Penn State Wrestling delivered a dominant performance on Friday night, showcasing their dominance by defeating Iowa 30-8 at the Bryce Jordan Center. This meet not only solidified their position as the number one team but also highlighted their depth and talent across nearly every weight class.
The night began with high expectations as both teams entered the match undefeated, setting the stage for what was billed as one of the biggest duals of the year. No. 1 Penn State (10-0, 4-0 Big Ten) faced off against No. 2 Iowa (9-1, 3-1 Big Ten) with both teams bringing some of the nation’s top wrestlers to the mat.
At 125 pounds, Penn State's Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 7, opened the evening with a powerful showing against Iowa's No. 26 Joey Cruz. Lilledahl, fresh off his recent U20 world championship win, swiftly took control of the match, securing five takedowns and finishing with a 22-6 technical fall. This put Penn State up 5-0 early—the Bryce Jordan Center erupted as Lilledahl’s performance set the tone for the rest of the dual.
Next up at 133 pounds, the Hawkeyes tied the score with No. 3 Drake Ayala's impressive 19-4 technical fall over Penn State’s Kurt McHenry, who stepped up to fill the gap left by injured star Braeden Davis. With the score now 5-5, momentum shifted back to the Nittany Lions.
The 141-pound match featured No. 3 Beau Bartlett against Cullan Schriever. Bartlett quickly established dominance with two early takedowns, prevailing with a 7-3 decision and putting Penn State back ahead, 8-5. The excitement continued as No. 4 Shayne Van Ness wrestled No. 2 Kyle Parco at 149 pounds. Van Ness’s aggressive approach and ability to respond to Parco’s moves earned him a cozy 17-6 major decision, extending Penn State’s lead to 12-5.
Perhaps one of the most anticipated matches occurred at 157 pounds, where No. 3 Tyler Kasak squared off against the top-ranked Jacori Teemer of Iowa. After a quiet first period, Kasak successfully executed key maneuvers to edge out Teemer 5-2, garnering significant applause from the crowd—a moment of triumph for the young wrestler.
At 165 pounds, the spotlight was on No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, who maintained his status as one of the country’s best by earning yet another technical fall against No. 2 Michael Caliendo, finishing with a score of 19-4. Penn State’s lead swelled to 20-5, putting them comfortably ahead as they approached the latter rounds of the dual.
Entering the 174-pound match, No. 2 Levi Haines faced off against No. 6 Patrick Kennedy, where Haines displayed his skill by notching two takedowns to clinch the 10-3 decision. Haines’s victory brought the score to 23-5, confirming Penn State’s grip on the dual.
The 184-pound bout featured the familiar face of No. 1 Carter Starocci, combating Iowa’s Angelo Ferrari. Despite Ferrari’s strategic defense, Starocci came out on top with a 3-1 decision, elevting the Nittany Lions to 26-5 with just two matches remaining.
The lone spotlight for Iowa came in the 197-pound match, where No. 1 Stephen Buchanan bested Penn State's No. 4 Josh Barr, scoring 5-1. This brought the score to 26-8, but with one match left—heavyweight—Penn State was poised for victory.
Closing the dual, No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet continued to demonstrate his prowess, achieving a significant 12-2 major decision over Iowa’s Ben Kueter. With Kerkvliet's victory, the final score settled at 30-8, marking yet another dominant performance for the Nittany Lions.
Many spectators and analysts walked away buzzing about the depth of talent displayed by Penn State and the impressive resilience of their wrestlers. The performance not only reaffirmed their spot atop NCAA wrestling but also reassured fans and followers of the program's commitment to excellence.
This win continues to highlight the Nittany Lions’ unprecedented dual winning streak, which dates back to January 31, 2020. Their next challenge will come against the No. 19 Michigan at the same venue this coming February 7, where they aim to carry this momentum forward. Fans can expect another exciting contest as Penn State competes to secure their standing at the top of collegiate wrestling.
With notable wins and impressive displays, the Penn State wrestling program has truly set the standard this season. The dual against Iowa not only exemplified the spirit of competition but also served as a reminder of the high stakes and electrifying talent present within NCAA wrestling.