By: Pat Donghia

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Nittany Lions (0-0, 0-0 B1G) will host the Oklahoma Sooners (0-0) in the season opener for head coach Cael Sanderson’s squad. The dual meet is set for Friday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center. The event is a Big Ten Network national telecast.

Penn State is coming off a successful 2024-25 season that saw the team win its 12th NCAA National Championship under Sanderson and 13th overall last year in Philadelphia. The Nittany Lions went 15-0 in dual meets, 8-0 in Big Ten duals to win their 10th B1G Regular Season Championship, won the 2025 Big Ten Championship and rolled to a record setting NCAA title to close out the season. The Nittany Lions return nine All-Americans for the 2025-26 campaign, seven from last year’s title winning team and two who are coming off redshirt seasons.

Penn State features a number of wrestlers ranked by InterMat. Luke Lilledahl checks in at No. 3 at 125. Aaron Nagao is No. 11 at 141. Shayne Van Ness is No. 1 at 149. Mitchell Mesenbrink is No. 1 at 165. Levi Haines is No. 1 at 174. Rocco Welsh is No. 2 at 184. Josh Barr is No. 1 at 197. Cole Mirasola is No. 11 at 285.

Oklahoma opened its season at the Tiger Style Invitational tournament last weekend. The Sooners picked up two individual champions at the event with DJ Parker winning at 197 and Juan Mora at 285. Oklahoma is helmed by head coach Roger Kish. The Sooners went 8-4 in dual meets last year, 4-4 in conference action. Oklahoma placed 38th at national last year. The Sooners feature eight ranked wrestlers. Beric Jordan is No. 29 at 125, Jack Gioffre is No. 11 at 149. Rafael Hipolito is No. 7 at 157. Peyton Kellar is No. 17 at 165. Carter Schubert is No. 33 at 174. Brian Soldano is No. 13 at 184. DJ Parker is No. 8 at 197. Juan Mora is No. 24 at 285.

The Nittany Lions return to action next weekend, taking part in the Black Knight Invitational on Sunday, Nov. 23, at Army West Point. 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 2025-26 Penn State Wrestling Season is sponsored by The Family Clothesline. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.

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

125 #3 Luke Lilledahl So. Weldon Spring, Mo./Wyoming Seminary 0-0
133 Kyison Garcia So. South Jordan, Utah/Mountain Ridge 0-0
Marcus Blaze Fr. Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg 0-0
141 #11 Aaron Nagao Jr. La Habra, Calif./Esperanza 0-0
149 #1 Shayne Van Ness Jr. Somerville, N.J./Blair Academy 0-0
157 Joe Sealey R-Fr. Bear Creek Township, Pa./Wyoming Seminary 2-1
PJ Duke Fr. State Hill, N.Y./Minisink Valley 0-0
165 #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink Jr. Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead 0-0
174 #1 Levi Haines Sr. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 0-0
184 #2 Rocco Welsh So. Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central 0-0
197 #1 Josh Barr So. Davison, Mich./Davison 0-0
Connor Mirasola R-Fr. Jackson, Wis./West Bend 0-0
285 #11 Cole Mirasola R-Fr. Jackson, Wis./West Bend 0-0
Lucas Cochran Sr. Perry,Utah/Box Elder 0-0

22 OKLAHOMA SOONERS (0-0)

125 #29 Beric Jordan Fr. Stillwater, Okla. 0-1
Koufax Christiensen Fr. Waukee, Iowa 2-2
133 Carter Schmidt So. Belgrade, Mont. 0-2
Kaden Smith Jr. Bridge Creek, Okla. 1-3
141 Alex Braun Fr. Woodbury, Minn. 2-2
Tyler Wells Jr. Princeton, Minn. 2-1
149 #11 Jack Gioffre Jr. Clovis, Calif. 0-0
157 #7 Rafael Hipolito So. Manaus, Brazil 1-1
165 #17 Peyton Kellar Sr. Cutler, Ohio 0-0
174 #33 Carter Schubert So. Marion, N.Y. 2-1
184 #13 Brian Soldano Sr. Wantage, N.Y. 2-1
197 #8 DJ Parker Sr. Moline, Ill. 3-0
285 #24 Juan Mora Sr. Turlock, Calif. 3-0

Individual rankings listed are InterMat/InterMat TPI (as of 11/11/25)