Nittany Lion Wrestlers Claim B1G Regular Season Title with 29-9 Win at Illinois
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (14-0, 8-0 B1G) dominated homestanding Illinois (9-4, 4-4 B1G) 29-9 on Sunday to wrap up the Big Ten portion of its dual schedule unbeaten. Penn State finished the Big Ten season with an 8-0 mark and won the 2025 Big Ten Regular Season (dual meet) Championship.
This year’s regular season crown is the 11th in Penn State history (all since head coach Cael Sanderson’s arrival) and the fifth straight. The 2025 Big Ten Championship will be contested, and crowned, at the 2025 Big Ten Championship Tournament on March 8-9 at Northwestern.
The dual began at 125. True freshman Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 7 at 125, opened the dual meet with a dominant 19-3 technical fall over Caelen Riley at 4:19. Sophomore Braeden Davis, ranked No. 8 at 133, dropped a tough 7-1 decision to No. 4 Lucas Byrd in the next bout and Penn State led the dual 5-3 after two matches. Senior+ Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 3 at 141, turned a five-point first period into a dominating 9-2 win over No. 17 Danny Pucino to give the Nittany Lions an 8-3 lead.
Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 2 at 149, tallied four takedowns to dominate No. 14 Kannon Webster. Van Ness, with 2:07 in riding time, rolled to a 15-4 major decision. With No. 1 Tyler Kasak not competing, true freshman Joe Sealey wrestled again at 157. Sealey battled the ranked Illini evenly. Sealey, tied 1-1 but giving up riding time late in the bout, took Kraisser down on the edge of the mat to take a 4-1 lead. But after an Illinois challenge and a long review the call was reversed, and the Nittany Lion freshman dropped a tough 2-1 decision on 1:04 riding time. Penn State led 12-6 at the half.
Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, forced three early stall warnings on No. 14 Braeden Scoles and chased the Illini down for a strong 10-1 major decision (with 2:23 in riding time). Junior Levi Haines, ranked No. 2 at 174, used a first period takedown, an escape and riding time to post a 5-1 win over No. 23 Danny Braunagel, giving the Nittany Lions a 19-6 lead. Graduate Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 184, worked up a 17-4 lead on No. 12 Edmond Ruth late in the third period and then won by disqualification after forcing a sixth stall warning at 6:43.
Redshirt freshman Josh Barr, ranked No. 3 at 197, dominated No. 17 Zac Braunagel, using four takedowns and over 2:00 in riding time to roll to a 15-4 major decision and give the Nittany Lions a 29-6 lead. With No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet not competing, true freshman Cole Mirasola stepped in once more. Mirasola battled the ranked Illini tough but lost a hard-fought 4-0 decision. The Nittany Lions capped off the 2025 Big Ten Regular Season title with a 29-9 win.
Penn State posted a lopsided 23-3 edge in takedowns. The Lions won seven of ten bouts and picked up eight bonus points off a DQ (Starocci), a tech fall (Lilledahl) and three majors (Van Ness, Mesenbrink, Barr).
The Nittany Lions are now 14-0, 8-0 B1G, and the 2025 Big Ten Regular Season Champions. Illinois falls to 9-4, 4-4 B1G. Penn State closes out its dual meet season at home next Friday, Feb. 21, when it hosts American University in Rec Hall at 7 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. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.
#1 Penn State 29, #19 Illinois 9
February 16, 2025 – Champaign, Ill.
125: #7 Luke Lilledahl PSU tech fall Caelen Riley ILL, 19-3 (TF; 4:19) 5-0
133: #4 Lucas Byrd ILL dec. #8 Braeden Davis PSU, 7-1 5-3
141: #3 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. #17 Danny Pucino ILL, 9-2 8-3
149: #2 Shayne Van Ness PSU maj. dec. #14 Kannon Webster ILL, 15-4 12-3
157: #30 Jason Kraisser ILL dec. Joe Sealey PSU, 2-1 12-6
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU maj. dec. #14 Braeden Scoles ILL, 10-1 16-6
174: #2 Levi Haines PSU dec. #23 Danny Braunagel ILL, 5-1 19-6
184: #1 Carter Starocci PSU WB disq. #12 Edmond Ruth ILL, DQ (6:43, leading 17-4) 25-6
197: #3 Josh Barr PSU maj. dec. #17 Zac Braunagel ILL, 15-4 29-6
285: #10 Luke Luffman ILL dec. Cole Mirasola PSU, 4-0 29-9
Attendance: 2,136
Records: Penn State (14-0, 8-0 B1G); Illinois (9-4, 4-4 B1G)
Up Next for Penn State: home vs. American, Friday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m. – Rec Hall
DUAL MEET BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: True freshman Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 7 at 125, battled Caelan Riley. Lilledahl moved in on a low single early in the opening period and finished off the first takedown at the 2:23 mark to lead 3-0. He picked up a quick second takedown to lead 6-1 at the 2:00 mark and went to work on top, building up riding time. Lilledahl built his time up over 1:00 and then cut Riley loose to a 6-2 score. Lilledahl quickly moved in on a low shot, took Riley down and cut him loose again to lead 9-3 at the :40 mark. Lilledahl muscled his way to a fourth takedown at :30 and finished the period on top to lead 12-3 with 1:49 in time after one. Lilledahl chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 13-3 lead. He scrambled to another takedown to lead 16-3 at 1:25, cut Riley loose and then finished off the tech fall with a final takedown at with :41 left in the period. Lilledahl notched the 19-4 tech fall at 4:19.
133: Sophomore Braeden Davis, ranked No. 8 at 133, met No. 4 Lucas Byrd. Davis and Byrd battled for control on the Illinois logo to start the bout. The clock moved past the 2:00 mark with neither wrestler giving ground. Davis fought off Byrd control through 1:30, with potentially dangerous halting action and forcing a reset. Davis took a shot at :40, Byrd countered, and Davis rolled through the action, but Byrd was able to scramble around for a late takedown to lead 3-0 after one. Byrd chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 4-0 lead. The Illini scrambled around Davis again for a second takedown and a 7-0 lead with :35 left in the period. He finished the period on top and Davis trailed 7-0 after two. Davis chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 7-1 score with 1:50 left in the bout. Davis took two quick shots with 1:15 on the clock but Byrd was able to step away from them to maintain his lead and keep action in neutral. The bout finished in neutral, and Byrde posted the 7-1 win.
141: Senior+ Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 3 at 141, took on No. 17 Danny Pucino. Pucino connected on a low single at 2:15, forcing Bartlett to defend the effort through the 1:45 mark before action moved out of bounds. Bartlett and Pucino worked the middle of the mat through the 1:00 mark before the Nittany Lion turned a low single into a takedown and a 3-0 lead at the :38 mark. Bartlett turned him for two late back points and led 5-0 after one. He chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 6-0 lead. Bartlett held his position on the Illinois logo as time dipped below 1:00. Bartlett and Pucino battled on their feet through the period and the Lion led 6-0 after two. Pucino chose down to start the third period and Bartlett cut him loose to a 6-1 score. Bartlett moved in through a low shot for another takedown and a 9-1 lead. Pucino escaped to a 9-2 score at 1:10. Bartlett forced a stall warning at :38 and finished the bout on his feet to post a strong 9-2 win.
149: Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 2 at 149, faced No. 14 Kannon Webster. Van Ness and Webster spent the opening minute plus trading shots in the center of the mat. Van Ness forced a quick stall warning and then moved in for a first takedown and a 3-0 lead at 1:40. Van Ness worked his riding time up to :46 before Webster escaped to a 3-1 score. Van Ness led 3-1 after one. Webster chose down to start the second period. He escaped to a 3-2 score at 1:35. Van Ness picked up a stall point and then picked up a second takedown to lead 7-3 after a quick Webster escape. Van Ness took a 10-3 lead with a third takedown at :08 and finished the period on top to carry that lead and 1:46 in riding time, into the third period. Van Ness chose down to start the third and quickly escaped to an 11-3 lead. Van Ness continued to control the center of the mat, snapped Webster’s head to the mat and muscled his way to another takedown at 1:05. Leading 14-3 with riding time clinched, Van Ness cut Webster loose. Van Ness picked up another point on 2:07 in riding time to post the strong 15-4 major decision.
157: With No. 1 Tyler Kasak not competing, true freshman Joe Sealey wrestled once again at 157 and faced No. 30 Jason Kraisser. Sealey worked to hold position in the center of the mat, forcing Kraisser backwards through the opening minute of the bout. The duo battled evenly in neutral until Sealey worked a low shot into a scramble at the :55 mark. Sealey controlled the scramble until Kraisser was able to force a stalemate with :10 on the clock. Tied 0-0 after one, Kraisser chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 1-0 lead with 1:45 on the clock. Kraisser connected on a high single, forcing action to the mat. But Sealey scrambled through the action and forced a stalemate at :30, still trailing by one. Sealey moved in on another single at :15 but Kraisser fought off the move to kill the clock and Sealey trailed 1-0 after two. Sealey chose down to start the third period. Kraisser was able to control the action on top and build up over 1:00 in riding time. Sealey escaped to a 1-1 tie at :30 but the Illini had over 1:00 in riding time. Sealey then zipped through a swift shot for a slick takedown on the edge of the mat with just :10 on the clock, taking a 4-1 lead. Illinois challenged the call and after a lengthy review the call was overturned and Sealey dropped a tough 2-1 decision on 1:04 in riding time.
165: Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, took on No. 14 Braeden Scoles. Mesenbrink quickly forced Scoles to the outside circle and a stall warning just :10 into the bout. The Nittany Lion sophomore turned a low single into a takedown and a 3-0 lead at 2:13. He worked on top through 1:30, picked up a stall point, and moved his time edge over 1:00. Mesenbrink picked up another stall point, finished on top, and led 5-0 with 2:13 in time after one. Mesenbrink chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 6-0 lead. Mesenbrink them turned a low shot into a scramble but Scoles was able to break free to keep action in neutral. Mesenbrink countered a slight Scoles shot :40 and forced a stalemate with :27 left in the period. The Lion sophomore muscled his way through a late shot and finished off another takedown late to lead 9-0 after two, with 2:07 in time. Scoles chose down to start the third period and Mesenbrink cut him loose to a 9-1 score. Mesenbrink, with riding time clinched, continued his fast pace but Scoles was able to defend his way to the end of the match and Mesenbrink, with 2:23 in riding time, posted the 10-1 major.
174: Junior Levi Haines, ranked No. 2 at 174, met No. 23 Danny Braunagel. Haines and Braunagel worked evenly in the center of the mat through the opening minute of the match. Braunagel looked to connect on a high single but Haines quickly forced a stalemate and the bout resumed in a scoreless tie at 1:25. Haines worked a low single into a late takedown and led 3-0 after one. Leading by three, Haines chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead. Haines pressed in on Braunagel through the 1:00 mark, forcing the Illinois wrestler’s back to the outside circle, but the period ended in neutral, and Haines led 4-0 after two. Braunagel chose down to start the third period. Haines controlled the action on top, looking to turn Braunagel while building riding time up over 1:00. Braunagel escaped to a 4-1 score with :41 left in the match. The wrestlers traded quick shots in the final seconds and Haines, with 1:14 in time, notched the 5-1 win.
184: Graduate Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 184, battled No. 12 Edmond Ruth. Starocci came out fast, forcing a quick stall warning and then taking Ruth down on the Illinois logo at the 2:07 mark for a 3-0 lead. Ruth escaped on the edge of the mat to cut the lead to 3-1 and Starocci went back to work. He picked up a stall point at :51 to lead 4-1, then turned a high shot into a second takedown with :18 on the clock. Starocci finished the period on top and led 7-1 after one. Ruth chose down to start the second period. Starocci controlled action on top. He picked up another point on a third stall to lead 8-1. Starocci cut Ruth loose on a reset with 1:10 on the clock. The Nittany Lion graduate used a slick high shot to take Ruth down with :15 on the clock and led 11-3 after two. Starocci chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 12-3 lead. Starocci muscled his way to a fourth takedown and a 15-4 lead after cutting Ruth loose. Starocci forced another stall for two points and then forced a sixth stall and won by disqualification at 6:43. He was leading 17-4 at the time of the disqualification.
197: Redshirt freshman Josh Barr, ranked No. 3 at 197, faced No. 17 Zac Braunagel. Barr controlled the action from the onset and took a quick 3-0 lead with a takedown at the 2:16 mark. Barr worked up over 1:00 in riding time with strong work on top, working the clock down under 1:00 before Braunagel escaped to a 3-1 score. Barr forced a late stall warning and then took Braunagel down with just :02 on the clock to lead 6-1 after one. Barr chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-1 lead. Barr notched a third takedown at 1:15 to up his lead to 10-1. Barr worked his riding time up over 2:00 before Braunagel escaped late to cut the lead to 10-2 after two. Braunagel chose down to start the third and escaped to a 10-3 score. Barr shot low and took a 13-3 lead with another takedown, cutting the Illini loose to a 13-4 score. Barr forced a scramble at :37 but Braunagel was able to work to a stalemate. Barr picked up a stall point and, with 2:45 in riding time, posted the strong 15-4 major.
285: With No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet not competing, true freshman Cole Mirasola got the call at 285 and took on No. 10 Luke Luffman. Mirasola and Luffman worked the center of the mat through the 2:00 mark. Mirasola fought off a slight Luffman shot to keep action in neutral. The first period ended in a scoreless tie. Luffman chose down to start the second period. Mirasola controlled action on top for :45 before Luffman escaped to a 1-0 lead. Luffman picked up the first takedown of the bout shortly after and led 4-0. Luffman finished in control and led 4-0 after two. Mirasola chose neutral to start the third period. Mirasola paced the center of the mat, trying to find an opening in Luffman’s defense. But the Illini big man was able to block Mirasola’s shots, and the match ended with Luffman grabbing the 4-0 win.
