Penn State Rolls to a 20-0 Record on Day One of the 2025 NCAA Championships
PHILADELPHIA – The Penn State wrestling team followed up a perfect first session with a perfect second session at the 2025 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia. Head coach Cael Sanderson’s squad went unbeaten again, going 20-0 on the day, and advanced all 10 of its wrestlers to the national quarterfinals at the Wells Fargo Center. The event, including the quarterfinals and consolation action, continues with session three tomorrow, March 21, at 12 p.m.
Penn State’s perfect day one marks the first time in school history that the Nittany Lions went 20-0 on day one of the NCAA Championships and the first time Penn State advanced 10 wrestlers to the quarterfinals. The Nittany Lions lead the team race with 39.5 points, ahead of Nebraska’s 28.0 and Oklahoma State’s 24.0.
True freshman Luke Lilledahl, the No. 1 seed at 125, 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.
Sophomore Braeden Davis, the No. 8 seed at 133, 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.
Senior+ Beau Bartlett, the No. 2 seed at 141, 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.
Sophomore Shayne Van Ness, the No. 3 seed at 149, 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.
Tyler Kasak, the No. 1 seed at 157, 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.
Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, the No. 1 seed at 165, 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.
Junior Levi Haines, the No. 2 seed at 174, 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.
Graduate Carter Starocci, the No. 1 seed at 184, 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.
Redshirt freshman Josh Barr, the No. 4 seed at 197, 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.
Senior+ Greg Kerkvliet, the No. 3 seed at 285, 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.
The Nittany Lions went 10-0 once more in session two and, for the first time in Penn State history, finished day one at the NCAA Championships with a 20-0 mark. The Nittany Lions also amassed 19.5 points on day one off three majors, seven tech falls and three pins.
Action continues on Friday with sessions at 12 p.m. for quarterfinals and consolations action and 8 p.m. for the national semifinals, consolations and blood round for All-America status. 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 2 (as of 10:45 p.m., some conso in action)
1: PENN STATE – 39.5
2: Nebraska – 28.0
3: Oklahoma State – 27.0
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 – tomorrow
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.
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 – tomorrow
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.
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 – tomorrow
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.
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 – tomorrow
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.
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 – tomorrow
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.
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 – tomorrow
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.
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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 – tomorrow
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.
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 – tomorrow
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.
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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 – tomorrow
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.
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 – tomorrow
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.
SEE ABOVE STORY FOR THIS SESSION’S BOUT-BY-BOUT
