #8 DJ Parker.
1st
Parker started by hoping to get an early score with multiple single attempts that Connor ably down-blocked. With a minute left, Connor stepped outside and snared a low single, finishing the takedown at the edge. Parker escaped after 9 seconds of riding to close the period. 3 – 1
2nd
Connor deferred and Parker got his escape. Mirasola tried the same attack as his 1st takedown, and followed Parker’s evasion to the other side to secure the takedown, taking riding time 1:06 before conceding the escape. Connor countered for a 3rd takedown at the buzzer, which was upheld upon Oklahoma Coach Roger Kish’s challenge. 9 – 3
3rd
Connor chose neutral, and nearly re-attacked to a score at the edge, but was warned for stalling by referee Ray Santiago. At frequent encouragement from Coach Casey, Connor kept the pressure on, finally connecting on a shallow single, which he doubled off and finished for the 13 – 3 Major Decision.
In post-dual press conference, Cael said:
Yeah, big match. You know, one of the more competitive matches maybe on paper. It was his first college match. I don’t think he even got a match in last year as a redshirt. So, first time out there, and being the first match of the dual was probably a different feel for him. But I thought he did a nice job, went and scored his points, and wrestled tough.
Penn State 4, Oklahoma 0
285 – #11 Cole Mirasola, Penn State Decision vs #24 Juan Mora, Oklahoma, 5-2
Cole Mirasola saw some action last year, and while his neutral offense is very skilled, questions remained about his ability to handle the big boys. Per Byers, Cole weighed in at 228lbs, and the 250lb savvy Mora proved a worthy test.
1st
Cole started by attacking, but Mora’s size and strength emerged as a puzzle for him to solve. Mora snared his own head-outside single, but Cole worked a good shin-whizzer, hipped in and came around for the counter takedown, riding for 35 seconds before conceding the escape. 3 -1
2nd
Mora chose down and Mirasola the larger took riding time 1:14 before Mora escaped. The two stayed active, but there was no further scoring. 3 – 2
3rd
Mirasola escaped quickly, preserving 1:06 in riding time. Handfighting dominated the action to close the match, as Cole displayed near-Nolf care in placing his green ankle bands on the mat’s green stripe. 5 – 2 Decision.
Penn State 7, Oklahoma 0
125 – #3 Luke Lilledahl PSU Major Decision vs Conrad Hendrickson OU, 14-4
♫ California Dreamin’ by the Mamas & the Papas
Fresh off of his U23 World Title, Luke Lilledahl is looking to separate himself from the NCAA field, and he had a tricky 1st test against the stout Hendrickson
1st
125 lbers rarely tower over anyone, but Luke had nearly a foot on the short-legged, muscular Hendrickson. Luke started to triangulate how to score on that body type and converted a high-crotch for the takedown. Hendrickson escaped quickly, and Luke stepped outside with an ankle in-hand and scored again, taking riding time to 1:02 before conceding the escape. 6 – 1
2nd
Luke chose down out and got out retakining 57 seconds of advantage time. Hendrickson worked underhooks and used his compact power to stave off numerous Lilledahl attacks. 7 – 2
3rd
Luke rode well to start, taking riding time to 1:32 before giving up the escape to wrestle in neutral. He reached for a double-leg, driving at an angle for the takedown. Getting a quick escape, the tricky Hendrickson looked like he’d hold it to a decision, earning a stall warning in short time. But Lilledahl hit a gorgeous super-duck on the penultimate whistle and secured the 14 -4 Major Decision.
Penn State 11, Oklahoma 0
133 – Marcus Blaze, Penn State Tech vs Tyson Charmoli, Oklahoma, 18-3
In one of the most anticipated debuts in a long line of anticipated Penn State Wrestling debuts, true freshman Marcus Blaze proved his reputation as a wrestler developed far beyond his years in facing Tyson Charmoli.
1st
Marcus showed superior position and converted a high-crotch for the first takedown. Blaze then used a leg ride and wrist work to ride tough, earning a stall warning on Charmoli and brutally worked into a cross-face cradle stopped only by the buzzer, with 1:10 in riding time. 3 – 0
2nd
Charmoli deferred and Marcus escaped quickly, taking the Sooner to the edge, where Blaze’s remarkable ability to hold position confounded the Oklahoma coaches’ pleading for their wrestler to circle-in. Instead, Blaze hit a clean double-leg takedown at the edge. Blaze went optional start, yielding an escape and stalked for another takedown, released, and repeated his high-crotch for yet another takedown. With just 20 seconds remaining the justly confident true freshman chose a neutral restart and chain-wrestled, but couldn’t quite score. 14 – 3
3rd
Charmoli chose down, and Blaze cooly held a cheap tilt for 4 nearfall points and the 18 – 3 Technical Fall in 5:13.
On his BJC Debut, Marcus said
I think it’s just like a dream come true. I think when you’re a little kid, you dream of moments like that, just to wrestle in front of a big crowd. So, it was just super fun, and I love the energy that Penn State fans bring.
Penn State 16, Oklahoma 0
141 – #11 Aaron Nagao Penn State Decision vs Alex Braun Oklahoma, 9-5
♫ The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash
Off a season-long injury, the former All-American Nagao was eager to start the season right vs a game Braun.
1st
Aaron tried a slide-by, exposing his legs to Braun, who upon taking the offer, soon found himself in a power half-nelson with Nagao on top for the takedown (classic Nagao, through and through). He worked double-boots before yielding a stall warning for a 5-count on the leg. On a restart, Nagao worked for a tilt with a crab ride, but Braun scored a reversal, before Nagao reversed him back, taking riding time to 2:07. 5 – 2
2nd
Nagao deferred and Braun chose neutral, and re-attacked for Oklahoma’s solitary takedown of the evening. Aaron quickly reversed him, and almost earned near fall points with a navy ride. Nagao rode out the period with 3:07 in advantage time. 7 – 5
3rd
Braun conceded the optional start escape. Aaron nearly scored, but Braun scrambled well enough to neutralize the threat. 9 – 5 Decision.
Penn State 19, Oklahoma 0
149 – #1 Shayne Van Ness PSU Tech vs Layton Schneider, Oklahoma, 20-1
♫ The Boondocks (Main Title) by Asheru
I just love watching Shayne Van Ness do his thing. For me, he’s one of our most entertaining guys—and he showed why vs Schneider.
1st
Shayne worked heavy hands to a head-inside single and takedown, then kept the pressure on with cross-faces, leg riding and forward pressure earning a stall warning on Schneider, accumulating 2:29 in riding time. 3-0
2nd
Schneider chose neutral, so Shayne hit a double leg takedown off of the whistle, before he cut him for the escape. Van Ness then hit another double leg takedown, working up the body to score 4 near fall points, and earning a stall point when Schneider reached for the plywood stage (Aside: Kudos to Santiago for calling this a couple of times on the evening) on the period ride-out—with 3:58 in advantage time. 14 – 1
3rd
Shayne hooked a leg from rear standing to reverse Schneider, taking him straight into the same navy-ride position for 4 more near fall points and the rare 20-1 Technical Fall in 5:29.
Penn State 24, Oklahoma 0
157 – Joe Sealey, Penn State Tech vs Landyn Sommer Oklahoma, 19-4
♫ Die Young by Kesha
While much of the crowd was eager to see #1 ranked recruit PJ Duke’s debut at this weight, Sanderson said he needs a bit more time:
I think PJ’s first competition is planned to be the Black Knight Open next week.
So instead, we got a chance to see Joe Sealey in his BJC debut. Effectively our 3rd string at 157, he proved PSU depth is definitely a thing.
1st
Joe snared an ankle and chased down the quick takedown and gave up the quick escape. Sommer swam for his own single leg, and Sealy fed heavy hips, then tried a Kasakesque shuck/pancake before almost chasing down a go-behind at the edge. Sealy connected on his next slide-by for a takedown, but seemed content to go back to neutral, where he quickly snared a single leg and a third takedown. Sealy finally committed to riding, almost sucking back Sommer before the end of the period and 45 seconds of riding time. 9 – 2
2nd
Sealy differed and took riding time to 1:02 before yielding the escape. He worked short offense at the edge and scored his fourth takedown. After yielding another escape, Sealy worked from the same position and earned a stall warning on Sommer, hit a heavy stance, and easy single leg follow-through shot for the takedown in short time. 15 – 4
3rd
Sealy chose neutral and stalked Sommer for a stall point, then defended a single leg with a crotch lock. On the restart, Sealy committed to a high-crotch and secured the 19-4 Technical Fall in 5:47.
Cael on Sealey’s performance
I thought Joe looked really good. A lot of pressure, a lot of great snaps, motion, just energy, effort. But yeah, it was a lot of fun to watch him compete. He looked really good.
Penn State 29, Oklahoma 0
165 – #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State Tech vs Owen Eck, Oklahoma, 19-4
♫ Faztek No Clash by Soundkail
Bear with me as a music nerd for second. The best jazz artists will take a solo, and knowingly “quote” famous riffs and lines from their peers, effortlessly weaving the excellence around them into their own repertoire. When a listener recognizes these moments, the dialogue from the artist to the listener is enriched and reaches new depths of understanding. I’ll call it: Mitchell Mesenbrink has reached “jazz master” status in Division 1 NCAA wrestling.
1st
The Nittany Lion U23 World Champion (rat) was chasing the proverbial cheeto with the first whistle, snaring a leg and finishing cleanly on his second shot. He released Eck for the escape, hit a Nolfian snap-to-the mat, and then tried his own Kasak-style pancake, settling for the go-behind takedown. Mitchell then answered the question “What would Zain do?” in locking a hammerlock and chin for 4 near fall points. Mesenbrink chose a neutral restart quickly finished another takedown, tried a suck-back that slipped, yielding an escape, but then snagged a leg while in position to finish (sure reminded me of Aaron Brooks) for the quick takedown finish. He punctuated the final half minute with another hammerlock for the same 4 points of near fall. Mesenbrink then noted Blaze’s late period confidence in proffering a neutral restart—but he quickly finished a final takedown of the period on the whistle for the first period 19 – 4 Technical Fall.
Penn State 34, Oklahoma 0
174 – #1 Levi Haines, Penn State Pinned Carter Schubert, Oklahoma, 4:15
♫ Dinosaur by Hank Williams Jr.
While his line-up neighbor is clearly in the conversation, there is a distinct chance that Levi Haines is the best wrestler in the United States right now. The campaign in Leading of Men starts now.
1st
We started with a scary moment when Levi took the back of Schubert’s head cleanly on the chin, seemingly knocking him out momentarily (reminded me of David Taylor being donkey-kicked by the Russian Kurugliev in 2018), and triggering a cautionary concussion protocol from Dan Monthley. But soon, Levi was running back to the mat to big cheers from the BJC crowd.
Cael said:
I have to go watch the video, but it looked like he took an elbow or a head to the chin or something. They just kind of collided, and he dropped. I think it kind of shocked him. . . Levi is a tough kid, so he’s probably going to finish the match. But we have all the confidence in the world in our trainer, Dan Monthley. He’s a big-picture guy. He wants these guys ready for the moments that mean the most to them, and that’s obviously in March. So, he’s going to make the right decision, and we believe in that 100% and have 100% confidence in him. Also, just out there, he seemed like he was going to be good. But Dan will go check him out, work on him, and do whatever trainers and the doctors do to make sure that he is good to go. But yeah, obviously, it’s just about being very careful and taking care of him. Health always comes first.
Levi worked his heavy hands and (following Casey’s prompts from the corner) patiently misdirected to a high-crotch for a takedown right into his patented turk, then a half nelson for 4 near fall points at the buzzer. 7 – 0
2nd
Schubert apparently wanted more punishment and chose down. I noted he later gasped in pain on a leg-in breakdown, earning a stall warning just prior to the opening of 2025’s Archery Season as Haines used the bow & arrow for the Fall in 4:15.
Penn State 40, Oklahoma 0
184 – #2 Rocco Welsh Penn State Tech vs Anders Thompson Oklahoma, 19-4
♫ Free the Madness by Steve Ayoki
Rocco gave Carter Starocci a tougher match than he was accustomed to in 2023, twice. Now Rocco is a Nittany Lion, and eager to prove his place in the Blue & White.
1st
Rocco worked his own heavy hands to a single leg and quick takedown, and Thompson escaped. Welsh kept heavy hands and scored a second takedown through a patient finish to a single leg, riding tough and getting a stall warning on the Sooner before conceding the escape. Rocco then worked for a late takedown on his single and rode out with 1:30 in riding time. 9 – 2
2nd
Rocco chose down, and Thompson accomplished a nice mat return before yielding the escape point. Rocco worked collar ties and snared an ankle, doubling off for the quick takedown, then released for the escape, and threatened a cradle in scoring the go-behind takedown, building riding time to 2:11. 16 – 3
3rd
Thompson chose down, and Welsh went with an optional start and conceding the escape before he chased down a high crotch for the takedown and Technical Fall in 5:28.
Penn State 45, Oklahoma 0
The Takery
In the end, while only 4 true starters for Oklahoma made it to the mat, the song remained the same. With the first dual of the season under way, the future of Penn State Wrestling looks as bright as ever, much to the chagrin of the rest of the wrestling world fandom, the dynasty continues to evolve.
Ridge Riley Winner: Connor Mirasolla
Next Up – Black Knight Invitational, West Point, NY, Sun, Nov 23, 10:00am EST (FloWrestling, Lionvision)
