Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling head coach Cael Sanderson will have six wrestlers competing in the championship round Saturday night. Matthew O’Haren / Imagn Images
March 21, 2026 12:01 am EDT
Penn State neared its fifth consecutive NCAA wrestling championship, and coach Cael Sanderson inched closer to one of the sport’s most hallowed records after Friday’s semifinal action inside Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
The Nittany Lions amassed 153 points, well ahead of likely runner-up Oklahoma State (111.5 points) entering Saturday morning’s consolation round of the NCAA tournament. Nebraska (90), Iowa (81) and Ohio State (77.5) round out the top five. Penn State also could break its own record for points in a tournament, which it set last year with 177.
Penn State tied an NCAA record by qualifying six wrestlers for Saturday’s championship round and all remain undefeated. Three Penn State wrestlers won by technical fall: Shayne Van Ness (25-0) at 149 pounds, Mitchell Mesenbrink (26-0) at 165, and Levi Haines (25-0) at 174. Also advancing were Luke Lilledahl (24-0) at 125, Rocco Welsh (24-0) at 184 and Josh Barr (23-0) at 197. Penn State’s eight semifinalists tied a record set twice by Iowa, most recently in 1991. Barr has gained extra team points in every match this season, including a major decision on Friday night.
Sanderson, who is in his 17th season at Penn State, could clinch his 13th national title as soon as the consolation round. He’s two NCAA titles shy of tying Iowa legend Dan Gable, who won 15 championships over 21 seasons. Earlier this season, the Nittany Lions set a national record for consecutive dual meet victories and now have 85. It’s a streak that began in 2020.
A few notes:
• Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez (141) will attempt to become the third Buckeye to win three national titles, joining Logan Stieber and Kyle Snyder.
• At 133 pounds, Oklahoma State’s Jax Forrest and Ohio State’s Ben Davino will battle in the first championship matchup featuring freshmen since 2010. All four Cowboys in the finals are freshmen.
• Iowa’s Michael Caliendo beat Purdue’s Joey Blaze 8-5 in a sudden victory at 165 pounds to secure a finalist for the Hawkeyes for the 36th consecutive season.
Mar 21, 2026
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