The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team has a storied history marked by dominance and impressive winning streaks. In recent years, matchups against teams like the Missouri Tigers have highlighted their strength and depth. This article delves into the details of a significant dual meet between Penn State and Missouri, exploring key moments, individual performances, and the broader context of Penn State's wrestling program.
165 LBs: Penn State's Mitchell Mesenbrink vs. Iowa's Michael Caliendo | Big Ten Wrestling |1/31/2025
2024 Journeymen Collegiate Duals: Penn State vs. Missouri
In 2024, Penn State Wrestling completed a three-match sweep in the Journeymen Collegiate Duals by decisively handling No. 15 Missouri 41-3. The Nittany Lions flew down to Tennessee, wrestled their tails off for the better part of six straight hours on Sunday, and they flew back to Happy Valley as champions of the 2024 Journeymen Collegiate Duals.
Key Highlights from the Dual Meet
The dual meet showcased Penn State's dominance, with the Nittany Lions winning nine of ten bouts. Here’s a breakdown of the key matches:
* 125 lbs: No. 12 Luke Lilledahl (PSU) defeated Gage Walker (MIZZ) 5-4.* 133 lbs: No. 10 Braeden Davis (PSU) secured a major decision over Kade Moore (MIZZ) 14-3.* 141 lbs: No. 3 Beau Bartlett (PSU) edged out No. 16 Joshua Edmond (MIZZ) 4-1 in sudden victory.* 149 lbs: No. 2 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) pinned Zeke Seltzer (MIZZ) at 1:57.* 157 lbs: No. 4 Tyler Kasak (PSU) achieved a major decision over No. 32 James Conway (MIZZ) 11-3.* 165 lbs: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) won by forfeit.* 174 lbs: No. 1 Keegan O’Toole (MIZZ) defeated No. 2 Levi Haines (PSU) 4-1 in sudden victory.* 184 lbs: No. 1 Carter Starocci (PSU) dominated No. 10 Colton Hawks with a 10-1 major decision.* 197 lbs: No. 7 Josh Barr (PSU) pinned Jesse Cassatt (MIZZ) at 1:45.* 285 lbs: No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) finished strong with a technical fall over Jarret Stoner (MIZZ) 15-0.Match-by-Match Breakdown
Here’s a more detailed look at some of the individual matches:
125 lbs: Luke Lilledahl vs. Gage Walker
Luke Lilledahl opened the dual with a hard-fought 5-4 win over Gage Walker. Lilledahl used a fast low shot to force a scramble early in the first period, but Walker was able to counter his way through for control and a 3-1 lead after a quick Lilledahl escape at 1:30. Lilledahl then moved in on offense. He shot to Walker’s left leg and muscled through for a takedown and a 4-3 lead with :40 on the clock. He finished the period on top and carried that lead into the second. Walker chose down to start the second period. Walker escaped to a 4-4 tie but not until Lilledahl built his riding time up to 1:08. Lilledahl shot Walker to the outside circle for the entire second period but could not break through for a score and the match moved to the third tied 4-4. Lilledahl chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-4 lead. Lilledahl shot Walker backwards for the first minute of the third before the Tiger took a slight shot that Lilledahl easily evaded. Action continued in neutral as the clock moved towards :30.
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133 lbs: Braeden Davis vs. Kade Moore
Braeden Davis secured a major decision over Kade Moore with a score of 14-3. Moore came out quickly, trying to throw Davis off the whistle. But Davis was able to scramble out of control and return action to neutral. Davis then initiated contact, worked through a brief Moore counter, and took a 3-0 lead with the bout’s first takedown at the 1:39 mark. Davis then turned Moore to his back, looking for a fall. Davis settled for four back points and finished the period on top to lead 7-0 after one. Moore chose down to start the second period. Davis controlled the action on top, building his riding time up over 2:00. Davis gave up a penalty point during his ride but maintained control of Moore through the 1:30 mark. Davis continued to work Moore to the mat, looking for back points again. Davis finished the period on top and led 7-1 after two with 3:39 in riding time. With riding time clinched, Davis chose neutral to start the third period and quickly took Moore down for a 10-1 lead. Moore escaped to a 10-2 score at 1:15. Davis scrambled behind Moore for another takedown to lead 13-3 at :45 after a Moore escape.
141 lbs: Beau Bartlett vs. Joshua Edmond
Beau Bartlett had to work overtime to secure a victory over Joshua Edmond, winning 4-1 in sudden victory. The duo worked the middle of the mat in neutral through the first two minutes. Neither wrestler was able to find a solid opening, but Bartlett was able to force a first stall warning at :50. Bartlett stepped back from an Edmond shot with :25 on the clock and the match moved to the second period tied 0-0. Bartlett chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Bartlett held position in the center circle while Edmond kept his back to the outside circle as the clock moved below the 1:00 mark. Bartlett used a high double to force a scramble on the edge of the mat, shifted to a single and tried to pull Edmond back into play as the period ended. Edmond was able to defend to zeroes and Bartlett led 1-0 after two. Edmond chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Bartlett continued to take shots, forcing Edmond into defense. Bartlett owned the center of the mat while Edmond kept Bartlett at arm’s length defensively and the bout moved to sudden victory.
149 lbs: Shayne Van Ness vs. Zeke Seltzer
Shayne Van Ness continued Penn State’s momentum with a dominant performance, pinning Zeke Seltzer at 1:57. Van Ness battled through an even first minute and then took a 3-0 lead with a takedown at the 2:01 mark.
157 lbs: Tyler Kasak vs. James Conway
Tyler Kasak secured a major decision over James Conway with a score of 11-3. The duo battled through the first two minutes evenly with neither wrestler threatening. Kasak moved through a high single at 1:15, forcing a scramble in front of the Missouri bench as he tried to pull Conway back onto the mat. Kasak finished off the takedown to lead 3-0 at :46. Kasak finished the period on top, giving up one stall warning in the process, and led 3-0 with :46 in time after one. Kasak chose down to start the second period. He quickly escaped to a 4-0 lead and went back on offense. Kasak’s pressure paid off as he connected on a high shot for a second takedown and a 7-0 lead with :48 left in the period. Conway scored on an escape, but Kasak continued to connect on offense as he notched another takedown late in the period and led 10-2 after two. Conway chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 10-3 score. Kasak worked the middle of the mat as Conway played defense through the 1:00 mark.
174 lbs: Levi Haines vs. Keegan O’Toole
In a highly anticipated match, Keegan O’Toole defeated Levi Haines 4-1 in sudden victory. The top two wrestlers at the weight class battled in neutral through nearly 2:00 before Haines forced a scramble with a single shot at O’Toole’s right leg. The Tiger was able to force a stalemate and action weas reset with :45 on the clock. Haines maintained position in the center circle, but O’Toole defended throughout the rest of the period and the bout moved to the second tied 0-0. Haines chose down to start the middle stanza and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. O’Toole took a low shot at 1:40, Haines countered, and O’Toole skipped out of trouble to keep the bout at 1-0. The duo worked the middle of the mat through the 1:00 mark with. O’Toole got in on a high single, but Haines was able to force a stalemate with :28 left, still leading 1-0. Trailing by one, O’Toole chose down to start the third period. O’Toole turned in and muscled his way to an escape and a 1-1 tie with 1:30 left to wrestle. Haines took a low shot and worked O’Toole into a scramble that nearly ended in a takedown. But O’Toole countered his way to a stalemate with :45 on the clock. The period ended in neutral and the bout moved to extra time tied 1-1. Haines took a shot that O’Toole countered, nearly taking Haines down. Haines scrambled out of trouble, but O’Toole continued to work for the takedown.
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184 lbs: Carter Starocci vs. Colton Hawks
Carter Starocci dominated Colton Hawks, securing a 10-1 major decision. Starocci set a high tempo to start the bout, forcing Hawks backwards as the first two minutes rolled by. Starocci’s pressure led to a first stall warning and then a late takedown. Starocci led 3-0 after one. Trailing by three, Hawks chose down to start the second period. Starocci controlled the action on top. The Nittany Lion built his riding time up over 1:15. Starocci then finished off the period with a full rideout and led 3-0 with 2:18 in time after two. Starocci chose down to start the third period. He forced a stall warning for a point and then reversed Hawks to lead 6-0. He cut the Tiger loose, took him down and finished on top.
197 lbs: Josh Barr vs. Jesse Cassatt
Josh Barr made quick work of Jesse Cassatt, pinning him at 1:45. Barr scored quickly, taking Cassatt down for an early 3-0 lead, adding two back points for a 5-0 lead. He cut Cassatt loose, took him down quickly and cut him once more to open up a bigger lead. Barr continued to pressure the Tiger, notching a third takedown to open up an 11-2 lead with 1:45 on the clock.
285 lbs: Greg Kerkvliet vs. Jarret Stoner
Greg Kerkvliet capped off the dual with a technical fall over Jarret Stoner, finishing the match at 15-0. Kerkvliet battled through an even two minutes before notching his first takedown at the 1:01 mark. Kerkvliet then worked Stoner’s shoulders to the mat, picking up four back points to lead 7-0 with :20 on the clock. Kerkvliet finished the period on top and led 7-0 with 1:01 in riding time after one. Stoner chose down to start the second period. Kerkvliet went to work and quickly turned him for more back points. He picked up another four-point turn and reset with 1:10 on the clock, leading 11-0. Kerkvliet forced a stall warning at :40, another at :25 to lead 12-0, and then finished the period on top to lead 12-0 with clinched riding time (3:01) after two. Kerkvliet chose neutral to start the third period.
| Weight Class | Matchup | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 125 lbs | Luke Lilledahl (PSU) vs. Gage Walker (MIZZ) | Lilledahl wins 5-4 |
| 133 lbs | Braeden Davis (PSU) vs. Kade Moore (MIZZ) | Davis wins 14-3 (MD) |
| 141 lbs | Beau Bartlett (PSU) vs. Joshua Edmond (MIZZ) | Bartlett wins 4-1 (SV) |
| 149 lbs | Shayne Van Ness (PSU) vs. Zeke Seltzer (MIZZ) | Van Ness wins by Fall (1:57) |
| 157 lbs | Tyler Kasak (PSU) vs. James Conway (MIZZ) | Kasak wins 11-3 (MD) |
| 165 lbs | Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) vs. N/A | Mesenbrink wins by Forfeit |
| 174 lbs | Levi Haines (PSU) vs. Keegan O'Toole (MIZZ) | O'Toole wins 4-1 (SV) |
| 184 lbs | Carter Starocci (PSU) vs. Colton Hawks (MIZZ) | Starocci wins 10-1 (MD) |
| 197 lbs | Josh Barr (PSU) vs. Jesse Cassatt (MIZZ) | Barr wins by Fall (1:45) |
| 285 lbs | Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) vs. Jarret Stoner (MIZZ) | Kerkvliet wins 15-0 (TF) |
Penn State's Dominance and Unbeaten Streak
Penn State's wrestling program, led by Cael Sanderson, has achieved remarkable success, including a significant unbeaten streak in dual meets. When Penn State wrestling beat North Dakota State and Stanford at the 2025 Collegiate Duals, the Nittany Lions not only maintained their undefeated record on the year, but they also broke the NCAA DI record for the most consecutive dual meet wins.
As of early 2025, the Nittany Lions hold the NCAA Division I record for the longest win streak in NCAA wrestling history. Cael Sanderson's career record at Penn State stands at an impressive 209-16-2.
Read also: Discover a century of Penn State Wrestling
The Road to 77 Consecutive Wins
Penn State's journey to a record-breaking 77 consecutive dual meet wins is a testament to their consistent performance and depth. The streak began on Feb. 2, 2020. Here are some notable facts from Penn State’s current dual streak:
- Last Loss: January 31, 2020 - Iowa 19-17
- Total dual meet record under Cael Sanderson: 222-16-2
- Previous longest dual streak: 60 (2015-2019)
- Undefeated dual seasons under Cael Sanderson: 9 (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
- Most dual meet wins in a season: 17 (in 2022 and 2011)
- Closest dual during the streak: Ohio State (20-16 on February 15, 2020) and Pennsylvania (20-16 on December 3, 2021)
- Most points scored in a dual during the streak: 55 against Edinboro (2/25/24) and Michigan State (1/10/25)
- Least points scored in a dual during the streak: 18 against Michigan (2/14/21)
- Team wrestled most during streak: Ohio State and Maryland (6)
- Total team points during streak: 2,578 - 514
- Average team score during streak: 34 - 7
Key Milestones in the Streak
Here are some highlights from the 77-match win streak:
* Feb. 2, 2020: Penn State vs. Maryland* Feb. 7, 2020: Penn State vs. Wisconsin* Feb. 9, 2020: Penn State vs. Minnesota* Feb. 15, 2020: Penn State vs. Northwestern* Feb. 23, 2020: Penn State vs. Rutgers* Jan. 30, 2021: Penn State vs. Indiana* Jan. 30, 2021: Penn State vs. Maryland* Feb. 2, 2021: Penn State vs. Michigan State* Feb. 14, 2021: Penn State vs. Michigan* Feb. 19, 2021: Penn State vs. Ohio State* Feb. 22, 2021: Penn State vs. Maryland* Nov. 13, 2021: Penn State vs. Sacred Heart* Nov. 13, 2021: Penn State vs. Army West Point* Nov. 18, 2021: Penn State vs. Lehigh* Dec. 3, 2021: Penn State vs. Pennsylvania* Dec. 5, 2021: Penn State vs. Rider* Dec. 20, 2021: Penn State vs. Lock Haven* Dec. 20, 2021: Penn State vs. Cornell* Dec. 21, 2021: Penn State vs. Arizona State* Jan. 7, 2022: Penn State vs. Illinois* Jan. 9, 2022: Penn State vs. Northwestern* Jan. 16, 2022: Penn State vs. Wisconsin* Jan. 21, 2022: Penn State vs. Michigan* Jan. 23, 2022: Penn State vs. Michigan State* Jan. 28, 2022: Penn State vs. Iowa* Feb. 2, 2022: Penn State vs. Maryland* Feb. 6, 2022: Penn State vs. Nebraska* Feb. 20, 2022: Penn State vs. Clarion* Nov. 11, 2022: Penn State vs. VMI* Dec. 2, 2022: Penn State vs. Oregon State* Dec. 4, 2022: Penn State vs. Lehigh* Dec. 11, 2022: Penn State vs. Pittsburgh* Dec. 19, 2022: Penn State vs. Central MichiganThe Nittany Lions currently sit at 75 straight dual meet wins and haven’t lost since January 31, 2020. Oklahoma State holds the current dual streak record, with 76 total wins spanning from 1937 to 1951.
