Braeden Davis’ redshirt removed as Penn State wrestling tops Rutgers in Big Ten opener
There was uncertainty on whether Aaron Nagao would be able to wrestle for Penn State after medically forfeiting out of the Southern Scuffle last weekend.
On Saturday afternoon inside Rec Hall, Nagao was seen sitting in street clothes on the sideline as Braeden Davis made the call at 141 pounds during the Nittany Lions’ 46-0 rout of Rutgers to open Big Ten action and the second half of the season.
The victory was Penn State’s 78th straight dual meet win, which became the NCAA’s overall record across all three divisions. It snapped the previous mark set by Division II’s St. Cloud State from 2017 to 2022.
“I walked into the record, obviously. This is my freshman year, so I wasn’t a part of all the stuff prior, but it’s just an amazing feeling to be a part of such a great and cool thing,” 157-pound wrestler PJ Duke said. “I don’t even have words to describe how grateful I am to be a part of the team. It’s just super cool that records come along with that stuff, but I’m just grateful.”
Added coach Cael Sanderson: “I’ve said a few times, I think it’s really cool for Penn State to have that record now, and that’s something that hopefully lasts for a while. It’s pretty special. It’s not something we’re really going to think about, or did think about, or we’re concerned about in any way. I think looking back, these guys will appreciate it more. It’ll be something that they’ll be proud that they were a part of it.”
Davis, who was an All-American at 133 pounds last year, was expected to redshirt this season to give the Nittany Lions options for the future. However, Nagao’s injuries forced the hand of the coaching staff, which led to Davis’ season debut.
He came out and recorded three first-period takedowns with ease on the Scarlet Knights’ Tahir Parkins and led 9-3 to open the third period. Davis, who won the Kauffman Open last weekend in Edinboro, gave up a takedown in the third period, but that didn’t stop him from recording an 18-7 major decision.
“I thought Davis looked really good. Braeden is ready to go,” Sanderson said. “He’s a competitor. It’s nice having him in the lineup. He always competes hard.”
Before Davis’ win gave the Nittany Lions an 11-0 lead, Luke Lilledahl (125 pounds) and Marcus Blaze (133) got things rolling.
Lilledahl had an 8-3 win over No. 29 Ayden Smith. Blaze rolled up a 12-2 major decision on No. 24 Dylan Shawver, who was the 2024 Big Ten champion at 133 pounds.
After Davis’ victory, Penn State rattled off six straight bonus point wins — three pins, two technical falls and a major decision.
Shayne Van Ness, Mitchell Mesenbrink and Levi Haines had those falls for the Nittany Lions.
Van Ness stuck Rutgers’ Devon Magro in 4:54 at 149 pounds. Mesenbrink, who gave up a takedown, responded with 12 unanswered points before putting Ryan Ford on his back in 2:28 at 165 pounds, which secured the dual victory by giving Penn State a 28-0 lead.
Haines then flattened Jordan Chapman in 4:49 at 174 pounds.
“I thought they looked really good. It’s been a few weeks since we wrestled, most of them,” Sanderson said of the team. “(Josh) Barr and a few guys wrestled last week. I thought they wrestled good. Rutgers is always gonna have a scrappy guy at every weight, so you got to be ready to go.”
Duke and Barr collected the team’s two technical falls.
Duke, a freshman, had five first period takedowns on Easton Doster. He opened the second with an escape and a sixth takedown to secure a 19-4 tech in 3:18 at 157 pounds.
Barr, who’s season just got underway in December after recovering from an offseason injury, nearly pinned former high school teammate No. 18 Remy Cotton in the first period. He had two third period takedowns, and added a riding time point to collect the 18-3 technical fall in 7:00 at 197 pounds.
“I had just told one of our coaches I probably spent more time wrestling him than anybody my whole life. He was like my main partner for four years straight,” Barr said. “It was really cool to be able to do it in Rec Hall, Rutgers versus Penn State. I’m just really grateful that I got to compete tonight, and it was pretty cool to do it against an old teammate.”
Rocco Welsh used three first period takedowns to earn a 13-3 major decision on No. 15 Shane Cartagena-Walsh at 184 pounds.
Cole Mirasola was able to secure the shutout for the Nittany Lions , when he used a takedown with 1:01 left in the third period to edge No. 21 Hunter Catka, 4-2, at 285 pounds.
Penn State next heads to Carver Hawkeye Arena on Friday for a dual against Iowa at 7 p.m.
Notes: Saturday’s win was the fourth shutout of the season for the Nittany Lions and the 32nd under Sanderson. ... Penn State had a 31-2 takedown advantage.
No. 1 Penn State 46, No. 16 Rutgers 0
Saturday at University Park 125: No. 2 Luke Lilledahl, PSU, dec. No. 29 Ayden Smith, 8-3 133: No. 5 Marcus Blaze, PSU, major dec. No. 24 Dylan Shawver, 12-2 141: Braeden Davis, PSU, major dec. Tahir Parkins, 18-7 149: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness, PSU, pinned Devon Magro, 4:54 157: No. 4 PJ Duke, PSU, tech. fall Easton Doster, 19-4 (3:18) 165: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU, pinned Ryan Ford, 2:28 174: No. 1 Levi Haines, PSU, pinned Jordan Chapman, 4:49 184: No. 4 Rocco Welsh, PSU, major dec. No. 15 Shane Cartagena-Walsh, 13-3 197: No. 1 Josh Barr, PSU, tech. fall No. 18 Remy Cotton, 18-3 (7:00) 285: No. 15 Cole Mirasola, PSU, dec. No. 21 Hunter Catka, 4-2 Takedowns: R 2, PSU 31 Records: Rutgers (6-3, 0-1 Big Ten), Penn State (7-0, 1-0 Big Ten) Next match: Penn State at Iowa, Friday, 7 p.m.
