Hello, friends! Welcome back to another exciting week in the world of wrestling. I hope you’re having a great day, whether it’s MLK Day, Inauguration Day, or just a regular day when you decided to read this article. Let’s dive into all the incredible moments from week 12 of the 2024-25 NCAA D1 wrestling season. Time is flying, and the postseason will be here before you know it!
A Season Dominated by Big Names
There are so many amazing wrestling programs out there, but this season, three teams seem to be stealing the spotlight: Penn State, Iowa, and Oklahoma State. It’s no surprise since these three are the most successful wrestling programs in history, based on their national team titles.
What makes them stand out isn’t just their success but how they keep staying on top. Right now, these teams are not only ranked 1, 2, and 3 but are also leading in fan engagement through ticket sales and online views. While many other teams have loyal fans and talented wrestlers, these three continue to impress in extraordinary ways. Do you agree they’re the Big 3 of college wrestling? If not, who do you think deserves that title?
Dual Meet of the Week: Penn State vs. Nebraska
This week’s most exciting dual was Penn State’s dominant 31-7 win over Nebraska. The match took place at Nebraska’s Devaney Center, where they set a new attendance record! Even though Nebraska wrestled hard, Penn State showed why they’re one of the greatest teams in history.
Here’s a quick look at the box score:
- 174: #2 Levi Haines (PSU) defeated #15 Lenny Pinto (NEB) (Dec 9-2)
- 184: #1 Carter Starocci (PSU) defeated #7 Silas Allred (NEB) (MD 11-2)
- 197: #4 Josh Barr (PSU) defeated #26 Camden McDanel (NEB) (TF 19-4 6:43)
- 285: #2 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) defeated #26 Harley Andrews (NEB) (TF 20-2 6:15)
- 125: #16 Luke Lilledahl (PSU) defeated #6 Caleb Smith (NEB) (Dec 4-2)
- 133: #16 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) defeated #6 Braeden Davis (PSU) (Dec 14-7)
- 141: #3 Beau Bartlett (PSU) defeated #6 Brock Hardy (NEB) (Dec 8-7)
- 149: #4 Ridge Lovett (NEB) defeated #2 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) (MD 10-2)
- 157: #3 Tyler Kasak (PSU) defeated #5 Antrell Taylor (NEB) (Dec 9-3)
- 165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) defeated Bubba Wilson (NEB) (TF 20-3 5:44)
Even though the team score wasn’t close, many individual matches were thrilling. Levi Haines, Carter Starocci, Josh Barr, and Greg Kerkvliet gave Penn State a strong start. Nebraska’s Jacob Van Dee and Ridge Lovett had standout performances, with Lovett pulling off an upset against Shayne Van Ness.
Iowa’s Big Win
Iowa continued their strong season with a 28-6 win over Illinois. The highlight was a match between Drake Ayala and Lucas Byrd, where Ayala secured a big takedown in the third period to win. The Hawkeyes are looking strong as they prepare for even tougher opponents.
Oklahoma State Shines
After a delay, Oklahoma State finally faced NC State and dominated with a 34-3 win. The Cowboys also defeated West Virginia later in the week. Highlights included Vincent Robinson’s big win for NC State and standout performances from Oklahoma State’s top wrestlers like Wyatt Hendrickson, who thrilled fans with a 43-second pin.
Other Notable Matches
Let’s take a quick look at what else happened:
- Indiana defeated Purdue 25-11 in a heated state rivalry.
- UNI beat Arizona State 33-10, showing their strength.
- Maryland made history by starting 3-0 in Big Ten competition.
- Navy upset Lehigh 21-15, taking advantage of some missing wrestlers from Lehigh’s lineup.
- Minnesota bounced back from a tough loss by defeating Michigan.
- Wyoming sealed a big win over Oregon State thanks to Joey Novak’s pin.
What Do You Think?
This week was packed with action, and there’s so much more to come. What was your favorite moment? Are there teams or matches you’d like to hear more about? Let me know your thoughts or share your feedback at [andrew.spey@flosports.tv] or on Twitter (@speywrestle).
Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you next week for more wrestling highlights! Keep cheering for your favorite teams and enjoying this amazing season!
