The top-ranked Nittany Lions defeated the No. 6-ranked Cornhuskers 26-12 on Friday night in the Bryce Jordan Center, picking up their 83rd consecutive dual win. Although the closest dual the Nittany Lions have had thus far, they secured 30 takedowns compared to Nebraska’s four.

Penn State won all but three matchups, picking up four bonus-point victories including, two technical falls and two major decisions.

The match was highlighted by multiple top-10 matchups, five of which were won by Penn State wrestlers.

How It Happened

125 Pounds

To start the event, No. 1 Luke Lilledahl faced off against Alan Koehler. The Nittany Lion struck quickly with a single-leg takedown within the first 20 seconds to take a 3-0 lead. Koehler escaped to get on the board, but Lilledahl got back to his offense and secured a second takedown. The Cornhusker escaped but was once again put to the mat in a third takedown attempt of the period by the Nittany Lion.

To start the second period, Koehler escaped, but was taken down a fourth time as Lilledahl made it 12-3 with 1:30 left in the frame. The Nittany Lion put Koehler in a devastating bow-and-arrow pinning combination but was only awarded two back points before the two landed out of bounds.

Lilledahl elected to start the period in neutral position, taking the Cornhusker down for a fifth and then eventually a sixth time to secure the 21-4 technical fall.

133 Pounds

At 133 pounds, No. 4 Marcus Blaze took on No. 10 Jacob Van Dee. After a slow start to the match, the Nittany Lion drew blood first with a 3-point takedown with 20 seconds remaining.

To start the second, Van Dee escaped quickly to cut the deficit to two. Blaze was awarded a point for his headgear being pulled, but there were no other points scored.

In the third period, Blaze escaped to make it 5-1 which ended up being the difference in the match. The Nittany Lion remains unbeaten after knocking off the former All-American.

141 Pounds

Next, No. 12 Braeden Davis wrestled No. 4 Brock Hardy at 141 pounds. The Nittany Lion came out on fire, taking the Cornhusker down within the first 10 seconds of the match. Hardy escaped but was taken down a second time to make it 6-1. Hardy escaped before the end of the period to make it 6-2.

In the second frame, Davis escaped after 30 seconds to add to his lead. The Nittany Lion was given a stall warning before a stoppage for an injury. The two wrestlers went back forth before Hardy hit a takedown to make it 7-5 as time expired in the period.

To start the third, Hardy escaped to cut the deficit to one. The Cornhusker would takedown Davis and eventually cradle him into a pin. The two would scuffle afterwards, leading to a Penn State team point being docked from the total.

149 Pounds

At 149 pounds, No. 1 Shayne Van Ness faced off against No. 18 Chance Lamer. The Cornhusker took down Van Ness to start the match; however, the Nittany Lion escaped after 20 seconds to get on the board. The two wrestlers would hand fight for the remaining time in the period.

Although Lamer escaped to start the period, Van Ness countered with a takedown to even the score.

In the third period, Van Ness escaped and hit a massive takedown to go up 8-4 with a minute remaining. Lamer escaped but was taken down a third time. The Nittany Lion won with a 12-5 decision to extend Penn State’s lead.

157 Pounds

In the final match before the intermission, No. 3 PJ Duke faced off against No. 5 Antrell Taylor. The Nittany Lion narrowly missed out on a takedown, but no points were scored for the first period.

In the second, Taylor escaped instantly to take the lead. The match went to the third period with just a one-point difference.

In the third, Duke escaped to tie the match, but no other points were scored as it went to sudden victory.

After no points were scored in sudden victory, the two wrestlers went to the rideout periods. Taylor escaped in the first to go up 2-1. Duke was unable to return the favor in the second overtime as the Nittany Lion dropped the 2-1 decision.

165 Pounds

After the break, No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink took on No. 7 LJ Araujo. Mesenbrink got to a leg instantly, finishing the takedown just a few seconds later. Araujo escaped but was taken down a second time shortly thereafter. The Nittany Lion would connect on one more takedown before the end of the first period to go up 9-3 after the first.

The two started in neutral, where Mesenbrink would capitalize with another takedown to go up 13-4.

In the third period, Mesenbrink was awarded a point for Araujo’s stalling before reversing the Cornhusker from bottom position to go up 16-4. After an escape, Mesenbrink took his opponent down once more to collect the 20-5 technical fall.

174 Pounds

Next, No. 1 Levi Haines faced off against No. 4 Christopher Minto. The Cornhusker was awarded a point after Haines pushed his opponent off the mat. The Nittany Lion was close to a takedown but was unsuccessful as the buzzer sounded.

Haines escaped to start the second but was taken down to go down 4-2. The Nittany Lion answered with a takedown of his own to take the lead 5-4 before the third period.

Minto escaped to tie the match in the third, but Haines rolled back for a second takedown, enough for an 8-6 decision victory.

184 Pounds

At 184 pounds, No. 1 Rocco Welsh wrestled No. 6 Silas Allred. The Nittany Lion got to his offense quickly with two takedowns midway through the first period.

In the second, Welsh got to a third takedown, making the match 9-3 after a minute in the second period. The Cornhusker was able to escape to cut the deficit to five before the third period.

Welsh escaped and took Allred down for the fourth time to stretch the lead to a 14-5 major decision.

197 Pounds

Next, No. 1 Josh Barr faced off against No. 9 Camden McDanel. Barr started strong with a takedown within the first minute. The Nittany Lion hit three more takedowns before the end of the first frame to take a commanding lead heading into the second.

Barr escaped and took the Cornhusker down for the fifth time in the second period.

In the third, McDanel escaped but was taken down for a sixth time along the edge of the mat. McDanel was allowed up and then took Barr down for his first takedown. Barr responded with a takedown of his own to take home the 21-9 major decision.

Heavyweight

In the final matchup of the night, No. 12 Cole Mirasola took on No. 4 AJ Ferrari. There was only hand fighting in the first period as the two wrestlers headed into the second period tied 0-0.

Ferrari escaped to take the lead after just eight seconds. Mirasola was close to a takedown but was unable to reach Ferrari’s second ankle.

In the third, Ferrari kept the Nittany Lion down for nearly the entire period, winning the match 2-1.

Whats Next?

Penn State wrestling will be back on the mat when the Nittany Lions travel to face No. 10 Michigan in Ann Arbor on Friday, February 6, at 6 p.m. The dual will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.