Penn State Dominates Iowa In Big Ten Wrestling Showdown

Penn State’s wrestling juggernaut rolled into Iowa City on January 16, 2026, and left with a statement victory that will echo across the Big Ten for weeks to come. The top-ranked Nittany Lions, now 8-0 overall and 2-0 in conference, dominated the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes 32-3 in front of a raucous crowd of 12,530 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This wasn’t just a win—it was a showcase of depth, youth, and relentless energy from a Penn State squad featuring six underclassmen and a lineup stacked with ranked talent.

The dual meet was hyped as one of the season’s marquee matchups, pitting two storied programs against each other in a clash that featured 18 ranked individuals across ten bouts. Iowa entered the night riding a three-dual win streak, including a convincing 23-12 victory over No. 18 Wisconsin just a week earlier. Penn State, meanwhile, had flexed its muscles in its Big Ten opener, blanking Rutgers 44-0 on January 10. The anticipation was palpable, with fans tuning in on the Big Ten Network and radio listeners hanging on every call from Steven Grace and Mark Ironside.

From the opening whistle, it was clear Penn State wasn’t interested in sharing the spotlight. At 125 pounds, sophomore Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 2 nationally, set the tone with an 11-5 decision over Iowa’s No. 6 Dean Peterson. Lilledahl’s aggressive attacks and three takedowns put Penn State on the board early and silenced the home crowd. "He came out fast, scrambling through a flurry that ended out of bounds off the opening whistle," the official bout summary recounted. Lilledahl’s win marked the first of nine victories for the Nittany Lions on the night.

True freshman Marcus Blaze followed at 133, grinding out a 4-2 win over Iowa senior Drake Ayala, ranked No. 8. Blaze’s second-period takedown proved decisive, and his composure under pressure gave Penn State a quick 6-0 team lead. Iowa’s only bright spot came at 141, where Nassir Bailey, ranked No. 11, edged out Penn State’s Braeden Davis 3-2 in a tactical battle. That result trimmed the margin to 6-3, but it would be the last Hawkeye celebration of the evening.

Junior Shayne Van Ness, the nation’s No. 1 at 149, lit up the scoreboard with a major decision over No. 17 Ryder Block. Van Ness trailed early but roared back in the third period, using a takedown and four back points to seal a 13-4 win and extend Penn State’s lead to 10-3. The Nittany Lions’ relentless approach was on full display, as Van Ness’s riding time and offensive flurries left Block with few answers.

At 157, true freshman PJ Duke, ranked No. 3, showcased his grit by outlasting No. 12 Jordan Williams in a 4-2 decision. Duke’s ability to generate offense late in bouts has quickly made him a fan favorite, and his third-period escape and takedown were the difference makers. By the halfway mark, Penn State had built a commanding 13-3 advantage, and the Hawkeyes were on the ropes.

The onslaught continued at 165, where junior Mitchell Mesenbrink—ranked No. 1—overpowered Iowa’s No. 3 Michael Caliendo for an 11-2 major decision. Mesenbrink’s takedowns in every period and relentless pace earned Penn State valuable bonus points and pushed the team tally to 17-3. Senior Levi Haines, also ranked No. 1, kept the momentum rolling at 174 with a workmanlike 4-2 win over Gabe Arnold. Haines’s first-period takedown and stingy defense proved too much for Arnold to overcome.

One of the night’s most anticipated showdowns came at 184, where Penn State’s Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 4, faced Iowa’s top-ranked Angelo Ferrari. The bout lived up to its billing, going into sudden victory and then a tiebreaker. Welsh’s ride-out in the first tiebreaker and escape in the second lifted him to a thrilling 2-1 win—a result that sent the Penn State bench into celebration mode. "Welsh end the match on his feet and walked away with a thrilling 2-1 (TB) win," read the official recap, perfectly capturing the drama of the moment.

At 197, sophomore Josh Barr, ranked No. 1, delivered the exclamation point with a pin of Brody Sampson at 3:42. Barr’s offensive barrage and ability to capitalize on scrambles put the dual out of reach and earned Penn State five more bonus points. The final bout at heavyweight saw redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 13, edge Iowa’s No. 5 Ben Kueter 4-3, using a second-period takedown and smart defense to secure the win and cap Penn State’s near-perfect night.

By the numbers, Penn State’s dominance was staggering. The Nittany Lions gave up just two takedowns all night while racking up a 15-2 margin in their favor. Three bonus-point wins—two majors and a pin—demonstrated their ability to turn close matches into blowouts. The only bout they lost was by a single point, underscoring how complete their performance was from top to bottom.

The magnitude of this victory can’t be overstated. Iowa, a perennial powerhouse, saw its record fall to 8-3 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten. For the Hawkeyes, the loss is a tough pill to swallow, especially in front of a home crowd that had hoped to see an upset and a shift in the conference pecking order. Instead, Penn State’s blend of youth and experience proved too much for even the most battle-tested Hawkeye lineup.

Penn State’s win also showcased the depth of talent in their program. With six underclassmen in the starting lineup, the Nittany Lions displayed a maturity and poise that belied their youth. From Lilledahl’s opening salvo to Barr’s emphatic pin, each wrestler contributed to a team effort that left little doubt about their championship aspirations. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as this group continues its Big Ten campaign.

The Nittany Lions’ next test comes quickly, as they travel to face Northwestern on Sunday, January 18, at 3 p.m. Eastern. With momentum on their side and a target on their backs, Penn State will look to keep their perfect season alive and further cement their status as the team to beat in college wrestling.

For Iowa, the challenge is to regroup and refocus after a humbling defeat. The Hawkeyes remain a formidable squad with plenty of season left to play, but Friday night belonged to Penn State—a team firing on all cylinders and making a powerful case as the nation’s best.