Penn State wrestling: Could Mitchell Mesenbrink become the greatest transfer of all time?

Mitchell Mesenbrink has already become one of the faces of the Penn State wrestling program. But by the time his career is over, could the former Cal-Baptist wrestler become the greatest transfer portal addition of all time?

The question was the topic of debate on a recent episode of FloWrestling Radio Live.

Mesenbrink has been about as dominant as a wrestler can be at the start of his career. After transferring to Happy Valley following his freshman season, Mesenbrink went 26-1 last season, with his lone loss coming to Iowa State’s David Carr in the NCAA Finals. Mesenbrink got over the hump this season, winning his first national championship after going 27-0.

So far, the 2025 Dan Hodge Trophy finalist is 54-1 and has averaged an 80% bonus over his first two years with the Nittany Lions.

However, another transfer with an argument to be considered the best ever is the man who just beat Mesenbrink for the Hodge Trophy: Wyatt Hendrickson. The Air Force cadet turned Oklahoma State Cowboy made the most of his final season, going 27-0, including a stunning upset of two-time NCAA Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Gable Steveson in the heavyweight national title bout.

Even though Hendrickson became the transfer portal story of 2025, FloWrestling’s Christian Pyles believes that longevity will benefit Mesenbrink.

“It will ultimately be Mitchell,” said Pyles of who will be considered the better transfer. “The guy is very likely to win, or we will say at minimum, make four NCAA Finals, it feels like, barring a bad injury or something.”

Mesenbrink could become an all-timer for Penn State wrestling

March 22, 2025. Penn State wrestling 165-pounder Mitchell Mesenbrink. © Chris Eutsler / Basic Blues Nation, 2025.

If Mesenbrink can continue on his career trajectory and claim two more NCAA titles, he will go down as an all-time great for Penn State wrestling and likely be considered one of the best college wrestlers ever.

Currently, Mesenbrink is developing a career arc similar to several prominent Nittany Lions from Penn State’s 2016-19 championship run.

Bo Nickal lost in the NCAA Finals his freshman season before winning three straight titles to finish 120-3 with a 76.77% bonus. Jason Nolf also finished second as a freshman before rattling off three championships, a 133-4 record, and an 85.78% bonus. Zain Retherford finished fifth in his true freshman year, redshirted, and then won three consecutive NCAA titles. Retherford finished with a 126-3 record and a 75.30% bonus, going 93-0 with a bonus percentage above 85% during those three championship seasons.

Whatever the future holds for Mesenbrink, his name will likely be remembered long after his days in the Penn State wrestling room are finished.

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