Penn State Moves Seven into National Semifinals at 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships
PHILADELPHIA– Penn State advanced seven wrestlers into the national semifinals of the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. All seven earned All-America status with their respective wins. Penn State’s other three wrestlers are alive in the blood round tonight, needing one win to become All-Americans as well. The national semifinals, plus consolation action (including the All-America round) are tonight at 8 p.m.
Penn State leads the team race with 90.5 points as of 3:15 p.m. (with some consolation action in progress). Nebraska sits in second with 62.5 and Oklahoma State third with 61.0.
True freshman Luke Lilledahl, the No. 1 seed at 125, faced No. 8 Sheldon Seymour of Lehigh in the first of Penn State’s ten quarterfinal bouts. Lilledahl fought off an early Seymour single leg to keep the bout scoreless at the 2:00 mark. The duo worked in neutral for the rest of the period. Seymour escaped to a 1-0 lead at the 1:30 mark of the second period. Lilledahl and Seymour battled in the center of the mat for the rest of the period and Lilledahl trailed 1-0 after two. Lilledahl chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Lilledahl nearly took a lead as regulation ended but Seymour escaped out of bounds and the match moved to extra time. Lilledahl nearly finished off another takedown but a 1:00 scramble ended out of bounds and the match moved to a tiebreaker. Seymour was down first and escaped in :12. Lilledahl was down next and picked up a point on a stall, tying the bout. But the freshman could not escape, and Lilledahl lost the match 2-2 (TB3-RT) and dropped into consolation action.
Sophomore Braeden Davis, the No. 8 seed at 133, battled No. 1 Lucas Byrd of Illinois in the quarters. Byrd took a 3-0 lead with a takedown at the 1:48 mark. Davis worked his way to an escape late in the period and trailed 3-1 after one. Byrd chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 4-1 lead. Byrd turned a quick scramble into a takedown and four back points to lead 11-1 with over 2:00 in riding time after two. Davis chose neutral to start the third period and action never returned to the mat. Byrd, with 2:08 in riding time, posted the 12-1 major decision and Davis dropped into consolation action.
Senior+ Beau Bartlett, the No. 2 seed at 141, took on No. 10 CJ Composto of Penn in the quarterfinals. Bartlett and Composto battled through a scoreless first period, working in neutral in the center of the mat. The Nittany Lion senior chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. He immediately moved in on a low single and finished off the takedown to open up a 4-0 lead. Bartlett rode Composto out and led 4-0 with 1:08 in riding time after two. Composto chose neutral to start the third period. Bartlett controlled action in neutral throughout the third period and, with 1:08 in riding time, moved into the semifinals with a 5-0 win. He also became a three-time All-American with the victory.
Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, the No. 3 seed at 149, wrestled No. 6 Lachlan McNeil of North Carolina in the quarters. Van Ness and McNeil wrestled through the opening three minutes on their feet in the middle of the mat and moved to the second tied 0-0. McNeil chose down to start the middle stanza and escaped to a 1-0 lead at 1:47. Van Ness pressured the Tar Heel for the rest of the period, forcing one stall warning but trailing by one heading to the third. Van Ness escaped quickly to start the third period and knotted the bout at 1-1. Van Ness’ offensive pressure paid off when the Lion sophomore moved through a fast low double and finished off a takedown to lead 4-1 at the 1:23 mark. McNeil escaped and the match resumed in neutral. Van Ness continued his work on offense and capped off the victory with a final takedown, rolling into the semifinals with a 7-2 victory. The win also made Van Ness a two-time All-American.
Tyler Kasak, the No. 1 seed at 157, faced No. 8 Joey Blaze of Purdue in the quarterfinals. Kasak scored first, turning a low single into a takedown on the edge of the mat at 1:47. Blaze escaped to a 3-1 score at 1:20 and the match continued in neutral. Kasak and Blaze worked neutral for the rest of the period and Kasak led 3-1 after the opening period. Blaze chose down to start the second period. Kasak controlled the action long enough to work his riding time up over 1:00 but gave up a stall warning in the process. Kasak led 3-2 after a Blaze escaped and carried that lead into the third period. Kasak escaped to a 4-2 lead to start the third period but lost his riding time edge. Kasak and Blaze scrambled through action on the edge of the mat and the Boilermaker turned it into a takedown and a 5-4 lead. Kasak was unable to escape and dropped a 5-4 decision. The loss moved Kasak into consolation action.
Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, the No. 1 seed at 165, met No. 8 Cameron Amine of Oklahoma State in the quarters. Mesenbrink chased Amine around the mat for the first minute as the Cowboy grappler played the outside circle. The Lion sophomore finally got a stall warning on Amine at the :45 mark and then worked his way in on a low single. But Amine forced a stalemate, and the match moved to the second tied 0-0. Mesenbrink escaped to a 1-0 lead to start the second period and then forced a scramble with a low single at 1:15. The Lion was able to finish off the takedown in front of the OSU bench and took a 4-0 lead at :33. He finished the period on top and led by four after two. Amine took down to begin the final period and Mesenbrink controlled the action for the full two minutes. Mesenbrink’s rideout gave him a riding time point and a 5-0 win. The victory advanced him to the national semifinals and made the Lion sophomore a two-time All-American.
Junior Levi Haines, the No. 2 seed at 174, battled No. 7 Danny Wask of Army in the quarterfinals. Haines connected on a single early in the match and took a 3-0 lead with a takedown at the 1:00 mark. Wask escaped after a quick Haines ride and action resumed in neutral with the Lion up 3-1. Haines carried that two point lead into the middle period and escaped to a 4-1 lead to begin the second. Haines nearly picked up a second takedown late in the period, but Wask fought it off and Haines led 4-1 after two. Wask chose down to start the third and Haines maintained control until the 1:20 mark before Wask escaped to a 4-2 score. Haines countered a slight Wask shot and iced the bout with a final takedown at :08. The final score gave Haines the 7-2 win, advanced him to the semifinals and made him a three time All-American.
Graduate Carter Starocci, the No. 1 seed at 184, faced No. 8 Jaxon Smith of Maryland in the quarters. Starocci followed Smith to the edge of the mat for the first two minutes. He caught the Terrapin before he could escape out of bounds and took a 3-0 lead with a takedown at :42. He finished the period on top and led 3-0 heading into the second. A quick Starocci escape to begin the period gave the Nittany Lion a 4-0 lead. He picked up a stall point at 1:03 and led 5-0 after two periods. Smith chose down to start the third period and Starocci maintained control the action on top. With riding time clinched, Starocci cut Smith loose, looking for bonus points. Starocci finished off the major with a late takedown and, with riding time, moved into the semifinals with a 9-1 major decision. He also became Penn State’s fourth five time All-American with the win.
Redshirt freshman Josh Barr, the No. 4 seed at 197, met No. 5 Michael Beard of Lehigh in the quarterfinals. Barr battled in neutral for the first two minutes and took a 3-0 lead with a quick shot at the 1:10 mark. Beard escaped to a 3-1 score at :43 and action resumed in neutral. Leading 3-1, Barr chose down to start the second period. Barr escaped, quickly turned in on a single and took a 7-2 lead on the edge of the mat. Barr notched a third takedown with 1:10 left to up his lead to 10-2. Barr finished the period on top and led 10-2 with 1:39 in riding time after two periods. After a neutral start to the third, Barr continued to work his offense and turned a high single into another takedown and a 13-2 lead. Beard escaped and Barr finished in neutral. With riding time, the Nittany Lion freshman posted the 14-3 major decision and advanced to the national semifinals in his first trip to NCAAs. Barr also became a first time All-American with the victory as well.
Senior+ Greg Kerkvliet, the No. 3 seed at 285, took on No. 6 Josh Heindselman of Michigan in Penn State’s final quarterfinal bout. Kerkvliet used a blast double to take a 3-0 lead at the 2:21 mark. He went to work on top, building up riding time while trying to turn the Wolverine for back points. Kerkvliet picked up a stall point and finished the period on top to lead 4-0 with 2:11 in time after one. After a neutral start to the second and the middle stanza was scoreless. Heindselman also chose neutral to begin the third period. Kerkvliet and Heindselman worked the third period on their feet and Kerkvliet, with riding time, posted the 5-0 win to advance to the NCAA semifinals. He also became a five-time All-American with the win.
The Nittany Lions went 7-3 in the semifinals and added two more bonus points with two majors. Penn State is an outstanding 27-3 at the tournament’s midway point and has 21.5 bonus points off five majors, seven tech falls and three pins. The Nittany Lions have already clinched seven All-Americans with the other three one win away from become All-Americans.
Action continues tonight with the national semifinals, consolation action and the All-America/blood round at 8 p.m. live on ESPN2 Saturday’s sessions are slated for 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday morning’s session is on ESPNU, and the national finals are on ESPN.
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. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.
Penn State at the 2025 NCAA Championships
March 20-22, 2025 – Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, Pa.
Team Standings – Top three in Session 3 (as of 3:15 p.m.)
1: PENN STATE – 90.5
2: Nebraska – 62.5
3: Oklahoma State – 61.0
Weight-by-weight agate (RANKINGS LISTED ARE OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT SEED):
125: #1 Luke Lilledahl, Fr., Weldon Spring, Mo./Wyoming Seminary
Rd. 1: #32 Marcello Milani, Cornell – W, 19-4 (TF; 4:24)
Rd. 2: #16 Blake West, Northern Illinois – W, 19-3 (TF; 6:52)
Qtr: #8 Sheldon Seymour, Lehigh – L, 2-2 (TB3-RT)
Rd. 12: tonight
Lilledahl met No. 32 Marcello Milani of Cornell in the first round. Lilledahl scored quickly, taking Milani down at the 2:24 mark to open up a 3-0 lead. He cut the Red wrestler loose after a short ride and quickly took him down again to lead 6-1. Lilledahl added one more takedown to lead 9-2 after the first period. Lilledahl escaped to start the second, took Milani down to lead 13-3, again to lead 16-4 and a final time to post a 19-4 technical fall at the 4:24 mark.
He met No. 16 Blake West of Northern Illinois in the first of Penn State’s second round matchups. The wrestlers traded early shots over the first two minutes. Lilledahl turned a low shot into a takedown with :18 left in the opening period to lead 3-0 after one. West chose down to start the second period and escaped after nearly a minute to cut the score to 3-1. Lilledahl once again picked up a late takedown and led 6-1 after two. Lilledahl quickly took West down again to up his lead to 9-2 after cutting West loose. Lilledahl added two takedowns and four near fall points and ended the bout early, recording a 19-3 technical fall at the 6:52 mark and advancing to the quarterfinals.
SEE ABOVE STORY FOR THIS SESSION’S BOUT-BY-BOUT
133: #8 Braeden Davis, So., Belleville, Mich./Dundee
Rd. 1: #25 Kurt Phipps, Bucknell – W, 12-4 maj. dec.
Rd. 2: #9 Braxton Brown, Maryland – W, 5-3 dec.
Qtr: #1 Lucas Byrd, Illinois – L, 1-12 maj. dec.
Rd. 12: tonight
Davis battled No. 25 Kurt Phipps of Bucknell in the first round. Davis fought off a Phipps high double at the 1:30 mark but gave up the three point takedown to trail 3-0 at :59. He reversed Phipps with :31 on the clock to cut the lead to 3-2 and finished on top to trail by one after one. Phipps escaped to a 4-2 lead to start the second period. Davis turned a high single into a late takedown and led 5-4 after the second period. Davis worked a high double into a takedown at :10 and then turned Phipps for four late back points to walk away with a 12-4 major decision.
He faced No. 9 Braxton Brown of Maryland in the second round. Davis scored first, taking Brown down in the middle of the mat for a 3-1 lead after a quick Brown escape. Leading by two, Davis chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-1 lead. Davis worked the center of the mat until Brown tried a standing cradle, Davis countered for a near takedown, but action resumed in neutral after the wrestlers rolled out of bounds. Brown chose down to start the third period and reversed Davis to cut his lead to 5-3 after a Davis escape. Davis fought off Brown’s offense down the stretch and moved into the quarterfinals with a 5-3 decision.
SEE ABOVE STORY FOR THIS SESSION’S BOUT-BY-BOUT
141: #2 Beau Bartlett, Sr.+, Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary
Rd. 1: #31 Jordan Titus, West Virginia – W, 4-2 dec.
Rd. 2: #18 Julian Tagg, South Dakota St. – W, 4-1 dec.
Qtr: #10 CJ Composto, Penn – W, 5-0 dec.
Semi: #3 Jesse Mendez, Ohio State – tonight
Bartlett faced #31 Jordan Titus of West Virginia in the first round. Bartlett notched the bout’s first takedown at the 1:26 mark and led 3-1 after cutting Titus loose. Bartlett stayed on offense and led 3-1 after one. Titus escaped to a 3-2 score to begin the second period. Bartlett finished the period on his feet and led by one heading into the final period. Bartlett worked his way to an escape and a 4-2 lead at :53 and rode the strength of the first period takedown to a 4-2 win.
He took on No. 18 Julian Tagg of South Dakota State in the second round. Bartlett and Tagg battled evenly over the first two minutes. Bartlett nearly turned a low single into a takedown, but Tagg was able to fight back to neutral with :30 on the clock. Tagg escaped early in the second to take a 1-0 lead. Bartlett countered a quick Tagg shot for the first takedown of the bout and led 3-1 at 1:11. Bartlett finished on top and carried that lead, plus 1:43 in riding time, into the third. He chose neutral to start the third. Bartlett controlled action on his feet for the rest of the period and, with the riding time point, moved into the quarterfinals with a 4-1 win.
SEE ABOVE STORY FOR THIS SESSION’S BOUT-BY-BOUT
149: #3 Shayne Van Ness, So., Somerville, N.J./Blair Academy
Rd. 1: #30 Gabe Willochell, Wyoming – WBF (4:11)
Rd. 2: #19 Andrew Clark, Rutgers – W, 11-1 maj. dec.
Qtr: #6 Lachlan McNeil, North Carolina – W, 7-2 dec.
Semi: #2 Ridge Lovett, Nebraska – tonight
Van Ness met No. 30 Gabe Willochell of Wyoming in the first round. Van Ness turned a low single into a takedown at the 1:32 mark to lead 3-0 early. Van Ness scrambled to a second takedown and a 6-1 lead after one. Willochell chose bottom to start the second period, and Van Ness took advantage of the decision. He turned the Cowboy wrestler to his back and picked up the fall at the 4:11 mark.
He battled No. 19 Andrew Clark of Rutgers in the second round. Van Ness turned a sideline single into a takedown to open up a 3-0 lead a minute into the bout. Clark escaped after Van Ness built up over 1:00 in time and Van Ness moved in quickly for another takedown to lead 6-1 after one. Clark chose down to start the second period and Van Ness controlled action on offense. He worked his riding time up over 3:00 with a full rideout and led 6-1 with clinched riding time (3:32) after two. After a neutral start, Van Ness worked the clock down to the last :30 before taking Clark down again. He added a stall point and riding time and rolled into he quarterfinals with an 11-1 major decision.
SEE ABOVE STORY FOR THIS SESSION’S BOUT-BY-BOUT
157: #1 Tyler Kasak, So., Doylestown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic
Rd. 1: #32 Landen Johnson, Northern Illinois – WBF (1:38)
Rd. 2: #16 Cody Chittum, Iowa State – W, 8-3 dec.
Qtr: #8 Joey Blaze, Purdue – L, 4-5 dec.
Rd. 12: tonight
Kasak took on No. 32 Landen Johnson of Northern Illinois in the first round. Kasak scored quickly, taking Johnson down just nine seconds into the bout to lead 3-1 after a short ride. He took Johnson down once more in neutral, wrapping up a cradle. Kasak adjusted for a couple seconds and finished off the first period pin at the 1:38 mark.
He met No. 16 Cody Chittum of Iowa State in the second round. Kasak scored quickly, taking Chittum down to open up a 3-1 lead after a quick Cyclone escape. Kasak nearly connected on another single at the :10 mark, but Chittum slid out of bounds and Kasak led 3-1 after one. Kasak chose down to start the second period and quickly reversed Chittum, opening up a 5-2 lead after Chittum escaped. Kasak scrambled his way to a neutral danger takedown at the end of the second and lead 8-2. Chittum escaped to an 8-3 score to start the third period. The escape was the only score in the final period and Kasak walked into the quarterfinals with the strong 8-3 decision.
SEE ABOVE STORY FOR THIS SESSION’S BOUT-BY-BOUT
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, So., Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead
Rd. 1: #33 Chandler Amaker, Central Michigan – W, 16-0 (TF; 3:32)
Rd. 2: #16 Kyle Mosher, Hofstra – W, 22-6 (TF; 4:15)
Qtr: #8 Cameron Amine, Oklahoma State – W, 5-0 dec.
Semi: #12 Chris Minto, Nebraska — tonight
Mesenbrink faced No. 33 Chandler Amaker of Central Michigan in the first round. Mesenbrink dominated the action from the onset, using a quick takedown and four back points to lead 7-0 at 1:48. He picked up a penalty point and four more back points to open up a 12-0 lead after one. Mesenbrink chose down to start the second period, quickly escaped and then ended the bout with a final takedown, getting the 16-0 technical fall at 3:32.
He faced No. 16 Kyle Mosher of Hofstra in the second round. Mesenbrink scored early, taking the Hofstra wrestler down to open up a 3-0 lead at 2:39. Mesenbrink cut Mosher loose, took him down again and turned him to his back for three near fall for a 9-2 lead after Mosher escaped. Mesenbrink picked up another quick takedown and led 12-2 with 2:18 in riding time after one period. Mosher escaped to start the second period. Mesenbrink took him down, Mosher reversed, Mesenbrink escaped led 16-5. Mesenbrink tacked on two more takedowns to post a dominant 22-6 technical fall at the 4:15 mark, advancing to the quarterfinals.
SEE ABOVE STORY FOR THIS SESSION’S BOUT-BY-BOUT
174: #2 Levi Haines, Jr., Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville
Rd. 1: #31 Branson John, Maryland – WBF (2:46)
Rd. 2: #18 Gavin Sax, Oklahoma – W, 4-0 dec.
Qtr: #7 Danny Wask, Navy – W, 7-2 dec.
Semi: #3 Dean Hamiti, Oklahoma State – tonight
Haines met No. 31 Branson John of Maryland in the first round. Haines drew first blood with a takedown at the 1:38 mark. He then turned John for two back points and led 5-0. Haines went to work, locking up a cradle and finishing off the first period pin. Haines got the fall call at 2:46.
He took on No. 18 Gavin Sax of Oklahoma in the second round. Haines notched the bout’s first takedown two minutes into the period. Haines controlled the action on top, working his riding time up over 1:00 and finished the period on top to lead 3-0 after one. Haines escaped to start the second period and led 4-0 after two. The Sooner chose neutral to start the third period. Haines pressured Sax offensively for the rest of the match, forcing him into defense for the final two minutes. Haines posted the 4-0 decision and advanced to the quarterfinals.
SEE ABOVE STORY FOR THIS SESSION’S BOUT-BY-BOUT
184: #1 Carter Starocci, Gr., Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep
Rd. 1: #32 Caden Rogers, Lehigh – W, 18-2 (TF; 6:19)
Rd. 2: #16 Shane Cartagena-Walsh, Rutgers – W, 15-0 (TF; 4:23)
Qtr: #8 Jaxon Smith, Maryland – W, 9-1 maj. dec.
Semi: #4 Dustin Plott, Oklahoma State – tonight
Starocci faced No. 32 Caden Rogers of Lehigh in the first round. Starocci forced a stall warning in the opening minute as Rogers played the outside circle. Starocci took a lead with a takedown at the :59 mark and then spent the rest of the period working for nearfall and settled for a 3-0 lead after one. Rogers chose down and Starocci picked up two stall points on offense, then turned the Hawk for four back points and led 9-0. Starocci, leading 9-0, chose neutral to start the third period and took a 12-1 lead with a quick takedown and cut. He added two more takedowns and finished off the 18-2 tech fall at the 6:19 mark for career win 100.
He faced No. 16 Shane Cartagena-Walsh of Rutgers in the second round. Starocci scored quickly, taking Cartagena-Walsh down in the opening seconds. Starocci worked the Knight over for four back points to lead 7-0, reset and picked up four more to lead 11-0 after the opening period. After a neutral start, Starocci picked up another takedown and then iced the technical fall on a stall point, winning 15-0 at 4:23 to move into the quarterfinals.
SEE ABOVE STORY FOR THIS SESSION’S BOUT-BY-BOUT
197: #4 Josh Barr, R-Fr., Davison, Mich./Davison
Rd. 1: #29 Tucker Hogan, Lock Haven – W, 9-1 maj. dec.
Rd. 2: #13 Trey Munoz, Oregon State – W, 5-2 (sv) dec.
Qtr: #5 Michael Beard, Lehigh – W, 14-3 maj. dec.
Semi: #1 Jacob Cardenas, Michigan – tonight
Barr battled No. 29 Tucker Hogan of Lock Haven in the first round. Barr battled through the opening minutes, taking a series of shots that forced Hogan backwards. The Lion freshman took a 3-0 lead into the second period with a last second takedown. Logan escaped to a 3-1 score to start the second period. Leading 3-1, Barr chose down to start the third stanza and quickly escaped to a 4-1 lead. Barr continued to shoot Hogan backwards, picking up a stall point and then taking Logan down to lead 8-1 at 1:30. Barr picked up another point after an escape (injury time choice) and walked away with a 9-1 major decision.
He battled No. 13 Trey Munoz of Oklahoma State in the second round. Barr got in deep on a high single at the 1:10 mark but Munoz was able to defend his way to neutral and keep the bout scoreless through one period. Munoz chose down to start the second period and reversed Barr to lead 2-1 after a quick Lion escape. Trailing by one, Barr chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. He then worked his way in on a single leg, forcing a scramble through the 1:00 mark before a stalemate forced a reset. The bout moved into extra time tied 2-2. Barr battled his way through the first minute, got in deep on a low double and muscled his way into the quarterfinals with a takedown and a 5-2 (sv) win.
SEE ABOVE STORY FOR THIS SESSION’S BOUT-BY-BOUT
285: #3 Greg Kerkvliet, Sr.+, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley
Rd. 1: #30 Sam Mitchell, Wyoming – W, 15-0 (TF; 5:31)
Rd. 2: #14 Gavin Hoffman, Lock Haven – W, 4-0 dec.
Qtr: #6 Josh Heindselman, Michigan – W, 5-0 dec.
Semi: #2 Wyatt Hendrickson, Oklahoma State – tonight
Kerkvliet met No. 30 Sam Mitchell of Wyoming in the first round. Kerkvliet muscled Michell to the mat and worked around for a takedown at the 2:12 mark, opening up a 3-0 lead. He controlled action on top, turned Mitchell late for four back points, and led 7-0 after one. Kerkvliet led 12-0 after two, picking up a late stall point. Kerkvliet ended the bout with a quick takedown to start the third period, notching the 15-0 technical fall at the 5:30 mark.
He met No. 14 Gavin Hoffman of Lock Haven in the last of Penn State’s 10 second round bouts. Kerkvliet worked in neutral through the first two minutes and then took a 3-0 lead with a takedown at 1:01. Kerkvliet controlled the action on top for the rest of the period and led 3-0 after one. Hoffman chose down to start the third period and Kerkvliet controlled the action for the entire period, riding Hoffman out to lead 3-0 with clinched riding time (3:01) after two. Kerkvliet chose top to start the third period. The Lion big man worked his way to another ride out and, with 5:01 in riding time, advanced to the quarterfinals with a 4-0 win.
SEE ABOVE STORY FOR THIS SESSION’S BOUT-BY-BOUT
