The Penn State Nittany Lions were crowned the 2026 Big Ten Wrestling Tournament Champions to compliment their regular season championship. The Nittany Lion squad crowned 7 tournament champions, setting a new school record of 184 points, with all 10 wrestlers finishing in an auto-qualifying position to make the NCAA tournament.
At this level, success is often measured by the most miniscule of margins and usually requires a series of events to set up the score. Hand control and head position become
even more valuable as wrestlers look to not just set up an initial attack but a counter to a counter, becoming as much a game of chess as it is a physical contest.
125 – (1) Luke Lilledahl, Penn State dec (6) Jore Volk, Minnesota 4-1 (SV)
Lilledahl came out hunting the right leg of Volk, trying to get within reach with his left arm. Luke dropped in on a tentative shot, but Volk was prepared for it and fought it off. Volk started working ties and posts to control the distance, focusing on setting up an opportunity for a counter shot should Lilledahl commit. Volk muscled Luke a bit with underhooks, a position Lilledahl seemed eager to avoid throughout the rest of the match.
Volk won choice to start the second and chose bottom. Lilledahl attempted to keep the Gopher down, but Volk was able to get hip separation and turn out for the escape after a brief scramble. Volk continued to work ties to maintain distance while Luke tried to find an opening. Lilledahl hit an ankle pick with 20 seconds left in the period and Volk attempted a gramby roll to get away, coming up with a leg of Lilledahl and holding on until the period came to an end.
Lilledahl chose bottom to start the third and shortly worked out for the escape after his initial efforts took the wrestlers out of bounds. Back on their feet Lilledahl continued to hunt for the right ankle of Volk, increasing his lateral movement to work Volk into position. Lilledahl switched up to an attack on a double on the left leg of Volk but Volk did just enough to fight it off as the wrestlers scrambled through the end of the period.
In overtime Volk attempted a shot of his own, triggering a scramble with Luke nearly controlling both of Volk’s ankles on the edge of the mat but the Gopher was able to get out of bounds and only give up a stall warning. On the restart Volk continued to come forward and Lilledahl was able to snap him down and cut the corner to get to secure the legs of Volk, working up for the deciding takedown shortly after to win the match 4-1.
133 – (3) Ben Davino, Ohio State dec (1) Marcus Blaze, Penn State 3-2 (TB)
Blaze came out wrestling in his typical stance, the left hand frequently posted to the mat keeping his level low. Davino lowered his level to match Blaze, dropping often to look for an opening. Blaze attempted to get an angle to spin behind, but Davino did a good job of blocking it off and staying square with Blaze. Neither wrestler attempted much of a shot as most of the action came via ties and feints.
Davino won the toss and chose bottom to start the second. Blaze attempted to work an underhook but Davino was able to work his hips away and turn out for the escape. The wrestlers mostly worked ties without much action, drawing a double stall call from the ref that was immediately followed by a low leg single by Davino that Blaze defended with a shin whizzer.
Blaze took bottom to start the third and was able to get to his feet, win hand control, and step out for the escape. Davino seemed to increase his activity, moving to his left to set up another shot attempt. With short time remaining Davino once again hit a low single, bringing Blaze up to one leg but unable to finish the takedown before the period expired.
In overtime, the wrestlers continued to work head-to-head with Blaze attempting to work a front headlock several times to no success. Neither wrestler found much opportunity and the action went to rideouts.
In the first rideout, Blaze took bottom. He made it up to his feet but didn’t have hand control as Davino locked around the waist and built up 17 seconds of riding time before Blaze finally got the escape.
In the second rideout, Davino was able to quickly sit out for the escape and catch Blaze riding too high, getting out for the escape in only 3 seconds. Blaze picked up the attacks but Davino blocked off and circled to end the rideout period and get the win.
149 – (1) Shayne Van Ness, Penn State pins (2) Ethan Stiles, Ohio State (3:29)
Van Ness moved forward right off the whistle, coming forward and stalking Stiles looking for the far ankle. After working the head of Stiles, Stiles attempted a high crotch that Van Ness stuffed. Van Ness continued to work the head of Stiles, triggering another shot attempt that Van Ness nearly countered before the scramble ended in a stalemate.
Stiles chose bottom to start the second after Van Ness deferred and Van Ness used a lot of forward pressure to keep Stiles on his base. When Stiles attempted to sit back into Van Ness however, the Nittany Lion was prepared and spun out to the side, catching Stiles with a lateral and taking the Buckeye to his back. Van Ness stopped a roll through attempt and shortly after had Stiles flattened out to get the fall.
157 – (2) PJ Duke, Penn State maj. dec (1) Antrell Taylor, Nebraska 12-4
The start of the match was a battle between Taylor trying to maintain space to set up a shot and Duke using ties and underhooks to keep the action close and find a corner. Taylor was hit with a stall call after Duke took him off the mat with a Russian tie following a body lock attempt. Duke continued to come forward, nearly scoring a takedown off a double. Back on their feet, Duke caught Taylor extended too far forward and was able to spin behind for the takedown. Duke had Taylor broken down on the edge of the mat and built up 32 seconds of riding time before the wrestlers eventually went out of bounds. Taylor was quickly up and out for the escape off the restart and Duke went right back in on the attack, working the left underhook to catch the far leg of Taylor that he just couldn’t capture.
Taylor took bottom to start the second and was once again out for the escape quickly. Duke continued using the underhook to look for a shrug or ankle pick as Taylor fought to find some space. Following a tentative shot, Duke used a 2-on-1 to control the right arm of Taylor who was once again bit too far forward and spun behind for the takedown. Taylor was able to get out again before the period ended, with Duke leading 6-3 with 59 seconds of riding time.
Duke took bottom to start the third and was quickly out. Taylor attempted a shot but as he attempted to back out, Duke fired off a shot of his own and scored the takedown. Taylor escaped for a fourth time to make the score 10-4 and Duke continued to bring the pressure. Duke was able to hit a single, bringing the leg up to his feet. Taylor fended it off by working out of bounds but was hit with a stall call to add another point for Duke, followed by the riding time point when the period ended to end the match by 12-4 major decision.
165 – (1) Mitchell Mesenbrink maj. dec (3) Mikey Caliendo, Iowa 12-3
Mesenbrink took the mat looking to do what he always does – create action and score off it. Caliendo, who previously seemed interested in finding ways to close the gap with Mesenbrink, has seemed more intent on limiting the damage this past year. Mesenbrink was active right off the whistle, fighting through a snap down attempt from Caliendo to get the opening takedown. He quickly let Caliendo up to his pursuits. Back in neutral, the wrestlers traded shots as Caliendo increased his offense. Mesenbrink eventually had enough to work with after shooting in on a single to score his second takedown. Caliendo got out for the escape again to end the period 6-2.
Mesenbrink chose to start the second period underneath and was quickly out for the escape. Caliendo attempted to work more ties to slow the Nittany Lion down but Mesenbrink shot a deep high crotch underneath the outstretched Caliendo to score his third takedown. Mesenbrink worked for a turn, taking the riding time up over a minute while also drawing a stall warning on Caliendo who spent most of his time bellied out.
Caliendo took bottom to start the third and attempted a switch, but Mesenbrink kept control as the action went out of bounds. Off the restart Caliendo stood up to his feet and got out easily for the escape. Caliendo fired off a series of shots with the scrambles resulting in stalemates, looking the freshest of any opponent that made it to the third period against Mitchell this year.
174 – (1) Levi Haines, Penn State dec (2) Christopher Minto, Nebraska 2-1
Haines came out active, working a series of ties to find an angle on Minto. As quickly as Minto tried to adjust, Haines switched up to leg attacks, ultimately shooting a head outside single that was close to scoring before action was stopped for a stalemate. Back on their feet, Haines stalked Minto but the number of attacks declined.
Minto chose bottom to start the second and Haines used forward pressure to keep him down. Minto was eventually able to get low enough to create hip separation and work out for the escape after 26 seconds. Back in neutral the wrestlers worked heavy ties until Haines found an opening for a low leg single. During the scramble Minto was hit for an illegal hold (figure 4 of the head) that the Nebraska staff unsuccessfully challenged.
Tied at 1, Haines took bottom to start the third and was quickly to his feet and out for the escape. Minto threatened with an ankle pick that Haines defended well before firing off a counter shot of his own that once again resulted in a stalemate. Quickly off the restart, Haines once again got in on a leg, but once again couldn’t quite finish as Minto defended well in the scramble. With short time remaining, Minto increased the pressure while Haines just maintained a solid stance and blocked him off to take the 2-1 decision.
184 – (1) Rocco Welsh, Penn State dec (2) Max McEnelly, Minnesota 2-1 (TB)
Welsh came out looking to be the aggressor against a strong McEnelly, driving the Gopher off the mat early in the first to draw a stall warning. McEnelly switched between a collar tie and an underhook in an effort to keep the action tight while Welsh worked to maintain some distance to attack from. Welsh attempted a few shots from distance but McEnelly cleared the leg before Welsh could get a hold.
Welsh won choice to start the second and chose bottom. He worked up to his feet, cleared the hands of McEnelly, and turned out for the quick escape. McEnelly again looked to work his ties while Welsh changed up the distance. Welsh took a few more shots, never fully committing, driving McEnelly off the mat on the first and settling for a stalemate on the second.
McEnelly took bottom to start the third and worked his way out for an escape to tie the match. Welsh again looked to use a half shot to set up an opening but McEnelly maintained good position and blocked it off. Welsh finally committed to a shot that Welsh was prepared for and attempted to go behind but Welsh followed through and escaped before McEnelly could catch an ankle. McEnelly started to take some shots of his own but the period ended without any real scoring threats.
In the sudden victory period the wrestlers continued to trade off on shots with less effort to set them up, making them easy to defend, sending the action to rideouts.
Welsh had choice in the first tiebreaker and hit a standing gramby roll to escape in 3 seconds. McEnelly increased the attack rate, getting a single and bringing it up to his feet. He was able to get behind Welsh but time just barely expired before McEnelly was able to take Welsh to the mat. The Minnesota staff challenged the call but the call on the mat was upheld.
McEnelly chose neutral to start the second session and continued to attack. Welsh fired off several shots of his own, mostly for defensive purposes. The Nittany Lion was hit with a stall warning with 9 seconds left but he fended off the final desperate attempt of McEnelly to win the 2-1 decison.
197 – (1) Josh Barr, Penn State tech fall (2) Camden McDanel, Nebraska 19-4
The wrestlers tied up in the center of the mat for most of the first minute of the opening period. Barr finally found an opening for a sweeping single that he brought up to his feet and eventually finished after a strong fight from McDanel on the edge of the mat. McDanel worked to his feet several times before Barr finally cut him loose. Barr quickly hooked an ankle for his second takedown and rode out the rest of the period, building 1:13 in riding time.
McDanel took bottom to start the second and Barr shortly left him out for the escape before going right back on the attack. Barr shot to the left leg of McDanel as McDanel looked to set up a throw and quickly scored his third takedown to extend his lead to 9-2. Barr was able to successfully ride out the rest of the period, building his riding time up to 2:24.
Barr took bottom to start the third and McDanel cut him loose once he made it to his feet. Barr quickly dropped in on a double, drawing a stall warning on McDanel as he finished his fourth takedown of the match. He quickly conceded the escape and shortly after scored his fifth takedown. Barr once again conceded the escape to look for the tech fall. McDanel attempted a quick shot off a restart and Barr quickly spun behind for the final takedown to win the match by a 19-4 tech fall.
The Takery
This was Penn State’s 4th consecutive conference championship and in many ways is likely the most underappreciated achievement of the Cael Sanderson era (good luck compiling that list). Coming into the tournament, most fans had already been looking past this weekend questioning whether this year’s squad would be able to top the NCAA scoring record the team set last year. The only pressing question was how Braeden Davis would fair at 141 after coming off redshirt to take over the spot midway through the season after Aaron Nagao suffered a career ending injury. And that was really only a question of whether he’d win an AQ spot or if he’d need to hope for an at-large selection which he would’ve been likely to get. Other than that, most fan concerns were focused on how the results of March 7th & 8th would impact seeds in 2 weeks.
Penn State crowned 7 individual champions on Sunday. They put 8 wrestlers in the finals. All of that in a tournament that has been historically more difficult to win than the NCAA tournament itself (Cael only has 10 conference titles compared to 12 national titles). And they did so against an Ohio State that put up 148.5 points of their own and a strong Nebraska squad that scored 116.5. They dominated a tournament that had some very strong opposition that likely gets underappreciated because of just how strong this Penn State squad is.
In many of the post-match interviews, the wrestlers themselves turned any talk about their Big Ten titles to their focus on the NCAA tournament, but as fans, let’s take a moment to appreciate the greatness we just witnessed. In a sport that is drastically different than what it was during the Iowa dynasty under Dan Gable, Penn State accomplishing similar style results is really quite astounding.
