By: Pat Donghia

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (12-0, 6-0 B1G) closes out the Big Ten portion of its dual schedule on the road this weekend. The Nittany Lions are at Ohio State (13-2, 5-2 B1G) on Friday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. in a B1G Network telecast. Two days later, Penn State visits Illinois (9-3, 4-3) on Sunday, Feb. 16, at 2 p.m. Eastern (1 p.m. local).

The Nittany Lions are coming off two more Big Ten wins. The Nittany Lions shut out Michigan 39-0 on Friday, Feb. 7, in the Bryce Jordan Center. Two days later, Penn State downed Maryland 35-10 in Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions did not give up a takedown in either dual meet. Penn State improved to 12-0, 6-0 B1G, with the wins.

Penn State’s line-up features ten ranked wrestlers. True freshman Luke Lilledahl is 13-1 and ranked No. 7 at 125. Sophomore Braeden Davis is 7-2 and No. 8 at 133. Senior+ Beau Bartlett is 15-0 and No. 3 at 141. Sophomore Shayne Van Ness is 14-1 and No. 2 at 149. Sophomore Tyler Kasak is 13-1 and No. 1 at 157. Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink is 16-0 and No. 1 at 165. Junior Levi Haines is 14-1 and No. 2 at 174. Graduate Carter Starocci is 15-0 and No. 1 at 184. Redshirt freshman Josh Barr is 12-1 and No. 3 at 197. Senior+ Greg Kerkvliet is 15-0 and No. 2 at 285.

Ohio State is coming off a split weekend that saw it lose to Minnesota on Friday and beat Indiana on Sunday. Ohio State is 13-2, 5-2 B1G. The Buckeye line-up features ten ranked wrestlers. Brendan McCrone is No. 21 at 125. Nic Bouzakis is No. 11 at 133. Jesse Mendez is No. 1 at 141. Dylan D’Emilio is No. 7 at 149. Sammy Sasso is No. 17 at 157. Paddy Gallagher is No. 9 at 165. Carson Kharchla is No. 5 at 174. Ryder Rogotzke is No. 19 at 184. Seth Shumate is No. 23 at 197. Nick Feldman is No. 9 at 285. Penn State leads the all-time series with Ohio State 27-12, including the last nine straight. Penn State won the last meeting, 28-9 in Rec Hall last year on Feb. 2, 2024. The Lions won the last meeting in Columbus, 29-9 on Feb. 23, 2023.

Illinois last wrestled on Feb. 1, a win over Purdue. The Illini will bring a 9-3 overall record into Sunday’s dual, 4-3 in Big Ten action. Illinois has nine ranked wrestlers. Lucas Byrd is No. 4 at 133. Danny Pucino is No. 17 at 133. Kannon Webster is No. 14 at 149. Jason Kraisser is No. 30 at 157. Braeden Scoles is No. 14 a t 165. Danny Braunagel is No. 23 at 174. Edmond Ruth is No. 12 at 184. Zac Braunagel is No. 17 at 197. Luke Luffman is No. 10 at 285. Penn State leads the all-time series with the Illini 10-9, including eight straight. Penn State won the last meeting, 23-10 in Rec Hall on Jan. 10, 2020. The Lions won the last meeting in Champaign, 39-9 on Feb. 17, 2019.

Penn State wraps up the dual meet portion of its schedule by hosting American on Friday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall.

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 (12-0, 6-0 B1G)

125 #7 Luke Lilledahl Fr. Weldon Spring, Mo./Wyoming Seminary 13-1
133 #8 Braeden Davis So. Belleville, Mich./Dundee 7-2
141 #3 Beau Bartlett Sr.+ Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary 15-0
149 #2 Shayne Van Ness So. Somerville, N.J./Blair Academy 14-1
157 #1 Tyler Kasak So. Doylestown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic 13-1
165 #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink So. Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead 16-0
174 #2 Levi Haines Jr. Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville 14-1
184 #1 Carter Starocci Gr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 15-0
197 #3 Josh Barr R-Fr. Davison, Mich./Davison 12-1
285 #2 Greg Kerkvliet Sr.+ Inver Grove Heights, Min../Simley 15-0

6 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (13-2, 5-2 B1G)

125 #21 Brendan McCrone So. Willoughby, Ohio/Lake Catholic 18-7
133 #11 Nic Bouzakis So. Tampa, Fla./Wyoming Seminary 18-5
141 #1 Jesse Mendez Jr. Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point 23-0
149 #7 Dylan D’Emilio Gr. Curtice, Ohio/Genoa 16-2
157 #17 Sammy Sasso Gr. Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth 12-7
165 #9 Paddy Gallagher Jr. Chesterland, Ohio/St. Edward 11-5
174 #5 Carson Kharchla Gr. Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty 11-0
184 #19 Ryder Rogotzke So. Lakeland, Minn./Stillwater 6-5
197 #23 Seth Shumate So. Galion, Ohio/Dublin Coffman 9-11
285 #9 Nick Feldman So. Quarryville, Pa./Malvern Prep 13-4

19 ILLINOIS ILLINI (9-3, 4-3 B1G)

125 Caelan Riley Jr. Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville 4-12
133 #4 Lucas Byrd Sr. Cincinnati, Ohio/La Salle 14-1
141 #17 Danny Pucino Jr. Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville 12-3
149 #14 Kannon Webster Fr. Toulon, Ill./Washington Community 11-4
157 #30 Jason Kraisser Gr. Ellicott City, Md./Centennial 10-5
165 #14 Braeden Scoles Fr. Kewaskum, Wis./Kewaskum 13-2
174 #23 Danny Braunagel Sr. Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic 8-7
184 #12 Edmond Ruth Sr. Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp. 10-5
197 #17 Zac Braunagel Sr. Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic 11-4
285 #10 Luke Luffman Sr. Urbanna, Ill./Urbana 12-3

Individual rankings listed are InterMat as of 2-11-25 // Team ranking InterMat TPI