By Par Donghia gopsusports.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State wrestling (3-0, 0-0 B1G) beat Lehigh (3-4) in sold out Rec Hall on Sunday afternoon. The Nittany Lions dominated the dual meet, rolling to a 36-6 victory.
The Nittany Lions, wrestling in front of its second sellout crowd of the weekend, controlled the dual from start to finish and won eight of ten bouts in front of over 6,300 fans in Rec Hall.
The dual began at 125. Nittany Lion sophomore Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 2 at 125, opened up the dual meet with a dominant performance at 125. Lilledahl downed Logan Wadle 17-2, getting the tech fall at 3:21 in the second period. True freshman Marcus Blaze, ranked No. 11 at 133, followed Lilledahl’s tech up with one of his own. Blaze posted a 19-4 tech fall over Mason Ziegler at 5:37 to put Penn State up 10-0 after two bouts.
With No. 8 Aaron Nagao not in action once more, Cael Nasdeo got the call at 141. Nasdeo pushed action for the full 7:00 but a first period takedown allowed Lehigh’s Carter Bailey to post a 5-1 win. Junior Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 1 at 149, posted a strong 19-6 major decision over Owen Reinsel in the next match. True freshman PJ Duke, ranked No. 15 at 157, dominated No. 10 Logan Rozynski in his Penn State dual meet debut. Duke was controlling the bout, leading 14-3, when Rozynski was injured and could not continue, giving Duke the injury default victory at 5:41. Penn State led 20-3 at halftime.
Junior Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, opened up the second half by dominating No. 7 Max Brignola. Mesenbrink roared to a 15-7 major decision to put Penn State up 24-3. Senior Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, picked up Penn State’s first fall of the match, pinning Bekhruz Sadriddinov at the 2:15 mark in the opening period.
Sophomore Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 4 at 184, battled No. 23 Rylan Rogers through seven tough minutes and used a late takedown to post a hard fought 4-2 win to put the Nittany Lions up 33-3. Redshirt freshman Connor Mirasola continued Penn State’s prowess at 197, notching the bout’s only takedowns in an 8-3 win over Remy Brancato. Redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 10 at 285, battled No. 7 Nathan Taylor tough in the dual’s final match-up. Mirasola dropped a 7-2 decision to Taylor, with the Mountain Hawk scoring on two counter takedowns to grab the victory. The Nittany Lions won eight bouts and rolled to the 36-6 win.
Penn State posted a lopsided 26-5 takedown advantage. The Nittany Lions picked up 12 bonus points off one fall (Haines), two tech falls (Lilledahl, Blaze), two major (Van Ness, Mesenbrink) and an injury default (Duke).
Penn State is now 3-0 on the year, 0-0 in the Big Ten. Lehigh falls to 3-4. Penn State heads west next weekend for a non-conference battle at Wyoming. The Nittany Lions and the Cowboys meet on Saturday, Dec. 134, at 8 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. local) in Laramie, Wyo.
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 36, #13 Lehigh 6
December 7, 2025 – Rec Hall – University Park, Pa.
125: #2 Luke Lilledahl PSU tech fall Logan Wadle LEH, 17-2 (TF; 3:21) 5-0
133: #11 Marcus Blaze PSU tech fall Mason Ziegler LEH, 19-4 (TF; 5:37) 10-0
141: Carter Bailey LEH dec. Cael Nasdeo PSU, 5-1 10-3
149: #1 Shayne Van Ness PSU maj. dec. Owen Reinsel LEH, 19-6 14-3
157: #15 PJ Duke PSU inj. def. #10 Logan Rozynski LEH, inj.def. (5:41, leading 14-3) 20-3
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU maj. dec. #7 Max Brignola LEH, 15-7 24-3
174: #1 Levi Haines PSU pinned Bekhruz Sadriddinov LEH, WBF (2:15) 30-3
184: #4 Rocco Welsh PSU dec. #23 Rylan Rogers LEH, 4-2 33-3
197: Connor Mirasola PSU dec. Remy Brancato LEH, 8-3 36-3
285: #7 Nathan Taylor LEH dec. #10 Cole Mirasola PSU, 7-2 36-6
Attendance: 6,334 (Penn State has wrestled in front of 87 sellouts in its last 93 home events, including 77-straight in Rec Hall and 10 of 16 in the BJC)
Records: Penn State (3-0, 0-0 B1G); Lehigh (3-4)
Up Next for Penn State: at Wyoming, Saturday, Dec. 13, 8 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. local)
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 2 at 125, took on Logan Wadle. Lilledahl opened up the dual with a takedown at the 2:24 mark to take a 3-1 lead after a Wadle escape. Lilledahl countered a Wadle shot, took him to his back and opened up a 10-1 lead with a takedown and four back points. Lilledahl forced Wadle into a stall leading 10-2 and added a late takedown to lead 13-2 after the opening period. Lilledahl escaped to a 14-2 lead to start the second period and then ended the bout with a final takedown to roll to a 17-2 tech fall at 3:21.
133: True freshman Marcus Blaze, ranked No. 11 at 133, met Mason Ziegler. Blaze drew first blood with a takedown at the 2:00 mark to lead 3-1 after a quick Lehigh escape. Blaze and Ziegler worked the center of the mat through the 1:00 mark. Blaze turned a low single at the :25 mark into a late takedown and led 6-1 after one. Blaze chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-1 lead. Blaze worked Ziegler’s shoulders down and finished off his third takedown at the 1:00 mark then moved in through a high double to force a scramble that led to another takedown with :20 on the clock. Blaze led 13-2 after two. Ziegler chose down to start the third period and Blaze let him to his feet. He then moved around the Hawk for another takedown and a 16-4 lead at 1:35. Blaze finished off the bout with a final takedown and posted the 19-4 tech fall at 5:37.
141: Cael Nasdeo took on Mountain Hawk Carter Bailey at 141. Bailey turned a low single into a takedown to open up a 3-0 lead at 1:30. Nasdeo worked to break free of Bailey’s strong ride, but the Mountain Hawk was able to maintain control and finish the period on top to lead 3-0 with 1:31 in riding time after the opening period. Nasdeo chose neutral to start the second period. He worked his way in on a low shot at 1:25 but Bailey countered and scrambled his way to a stalemate with 1:04 on the clock. Nasdeo turned a low double into a late scramble, but Bailey once again fought off the move and killed the clock. Bailey, leading 3-0, chose down to start the third. He escaped to a 4-0 lead and Nasdeo continued to shoot low on the Hawk. Nasdeo forced a first stall warning at 1:35. He then picked up a point with a quick second stall to cut the lead to 4-1. Nasdeo blew through a low shot and forced a scramble at :45. Bailey fought off the effort and worked action out of bounds to force a reset with :08 on the clock. Nasdeo battled through the buzzer but dropped the 5-1 bout to Bailey.
149: Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 1 at 149, met Owen Reinsel. Van Ness took a 3-1 lead with an early takedown and cut. He moved in on Reinsel again at the 1:50 mark but potentially dangerous stopped action and forced a reset. Van Ness continued to press, using a high shot for a second takedown and a 6-1 lead with 1:13 on the clock. Van Ness nearly added a third takedown late in the period, but time ran out on the Lion, and he settled for a 6-2 lead after one. Van Ness chose down to start the second period. Van Ness worked his way to his feet and moved under the Hawk for a reversal and an 8-2 lead with :40 on the clock. Reinsel chose neutral and then took Van Ness down to cut the lead to 8-5. Van Ness quickly reversed him to lead 10-5. Van Ness picked up a stall point then took Reinsel down to lead 14-5. He turned him to his back for four back points to lead 18-6 and, with 1:42 in riding time, posted the 19-6 major.
157: True freshman PJ Duke, ranked No. 15 at 157, battled No. 10 Logan Rozynski. Duke came out and set the offensive pace, taking quick shots that forced Rozynski into a defensive posture through the opening minute. Duke forced Rozynski into a stall warning at 1:00 and then forced a scramble with a low single. But Rozynski was able to work action out of bounds, Penn State challenged for a takedown during the scramble but the call on the mat was confirmed, forcing a reset at :22. Tied 0-0 after one, Rozynski chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 1-0 lead. Duk continued to work on offense, moving in for a low shot, notching a takedown and leading 3-2 after a quick Lehigh escape. Duke forced Rozynski quickly backwards for another stall and led 4-2 at 1:10. Duke pressured the Hawk backwards once more, out of bounds, and led 5-2 with another stall point. Duke scrambled his way for a second takedown and an 8-2 lead with :20 on the clock and finished the period on top. Duke chose neutral to start the third period and quickly took Rozynski down for another takedown and an 11-2 lead. Duke cut the Hawk loose on a reset then moved in for another takedown to lead 14-3 when Rozynski took an injury timeout. The Hawk wrestler was unable to continue and Duke, while leading 14-3 at the time, was awarded the injury default at 5:41.
165: Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, met No. 7 Max Brignola. Mesenbrink worked in on a low single at the 2:00 mark and finished off the takedown for a 3-0 lead at 1:44. Brignola escaped quickly to a 3-1 score and Mesenbrink moved in on offense again. Mesenbrink worked his way into control of Brignola’s ankle, but the Hawk was able to escape out of bounds, giving up a stall warning in the process. Mesenbrink quickly took Brignola down after a reset and led 6-2 late in the first. Leading by four, Mesenbrink chose down to start the second period. He quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead and once again moved in on offense. He added a third takedown to open up a 10-3 lead. Mesenbrink quickly took Brignola down once more and led 13-3. He finished the period on top and carried that lead into the third period. Brignola chose down to start the final period and Mesenbrink cut him loose. He quickly forced another stall point, but Brignola quickly moved in for his first takedown to cut the lead to 15-7 after a Mesenbrink escape. The duo battled evenly for the final :45 and Mesenbrink posted the 15-7 major decision.
174: Senior Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, faced Bekhruz Sadriddinov. Haines notched the first takedown of the bout early in the first period and led 3-1 after a quick Lehigh escape. He moved in on offense immediately and took the Hawk down once more for a 6-1 lead and then went to work on top, looking to turn Sadriddinov. Haines worked his shoulders to the mat and picked up the first period pin, getting the fall at 2:15.
184: Sophomore Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 4 at 184, battled No. 23 Rylan Rogers. Welsh and Rogers battled evenly in the center circle for the opening minute-plus. Welsh worked to find a way through Rogers’ defense as the clock moved past the 1:00 mark in the opening period. Welsh worked a low shot into a scramble on a reset at :55 but Rogers was able to force a stalemate with :13 left in the period. Tied 0-0, Welsh chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Welsh immediately turned in on offense and set up for position on the Nittany Lion logo. Welsh once again shot low, turning a low single into another scramble but Rogers once again forced a stalemate at 1:10. Welsh shot Rogers backwards through the :20 mark and led 1-0 after two periods. Rogers chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 1-1 tie at 1:50. Rogers forced a scramble with a low shot but potentially dangerous stopped action with 1:04 left in the third. Welsh turned a high single into a scrambling takedown and a 4-1 lead with :30 on the clock. Rogers escaped to a 4-2 score and Welsh finished the bout on his feet, walking away with a hard fought 4-2 win.
197: Redshirt freshman Connor Mirasola took on Remy Brancato at 197. Mirasola and Brancato battled on their feet through the opening period as Mirasola looked to break through Brancato’s defense. Mirasola forced a late scramble, but time ran out in the opening period and the bout moved to the second tied 0-0. Mirasola chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The Lion freshman then turned into Brancato, moved in on a high single and finished off the bout’s first takedown at 1:15 to lead 4-0. Mirasola cut Brancato loose at :52 and went looking for more offense. Brancato was able to fight the Lion off and move the bout to the third period with Mirasola leading 4-1. Brancato chose down to start the third period. Mirasola controlled the action on top long enough to work his time up over 1:00 and then cut him loose to a 4-2 score. Mirasola worked his way to a takedown and cut with :05 on the clock and, with riding time, posted the 8-3 win.
285: Redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 10 at 285, battled No. 7 Nathan Taylor. Mirasola battled the Lehigh big man in the center of the mat as the first period clock moved past 1:15. Mirasola took a handful of quick shots, forcing Taylor to defend each joust as the clock wound down. Mirasola chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Mirasola maintained his position in the middle of the mat, taking shots and forcing Taylor to circle around him as the clock moved to :45. Mirasola turned a low single into a scramble at :45 but Taylor was able to scramble out of trouble, counter, and score late to lead 3-1 after two. Taylor chose down to start the third period and Mirasola cut him loose to a 4-1 score. The Lion freshman worked the center of the mat and worked in on a high single at 1:00. But Taylor was able to counter again and took a 7-1 lead with another counter takedown. Mirasola escaped to a 7-2 score with :33 on the clock and battled for another score but Taylor was able to defend each one and got the 7-2 win.
