Cleveland-Bound: Profiles and Scoring Stats for the Nittany Lion Ten
After weeks of intense action, we’re at a calm before the storm as the Penn State Nittany Lion Wrestlers move into position to claim another bevy of national championships and the records they set along the way.
In times like this, I spend too much time listening to wrestling podcasts, re-watching PSU wrestling matches, and pursuing that elusive “secret sauce” that brings Cael Sanderson’s team to unseen heights again and again—it reminds me of the way I used to spend way too much time looking at baseball cards. I’d pore over my books of cards to take in all I could about my favorite heroes. The sport is different, but I guess not much has changed.
Below you will find 10 profiles on our 10 qualifiers for the NCAA tournament this year featuring:
- Fantastic photos from BSD photographers Scott Pilutik and Owen Rasmussen.
- Links to video of 3 key matches from the season.
- Some human interest facts and quotes.
- A summary of the basic season stats (updated since the March 7-8 B1G Tourney)—mobile users, you may have to swipe left on these tables.
- Scoring Profile: a look at how each guy likes to score from Neutral, Top, and Bottom:As mentioned in my recent transcript posts, I’ve been experimenting with how AI can augment our work at BSD without taking the fun part out (actually writing the articles!) After numerous iterations, it has proven adept at transcribing spoken word and interestingly, aggregating statistics on scoring (over 800 data points) from our season long narratives. The Scoring Profile charts are the fruits of that experiment. While narratives aren’t always perfect—sometimes we just note that Mitchell Mesenbrink racked up six more takedowns—the “tree map” charts provide a significant enough sample (60-90% of the regular season) to illustrate exactly how our guys prefer to score.
- 125 lbs – #1 Luke Lilledahl (So.), Wyoming Seminary, PA – 20-0
- 133 lbs – #2 Marcus Blaze (Fr.), Perrysburg, OH – 19-1
- 141 lbs – #14 Braeden Davis (Jr.), Dundee, MI – 11-5
- 149 lbs – #1 Shayne Van Ness (Jr.), Blair Academy, NJ – 21-0
- 157 lbs – #1 PJ Duke (Fr.), Minisink Valley, NY – 19-1
- 165 lbs – #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Jr.), Arrowhead, WI – 22-0
- 174 lbs – #1 Levi Haines (Sr.), Biglerville, PA – 21-0
- 184 lbs – #1 Rocco Welsh (So.), Waynesburg Central, PA – 20-0
- 197 lbs – #1 Josh Barr (So.), Davison, MI – 19-0
- 285 lbs – #8 Cole Mirasola (R-Fr.), West Bend, WI – 17-6
125 lbs – #1 Luke Lilledahl (So.), Wyoming Seminary, PA – 20-0
1/4
Luke earned his nickname “Lightning” from one of his first little league wrestling coaches who gave it to him after watching him win sprints at practice.
I also feel like the more people that are watching, I kind of wrestle better. So, I kind of feed off the energy and then also being first, I feel like it’s part of my responsibility to get the crowd into the dual.”
He’s a student of the game… very athletic, very fast. He’s a special one. A guy that we’re very, very excited to have lead us off.
— Cael Sanderson, BSD: Season Opening Press Conference 11/11/2025 (35:23 – 36:47)
W |
L |
B1G W |
B1G L |
MD |
TF |
F |
TD for |
TD agst. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 51 | 1 |
Luke has one of the biggest neutral arsenals on the team, a lot of single-leg variants, but plenty of doubles, short offense, and more. From top, he exhibited a commitment to developing his bow & arrow, and has had some reversals, but mostly escapes from bottom.
133 lbs – #2 Marcus Blaze (Fr.), Perrysburg, OH – 19-1
1/4
For his first three years of wrestling, Marcus only practiced and never competed because he got too nervous and was “scared to lose”.
Appreciating the Approach
I think they’re [the coaches] just geniuses how they put information in your head… It just feels like you’re just going to go out there and wrestle as hard as you can and whatever happens happens.
The bigger the match the better he’ll wrestle. And we believe as a program that’s our thing too.
— Cael Sanderson, BSD: Media Availability with Cael Sanderson – 1/14/2026 (00:32 – 00:59)
W |
L |
B1G W |
B1G L |
MD |
TF |
F |
TD for |
TD agst. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 50 | 1 |
Unsurprisingly, Marcus has a balanced array of Neutral attacks, a good section from short offense where his superior positioning pays dividends. He likes cradles, but can find creative ways to score from top. As shown vs Davino in the dual, he can get a reversal when he needs onw.
141 lbs – #14 Braeden Davis (Jr.), Dundee, MI – 11-5
1/4
Braeden is an intense hunter and fisherman; Head Coach Cael Sanderson noted, “I feel sorry for the fish and whatever he’s hunting.”
I have always been taught that if something goes bad, just go and score another one. I did not think of it too deeply; I am just glad I did not get thrown on my back.
[Braeden] Davis is ready to go and he’s a competitor. It’s nice having him in the lineup; he always competes hard.
W |
L |
B1G W |
B1G L |
MD |
TF |
F |
TD for |
TD agst. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 10 |
Braeden makes hay from single legs, but can also horse his man out of position for a go-behind or counter. He looks for turns with tilts, but has some success with catching a turk while finishing his takedowns. He favors the sit-out and hip heist routine for the majority of his escapes.
149 lbs – #1 Shayne Van Ness (Jr.), Blair Academy, NJ – 21-0
1/4
Shayne played youth football as a quarterback until 6th grade, but switched full-time to wrestling because he realized he “couldn’t see over the line” to make passes.
I bow as a sign of respect to my opponent and to the people there watching. I do that before and after I compete… if it’s something you’ll do whether you win or lose I don’t think there’s a problem with it.
— Shayne Van Ness, BSD: Media Availability with Shayne Van Ness – 2/11/2026 (03:41 – 04:08)
He’s a competitor. He can fall behind a takedown or even two and still come back and win a match… Seven minutes can be a long time, and he can get a lot done in seven minutes.
W |
L |
B1G W |
B1G L |
MD |
TF |
F |
TD for |
TD agst. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 58 | 6 |
Shayne has a balanced game between his deadly doubles, a variety of single legs, and is not afraid to go to deep water on a scramble to counter. Van ness is one of Penn State’s most prolific turners and he has a wide range of attacks at the ready on top.
157 lbs – #1 PJ Duke (Fr.), Minisink Valley, NY – 19-1
1/4
PJ has a background in Judo where he won the US Open two or three times; he is also an avid fisherman who once spent “a couple grand” of summer earnings on gear, including $850 on a single rod.
My goal is to have fun, which helps with the pressure. I have high expectations for myself, and when I focus on having fun, it helps me perform better.
PJ Duke wrestled great. He looked good and determined to go score his points. He did a nice job; he made some small adjustments.
W |
L |
B1G W |
B1G L |
MD |
TF |
F |
TD for |
TD agst. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 50 | 2 |
Duke has a lot of ways he can hurt you on his feet—you are never comfortable across from him. PJ has had the most success with cradles, and is reliable from bottom with his escapes.
165 lbs – #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Jr.), Arrowhead, WI – 22-0
1/4
Mitchell uses ancient Greek philosophy (Socrates, Aristotle, Plato) and chess strategy to inform his wrestling mindset, focusing on how to handle pressure without letting it “break you”
You could be the sweetest peach on the tree, but some people don’t like peaches. You could do every single thing right and people could still not like you. I want to perform how I want to perform.
— Mitchell Mesenbrink, 3/10/2026 – State Media | Mitchell Mesenbrink on Wrestling, Chess, Music & Going Viral (27:18 – 28:07)
He is very creative and very ambitious. He loves music and is a very talented musician. He reads a lot; on off days when he is off the mat, he will be sitting in the bleachers reading a book. He is a kid who loves life and lives it to the fullest. He loves philosophy and discussing the meaning of life. He is a lot of fun to have around and is just a kid who isn’t afraid to get after it.
— Cael Sanderson, 3/2/2026 – BSD: Media Availability with Cael Sanderson
W |
L |
B1G W |
B1G L |
MD |
TF |
F |
TD for |
TD agst. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 45 | 1 |
Mitchell’s wildly successful strategy on his feet is, make stuff happen; he wins the positions he creates. A newfound commitment to turns this year is evident with extensive work in his hammerlock/chicken-wing and arm bar series stats. Mitchell also reverses as much as he gets escapes.
174 lbs – #1 Levi Haines (Sr.), Biglerville, PA – 21-0
1/4
When asked for one word to describe himself, Levi chose “Hunter,” highlighting his identity as a serious outdoorsman.
I think when you’re always just trying to pursue being a master of yourself or mastering your craft, time just goes quick because you’re just focused on the task at hand.
Levi Haines had a great off-season and jumped levels again, which is what happens when you have his kind of mentality and enthusiasm.
— Cael Sanderson, BSD: Season Opening Press Conference 11/11/2025 (00:20 – 00:24)
W |
L |
B1G W |
B1G L |
MD |
TF |
F |
TD for |
TD agst. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 48 | 3 |
Levi is known for his high crotch, but he can score however he needs to, with single-legs, counters, short offense, and more. No surprise he is deadly with the bow and arrow and catching turks.
184 lbs – #1 Rocco Welsh (So.), Waynesburg Central, PA – 20-0
1/4
Rocco has a strict pre-competition ritual of getting a “faded up” haircut and asks his renowned youth coach Khaled Dassan (KD) to confirm if it’s a “good haircut or not.“
I’ve always been able to win matches, but I feel like if I just want to get to the next level, I need to come here and learn the best technique and put it all together.
He just stepped it up a notch and started pressing a little bit more… It is just the heart and the determination and seeing that it is okay if you fall behind and you can still come back.
W |
L |
B1G W |
B1G L |
MD |
TF |
F |
TD for |
TD agst. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 50 | 4 |
Known for his stout defense, Rocco has a pretty broad arsenal, with as crisp a high-crotch as you can see, and a lightening quick outside step, he can also win matches getting gritty in scrambles and short offense. Rocco can get an escape quickly, but hasn’t reversed much (none in the sample).
197 lbs – #1 Josh Barr (So.), Davison, MI – 19-0
1/4
If a zombie apocalypse occurred, Barr’s plan is to team up with teammate Levi Haines to get guns, then hide out in the woods at a spot Levi has scouted.
There’s that moment in every match where a kid kind of gives his last full effort… But every time in that moment of the match, like there’s something that gets flipped in my head and I’m like, ‘Let’s go!
He looked pretty good. He looked really good in Tennessee. His movement, hustle, and effort were there. Just because he wrestled hard, he’s just going to keep getting better.
— Cael Sanderson, BSD: Media Availability with Cael Sanderson and PJ Duke – 1/7/2026 (0:30 – 0:44)
W |
L |
B1G W |
B1G L |
MD |
TF |
F |
TD for |
TD agst. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 45 | 1 |
Josh has been taking after Mitchell in creating wrestling positions, and then winning them, As such, he has a wide distribution of score types. His assassin has been deadly on top.
285 lbs – #8 Cole Mirasola (R-Fr.), West Bend, WI – 17-6
1/4
Cole described his victory in the sold-out Bryce Jordan Center as a “full circle moment” that he had wanted to do his “whole life”.
I’ve just been focused on being more mean when I’m wrestling, just kind of not giving up any points easily. In the past I haven’t really been super mean when I wrestle, just kind of tactical and slick. But talking to Cael [Sanderson], it doesn’t have to be clean. You can win dirty—not being dirty obviously—but winning off a go-behind or pulling guys down.
He’s athletic and he’s tough and scrappy and he’ll hustle. He did a nice job… he found a way to get that takedown at the end.
W |
L |
B1G W |
B1G L |
MD |
TF |
F |
TD for |
TD agst. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 38 | 6 |
For a big man, Cole’s Neutral profile looks like a lightweight’s. He’s making hay against the big boys with the relatively safe snatch-singles and ankle picks, but can sting you on a reattach, and blow through you with a double. He’s also had success with a turk and the cross-face cradle on top.
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