Penn State’s wrestling team has advanced nine athletes to the semifinals of the 2026 Big Ten Championships, which are being held at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park. The Nittany Lions currently lead the team standings with 81 points, ahead of Ohio State and Nebraska.
The nine semifinalists—Luke Lilledahl (125 lbs), Marcus Blaze (133 lbs), Shayne Van Ness (149 lbs), PJ Duke (157 lbs), Mitchell Mesenbrink (165 lbs), Levi Haines (174 lbs), Rocco Welsh (184 lbs), Josh Barr (197 lbs), and Cole Mirasola (285 lbs)—have all secured qualification for the upcoming NCAA Championships in Cleveland. Braeden Davis at 141 pounds remains in contention for a tenth spot.
Head coach Cael Sanderson commented on his team’s performance: “We had a great first session and I’m proud of how our guys competed. Advancing nine to the semifinals is a testament to their preparation.”
In individual bouts, several Penn State wrestlers delivered strong performances. Luke Lilledahl overcame Iowa’s Dean Peterson after a successful challenge overturned an initial call, securing an 8-3 decision. Marcus Blaze posted a major decision over Rutgers’ Dylan Shawver, winning 16-3. Shayne Van Ness came from behind against Iowa’s Ryder Block to win 5-4, while PJ Duke earned a dominant 20-7 victory over Ohio State’s Brandon Cannon.
Mitchell Mesenbrink controlled his match against Paddy Gallagher of Ohio State for a 10-2 win, and Levi Haines notched a technical fall over Colin Kelly of Illinois with a score of 17-2. Rocco Welsh edged out Angelo Ferrari of Iowa in overtime, winning by tie-breaker, while Josh Barr defeated Gabe Sollars of Indiana with a technical fall at 21-6. Cole Mirasola advanced through two rounds including a quick pin in his opening bout.
Braeden Davis won his opening match but fell in the quarterfinals and will continue competing in consolation rounds.
As competition continues into tonight’s session with semifinals and more consolation matches scheduled for Saturday evening, Penn State looks to maintain its lead as it seeks another Big Ten title following an undefeated regular season record of 15-0 overall and 8-0 within conference play.
Fans can follow updates on Penn State wrestling through official social media channels on X/Twitter (@pennstateWREST), Facebook, and Instagram.