The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team won all ten of its matches in the first session of the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 19. The team leads the early standings with 22.5 points after one round at Rocket Arena.
This strong start puts Penn State ahead of Iowa and Ohio State, who have 15.0 and 14.5 points respectively. The team’s performance included eight bonus-point victories, with five technical falls, two pins, and a major decision contributing to their total score.
Among the highlights, sophomore Luke Lilledahl secured an 11-2 major decision at 125 pounds, while true freshman Marcus Blaze posted a technical fall at 133 pounds. Junior Braeden Davis earned a close win at 141 pounds, and junior Shayne Van Ness achieved a technical fall at 149 pounds. True freshman PJ Duke recorded a pin in his match at 157 pounds.
Other notable performances included junior Mitchell Mesenbrink’s technical fall at 165 pounds and senior Levi Haines’ pin at 174 pounds. Sophomore Rocco Welsh also won by technical fall at 184 pounds, as did sophomore Josh Barr at 197 pounds. Redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola rounded out the session with a decision victory at heavyweight.
The championships continue tonight with consolation bouts and second-round matches scheduled for later sessions this week. Fans are encouraged to follow updates on social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.