Penn State has eight still alive, all in the semifinals after session three of the NCAA Wrestling Championships

Complete results for Penn State so far

03/20/2026 01:40:24 PM

See every bout recap so far below:

125 pounds: No. 1 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State d. No. 8 Dean Peterson of Iowa, 2-1 (TB2)

After a scoreless first period, Peterson chose down and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead early in the second period. That was the score after two. Lilledahl chose down to start the third and escaped quickly to tie the mat at one. From neutral, Lilledahl quickly shot in low on Peterson and worked for a takedown and could not, as the action was stopped by a stalemate. With 37 second left, Lilledahl ducked in on a low single but couldn’t finish that shot, either, and the match went to sudden victory tied at one. At the 1:32 mark of sudden victory, Lilledahl again got in on a deep shot but couldn’t finish it as they went off the edge. The shots at this point are 4-1 in favor of the Penn State wrestler but he has. yet to finish one. Lilledahl then nearly had a takedown as time expired but it looked to be late and is going to review. No takedown. It’s off to tiebreakers.

Lilleadahl took down first in tiebreaker and escaped after 11 seconds. He leads 2-1 as Peterson goes down. The Nittany Lion must ride for at least 12 seconds to wipe out the Hawkeye’s tiebreaker advantage. Lilledahl ended up wiping out Peterson’s riding time and ended up riding him out with 19 seconds in riding time to move onto the semifinals, 2-1.

133 pounds: No. 3 Marcus Blaze, PSU d. No. 6 Drake Ayala, Iowa, 5-3

​​No. 3 Marcus Blaze of Penn State is an All-American. He beat No. 6 Drake Ayala of Iowa by decision, 5-3, on the strength of a second period takedown.

After a scoreless first period, Blaze took bottom to start the second, quickly escaped, and then drove in on a shot attempt that he finished for a takedown and 4-0 lead before the midway point of the second period. Ayala escaped after that and there was no further scoring, making it 4-1 in favor of the Penn State freshman after two. Ayala chose down to start the third, and Blaze rode for much of the third period to clinch the riding time point before the Hawkeye escaped with 18 seconds left. Blaze was called for stalling, but that’s it. He wins 5-3.

141 pounds: No. 14 Braeden Davis, Penn State d.  No. 29 Jordan Titus of West Virginia (consolation bracket round two), 10-6

Braeden Davis beats Jordan Titus
Braeden Davis of Penn State beats Jordan Titus of West Virginia by decision, 10-6, in consolation round two to keep his All-American hopes alive. He’ll wrestle in consolation round three later in this session.

After a wild scramble that initially looked like it would end with a takedown for Davis, it ended up being one for Titus, and Penn State challenged the call on the mat. After review, it’s a takedown for Davis and reversal for Titus, making it 3-2 in favor of the Nittany Lion after a long review. Davis quickly escaped to 4-2 off the restart. With about 30 seconds left in the first, Titus finished a takedown shot to give him a 5-4 lead before Davis escaped to 5-5 to end the period.

Davis took bottom to start the second and quickly escaped to take a 6-5 lead early in the period. He then switched from a single to a double leg takedown attempt and finished it to go up 9-5 midway through the second period. Davis picked up a stalling warning on top but rode out the period to take a 9-5 lead into the third.

Titus chose down to start the third and Davis rode him despite giving up a stalling point, leading to a 10-6 win with 2:31 in riding time to keep his All-American hopes alive. He’ll wrestle in consolation round three later today.

149 pounds: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness, PSU d. No. 8 Casey Swiderski of Oklahoma State, 5-2 (SV)

No. 1 Shayne Van Ness of Penn State beats No. 8 Casey Swiderski of Oklahoma State in sudden victory by decision, 5-2, on the strength of a takedown with one second left. He is the Lions’ third All-American and semifinalist.

Van Ness had to fend off a deep Swiderski shot early, which led to a restart. The first period ended up being scoreless. Swiderski took the bottom to start the second and escaped to a 1-0 lead after 46 seconds, and Van Ness ended up with a cut on his forehead that required medical attention. The second period ended 1-0 in favor of Swiderski.

Van Ness picked down to start the reversed Swiderski about 16 seconds into the final period for a 2-1 lead. The Cowboy escaped to tie it at two with 1:22 left to wrestle. The third ends tied 2-2 and we’re headed to sudden victory.

In sudden victory, a great scramble ensued leading to a stalemate with 37 seconds left to wrestle in the extra period. With one second second left, Van Ness dove in like he was making a tackle and took Swiderski down with one second left to win, 5-2, and move into the semifinals. 

157 pounds: No. 1 PJ Duke, Penn State TF No. 8 Brandon Cannon of Ohio State, 21-5 (5:23)

No. 1 PJ Duke of Penn State beats No. 8 Brandon Cannon of Ohio State by technical fall, 21-5, in 5:23 at 157 pounds. He is the Lions’ fourth All-American and semifinalist so far and absolutely dominated the Buckeye in Cleveland.

Duke scored a fast takedown to take a 3-0 lead and then essentially cut Cannon to 3-1. The Nittany Lion freshman then quickly shot and scored again for a 6-1 lead near the midway mark of the first period before Duke cut Cannon again to 6-2. Duke then shot and scored with seconds left in the third to lead 9-2 after one.

Cannon took down and escaped to 9-3 to start the second. Nearly as quickly, Duke hit a double leg takedown for a 12-3 lead. Cannon then escaped to 12-4. Rinse and repeat for Duke to take a 15-4 lead. Duke is a little ginger getting up and chooses a neutral restart to 15-5. But Duke looks fine as he shoots and scores again to 18-5 to end the second period.

Duke picks neutral to start the third, gets a takedown, and takes out Brandon Cannon by technical fall, 21-5, in 5:23 to move onto the semifinals.

165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU d. No. 9 Bryce Hepner of North Carolina, 6-0

No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink of Penn State beats No. 9 Bryce Hepner of North Carolina by decision, 6-0, to become a three-time All-American. He’s into the semis after his first non-bonus point win of the year.

Hepner was in on a deep shot he could not finish, leaving the first period scoreless 1:06 in, a rarity for Mesenbrink matches. With 27 seconds left as they went off the edge, Hepner remained laying on the mat motionless as medical personnel rushed onto the mat. After being looked at by trainers and medical staff, he was able to get up to his feet, and the match resumed. It is 0-0 after one.

Hepner took bottom to start the second and Mesenbrink tilted him for four nearfall points with 45 seconds left in the second period to take a 4-0 lead. That is the score after two.

Mesenbrink took bottom to start the third and escaped with 55 seconds to take a 5-0 lead. With 1:05 in riding time, Mesenbrink wins 6-0 to become a three-time All-American.

174 pounds: No. 1 Levi Haines, Penn State TF No. 9 Beau Mantanona, Michigan, 18-3 (7:00)

No. 1 Levi Haines of Penn State beat No. 9 Beau Mantanona of Michigan by technical fall, 18-3, in 7:00 in one 174-pound quarterfinal. He is a four-time All-American and is the Nittany Lions’ sixth semifinalist.

Haines scored first with a takedown about halfway through the first period for a 3-0 lead. Haines then tilted Mantanona late for a pair of nearfall points and a 5-0 lead after one.

The second period started neutral, and Haines shot and scored another takedown for a 8-0 lead midway through the second period and then cut the Wolverine to 8-1. Haines then shot and scored again to go up 11-1. That’s the score after two.

Mantanona took down to start the third. He escaped to 11-2. With 50 seconds left, Haines snapped and circled in for a takedown to give him a 14-2 lead. He cuts Mantanona to 14-3 with 39 seconds left. Haines shoots and scores immediately off the whistle to go up 17-3. He then rode Mantanona out to win by technical fall, 18-3, in 7:00.

184 pounds: No. 1 Rocco Welsh, PSU inj def. No. 8 Silas Allred of Nebraska

No. 1 Rocco Welsh of Penn State wins by injury default over No. 8 Silas Allred of Nebraska. Leading 7-1 in the third, Allred was on bottom and the pair were rolling when the Cornhusker screamed in pain with a right leg injury. The time of the stoppage was 5:11. Welsh is onto the semifinals and is a two-time All-American.

After a scoreless first period, Welsh took bottom and quickly escaped for a 1-0 lead. Welsh then dropped in on a single for a takedown and 4-0 lead 40 seconds into the second period. Allred eventually escaped to 4-1. Welsh responded with an ankle pick for a takedown and 7-1 lead late in the second period and that’s the score heading to the third.

Allred chose bottom to start the third. Welsh was working on turning Welsh when the Cornhusker screamed in pain with a right leg injury. 

197 pounds: No. 1 Josh Barr, Penn State TF No. 9 Angelo Posada, Stanford, 19-3 (4:50)

 No. 1 Josh Barr of Penn State beats No. 9 Angelo Posada of Stanford by technical fall, 19-3, in 4:50. He scored five takedowns and added four nearfall points to become an All-American and make the 197-pound semifinals.

Barr scored a takedown quickly to take a 3-0 lead in this 197-pound quarterfinal. Barr then started a ride and turned the Stanford wrestler toward his back for four nearfall points and a 7-0 lead with 30 seconds left in the first period. That’s the score after one.

The second period started neutral and Barr needed all of 15 seconds for a takedown to make it 10-0 and a quick cut makes it 10-1. The Penn State wrestler shot right back in and scored a takedown for a 13-1 lead. Barr cuts to 13-2. Barr then shoots and scores yet again for his fourth takedown and a cut to a 16-3 lead. Rinse and repeat, Barr scores and it’s over. Barr wins by technical fall, 19-3, in 4:50.