Penn State wrestling aced its biggest test of the season so far, taking down No. 4 Iowa 32-3 on Friday night in Iowa City.
It was Iowa’s largest margin of defeat ever at Carver-Hawkeye Arena and in the all-time series against Penn State. The victory extended the Nittany Lions’ NCAA-record dual meet win streak to 79, with the program’s last loss coming nearly six years ago in Iowa City.
Nittany Lions Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 4 at 184 pounds, and 13th-ranked heavyweight Cole Mirasola each pulled off upset victories. Welsh knocked off top-ranked Angelo Ferrari 2-1 in tiebreakers, while Mirasola claimed a 4-3 decision over No. 5 Ben Kueter.
Three No. 1-ranked Nittany Lions scored bonus points against the Hawkeyes. Josh Barr had the night’s only pin, while Mitchell Mesenbrink and Shayne Van Ness each recorded major decisions.
No.2-ranked sophomore Luke Lilledahl and No. 4-ranked freshman Marcus Blaze also scored impressive decisions against top-10 opponents, with Lilledahl topping No. 6 Dean Peterson at 125 and Blaze beating No. 8 Drake Ayala.
Penn State returns to action at 3 p.m. on Sunday with a visit to Northwestern.
HOW IT HAPPENED
125 Pounds
No. 2 Luke Lillledahl got on the board first midway through a high-energy first period against Iowa’s No. 6 Dean Peterson, sticking with a single leg shot for a takedown. Peterson, though got a reversal out of a restart, and Lilledahl escaped to take a 4-2 lead into the second. After Peterson escaped to start the middle period, Lilledahl shot in on a single leg and battled through for a double leg takedown. Peterson escaped, and the Nittany Lion sophomore had a 7-4 lead heading into the third. Lilledahl escaped to start the final period, then scored the bout’s final takedown at the edge of the mat with just over a minute remaining. Peterson escaped, but Lilledahl took an 11-5 decision to avenge a loss from a year ago when Peterson was at Rutgers.
Penn State 3, Iowa 0
133 Pounds
Following a scoreless first period between No. 4 Marcus Blaze and Iowa’s No. 8-ranked Drake Ayala, the Nittany Lion freshman took the lead with an escape in the second after breaking a strong ride by the Hawkeye senior. Blaze then scored the bout’s only takedown off a single leg shot with 40 seconds left in the period and took a 4-1 lead into the final two minutes after an Ayala escape. Ayala escaped to start the third, but that was all he got as Blaze fended off a strong late shot to take a 4-2 decision.
Penn State 6, Iowa 0
141 Pounds
Iowa’s 11th-ranked Nasir Bailey got an early takedown of Penn State newly minted 141-pound starter, No. 7 Braeden Davis, and remained in control for over a minute before the Nittany Lion escaped. Leading 3-1, Bailey chose down to start the second and Davis was dominant on top, executing a full-period rideout and erasing the Hawkeye’s riding time. Davis escaped to start the third, but couldn’t connect on any of his attacks for the remainder of the bout and Bailey claimed a 3-2 decision.
Penn State 6, Iowa 3
149 Pounds
No.17-ranked Hawkeye Ryder Block caught Penn State’s top-ranked Shayne Van Ness for a quick takedown and an early lead in the first period. The undefeated Nittany Lion quickly responded, however, escaping and using a strong double leg for a takedown. Block escaped and the bout was knotted 4-4 after one. Block chose the down position to start the second and Van Ness made him pay, staying in control on top the entire period and building his riding time over two minutes. Van Ness escaped to start the third, then countered a Block shot for a takedown and locked in a nasty bow and arrow for four near fall points. With a riding time point, Van Ness took a 13-4 major decision.
Penn State 10, Iowa 3
157 Pounds
No. 3 P.J. Duke and Iowa’s No. 12 Jordan Williams battled through a scoreless first period before Williams escaped to a 1-0 lead to start the second. Duke nearly got the bout’s first takedown out of a scramble after a shot late in the middle period, but time ran out before he could gain control. The Nittany Lion redshirt freshman tied it with a quick escape in the third and countered a Williams shot for a takedown to take a 4-1 lead. Williams escaped, but Duke defended the rest of the way for a 4-2 decision.
Penn State 13, Iowa 3
165 Pounds
No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink jumped out to an early lead against Iowa’s third-ranked Michael Caliendo in their seventh career meeting, working through a shot for a takedown. Caliendo escaped and Mesenbrink had a 3-1 lead at the end of one. The Hawkeye escaped to start the second and the two wrestlers battled aggressively until Mesenbrink used an ankle pick for a takedown in short time for a 6-2 lead. Mesenbrink escaped quickly in the third and added another point on a second stall against Caliendo. Looking for bonus points, Mesenbrink kept up the pace and dove in on Caliendo’s leg for a takedown in the final seconds and an 11-2 major decision. Mesenbrink improved to 7-0 all-time against Caliendo.
Penn State 17, Iowa 3
174 Pounds
No. 1 Levi Haines took on Iowa’s Gabe Arnold, filling in for No. 3 Patrick Kennedy, and the Nittany Lion patiently worked a single leg for a takedown midway through the first period. Arnold escaped and Haines took a 3-1 lead into the second. The two wrestlers traded escapes to start the second and third periods, and that would be all for the scoring, with neither able to break through offensively and Haines winning a 4-2 decision.
Penn State 20, Iowa 3
184 Pounds
In a battle of unbeatens, Iowa’s No. 1 Angelo Ferrari and Penn State’s No. 4 Rocco Welsh spent a scoreless first period feeling each other out. Ferrari escaped 26 seconds into the second to take a 1-0 lead into the third, and Welsh tied the bout with an escape early in the final period. Neither could find an opening in the final two minutes, and the bout went into sudden victory. Though Welsh moved in on a couple strong shots, neither could score in the extra time and they went to tiebreakers. Welsh stayed in control on top to keep Ferrari from escaping during the first 30 second period, then escaped to a 2-1 lead 13 seconds into the second tiebreaker. Ferrari couldn’t get a takedown in the remaining seconds, and Welsh won a 2-1 decision for the upset.
Penn State 23, Iowa 3
197 Pounds
No. 1 Josh Barr continued his dominance since returning to the lineup from injury. He used two first period takedowns to open up a 6-1 lead over Iowa’s Brody Sampson. Escaping to start the second period, Barr countered a Sampson shot and put the Hawkeye on his back for a pin at 3:42
Penn State 29, Iowa 3
285 Pounds
No. 13 Cole Mirasola and Iowa’s No. 5-ranked Ben Kueter went scoreless in the first period of the night’s final bout. The Hawkeye escaped to a 1-0 lead at the start of the second, but Mirasola countered a Kueter shot and scrambled for the bout’s first takedown. Kueter escaped, and Mirasola took a 3-2 lead into the final period. Mirasola escaped early in the third to extend his lead to 4-2. The Nittany Lion redshirt freshman got hit with a second stall call to give up a point late, but held on for the 4-3 upset.
Penn State 32, Iowa 3
