Penn State wrestler Mitchell Mesenbrink wins U23 bronze medal
Penn State wrestler Mitchell Mesenbrink has added another international freestyle medal to his already impressive collection. The second-year Nittany Lion and 2023-2024 All-American won third in the 74-kilogram (163 pounds) division at the U23 World Championships in Albania on Saturday. He beat Magomedrasul Asluev of Bahrain in the bronze medal match. Here’s how his tournament unfolded, courtesy of a news release from Penn State wrestling:
“Mesenbrink began the tournament on Friday. He downed No. 2 seed Murat Dzhakupov of Kazakhstan 7-2 in the opening round before dropping an 11-8 bout to Japan’s Kota Takahashi in the quarters. He rebounded with a 16-7 win over Iran’s Ali Abbas on Saturday morning in the repechage.
“The win over the Iranian wrestler moved Mesenbrink into a Bronze Medal match against No. 6 Magomedrasul Asluev of Bahrain. Mesenbrink scored first in the third place bout, taking a 1-0 lead just under :30 into the first period. The lone early point was the only scoring in the first period and Mesenbrink led 1-0 after one. Mesenbrink took a 2-0 lead midway through the second period on passivity from Asluev. He then notched two points for a 4-0 lead shortly after that, upped it to 6-0 at :30 and walked away with a World Bronze Medal with the 6-0 win.”
Mesenbrink previously won a U20 gold medal, which is how he ended up on the Team USA U23 team. He now returns to State College for the start of the 2024-2025 college wrestling season. He is the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the country at 165 pounds.
More Penn State wrestling news
Here is where Penn State wrestlers stand in Flo Wrestling’s preseason rankings:
125 pounds: No Nittany Lion listed. Freshman Luke Lilledahl is expected to man this spot for the Lions.
133 pounds: Sophomore Braeden Davis checks in at No. 10. Last year’s 125-pound starter is expected to bump up one weight class and take over for incumbent Aaron Nagao.
141 pounds: Senior Beau Bartlett is No. 3 behind Northern Colorado senior Andrew Alirez, who returns to the top spot after an Olympic redshirt season a year ago, and Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez, who beat Bartlett in the NCAA final a year ago.
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149 pounds: Shayne Van Ness is No. 2 behind Virginia Tech’s Caleb Henson.
157 pounds: Last year’s 149-pound starter, Tyler Kasak, is bumping up a weight. FLO ranks him at No. 4.
165 pounds: Mesenbrink is No. 1.
174 pounds: Last year’s 157-pound champ, Levi Haines, is set to bump up to this weight class. He is ranked No. 2 behind Missouri senior Keegan O’Toole.
184 pounds: Carter Starocci is No. 1.
197 pounds: This is the lone question mark in the Lions’ lineup. Flo ranks returner Lucash Cochran at No. 20. But, second-year Lion Josh Barr could win the job, too.
285 pounds: Returning champ Greg Kerkvliet is No. 1.
