By: Pat Donghia
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Feb. 19, 2025 – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (14-0, 8-0 B1G) closes out its dual meet season by hosting American University (10-9) on Friday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. The match-up serves as the dual meet finale for Penn State.
The Nittany Lions are coming off a two win road weekend that saw them down Ohio State 27-13 last Friday and Illinois 29-9 last Sunday, clinching the 2025 Big Ten Regular Season Championship in the process (the team’s 11th since head coach Cael Sanderson’s arrival). Penn State heads into the dual finale against American with a 14-0 record.
Penn State’s line-up features ten ranked wrestlers. True freshman Luke Lilledahl is ranked No. 9 at 125. Sophomore Braeden Davis is No. 7 at 133. Senior+ Beau Bartlett is No. 1 at 141. Sophomore Shayne Van Ness is No. 2 at 149. Sophomore Tyler Kasak is No. 1 at 157. Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink is No. 1 at 165. Junior Levi Haines is No. 2 at 174. Graduate Carter Starocci is No. 1 at 184. Redshirt freshman Josh Barr is No. 2 at 197. Senior+ Greg Kerkvliet is No. 2 at 285.
American is coming off a 2-1 weekend, grabbing wins over Bucknell and George Mason and falling to Virginia. AU heads into the Friday dual with a 10-9 overall record. The Eagles have lone ranked wrestler. Graduate student Will Jarrell is ranked No. 32 at 285. Penn State won the only prior meeting between the two teams, winning 40-3 in Rec Hall on Feb. 23, 2020.
Penn State will head to Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., for the 2025 Big Ten Championships next weekend. The two day event is set for Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9, and serves as the NCAA qualifier for the Big Ten’s 14 wrestling teams.
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 (14-0, 8-0 B1G)
125 #9 Luke Lilledahl Fr. Weldon Spring, Mo./Wyoming Seminary 14-2
133 #7 Braeden Davis So. Belleville, Mich./Dundee 8-3
141 #1 Beau Bartlett Sr.+ Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary 17-0
149 #2 Shayne Van Ness So. Somerville, N.J./Blair Academy 16-1
157 #1 Tyler Kasak So. Doylestown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic 13-1
165 #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink So. Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead 18-0
174 #2 Levi Haines Jr. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 16-1
184 #1 Carter Starocci Gr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 17-0
197 #2 Josh Barr R-Fr. Davison, Mich./Davison 14-1
285 #2 Greg Kerkvliet Sr.+ Inver Grove Heights, Min../Simley 15-0
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES (10-9)
125 Coen Bainey Fr. Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle
133 Raymond Lopez Jr. Clovis, Calif./Buchanan
141 Elijah White Sr. Stafford, Va./Mountain View
149 Gage Owen Fr. Mt. Airy, Md./South Central
157 Jack Nies Sr. Ocean, N.J./Ocean Township
165 Kaden Milheim Fr. Muncy, Pa./Warrior Run
174 Caleb Campos So. Charlotte, N.C./Cannon School
184 Breon Phifer Sr. Weston, Conn./Weston
197 Liam Volk-Klos So. Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley
285 #32 Will Jarrell Gr. Lincoln, Mass./Browne & Nichols
Individual rankings listed are InterMat as of 2-18-25 // Team ranking InterMat TPI
