PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Penn State wrestling team made history during the first day of the 2025 NCAA Championships, clinching a perfect 20-0 record at the Wells Fargo Center. All 10 wrestlers of head coach Cael Sanderson’s squad advanced to the national quarterfinals, an unprecedented achievement for the program.
The championships resumed on March 21, 2025, at 12 p.m. with quarterfinals and consolation rounds. Following their outstanding performance, Penn State leads the team scoring with 39.5 points, significantly ahead of Nebraska’s 28.0 points and Oklahoma State's 24.0 points.
True freshman Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 1 in the 125-pound division, led the charge with a spectacular technical fall victory over No. 16 Blake West from Northern Illinois, winning 19-3 at 6:52, which showcased his skill and determination. “He was the most dominant wrestler at 125,” noted a commentator, as Lilledahl racked up significant points in both his matches.
Sophomore Braeden Davis, ranked No. 8 at 133 pounds, followed suit and fought hard against No. 9 Braxton Brown from Maryland, securing a narrowly contested 5-3 win.
Senior Beau Bartlett, the No. 2 seed at 141 pounds, faced off against No. 18 Julian Tagg from South Dakota State. After a tightly contested match, Bartlett managed to take the win with a final score of 4-1, emphasizing his experience and strategic approach.
Shayne Van Ness, a 149-pound sophomore seeded at No. 3, performed exceptionally, winning by major decision over No. 19 Andrew Clark of Rutgers, finalizing the bout 11-1.
Tyler Kasak, competing as the No. 1 seed at 157 pounds, bested No. 16 Cody Chittum from Iowa State with a convincing 8-3 decision, demonstrating his technical prowess as he progressed to the next round.
Mitchell Mesenbrink, the No. 1 seed at 165 pounds, dominated his match against No. 16 Kyle Mosher of Hofstra, completing his path to the quarterfinals with a 22-6 technical fall victory at 4:15.
Another standout performance came from junior Levi Haines at 174 pounds. He defeated No. 18 Gavin Sax of Oklahoma decisively with a 4-0 decision.
Graduate student Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 184 pounds, continued to impress when he defeated No. 16 Shane Cartagena-Walsh from Rutgers by technical fall, concluding the match 15-0 at 4:23.
Redshirt freshman Josh Barr snagged a significant victory after battling through injury. He faced No. 13 Trey Munoz from Oregon State at 197 pounds and overcame a two-point deficit to win by sudden victory 5-2, displaying remarkable resilience.
Heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 3, closed out the event’s first day with a steady victory against No. 14 Gavin Hoffman of Lock Haven, confirming his win with a score of 4-0.
Penn State’s success came as they collectively racked up 19.5 points on the first day, achieved through three major decisions, seven technical falls, and three pins. It was the first time the program reached such heights, advancing all ten wrestlers to the quarterfinals.
The NCAA Championships continue through the weekend, with sessions to be broadcast live on major sports networks, including ESPN and ESPNU. Fans are rallied to support their team through social media platforms, where they can keep up with the latest updates in real-time.
As the Nittany Lions prep to take on the next round, their impressive start sets the stage for a potentially iconic chapter in NCAA Wrestling history, with hopes of becoming only the second team ever to field ten All-Americans in one tournament.
