By: Pat Donghia

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Penn State Nittany Lions (8-0, 2-0 B1G) dominated home-standing Iowa (8-3, 1-1 B1G) in a Big Ten dual meet in Iowa City on Friday night. Penn State won nearly every bout on its way to a 32-3 victory on the Hawkeyes’ mat.

Penn State, with a line-up featuring six underclassmen, won nine of ten bouts including three bonus point wins. Eight of the ten match-ups featured two ranked wrestlers with 18 ranked individuals competing.

The dual began at 125. Sophomore Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 2 at 125, dominated No. 6 Dean Peterson. Lilledahl tallied the bouts only three takedowns in a strong 11-5 victory. True freshman Marcus Blaze, ranked No. 4 at 133, turned a second period takedown into a thrilling 4-2 win over Iowa senior No. 8 Drake Ayla. Blaze’s win gave Penn State an early 6-0 lead.

Junior Braeden Davis, ranked No. 7 at 141, lost a hard fought 3-2 decision to No. 11 Nassir Bailey, cutting the Nittany Lion lead to 6-3. Junior Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 1 at 149, used a furious third period to major No. 17 Ryder Block. Van Ness used a takedown and four back points to roll to the 13-4 win. True freshman PJ Duke, ranked No. 3 at 157, used a third period escape and takedown to notch a hard fought 4-2 win over No. 12 Jordan Williams. Penn State led 13-3 at halftime.

Junior Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, posting a convincing 11-2 major over No. 3 Michael Caliendo. Mesenbrink used a takedown in each period to secure the convincing win and give the Nittany Lions a 17-3 lead. Senior Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, used a first period takedown to notch a strong 4-2 win over Iowa’s Gabe Arnold.

Sophomore Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 4 at 184, battled No. 1 Angelo Ferrari through sudden victory before posting a thrilling 2-1 (TB) victory. Walsh rode Ferrari out in the first tie-breaker session then escaped midway through the second to grab the win. Sophomore Josh Barr, ranked No. 1 at 197, grabbed Penn State’s first pin of the dual in the next bout. He pinned Brody Sampson at 3:42 to give the Nittany Lions a 29-3 lead. Redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 13 at 285, capped off the stellar night with an exciting 4-3 win over No. 5 Ben Kueter. Mirasola used a second period takedown for the advantage in the victory. Penn State walked out of Iowa City with an impressive 32-3 win.

Penn State gave up only two takedowns in the entire dual meet and owned a 15-2 takedown margin. The Nittany Lions picked up five bonus points off a pin (Barr) and two majors (Van Ness, Mesenbrink).

Penn State is now 8-0 on the year, 2-0 in the Big Ten. Iowa falls to 8-3, 1-1 B1G. The Nittany Lions continue their Big Ten road weekend with a match-up at Northwestern on Sunday, Jan. 18, at 3 p.m. Eastern (2 p.m. local).

Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via X/twitter at @pennstateWREST, on Penn State Wrestling’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. The Family Clothesline is the presenting sponsor for the 2025-26 Nittany Lion wrestling season. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.

1 Penn State 32, #3 Iowa 3

January 16, 2026 – Iowa City, Iowa

125: #2 Luke Lilledahl PSU dec. #6 Dean Peterson IA, 11-5 3-0

133: #4 Marcus Blaze PSU dec. #8 Drake Ayala IA, 4-2 6-0

141: #11 Nassir Bailey IA dec. #7 Braeden Davis PSU, 3-2 6-3

149: #1 Shayne Van Ness PSU maj. dec. #17 Ryder Block IA, 13-4 10-3

157: #3 PJ Duke PSU dec. #12 Jordan Williams IA, 4-2 13-3

165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU maj. dec. #3 Michael Caliendo IA, 11-2 17-3

174: #1 Levi Haines PSU dec. Gabe Arnold IA, 4-2 20-3

184: #4 Rocco Welsh PSU dec. #1 Angelo Ferrari IA, 2-1 (TB) 23-3

197: #1 Josh Barr PSU pinned Brody Sampson IA, WBF (3:42) 29-3

285: #13 Cole Mirasola PSU dec. #5 Ben Kueter IA, 4-3 32-3

Attendance: 12,530

Records: Penn State 8-0, 2-0 B1G; Iowa 8-3, 1-1 B1G

Up Next for Penn State: at Northwestern, Sunday, Jan. 18, 3 p.m. Eastern

DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:

125: Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 2 at 125, took on No. 6 Dean Peterson. Lilledahl and Peterson came out fast, scrambling through a flurry that ended out of bounds off the opening whistle. The action returned to the center of the mat on the reset and Lilledahl quickly moved in for a low shot and a takedown at the 1:47 mark to open up a 3-0 lead. Peterson reversed Lilledahl on a reset and Lilledahl escaped to a 4-2 lead. Lilledahl fought off a fast Peterson shot at the 1:00 mark and Lilledahl led 4-2 after one period. Peterson chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-3 score. Lilledahl worked to control the action on in neutral. He worked his way into control of Peterson’s leg with a low shot and finished off a takedown to lead 7-3 at :55. Peterson escaped at the :35 mark and Lilledahl carried a 7-4 lead into the third period. Lilledahl chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to an 8-4 lead. Lilledahl scrambled his way to leg control at 1:15 on the edge of the mat and finished off a takedown to lead 11-4 with 1:01 on the clock. Peterson escaped on a reset to an 11-5 score with :55 left in the bout. The Lion sophomore countered a Peterson shot with :25 on the clock and kept control for the rest of the bout to kill the clock and walk away with a convincing 11-5 win.

133: Marcus Blaze, ranked No. 4 at 133, met No. 8 Drake Ayala. Blaze controlled the action in the center of the mat, forcing Ayala to fight off Blaze’s pressure and play defense as the clock moved through the 1:30 mark. The duo wrestled in neutral for the first period and moved to the second stanza tied 0-0. Blaze chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 1-0 lead at 1:20. Blaze forced a first stall warning on Ayala at the 1:00 mark then moved in on a low single, finishing off the takedown to open up a 4-0 lead at the :39 mark. Ayala escaped to a 4-1 score with :20 on the clock and Blaze carried a 4-1 lead into the third period. Ayala chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 4-2 score with 1:50 on the clock. Blaze maintained his position and fought off an Ayala shot at the 1:10 mark to hold on to his lead. The duo battled through the :40 mark with Blaze giving up a stall warning at :30. Blaze finished the bout on his feet and walked away with a 4-2 win.

141: Braeden Davis, ranked No. 7 at 141, battled No. 11 Nassir Bailey. Bailey notched the first takedown with a high shot at the 2:10 mark. Davis fought off a potential turn and worked his way to an escape and a 3-1 score at 1:03. Davis worked to control position as Bailey began to back way from contact as the clock moved bast the :30 mark. Leading 3-1, Bailey chose down to start the second period. Davis controlled the action on top, working Bailey’s riding time edge down as the clock moved towards 1:00. Davis maintained control of the Hawkeye for the rest of the period and trailed 3-1 after two with :49 riding time. Davis chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 score. Davis forced Bailey into a first stall at 1:10 and continued to shoot the Hawkeye backwards through 1:00. Davis battled Bailey through the :30 mark but Bailey was able to defend the action and killed the clock with a late scramble to win 3-2.

149: Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 1 at 149, took on No. 17 Ryder Block. Block drew first blood with a quick takedown to open up a 3-1 lead after a quick Van Ness escaped. Van Ness then bulled through a high double for a takedown to lead 4-3 at 1:40. Block escaped and the bout was tied 4-4 with 1:30 on the clock. Van Ness fought off a late Block shot and the bout moved to the second period tied 4-4. Block chose down to start the second period. Van Ness broke the Hawkeye down and began building up riding time while looking to turn Block for near fall points. Van Ness maintained control of Block through :30, forcing a first stall warning. He finished the period on top and the bout moved to the second period tied 4-4 with Van Ness sporting 2:05 in riding time. Van Ness chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-4 lead. He countered a Block shot, took the Hawkeye down and nearly pinned him. Van Ness settle for four back points and led 12-4. He finished the period on top and, with 3:27 in time, rolled to the 13-4 major decision.

157: PJ Duke, ranked No. 3 at 157, faced No. 12 Jordan Williams. Duke scrambled through a low shot and nearly took Williams down early in the bout, but the Hawkeye was able to work his way to stoppage with potentially dangerous, forcing a reset. Duke set a fast tempo, forcing Williams to defend his pressure as the clock moved through the 1:00 mark. Duke fought off Williams’ first shot at the 1:00 mark and forced a stalemate at the :23 mark. With the score tied 0-0, Williams chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 1-0 lead. The clock dipped below 1:00 with Duke moving forward and Williams defending each move. Duke worked his way in on a low shot at :30. Williams scrambled his way through the final seconds without giving up the takedown. Duke, trailing 1-0, chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Duke continued to move forward, and his offense paid off with a takedown at the 1:15 mark to open up a 4-1 lead. Duke maintained control until Williams escaped to a 4-2 score at :40. Duke controlled the action in neutral for the final seconds and walked away with the 4-2 win.

165: Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, met No. 3 Mikey Caliendo. Mesenbrink came out firing, blowing through a low double to forcing an early scramble that Mesenbrink turned into a takedown and an early 3-1 lead. Mesenbrink continued to move forward, forcing Caliendo into defense as the clock moved below the 1:00 mark. Mesenbrink continued to shoot at the Hawkeye, forcing Caliendo into a stall warning at the :10 mark. Caliendo chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 score. Mesenbrink moved forward on a high shot and Caliendo was able to back away to neutral with 1:15 left in the period. Mesenbrink chased the Hawkeye around the mat for the next :30 seconds. The Lion used a low single for a late takedown and led 6-2 after two. Mesenbrink chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. Mesenbrink shot continually, looking for another takedown. As the clock dipped below the :45 mark, Mesenbrink continued to force Caliendo backwards. He picked up a stall point at :15 and then notched a final takedown to secure bonus points, posting the dominant 11-2 major decision.

174: Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, battled Gabe Arnold. Haines and Arnold battled in the center of the mat for 1:25 when Haines turned a low single into a chance to score. He tripped the Hawkeye to the mat and opened up a 3-0 lead with 1:13 on the clock. Arnold escaped to a 3-1 score at :40. The bout moved to the second with Haines leading 3-1. Haines chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-1 lead. Haines worked his offense through the 1:00 mark, forcing Arnold into a defensive posture and the bout moved to the final stanza with Haines leading 4-1. Arnold chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 4-2 score at the 1:35 mark. Haines had :37 in riding time. Haines shot repeatedly, forcing Arnold backwards as the clock hit :30. The Nittany Lion finished the bout in neutral and notched a 4-2 win.

184: Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 4 at 184, faced off against No. 1 Angelo Ferrari. Welsh moved around Ferrari, who took a knee in the middle of the mat while the Nittany Lion worked on his feet. Welsh maintained his position as the Hawkeye continually dropped to a knee. The clock moved below 1:00 and then :30 with Walsh wrestling in neutral and Ferrari taking a knee for the rest of the period. With the bout tied 0-0, Ferrari chose down to start the second period. Welsh maintained control for :25 before Ferrari escaped to a 1-0 lead. Welsh worked the center of the mat through the :40 mark, looking for an opening. The bout moved to the third period with Walsh down 1-0. Walsh chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Welsh forced the Hawkeye to the outside circle where Ferrari scrambled his way to a reset with :56 left in the bout. Welsh forced a first stall warning at :30. The bout moved to sudden victory tied 1-1. Welsh shot Ferrari backwards, stepped away from two ankle picks and forced the Hawkeye back to his knee with 1:30 on the clock. Welsh skipped away from a Ferrari shot at 1:00 and worked the Hawkeye out of bounds with :48 left in the extra period. The duo battled through the final :30 and action moved to a tie-breaker. Ferrari chose down first. Welsh gave up a stall warning at :15, forcing a reset at :15. Welsh finished the period on top. Welsh was down next. He worked his way to his feet and skipped away to an escape and a 2-1 lead with :15 left in the period. Welsh end the match on his feet and walked away with a thrilling 2-1 (TB) win.

197: Josh Barr, ranked No. 1 at 197, met Harvey LudingtonlkjlkjBrody Sampson. Barr took a 3-1 lead at the 1:30 mark, opening up a 3-1 lead after Sampson escaped at 1:00. Barr continued to move in on offense and took a 6-1 lead with a second takedown. He finished the period on top and led 6-1 with 1:06 in riding time after the opening stanza. Barr chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-1 lead. He then countered a move, took Sampson down to lead 10-1 and got the fall at 3:42.

285: Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 13 at 285, took on No. 5 Ben Kueter. Mirasola and Kueter worked in neutral through the 2:00 mark with neither wrestler finding any footing on offense. Mirasola worked to hold his position on the Iowa logo. Mirasola worked his way in on a low shot, forcing a scramble that nearly ended in a takedown with :31 on the clock. But Kueter was able to work to a stalemate and a reset. Kueter chose down to start the second period. Mirasola maintained control for :22 before the Hawkeye escaped to a 1-0 lead. Mirasola forced Kueter into a first stall at 1:05. Kueter connected on a low shot but Mirasola quickly countered and moved behind the Hawkeye for the bout’s first takedown and a 3-1 lead. Mirasola gave up a stall warning on the ride and Kueter escaped to a 3-2 score before the period ended. Mirasola chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 4-2 lead with 1:38 on the clock. Mirasola held position in the middle of the mat, working on the Hawkeye logo as the clock dipped below :40. Mirasola gave up a stall point at :11, cutting the lead to 4-3. The Nittany Lion finished the bout on his feet and walked away with the impressive 4-3 win.