Penn State Wrestling Shuts Out Indiana 48-0 in Sold Out Rec Hall
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (10-0, 4-0 B1G) shut out visiting Indiana (6-3, 1-2 B1G) in front of another sold out Rec Hall crowd Friday night. The Nittany Lions rolled to a 48-0 win over the visiting Hoosiers, with nine of ten wins bringing bonus points.
The Nittany Lions notched their sixth shut-out of the season and their third in Big Ten action. The sellout crowd of over 6,200 fans marks the 79th-straight sell out for Penn State in Rec Hall.
The dual began at 125. Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 1 at 125, got the Nittany Lions off to a hot start. Lilledahl built up a big lead on No. 11 Jacob Moran before pinning him in the second period at 4:20. True freshman Marcus Blaze, ranked No. 4 at 133, followed that win up with a dominant 19-4 technical fall at 5:44 over Blaine Frazier, giving Penn State an 11-0 lead. Junior Braeden Davis, ranked No. 11 at 141, tallied seven takedowns in a dominant 24-10 major decision over No. 25 Henry Porter.
Junior Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 1 at 149, continued Penn State’s bonus point burst with a convincing 20-3 technical fall over Joey Buttler, getting the tech at 6:45. True freshman PJ Duke, ranked No. 3 at 157, capped off an outstanding first half for the Nittany Lions with a 21-5 technical fall over Bryce Lowery, ending the bout at the 3:15 mark early in the second period.. Penn State led 25-0 at halftime.
Junior Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, opened up the second half with another Penn State pin. Mesenbrink led No. 19 Tyler Lillard 14-1 after the opening period, chose top to start the second and quickly turned the Hoosier for a pin at the 4:01 mark. Senior Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, dominated Orlando Cruz in the next match-up, picking up another PSU tech fall. Haines rolled to a 17-1 tech at 6:26 to give the Nittany Lions a 36-0 lead.
Sophomore Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 1 at 184, built up a big early lead over No. 14 Sam Goin and rolled to a 15-9 victory. Sophomore Josh Barr, ranked No. 1 at 197, used four takedowns and 1:46 in riding time to post a strong 14-6 major decision over No. 14 Gabe Sollars to give Penn State a 43-0 lead. Redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 12 at 285, zipped through seven first period takedowns to notch a 22-6 first period tech fall at 2:42. Mirasola’s victory capped off the Nittany Lions’ 48-0 shutout victory.
Penn State is now 10-0 on the year, 4-0 in the Big Ten. Indiana falls to 6-3, 1-2 B1G. Penn State returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 24, when it visits Maryland for a 5 p.m.
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 48, Indiana 0
January 23, 2026 – Rec Hall – University Park, Pa.
125: #1 Luke Lilledahl PSU pinned #11 Jacob Moran IND, WBF (4:20) 6-0
133: #4 Marcus Blaze PSU tech fall Blaine Frazier IND, 19-4 (TF; 5:44) 11-0
141: #11 Braeden Davis PSU maj. dec. No. 25 Henry Porter IND, 24-10 15-0
149: #1 Shayne Van Ness PSU tech fall Joey Buttler IND, 20-3 (TF; 6:45) 20-0
157: #3 PJ Duke PSU tech fall Bryce Lowery IND, 21-5 (TF; 3:15) 25-0
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU pinned #19 Tyler Lillard IND, WBF (4:01) 31-0
174: #1 Levi Haines PSU tech fall Orlando Cruz IND, 17-1 (TF; 6:26) 36-0
184: #1 Rocco Welsh PSU dec. #15 Sam Goin IND, 15-9 39-0
197: #1 Josh Barr PSU maj. dec. #14 Gabe Sollars IND, 14-6 43-0
285: #12 Cole Mirasola PSU tech fall Caleb Marzolino IND, 22-6 (TF; 2:42) 48-0
Attendance: 6,223 (Penn State has wrestled in front of 89 sellouts in its last 95 home events, including 79-straight in Rec Hall and 10 of 16 in the BJC)
Records: Penn State 10-0, 4-0 B1G; Indiana 6-3, 1-2 B1G
Up Next for Penn State: at Maryland, Sunday, Jan. 25, 12 p.m.
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 1 at 125, met No. 11 Jacob Moran. Lilledahl worked a high shot at 2:30 into a takedown and a 3-0 lead at 2:00. Moran escaped to a 3-1 score at 1:45 and action resumed in neutral. Lilledahl continued to hold position in the center of the mat and moved behind Moran quickly at :45 for a second takedown and a 6-1 lead. He finished the period on top and carried that lead, plust 1:00 in riding time, into the second period. Moran chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 6-2 score. Lilledahl turned a fast low single into a third takedown and a 9-2 lead at 1:10. He then rolled Moran to his back with a bow and arrow and pinned Moran at the 4:20 mark.
133: Marcus Blaze, ranked No. 4 at 133, battled Blaine Frazier. Blaze scored quickly, taking Frazier down for an early 3-0 lead. He controlled action on top for nearly a minute before Frazier escaped to a 3-1 score. The Nittany Lion freshman continued to press his offense and took a 6-2 lead with another quick takedown and cut. He then countered a Frazier shot for a third takedown and led 9-2 at the :45 mark. Blaze finished the period on top and led 9-2 with 1:56 in time after one. Frazier chose down to start the second period and Blaze cut him loose to a 9-3 score. Frazier forced contact with a low single and Blaze once again counter scrambled to a takedown and led 12-4 at 1:10. Blaze used another low shot to take Frazier down and upped his lead to 15-4 late in the period. He finished the period on top and carried that lead and nearly 3:00 in riding time into the third period.
141: Braeden Davis, ranked No. 11 at 141, faced No. 25 Henry Porter. Porter used a throw early in the match to take a 3-1 lead after a quick Davis escape. The Lion junior quickly moved in on offense and retook the lead, taking Porter down to lead 4-3 with 1:56 on the clock. Davis controlled the action on top, trying to roll the Hoosier to his back. Davis gave up penalty point for an illegal hold and the match was tied 4-4. Davis cut Porter loose then quickly turned a low shot into a takedown and a 7-5 lead. Davis, with a strong ride, forced a stall warning at :25 and finished the period on top to lead 7-4 with 1:38 in riding time after one. Porter chose down to start the second period. Davis used top control to work his riding time edge over 2:00 while looking for back points. He cut Porter loose at 1:22 and led 7-6. Davis immediately moved in on offense, pulling the fleeing Hoosier back on to the mat for a takedown and a 10-7 lead after another cut. Davis blew through a high single for another takedown with :14 left, finished the period on top, and lead 13-7 with 2:52 in time after two. Davis chose neutral to start the third period. He countered a slight Porter shot for another takedown and a 16-8 lead with another cut. Davis continued to work his offense and tacked on another takedown to lead 19-8 with 1:00 on the clock. Porter escaped after a reset to cut the lad to 19-9. Davis took him down to a 22-10 lead with :12 on the clock, cut him loose with just :09 left looking for a tech. He forced a stall but time ran out and Davis posted the convincing 24-10 major decision.
149: Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 1 at 149, met Joey Buttler. Van Ness scored quickly, taking Buttler down for a 3-0 lead at the 1:44 mark. He then turned the Hoosier to his back for four near fall points and a 7-0 lead at :48. Buttler escaped to a 7-1 score and Van Ness went back to work on offense. He used a low shot to take Buttler down once more and led 10-1 after the first period. Buttler chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 10-2 score. Van Ness forced the Hoosier backwards, then sidestepped a Butler shot and nearly scored at the buzzer. But Buttler skipped out of danger and Van Ness led 10-2 with 1:52 in riding time after two. Van Ness chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to an 11-2 lead. Van Ness took Buttler down at the 1:15 mark for a 14-3 lead after cutting the Hoosier loose. He took a 17-3 lead with another takedown and then turned Buttler for three back points to post the 20-3 tech fall at 6:45.
157: PJ Duke, ranked No. 3 at 165, met Bryce Lowery. Duke scored quickly, taking a 3-1 lead in the opening seconds. He continued to move in offensively as Lowery moved to the outside circle. Duke chased him down and took a 6-2 lead after cutting him loose. Duke added a third takedown and led 9-3 at 1:24, then took Lowery down a fourth time and upped his edge to 12-4. Duke picked up a fifth takedown with :48 on the clock. He added a fifth takedown in the opening period and led 18-5 after one. Duke finished off the tech fall with a final takedown and walked away with a 21-5 win at the 3:15 mark.
165: Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, tangled with No. 19 Tyler Lillard. Mesenbrink scored quickly, taking Lillard down just :06 into the bout. He then went to work on top and turned the Hoosier to his back. Mesenbrink battled for a pin for over a minute with Lillard fighting off bottom. The four point turn gave the Lion a 7-0 lead. Hen continued to work on top, maintaining control until cutting Lillard loose to a 7-1 score at 1:02. Mesenbrink added a second takedown quickly after the escaped and led 10-1. He rolled Lillard to his back once more and added four more back points to lead 14-1 with 2:45 in riding time after the opening period. Mesenbrink chose top to start the second period, looking for a pin. He muscled Lillard to his back one more time, looking for the pin and getting it at the 4:01 mark.
174: Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, battled Orlando Cruz. Haines took Cruz down toa lead 3-0 at the 1:54 mark and then turned the Hoosier for four back points and a 7-0 lead. He built up a big riding time edge with top control and finished the period on top to lead 7-0 with 1:54 in riding time after the opening stanza. Haines chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to an 8-0 lead. Haines picked up a second takedown with a strong high shot and upped his margin to 11-0. He forced a stall warning at :41 and finished on top to lead 11-0 with 2:54 in time after two. Cruz chose neutral to start the third period. Haines fought off a slight Cruz shot at 1:24, worked his way into control and countered for a 14-0 lead at 1:10. He cut Cruz loose, and then ended the bout with a final takedown, posting a 17-1 tech fall at 6:26.
184: Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 1 at 184, faced No. 15 Sam Goin. Welsh forced Goin backwards off the opening whistle as the Hoosier played defense. Welsch countered a Goin shot and took a 3-0 lead at the 1:32 mark with the bout’s first takedown. Goin escaped to a 3-1 score and action resumed in neutral. Welsh used a fast, low single to briefly lift Goin and take him down for a 6-2 lead after cutting him loose. Welsh picked up a stall point, forcing a second stall, and then finished the period with a third takedown to lead 10-2 after one. Goin chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 10-3 lead. Welsh forced the pace for the next minute-plus and blew through a low double to lead 13-3 at the :30 mark. The Nittany Lion sophomore finished the period on top and led 13-3 after two. Welsh chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 14-3 lead. Goin picked up a takedown of his own at 1:40 and cut Welsh’s lead to 14-6. Welsh escaped to 15-6 lead at 1:10. Welsh shot low and Goin countered for a second takedown to cut into Welsh’s lead but the Lion’s early offense was enough in a 15-9 victory.
197: Josh Barr, ranked No. 1 at 197, met No. 14 Gabe Sollars. Barr controlled the action early and took a 3-0 lead with the bout’s first takedown at 2:07. He then used a strong ride to build up a 1:15 time edge before Sollars escaped to a 3-1 score. Barr used a high shot to force a scramble in the final seconds. Sollars was able to fight off the effort and kill the clock. Bar, leading 3-1, chose down to start the second period and escaped quickly to a 4-1 lead. Barr continued to forced Sollars backwards, instigating contact with a double and scrambling his way to a second takedown and a 7-1 lead with :40 on the clock. Barr gave up a point on a third caution and lead 7-2 with 1:29 in riding time after two periods. Sollars chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 7-3 lead. Barr blazed through a low double for a third takedown and a 10-3 lead at 1:38. He cut Sollars loose on a reset, then moved in and forced another scramble. Sollars was able to force a stalemate at the :58 mark. Barr used a high double, slid to a single and took Sollars down at :30 to lead 13-6 after a Sollars escape. Barr added 1:46 in riding time and rolled to the 14-6 major decision.
285: Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 12 at 285, met Caleb Marzolino. Mirasola scored quickly, taking a 3-1 lead with a quick takedown and cut. He added a second takedown seconds later and opened up a 6-2 lead at 2:25. Mirasola continued to pressure Marzolino on offense, tacking on a third takedown, then a fourth, to lead 12-3 at the 1:23 mark. Mirasola continued to pour on the offense and added a fifth and sixth takedown to lead 18-5 at :49. He cut Marzolino loose one more time and, after getting a tall point, capped off a first period tech fall with a seventh takedown, notching the 22-6 tech fall at 2:42.
