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Penn State redshirt sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink wins first NCAA title

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•03/22/25•

GregPickel

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(Photo by Mark Selders/Penn State Athletics)

PHILADELPHIA — One of the most dominant wrestlers during the 2024-2025 season has won his first NCAA championship. Penn State redshirt sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, who is the top seed at 165 pounds, knocked out No. 3 Mikey Caliendo of Iowa 8-2 inside of the Wells Fargo Center. He is now a two-time All-American after finishing second a year ago.

Mesenbrink rolled through his third collegiate season and second with the Nittany Lions. He recorded 18 technical falls during the year, which is the most in the nation. He didn’t win by one in the finals. But it is his third victory over the Hawkeye this year and sixth of his career.

Mesenbrink is one of the most exciting wrestlers in the sport. He’s know for his fast, aggressive style that tends to pile up both shots and points in bulk.

More: 3 thoughts from three Penn State wrestlers who finished third at the 2025 NCAA Championships

“There was this thing that I heard before this and it was about how joy is a verb and you’re finding enjoyment through the process of things to reach an end goal,” he said Friday night. “And that’s really, you know, the end goal. There is only one end goal that’s promised, and that’s death. So it’s kinda just go out there and bring it.

“That’s what I’m thinking, right? If I go out there and I win, but I don’t bring it, I would rather bring it and lose, which sounds insane, but that’s — it’s funny, my coaches and my dad, who was my coach, I cannot go up to him and be like, man, I feel like I didn’t go. But it’s funny, I will black out in the matches and go back and look and see the 25 shots that I tried to fire off. It’s funny, but I enjoy the process more than winning. But it’s a subtle reminder on the sides here and stuff like that.”

Mesenbrink is the second Nittany Lion to win a title in this session. Carter Starocci became the first to ever win five when he took the 184-pound final. The last Nittany Lion to wrestle tonight is redshirt freshman Josh Barr. He takes on Iowa’s Stephen Buchanan in the 197-pound final.

Nittany Lion placing outcomes

125 pounds: No. 1 Luke Lilledahl: Third

133 pounds: No. 8 Braeden Davis: Fifth

141 pounds: No. 2 Beau Bartlett: Third

149 pounds: No. 3 Shayne Van Ness: Third

157 pounds: No. 1 Tyler Kasak: Third

165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink: First

174 pounds: No. 2 Levi Haines: Third

184 pounds: No. 1 Carter Starocci: First

197 pounds: No. 4 Josh Barr: First OR Second

285 pounds: No. 3 Greg Kerkvliet: Sixth

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