Penn State has 2 NCAA title winners; See the full list of champions here
PHILADELPHIA — Penn State wrestling won its fourth consecutive team title and has two title winners at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships. Carter Starocci became the sport’s first five-time champ when he beat Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa 4-1 in the 184-pound title bout. At 165 pounds, Mitchell Mesenbrink won his first title by beating Iowa’s Mikey Caliendo 8-2. The Nittany Lions set a new team tournament points record with 177. And, Starocci was the tournament’s most outstanding wrestler. Penn State finishes with 10 All-Americans, becoming the second team to accomplish that, and is the first team with 10 top-six finishers.
Find a full recap of the final session and a full list of champions below.
Carter Starocci is the outstanding wrestler of the year
03/22/2025 09:55:15 PMPenn State 184-pound champ Carter Starocci is the NCAA Tournament outstanding wrestler. Mitchell Mesenbrink was also recognized after leading the country with 18 technical falls.
NCAA finals results
03/22/2025 09:17:19 PMHere’s the list:
184 pounds: No. 1 Carter Starocci (Penn State) d. No. 2 Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa), 4-1
125 pounds: No. 4 Vince Robinson (NC State) d. No. 7 Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State), 2-1 (TB)
133 pounds: No. 1 Lucas Byrd (Illinois) d. No. 2 Drake Ayala (Iowa), 3-2 (TB R-1)
141 pounds:. No. 3 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) d. No. 1 Brock Hardy (Nebraska), 12-9
149 pounds: No. 2 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) d. No. 1 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech), 1-0
157 pounds: No. 3 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) d. No. 8 Joey Blaze (Purdue), 4-2
165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) d. No. 3 Mikey Caliendo (Iowa), 8-2
174 pounds: No. 3 Dean Hamiti (Oklahoma State) d. No. 1 Keegan O’Toole (Missouri), 4-1
197 pounds: No. 2 Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) d. No. 4 Josh Barr (Penn State), 5-2
285 pounds: No. 2 Wyatt Hendrickson (Oklahoma State) d. No. 1 Gable Steveson (Minnesota), 5-4
Wyatt Hendrickson STUNS Gable Steveson
03/22/2025 09:16:52 PMOklahoma State heavyweight Wyatt Hendrickson took down Olympic gold medalist and NCAA legend Gable Steveson in the third period, then held him down to win the 285-pound championship 5-4. A stunning end to the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Josh Barr drops his final
03/22/2025 08:56:01 PMStephen Buchanan of Iowa beats Penn State redshirt freshman Josh Barr 5-2 in the 197-pound final. The Nittany Lion finishes second. Penn State goes 2-1 in the final session.
Dean Hamiti wins
03/22/2025 08:38:47 PMOklahoma State’s Dean Hamiti is an NCAA champ. He beat defending NCAA champ Keegan O’Toole of Missouri 4-1 to win the 174-pound title.
Updated final results
03/22/2025 08:26:16 PMHere’s the list after six:
184 pounds: No. 1 Carter Starocci (Penn State) d. No. 2 Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa), 4-1
125 pounds: No. 4 Vince Robinson (NC State) d. No. 7 Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State), 2-1 (TB)
133 pounds: No. 1 Lucas Byrd (Illinois) d. No. 2 Drake Ayala (Iowa), 3-2 (TB R-1)
141 pounds:. No. 3 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) d. No. 1 Brock Hardy (Nebraska), 12-9
149 pounds: No. 2 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) d. No. 1 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech), 1-0
157 pounds: No. 3 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) d. No. 8 Joey Blaze (Purdue), 4-2
165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) d. No. 3 Mikey Caliendo (Iowa), 8-2
Mitchell Mesenbrink is an NCAA champ
03/22/2025 08:20:13 PMThe Nittany Lion beat Iowa’s Mikey Caliendo 8-2 in the 165-pound final. He scored a late takedown to add to his 5-2 lead. He’s the second Penn State champ of the night, joining Carter Starocci. Mesenbrink beat the Hawkeye three times this year, including the Big Ten and now NCAA finals.
Antrell Taylor is an NCAA champ
03/22/2025 08:02:38 PMAntrell Taylor of Nebraska beats Purdue’s Joey Blaze (the brother of Penn State Class of 2025 signee Marcus) 4-2 in the 157-pound final. Updated final results sheet:
184 pounds: No. 1 Carter Starocci (Penn State) d. No. 2 Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa), 4-1
125 pounds: No. 4 Vince Robinson (NC State) d. No. 7 Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State), 2-1 (TB)
133 pounds: No. 1 Lucas Byrd (Illinois) d. No. 2 Drake Ayala (Iowa), 3-2 (TB R-1)
141 pounds:. No. 3 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) d. No. 1 Brock Hardy (Nebraska), 12-9
149 pounds: No. 2 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) d. No. 1 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech), 1-0
157 pounds: No. 3 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) d. No. 8 Joey Blaze (Purdue), 4-2
First five results from the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships
03/22/2025 07:38:09 PMThe first five champs have been crowned. Here’s the breakdown:
184 pounds: No. 1 Carter Starocci (Penn State) d. No. 2 Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa), 4-1
125 pounds: No. 4 Vince Robinson (NC State) d. No. 7 Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State), 2-1 (TB)
133 pounds: No. 1 Lucas Byrd (Illinois) d. No. 2 Drake Ayala (Iowa), 3-2 (TB R-1)
141 pounds:. No. 3 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) d. No. 1 Brock Hardy (Nebraska), 12-9
149 pounds: No. 2 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) d. No. 1 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech), 1-0
Ridge Lovett is an NCAA champ
03/22/2025 07:36:44 PMNebraska’s Ridge Lovett is the champ at 149 pounds. He beat Virginia Tech’s Caleb Henson 1-0. He is the first Cornhusker to win a title since 2011.
Penn State star Carter Starocci rips decision to put 184-pound final first, talks historic fifth NCAA title.
03/22/2025 07:20:20 PMHe was not happy with the decision to move the bout to the first one on the card in the finals. Watch what he had to say about it below.
Jesse Mendez is the champ at 141
03/22/2025 07:19:27 PMOhio State’s Jesse Mendez is a two-time NCAA champ. He beat Nebraska’s Brock Hardy by decision, 12-9, in the 141-pound final.
Champs so far:
184: Carter Starocci, Penn State
125: Vincent Robinson, N.C. State
133: Lucas Byrd, Illinois
141: Jesse Mendez, Ohio State
Lucas Byrd beats Drake Ayala
03/22/2025 07:01:43 PMIllinois’ Lucas Byrd beat Iowa’s Drake Ayla in ride out, 3-2, in the 133-pound final. He is the third champ of the night, joining Carter Starocci at 184 and N.C. State’s Vincent Robinson at 125.
Vincent Robinson is the second champ of the night
03/22/2025 06:38:40 PMN.C. State’s Vincent Robinson beat Troy Spratley of Oklahoma State 2-1 in rideouts. He is the 125-pound champ.
Penn State sets a new team scoring record
03/22/2025 06:20:32 PMWith Carter Starocci’s victory, Penn State has now set a new NCAA team points record with 173. It can add to it if Mitchell Mesenbrink and/or Josh Barr win titles later tonight.
Carter Starocci wins
03/22/2025 06:16:13 PMAfter Starocci secured a third period takedown with 45 seconds left, Keckeisen escaped but could not score. Starocci was called for stalling but that’s it. Carter Starocci makes history as the NCAA first five time champion. It’s his first title at 184 pounds. The final was 4-3.
Starocci leads 1-0 after two
03/22/2025 06:13:30 PMStarocci escapes quickly after choosing down for a 1-0 lead. That’s the only scoring after five minutes.
Keckeisen-Starocci are scoreless after one
03/22/2025 06:10:34 PMStarocci had one good shot he could not finish. They go to the second tied at zero.
The action starts at 7:05 p.m. ET
03/22/2025 06:01:51 PMESPN is on the air. The pre-session festivities are over. Starocci-Keckeisen starts in moments.
Full list of final bouts
03/22/2025 05:33:03 PMWe’ll start at 184 pounds and finish at 285 pounds. Here’s the list:
184 pounds: No. 1 Carter Starocci (Penn State) vs. No. 2 Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa)
125 pounds: No. 4 Vince Robinson (NC State) vs. No. 7 Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State)
133 pounds: No. 1 Lucas Byrd (Illinois) vs. No. 2 Drake Ayala (Iowa)
141 pounds: No. 1 Brock Hardy (Nebraska) vs. No. 3 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State)
149 pounds: No. 1 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech) vs. No. 2 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska)
157 pounds: No. 3 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) vs. No. 8 Joey Blaze (Purdue)
165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) vs. No. 3 Mikey Caliendo (Iowa)
174 pounds: No. 1 Keegan O’Toole (Missouri) vs. No. 3 Dean Hamiti (Oklahoma State)
197 pounds: No. 2 Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) vs. No. 4 Josh Barr (Penn State)
285 pounds: No. 1 Gable Steveson (Minnesota) vs. No. 2 Wyatt Hendrickson (Oklahoma State)
Three Penn State wrestlers are in the finals
03/22/2025 05:32:32 PMCarter Starocci leads things off in the 184-pound match. He could become the first wrestler ever to win five individual titles by beating Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa. That is the first match of the night involving a Nittany Lion. Later this evening, Mitchell Mesenbrink takes on Mikey Caliendo of Iowa in the 165-pound final. And, toward the end of the session, Josh Barr battles Stephen Buchanan in the 197-pound final.
Penn State already has 10 All-Americans. It has five third-place finishers, a fifth-place finisher, and a sixth-place finisher.
