Rocco Welsh, Cole Mirasola victories highlight Penn State wrestling’s rout of Iowa
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- Penn State won nine of 10 bouts to rout Iowa, 32-3, Carver-Hawkeye's worst loss.
- Penn State dominated Iowa, winning nine of 10 bouts and beating Iowa 32-3.
- Rocco Welsh and Cole Mirasola secured narrow wins over top-ranked opponents.
Two years ago, Penn State’s wrestling team handed Iowa its worst home loss of the program — until Friday night.
The Nittany Lions saw upsets by Rocco Welsh and Cole Mirasola in Iowa City, and won nine of 10 bouts to hand the Hawkeyes their worst loss ever inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, 32-3.
“Obviously, it’s fun. Everyone wants to win, but it’s just a part of the process,” Mirasola told the Penn State Sports Network. “We’re going to do our thing, and it’s going to play out how it’s going to play out. We also have Sunday (against Northwestern), so that’s going to be fun.”
With the dual already in hand, Welsh, who is No. 4 in the country, stepped to the mat against No. 1 Angelo Ferrari at 184 pounds.
Neither wrestler was able to record a takedown during regulation, but instead swapped escapes to head to sudden victory. Late in sudden victory, Welsh attempted to get a takedown, but Ferrari fought it off, forcing the pair to go to tiebreaker rideout periods.
The first period saw Welsh ride Ferrari for the entire period. In the other period, the Penn State wrestler escaped with 18 seconds left to secure a 2-1 win.
“I love having him on the team. He’s a great guy,” Mirasola said of Welsh. “I’m thankful that he was brought into this program. He’s a great person and obviously a great wrestler.”
After Josh Barr pinned Brody Sampson in 4:42, Mirasola took on No. 5 Ben Kueter to close out the dual.
After a scoreless first period, Kueter tallied the first points with an escape. However, Mirasola was able to get a takedown late in the second period.
Kueter escaped before the period ended as the Nittany Lions wrestler led 3-2.
Mirasola got a quick escape to open the third period, and that was all he needed to secure a 4-3 victory.
“I’m deciding I’m going to go beat these guys. Coach Cael (Sanderson) told me before the match, ‘Just decide you’re going to beat this guy,’” Mirasola said. “I went out there and decided I was going to get the takedown to win the match.”
The dual began with Luke Lilledahl getting a revenge win over No. 6 Dean Peterson, who beat Lilledahl last year (4-1) in the Rutgers dual, at 125 pounds. Lilledahl had a takedown in each period for an 11-5 victory.
Marcus Blaze used a second period takedown to top two-time NCAA runner-up Drake Ayala, 4-2.
Iowa’s lone win came at 141 pounds as No. 11 Nasir Bailey edged No. 7 Braeden Davis, 3-2.
After Bailey’s win, it was all the Nittany Lions.
No. 1 Shayne Van Ness hung a 13-4 major decision on No. 17 Ryder Block at 149 pounds. True freshman PJ Duke needed a third period takedown to top No. 12 Jordan Williams, 4-2, at 157 pounds.
Duke’s win gave Penn State a 13-3 lead at the break.
No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink opened the second half of the dual with an 11-2 major decision on No. 3 Michael Caliendo at 165 pounds. It was Mesenbrink’s seventh victory over Caliendo in their careers, and kept the Penn State wrestler’s perfect streak of bonus point wins in all of his victories this season.
Levi Haines’ first period takedown of Gabe Arnold was enough for a 4-2 win at 174 pounds before Welsh’s victory.
The Nittany Lions now head to Evanston, Ill. to face Northwestern on Sunday at 3 p.m.
No. 1 Penn State 32, No. 4 Iowa 3
Friday at Iowa City, Iowa
125: No. 2 Luke Lilledahl, PSU, dec. No. 6 Dean Peterson, 11-5
133: No. 4 Marcus Blaze, PSU, dec. No. 8 Drake Ayala, 4-2
141: No. 11 Nasir Bailey, I, dec. No. 7 Braeden Davis, 3-2
149: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness, PSU, major dec. No. 17 Ryder Block, 13-4
157: No. 3 PJ Duke, PSU, dec. No. 12 Jordan Williams, 4-2
165: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU, major dec. No. 3 Michael Caliendo, 11-2
174: No. 1 Levi Haines, PSU, dec. Gabe Arnold, 4-2
184: No. 4 Rocco Welsh, PSU, dec. No. 1 Angelo Ferarri, 2-1 (UTB)
197: No. 1 Josh Barr, PSU, pinned Brody Sampson, 4:42
285: No. 13 Cole Mirasola, PSU, dec. No. 5 Ben Kueter, 4-3
Takedowns: PSU 15, I 2
Records: Penn State (8-0, 2-0 Big Ten), Iowa (8-3, 1-1 Big Ten)
Next match: Penn State at Northwestern, Sunday, 3 p.m.
