The 2024 NCAA Division 1 Champion Penn State wrestling team continues to assert its dominance in the 2024-2025 season, making a statement of how they are the best on the mat. They are a force to be reckoned with and showcase their grit and skill in the match area. After defeating all the teams in their dual meets this season and achieving several impressive triumphs, the team has successfully positioned itself for the Big Ten.

In a sold-out Rec Hall, the Nittany Lions wrestling team (7-0, 1-0 B1G) defeated Michigan State (2-2, 0-1 B1G) 55-0 to start Big Ten dual meet action on Friday. #1 Penn won by a total of six pins and moved to 7-0 on the season with a 55-0 win over the Spartans. What does an individual win look like?

#17 Luke Lilledahl of the Lions won in a tech fall against Nick Corday (Michigan State) by 19-2 at 125 lbs. In the category of 165 lbs, #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink from Penn State won against Jay Nivison of Michigan State with a tech fall. Other weight categories like 133 lbs, 149 lbs, 285 lbs, 157 lbs, and all others were also dominated by Nittany wrestlers against Michigan in the final dual with a score of 55-0.

On Friday night, seven of Penn State’s ten wrestlers won their matches by pin in an incredible show of power. Van Ness, Barr, and Kerkvliet all had matches that ended in the first period out of those seven pins. Every Nittany Lion wrestler won by bonus points after the pins, with Beau Bartlett winning by major decision and Luke Lilledahl and Braeden Davis getting tech falls. Next face-off?

Although the Lions don’t have a duel this weekend, they will visit Lincoln the following week to play #6 Nebraska on Friday, January 17. Penn State has outscored dual opponents 323-9 this year and lost only three matches. #1 O’Toole, #1 Crookham, and a backup loss by Nasedo were amongst three losses by PSU. The team could not perform that strongly in the Southern Scuffle under coach Cael Sanderson.

Penn State Nittany Lions couldn’t outperform in Southern Scuffle

With 132.5 points, Army West Point topped the standings, while the Lions and Oklahoma Sooners were tied at 126.5 points. With ten ranked wrestlers on the roster, it’s a little lacking. Penn State managed to wrestle four matches in the Southern Scuffle finals and won three of them. What did it look like?

At 149 lbs, Jordan Williams from Little Rock defeated the Lions’ Connor Pierce by 10-5. Cole Mirasole won by 9-0 against #23 Lucas Stoddard (Army) in the 285 lbs category. Zack Ryder won by 6-1 from AJ Heeg (Northern Colorado) at 184 lbs, and Connor Mirasole also won his match by 7-3 against #28 Patrick Brophy (The Citadel) at 197 lbs.

Though Southern Scuffle didn’t go well, the Big 10 was dominant against Michigan. Cael Sanderson sees it; in his words, “If you can make the lineup at Penn State, you can win the national tournament.” They have a coach like Sanderson, and it seems the Lions are eyeing the national title. Let’s see what the future holds for them.