Everyone knew it was going to be an electrifying night at the Bryce Jordan Center. And so it is. Two behemoths of collegiate wrestling have locked horns, but the hosts are threatening to run away with the match in a one-sided way. Both Penn State and Iowa took to the mat on Friday night with perfect records in the 2024-25 season, but for the Hawkeyes, it’s not going to be the same after tonight. The NLWC stars have kept a firm grip on things, but fans are especially dumbfounded by one standout athlete.

The Nittany Lions and the Hawkeyes boast two of the best NCAA wrestling programs in the USA. Their rivalry has become part of collegiate folklore, and every time they cross paths sparks fly! But even the fans weren’t ready to see one Penn State sophomore bringing out the big guns.

The official Penn State Wrestling account took to X on January 31 to share the incredible display of prowess Tyler Kasak put forth on NLWC’s home turf. Kasak faced off against Iowa’s Jacori Teemer in the 157lb bracket and came out with flying colors. The 2023 All-American honoree won the bout 5-2, but was already celebrating before the match was even over.

And the fans could barely believe their eyes. Teemer was lifted off the mat and Tyler held the former like that for almost 10 seconds before throwing his left fist in the air, evidently announcing his superiority without holding back. With his latest victory, Kasak took his record to 13-0. His jaw-dropping skills even made the commentators go wild with elation and the crowd could barely keep calm.

Naturally, fans were thunderstruck. “Hammer on top,” one fan hailed Kasak’s incredible athleticism and power. In his 2023-24 season as a freshman at Penn State, Tyler lost his first match in the NCAAs. But that was just a minor setback before he showed his class. Winning seven consecutive matches, Kasak was placed third in the 149lb bracket, before bumping up to a higher bracket for the 2024-25 season. So far, he looks just at home at 157lb, and the NLWC fraternity is over the moon for understandable reasons.

Penn State fans laud the rising star with reverence

Last Sunday, Iowa’s Gabe Arnold promised to make this season a better one for the Hawkeyes’ by winning against the Nittany Lions. “This year, we’re gonna be in your home dojo, and I promise you, your head’s mine,” the 184-pounder said. But that was a far cry from what the reality panned out to be tonight. And yet, while the Penn State stars performed well all-around, Kasak’s monumental performance against #3 Teemer was something to behold of its own. Fans could hardly believe Tyler held his ranked opponent in the air for so long, and a fan commented, “Tyler is a monster!!!” We have to agree!

Penn State won the match 30-8, but the highlight of the night was surely Tyler’s triumph. With a bloodied face, the Penn State sophomore managed to show that nothing can keep him down, and his determination to win is on a level that is unmatched. Comments like “ELECTRIC,” and “Unreal,” were frequent in the comment section of Penn State’s social media update, while another fan had to commend Kasak for his exhibition of power. “So. Much. Aura,” the fan had to admit.

“Kasak just gained a new fan,” read another comment, and seeing Tyler in his natural element tonight, we can hardly say no to the sentiment. For another fan, the Penn State wrestler’s display was on par with artistic gymnasts who make ripples on the Olympic stage. Taking a cue from UCLA Bruins star and Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles, one fan hailed the NLWC athlete, “Kasak is that dude,” What about you? How surprised were you to see Tyler’s dominance over a storied star like Jacori Teemer? Tell us in a comment below!