By: Pat Donghia

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (15-0, 8-0 B1G) will head to Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., for the 2025 Big Ten Championships on Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9. The tournament crowns the Big Ten champion and serves as the national qualifier for the conference’s 14 wrestling teams.

Penn State is coming off a 15-0 dual meet season that saw it go 8-0 in Big Ten action to claim the 2025 Big Ten Regular Season Championship, the school’s 11th since head coach Cael Sanderson’s arrival in State College.

The Nittany Lions capped off their dual meet season on Friday, Feb. 21, with a 50-3 win over visiting American University in Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions picked up five pins (Tyler Kasak, Levi Haines, Carter Starocci, Josh Barr, Greg Kerkvliet) and four technical falls (Luke Lilledahl, Beau Bartlett, Shayne Van Ness, Mitchell Mesenbrink) in the win. Braeden Davis did not wrestle.

Penn State’s line-up features ten ranked wrestlers. Freshman Luke Lilledahl is 15-2 and ranked No. 8 at 125 by InterMat. Sophomore Braeden Davis is 8-3 and ranked No. 6 at 133. Senior+ Beau Bartlett is 18-0 and ranked No. 1 at 141. Sophomore Shayne Van Ness is 17-1 and ranked No. 2 at 149. Sophomore Tyler Kasak is 14-1 and ranked No. 1 at 157. Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink is 19-0 and ranked No. 1 at 165. Junior Levi Haines is 17-1 and ranked No. 2 at 174. Graduate Carter Starocci is 18-0 and ranked No. 1 at 184. Freshman Josh Barr is 15-1 and ranked No. 2 at 197. Senior+ Greg Kerkvliet is 16-0 and ranked No. 2 at 285.

The Nittany Lions have won eight Big Ten Championships, all since Sanderson became head coach for the 2009-10 season. The Nittany Lions have won two straight conference championships (on top of four straight regular season crowns and 11 overall). Penn State had five Big Ten Champions last season (among its seven finalists), a school record (equal to 2011’s five champs).The Nittany Lions also qualified ten wrestlers for nationals a year ago.

Penn State’s NCAA qualifiers will head to the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 20-22 in Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. The event features sessions on Thursday, March 20, at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Friday at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.; and Saturday at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The 2024-25 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by the Family Clothesline. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via X at @pennstateWREST, on Penn State Wrestling’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.

1 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (15-0, 8-0 B1G)

2025 B1G REGULAR SEASON CHAMPS

125 #8 Luke Lilledahl Fr. Weldon Spring, Mo./Wyoming Seminary 15-2
(CR=8 // Career vs. B1G 6-2 // Career in B1G Trn: 0-0)

133 #6 Braeden Davis So. Belleville, Mich./Dundee 8-3
(CR=6 // Career vs. B1G 16-4 // Career in B1G Trn: 4-0)

141 #1 Beau Bartlett Sr.+ Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary 18-0
(CR=1 // Career vs. B1G 52-14 // Career in B1G Trn: 9-6)

149 #2 Shayne Van Ness So. Somerville, N.J./Blair Academy 17-1
(CR=2 // Career vs. B1G 20-6 // Career in B1G Trn: 4-2)

157 #1 Tyler Kasak So. Doylestown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic 14-1
(CR=1 // Career vs. B1G 17-5 // Career in B1G Trn: 4-1)

165 #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink So. Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead 19-0
(CR=1 // Career vs. B1G 27-0 // Career in B1G Trn: 3-0)

174 #2 Levi Haines Jr. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 17-1
(CR=1 // Career vs. B1G 35-0 // Career in B1G Trn: 6-0)

184 #1 Carter Starocci Gr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 18-0
(CR=1 // Career vs. B1G 52-4 // Career in B1G Trn: 9-3)

197 #2 Josh Barr R-Fr. Davison, Mich./Davison 15-1
(CR=2 // Career vs. B1G 10-1 // Career in B1G Trn: 0-0)

285 #2 Greg Kerkvliet Sr.+ Inver Grove Heights, Min../Simley 16-0
(CR=2 // Career vs. B1G 52-9 // Career in B1G Trn: 13-4)

Individual rankings listed are InterMat as of 3-4-25 // Team ranking InterMat TPI