Penn State wins the 2025 Big Ten wrestling tournament | NCAA.com

Much like last year, the Penn State Nittany Lions claimed the Big Ten championship team title, headlined by winning performances from Levi Haines, Mitchell Mesenbrink and a true freshman 125 pounds (this year, Luke Lilledahl; last year, Braeden Davis). Tyler Kasak also won a Big Ten title, his first, for the Nittany Lions at 157 pounds while Carter Starocci reclaimed his crown as well after injury defaulting out of last year’s conference championship.

Lilledahl kicked off the championship action for the Nittany Lions on Sunday night with a gritty 4-3 win over Nebraska's No. 2 Caleb Smith, one night after the freshman Penn State lightweight knocked off No. 1 Matt Ramos of Purdue in major decision fashion.

Penn State then rattled off four wins in a row from 157-184 pounds with Kasak, Mesenbrink, Haines and Starocci.

Kasak and Haines won their finals matches by major, 12-2 and 12-1 respectively, because of their elite top game. Kasak competed tough against a gritty No. 8 Brandon Cannon of Ohio State and was leading by just two going into the third period before picking up a takedown and back points in the last two minutes. Haines, similarly, scored a takedown against his finals foe, No. 3 Lenny Pinto of Nebraska, in the first period but separated himself with a takedown and a tilt later in the second period that opened up the match.

Mesenbrink and Starocci’s matches were far closer, with Mesenbrink winning by one takedown, 4-1, against Michael Caliendo and Starocci needing overtime for his 8-5 win over No. 2 Minnesota freshman Max McEnelly. Both athletes remain undefeated on the year with those respective victories and keep themselves in the conversation for the Hodge Trophy, wrestling’s highest honor in the NCAA, even as their opponents narrowed the gap.

Penn State’s team win was about the only predictable part of this year’s tournament though.

Upsets defined the last two days of action in Evanston with No. 1 Gable Steveson of Minnesota at 285 pounds finishing as the only non-Penn State affiliated No. 1 seed in the tournament to win his weight. Steveson took down 2024 NCAA champion Greg Kerkvliet of Penn State for his fourth Big Ten title.

Nebraska's No. 3 Brock Hardy and No. 3 Ridge Lovett were the lowest seeds to win conference titles as they took home championships at 141 and 149 pounds respectively. Hardy had to top returning champ Jesse Mendez of Ohio State in the semifinals to earn his shot at All-American Vance Vombaur in the finals. He then pinned the Gopher with confidence to take over the weight. Lovett, meanwhile, showcased his poise and wresting IQ against a scrappy No. 5 Kannon Webster of Illinois with a 1-0 win in the finals.

No. 2 Lucas Byrd of Illinois and No. 2 Jacob Cardenas both won their first Big Ten titles by taking down top-ranked Hawkeyes, with Byrd pinning No. 1 Drake Ayala at 133 pounds and Cardenas outwrestling No. 1 Stephen Buchanan 4-3 at 197 pounds.

Four NCAA finalists — No. 1 Matt Ramos at 125 pounds, No. 1 Beau Bartlett at 141 pounds, No. 2 Jesse Mendez at 141 pounds and No. 4 Jacori Teemer at 157 pounds — fell before the conference finals, with other former conference champions like Rutgers' Dylan Shawver at 133 pounds and Braeden Davis at 125 pounds also losing before Sunday night's final. Ramos and Bartlett would go on to finish third, while Mendez took fourth and Teemer finished seventh. Davis also wrestled to a fouth-place finish at 133 pounds — Shawver finished sixth at the same weight.

All of these placewinners will now look to build on their success in Philadelphia at NCAAs in two weeks.

Complete results:

THIRD PERIOD: Steveson leads 6-2 with 90 seconds to go in the third period. Takedown Steveson. He's making this look easy against a former undefeated national champion. Steveson leads 9-3 with riding time. Kerkvliet has been warned for stalling. Thirty seconds. Ten seconds. Steveson has shut down Kerkvliet. He'll take the win 10-3.

One more for good measure in a 10-3 victory! pic.twitter.com/tDJwm8UWPD

SECOND PERIOD: Kerkvliet chooses down to start the second period. The Nittany Lion escapes, but Steveson has shown this tournament that he's willing to ride and can excel in all three positions. His mat game is often underrated because of his neutral skills, but he's showing it off tonight, holding 90 seconds of riding time. Takedown Steveson.

FIRST PERIOD: This is battle of two former NCAA champions and undefeated athletes at the weight. Only one will remain. Takdown Steveson. That's what he does. He finishes the period on top and carries a 3-0 lead into the third period.

THIRD PERIOD: Cardenas chooses down to start the third period. He escapes and leads 4-2. One minute remaining. Cardenas is in position to deliver the Hawkeye his first loss of the season. Buchanan has been known to be so tough in the third period, but he needs something fast. Blood time. Cardenas is warned for stalling, but it doesn't matter. He's a Big Ten champion!

🗣 Post-Match Cardenas.#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/X3Tl1KU4r5

SECOND PERIOD: Buchanan starts the second period on the bottom and escapes quickly. Shot from Cardenas. Takedown Cardenas. He leads 3-1. One minute remains in the second period. Buchanan escapes to cut Cardenas' lead down to one. Cardenas carries his 3-2 lead into the third period.

FIRST PERIOD: Cardenas takes the first significant shot of the period 90 seconds after the opening whistle, but Buchanan works out of it as the athletes go out of bounds. The first period ends scoreless.

SUDDEN VICTORY: After 90 seconds of battling in neutral, Carter Starocci did what Carter Starocci does and took down the freshman Gopher to secure his third Big Ten title and remain undefeated on the season with the 8-5 win.

WHAT. A. MATCH. 👏 Starocci with the 8-5 sudden victory DUB! Another to the podium! #PSUwr pic.twitter.com/9lPaRYStXi

THIRD PERIOD: McEnelly chooses down to start the third period and escapes. This match is all tied up 5-5. Thirty seconds. McEnelly is warned for stalling. Sudden victory.

SECOND PERIOD: Starocci chooses down to start the second period and escapes. He still trails by one point. Starocci goes in for a shot on the edge and finishes. He's back in control, leading 5-3. Minnesota challenges the call. The call stands. McEnelly nearly escapes, but Starocci shoves him back down on the edge. McEnelly escapes.

FIRST PERIOD: This has been one of the most highly anticipated matches of the tournament, as the four-time NCAA champion Carter Starocci takes on the freshman, undefeated Gopher. Shot from McEnelly, and he now leads the reigning champ 3-0. Starocci escapes and goes in for a shot of his own. McEnelly defends. Outside of two injury default losses last season in this tournament, Starocci has not lost since the 2021 Big Ten tournament. McEnelly leads 3-1 heading into the second period.

THIRD PERIOD: This one has been all Haines so far. Pinto chooses down to start the third period. That's a dangerous start for the Husker, given Haines' top work in that last period. The Husker works to scramble out of Haines' hold. Stalemate. Haines is warned for stalling for hanging on to Pinto's leg beyond the five-second rule, but he'll take that as he works to stay on top of Pinto. Thirty seconds. Pinto works to roll out, but Haines stays with him and finishes on top with a 12-1 major decision.

LEVI HAINES, 3X BIG TEN CHAMPION!Haines the 12-1 major over Pinto with 3:24 RT!#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/05698JcKxh

SECOND PERIOD: Haines chooses down to start the second period and escapes immediately. He starts working for a cradle and settles for another takedown to take a 7-0 lead. Now he's looking for back points again. He has Pinto in trouble. Four back points. Haines works for the fall. Pinto scrambles back to his stomach. Haines leads 11-0, but he's still working for points on top. Ten seconds. Pinto nearly had a reversal in the final seconds, but he'll take the escape. Haines leads 11-1 going into the third period.

FIRST PERIOD: Pinto takes the first shot, and he had Haines in trouble on the mat, but Haines works out of the situation to get back to neutral. Now it's Haines in on a shot of his own with 15 seconds to go in the period. Takedown Haines. What impressive composure and poise from the reigning champ.

THIRD PERIOD: Mesenbrink chooses down to start the third period. Mesenbrink escapes immediately to extend his lead 4-1. Shot from Mesenbrink. Caliendo defends. Another shot from Mesenbrink. He has Caliendo's leg in the air, and, again, Caliendo steadies himself. Thirty seconds to go. Caliendo has given his all against the reigning champ, but Mesenbrink is too tough. Such respect between these two.

MITCHELL MESENBRINK THE 4-1 WIN OVER CALIENDO!Mesenbrink is a two-time Big Ten Champion!#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/cWsPPEkPgg

SECOND PERIOD: Caliendo chooses down to start the second period, escapes and then looks to shot. Mesenbrink defends. Good effort here from Caliendo. Mesenbrink leads 3-1. Shot from Mesenbrink. Caliendo, again, gets back to his feet only to face another Mesenbrink shot. Nothing more. Mesenbrink takes his 3-1 lead into the third period.

FIRST PERIOD: As expected, Penn State's reigning Big Ten champion and 2024 NCAA finalist Mitchell Mesenbrink immediately launches into his attacks from the opening second of the match. Caliendo is defending well. Scoreless first minute. Shot from Caliendo. Mesenbrink stops him. Mesenbrink goes into for a shot of his own, but the Hawkeye steps out of it. Mesenbrink goes in for another shot, and this time, his efforts initiate a scramble. Takedown Mesenbrink. He finishes the first period on top and carries a 3-0 lead into the second period.

THIRD PERIOD: Kasak chooses down to start the third period. Kasak escapes quickly. Kasak is hit for stalling, but he responds by throwing Cannon to his back and picking up a takedown and four back points to extend his leads 11-2. Blood time. Kasak finishes on top and wins his first Big Ten title, 12-1.

TYLER KASAK, 2025 BIG TEN CHAMPION!Kasak rolls to a 12-2 major over Cannon and wins his first Big Ten title!#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/wZnTgbMONy

SECOND PERIOD: Kannon starts the second period on the bottom and escapes quickly to earn his first point of the match. Quick pace from both athletes. One minute to go. Shot from Cannon, but Kasak forces the action of bounds. The Nittany Lion is warned for stalling. Cannon is doing well wrestling his match, taking repetitive shots against Kasak and looking for another stall warning against the Nittany Lion. Blood time. Kasak's 3-1 lead holds through the end of the period.

FIRST PERIOD: Offense off the whistle! Ohio State's Brandon Cannon is shooting quick against the All-American Nittany Lion. Kasak looks too strong at 157 pounds though. Going up a weight appears to have only helped the Nittany Lion sophomore. Kasak is hit in the head and regroups on the edge. He's back to the middle. Shot from Cannon. Kasak scrambles into a favorable position and picks up the first takedown. Mat return from Kasak. He finishes the period on top.

THIRD PERIOD: Webster chooses neutral to start the third period. He needs a takedown to win it. One minute to go. The pace has increased from both athletes. Webster is on the attack, pushing forward. Lovett circles back into the center to avoid a stall warning. Fifteen seconds. Lovett glances at the clock and is warned for stalling. He holds on. Ridge Lovett is a Big Ten champion!

𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊-𝐓𝐎-𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊.@RidgeLovett is your 2025 B1G Champ at 149 with a 1-0 decision over Webster. pic.twitter.com/Tnpe8ghBBK

SECOND PERIOD: Webster defers choice in the second period, and Lovett chooses down. He escapes immediately to take the 1-0 lead. This has been a more aggressive match that the score suggests. The second period ends 1-0 in favor of Lovett.

FIRST PERIOD: This match is scoreless through the first 90 seconds, but the athleticism and speed of these two athletes is still clear. Nebraska's reigning Big Ten champion Ridge Lovett is trying to force the action, but Webster resets well after every attempt from the Husker.

FIRST PERIOD: Vombaur on the attack first, nearly scoring in a go-behind against Hardy. Nebraska All-American Brock Hardy defends well. Shot from Vombaur again. Brock Hardy has Vombaur on his back! He's looking for the fall! He gets it! The Husker is a Big Ten champion!

𝙋𝘼𝙍𝙏𝙔 𝙃𝘼𝙍𝘿𝙔.Brock is a B1G Champ at 141 with a 1:59 FALL over Vombaur. pic.twitter.com/3mscJqIcIk

SECOND PERIOD: Byrd chooses down to start the second period. Lucas Byrd has Ayala on his back, and he gets the fall! Lucas Byrd is a Big Ten champion!

BIG TEN CHAMP AT 133 POUNDS LUCAS BYRD‼️133 final: [2] @lukebyrd106 PINS [1] Drake Ayala (IOWA) in 3:16!!!!! pic.twitter.com/zQEpqt6jAN

FIRST PERIOD: Iowa's Drake Ayala goes to work immediately and looks for his signature slide-by. Byrd defends and puts the pressure on Ayala. Lucas Byrd pushes for a slide-by of his own, but Drake forces the action out of bounds. The Hawkeye gets hit for stalling before returning to the center. Shot from Bryd in the final seconds as Ayala fell the mat as time expired. No score.

THIRD PERIOD: Lilledahl starts the third period on bottom and escapes within 15 seconds. Lilledahl is hit with stalling, and Smith picks up a penalty point. The Nittany Lion still leads 4-2. Less than a minute to go. This is a one-takedown match. Smith needs to score. Lilledahl is hit for stalling again. He leads 4-3. Lilledahl holds on and wins the Big Ten title at 125 pounds 4-3.

LUKE LILLEDAHL THE 4-3 WIN OVER SMITH!Luke is your Big Ten Champion!#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/YA5fzCActi

SECOND PERIOD: Smith chooses down to start the second period. Lilledahl has 40 seconds of riding time. Smith escapes, keeping Lilledahl's riding time under a minute. Shot from Smith. Smith is shooting enough to avoid a stall call, but Lilledahl has looked completely in control.

FIRST PERIOD: It's a freshman vs. a veteran here as the first-year starter Nittany Lion Luke Lilledahl takes on graduate student Caleb Smith of Nebraska. Lilledahl is doing well holding center and forcing the pace. Smith is matching his speed and intensity, but there's no fear in Lilledahl's eyes as he competes on this Big Ten championship stage for the first time in his career. Lilledahl had been looking for the ankle pick for the first two minutes and finally converts. He picks up the three-point takedown and takes control of the match here in the first period. Twenty seconds. Lilledahl finishes the period on top and takes a 3-0 lead into the second period.

The Big Ten wrestling tournament will be broadcasted on Big Ten Network and BTN+. See below for a complete schedule breakdown and TV assignments by session

DAY/ TIME

SESSION

CHANNEL

Saturday, March 8, 11am ET

Session I (First Round, Quarterfinals, Wrestlebacks)

Big Ten Network

Saturday, March 8, 6 p.m. ET

Session II (Consolation Matches, Wrestlebacks)

B1G+

Saturday, March 8, 8 p.m. ET

Session II (Semifinals)

Big Ten Network

Sunday, March 9, 1 p.m. ET

Session III (Consolation Semifinals, 7th-Place Matches)

B1G+

Sunday, March 9, 5:30 p.m. ET

Session IV (1st-, 3rd- and 5th- Place Matches)

Big Ten Network

Hwt: Heindselman earns a 7-3 decision over Illinois' Luffman in the consolation semis. He scored two takedowns, an early single leg midway through the first and a reattack single in the second. He'll wrestle for third place. pic.twitter.com/AFXD0xg3H9

197 Cons. Semifinal: [5] @BraunagelZacdec. [7] Camden McDanel (NEB), 2-1! pic.twitter.com/1gXTgzIZ6i

Scoles narrows the gap to 7-5 but Sparks reverses on his way to a 10-5 victory, sending him to tonight's 3rd-place match! pic.twitter.com/gFzvuPj7PB

Fire us up, Trelly❗️@TaylorAntrell sticks the No. 1 seed in OT and is headed to the third-place match. pic.twitter.com/a1Yqjxxhb2

Still working 💪149 Cons. SF | #2 Kyle Parco major dec. #4 Dylan D’Emilio (Ohio State), 9-0#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/8qTvRAhsEj

Beau Bartlett the 4-2 win over Olivieri of Rutgers!Bartlett will wrestle for third later today!#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/nxXt5z3MJ5

Big response from Matty Ice. 🫡He shuts out the Hoosier and will compete for bronze in tonight's 3rd place match! pic.twitter.com/MfBoHkorWh