Here’s a bout-by-bout preview of Penn State wrestling’s dual with No. 10 Michigan
Penn State wrestling’s regular season is slowly coming to a close.
The Nittany Lions have two duals remaining after they square off with No. 10 Michigan on Friday night inside the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Penn State holds the lead all-time against the Wolverines, 37-24. Last year, the Nittany Lions had a 39-0 shutout inside the Bryce Jordan Center.
Below is a look at how we think Friday night will play out in Michigan.
125 pounds: No. 1 Luke Lilledahl (14-0) vs. No. 23 Diego Sotelo (10-6)
Nate Cobler: Yes, this is a matchup of ranked wrestlers, but Lilledahl is on a completely different level than where he was a year ago. It’s crazy to think that, especially after he won the Big Ten last year as a freshman. He doesn’t look like he’s going to be stopped anytime soon, so this dual should open with bonus points as most of Penn State’s dual have with Lilledahl starting things off. Prediction: Lilledahl by technical fall.
Jon Sauber: There should be some good matchups on Friday night, but this won’t be one of them. Lilledahl has dominated for the Nittany Lions this season and Sotelo has struggled to a 10-6 record. Assuming the dual starts at 125 pounds, Penn State should begin with bonus points right away — it’s just a matter of how many Lilledahl can rack up. Prediction: Lilledahl by technical fall.
133 pounds: No. 4 Marcus Blaze (16-0) vs. Gauge Botero (4-11)
Cobler: This one will be a battle of PA and Ohio true freshmen . Botero came to the Wolverines after being a four-time PIAA placewinner, while leading Faith Christian Academy to three straight dual team titles. He won a PIAA title in 2023, and was a finalist as a senior. Blaze was a four-time Ohio state champion at Perrysburg High School while amassing a 196-2 record. Blaze’s wrestling has translated well to the college scene, while Botero has some work to do. Prediction: Blaze by technical fall.
Sauber: Blaze is undefeated in his first year at Penn State and Botero has struggled to a 4-11 start, although he’s only given up a technical fall or worse in one of his 15 matches — his most recent against Ohio State’s Ben Davino. Unfortunately for him, Blaze has been on that level this year and should be in position to get bonus points for the Nittany Lions just like Lilledahl is. Prediction: Blaze by technical fall.
141 pounds: No. 12 Braeden Davis (8-2) vs. No. 26 Dylan Ragusin (6-3)
Cobler: This one has a pair of veterans squaring off in a dual as Ragusin is one of four graduate students that is in the Wolverines’ lineup. This is also a toss up match. Davis is a two-time NCAA qualifier finishing third last year, but Ragusin is a four-timer placing only once — fifth in 2024. Davis will be looking to rebound after getting pinned by Nebraska’s Brock Hardy in the last dual. Prediction: Davis by decision.
Sauber: This could be one of the best matchups of the dual. Davis and Ragusin have had their share of struggles, with Davis gassing out against Nebraska and Ragusin struggling against the best competition he’s faced this season. Still, Davis has been volatile at times and that makes it much tougher to project how this one will go. Prediction: Ragusin by decision.
149 pounds: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness (15-0) vs. No. 13 Lachlan McNeil (11-3)
Cobler: This is one of three matchups in the dual that will be a good one to watch, along with the others later that will keep fans’ attention. Van Ness and McNeil, who competed for North Carolina, squared off in the quarterfinals of last year’s NCAA Championships with the Nittany Lions wrestler coming away with a 7-2 victory. When it comes to common opponents, Van Ness (18-3) has a way better mark than McNeil (8-7) does. Look for Van Ness to come out on top again to keep Michigan off the board. Prediction: Van Ness by decision.
Sauber: Speaking volatile, Van Ness has a way of making most of his matches more interesting than they need to be. He gave up an early takedown and back points to Maryland’s Carter Young to fall behind 7-0 before storming back to a 31-15 technical fall win. McNeil is a three-time All-American who joined Michigan from North Carolina this offseason, but has not fared well against top competition this season. Van Ness should be able to do what he did in the NCAAs last year and defeat McNeil. Prediction: Van Ness by decision.
157 pounds: No. 4 PJ Duke (13-1) vs. No. 13 Cameron Catrabone (13-4)
Cobler: This one highlights a pair of top New York wrestlers. Duke was a four-time New York state champion as Catrabone was a two-time champ. Catrabone won his titles in his last two years of high school. The duo have a common opponent in Nebraska’s Antrell Taylor. Duke is coming off a tough 2-1 loss to Taylor in tiebreakers last Friday as Catrabone suffered a 20-5 technical fall loss to Taylor back in November. Prediction: Duke by major decision.
Sauber: Duke is trying to bounce back after taking the first loss of his college career to Nebraska’s Antrell Taylor, and he should be able to do so with relative ease. He lost that bout 2-1 in tiebreaks, but when Catrabone faced off with Taylor, he lost by technical fall back in November. Duke should be able to get bonus points in this one. Prediction: Duke by major decision.
165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (16-0) vs. Justin Gates (11-6)
Cobler: It wouldn’t matter who the Wolverines throw out here. This weight class is Mesenbrink’s world, and everyone else just lives in it. The defending NCAA champ has a 100 percent bonus point ratio in all of his victories. He also hasn’t lost a match since falling to Iowa State’s David Carr in the 2024 NCAA finals. Prediction: Mesenbrink by technical fall.
Sauber: There’s not a whole lot to say about this one. Mesenbrink continues to improve his Hodge Trophy candidacy and has been wrestling like a machine this season. Gates doesn’t stand a chance. Prediction: Mesenbrink by fall.
174 pounds: No. 1 Levi Haines (15-0) vs. No. 11 Beau Mantanona (14-4)
Cobler: Haines is rolling and doesn’t look like he’s going to be stopped in his last collegiate season. Mantanona is up a weight from last year, where he nearly was an All-American. He suffered a loss in the blood round. Mantanona comes into the match off a 9-6 loss to Ohio State’s Carson Kharchla. Prediction: Haines by decision.
Sauber: Mantanona has put together a solid sophomore season, but is coming off a loss to Ohio State’s Carson Kharchla, and things aren’t going to get any easier for him against Haines. The Nittany Lion is undefeated and has only lost four times in his entire college career. This one may not end with bonus points for Haines, but it should still end with a win. Prediction: Haines by decision.
184 pounds: No. 1 Rocco Welsh (14-0) vs. No. 7 Brock Mantanona (13-3)
Cobler: This is matchup No. 2 to keep an eye on for those that are still watching the rout. Welsh looks like a completely different wrestler since joining Penn State’s team this year. His offense started out hot, took a dip, but has picked up the pace lately — tallying bonus points in three of his last four matches. Mantanona is riding high as well after picking up a top-10 win over Ohio State’s Dylan Fishback last Friday, 4-1. Prediction: Welsh by decision.
Sauber: The younger Mantanona will also take on an undefeated Nittany Lion in Welsh, who has been excellent for Penn State since transferring in from Ohio State during the offseason. He defeated Nebraska’s Silas Allred by major decision in his most recent bout, and it’s fair to expect another positive result from him on the road in Ann Arbor. That being said, bonus points may be harder to come by in what could be a much closer matchup. Prediction: Welsh by decision.
197 pounds: No. 1 Josh Barr (13-0) vs. No. 20 Hayden Walters (7-4)
Cobler: Barr got a late start to the season after he suffered a rib injury in the U23 World Championships in October. He made his debut at the end of December and hasn’t looked back, tallying bonus points in all of his victories this year. Barr looks poised to make a run to the NCAA finals again. Walters has had an up and down season, and hasn’t lost back-to-back matches since November. He comes into this match off an 11-3 loss to Ohio State’s Luke Geog. Prediction: Barr by major decision.
Sauber: Barr has earned bonus points in all 13 of his wins this season and will likely do the same on Friday night. Walters has not faced anyone of Barr’s level this season. The Nittany Lion should be able to tally as many takedowns as he’d like and should get either five or six bonus points against the Wolverine. Prediction: Barr by technical fall.
285 pounds: No. 12 Cole Mirasola (12-3) vs. No. 5 Taye Ghadiali (16-2)
Cobler: The dual should finish off with the last matchup to keep an eye on. Mirasola has had quite the gauntlet over the season, especially since Big Ten action got underway. His three losses are to wrestlers all ranked ahead of him, but Mirasola’s Big Ten record is 5-1. He upset then-No.5 Iowa’s Ben Kueter in those wins, and the loss came against Nebraska’s AJ Ferrari, which Mirasola nearly won. He gets another tough matchup with Ghadiali, who transferred from Campbell. Ghadiali is four-time NCAA qualifier. Prediction: Ghadiali by decision.
Sauber: Ghadiali is coming off a win over Ohio State’s Nick Feldman and is the Wolverine who is most likely to earn a win on Friday night. Mirasola has been solid for the Nittany Lions, but has not been up to the level of some of his teammates who are getting bonus points night in and night out. He has a good win over Iowa’s Ben Kueter, and should be able to stick around in this matchup and make it close, even if he doesn’t pull off the upset. Prediction: Ghadiali by decision.
Team outlook
Cobler: This one has the potential to be a shutout again, or for Michigan to potentially come away with two wins. Should Penn State get the shutout, it’ll be the eighth of the season, tying Iowa for second most in a season. Prediction: Penn State 35-3
Sauber: Eventually Penn State’s dual winning streak will come to an end (it’s currently at 83), but it won’t be Friday night in Ann Arbor. The Nittany Lions have advantages in the majority of the matchups against the Wolverines, and while it’s unlikely, it’s not impossible that they win all 10. This team is a juggernaut and has been for the vast majority of Cael Sanderson’s tenure as head coach. Prediction: Penn State 34, Michigan 6
No. 1 Penn State (12-0, 6-0 Big Ten) at No. 10 Michigan (8-3, 4-1 Big Ten)
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Where: Crisler Center, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Radio: Big Foot Legends (103.7 & 104.3 FM)
TV: Big Ten Network
Online: Streaming, Big Ten+; Radio, Lionvision at GoPSUsports.com
X: @byncobler, @pennstatewrest
