Nittany Lion Wrestling Rolls Through Session 1 of the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships

Publisher15 hours agoLast Updated: March 20, 2025

6 minutes read

PHILADELPHIA – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team went a perfect 10-0 in the first session of the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia. Penn State sits atop the early steam standings after one round of action at the Wells Fargo Center. Action resumes tonight with the second round as well as the beginning of consolation action beginning at 7 p.m.

Penn State’s perfect 10-0 mark included nine wins for bonus points. The Nittany Lions are in first place with 24.0 points. Oklahoma State is in second with 15.5. Michigan sits in third with 12.0.

True freshman Luke Lilledahl, the No. 1 seed at 125, 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.

Sophomore Braeden Davis, the No. 8 seed at 133, 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.

Senior+ Beau Bartlett, the No. 2 seed at 141, 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.

Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, the No. 3 seed at 149, 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.

Tyler Kasak, the No. 1 seed at 157, 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.

Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, the No. 1 seed at 165, 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.

Junior Levi Haines, the No. 2 seed at 174, 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.

Graduate Carter Starocci, the No. 1 seed at 184, 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.

Redshirt freshman Josh Barr, the No. 4 seed at 197, 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 Hogan 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.

Senior+ Greg Kerkvliet, the No. 3 seed at 285, met No. 30 Sam Mitchell of Wyoming in the first round. Kerkvliet muscled Michell to the mat and worked himself 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.

The Nittany Lions went 10-0 in round one. Penn State picked up 14.0 bonus points off two majors, four technical falls and three pins.

Action continues tonight in the Wells Fargo Center with the second round and consolation action at 7 p.m. Friday’s sessions are at 12 and 8 p.m. Saturday’s sessions are slated for 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. All morning sessions will be broadcast live national on ESPNU and all evening sessions will be broadcast live on ESPN (and ESPN2 Friday night).

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 1 (as of 4:00 p.m.)

1: PENN STATE – 24.0

2: Oklahoma State – 15.5

3: Michigan – 12.0

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 – tonight