Penn State wrestling star Mitchell Mesenbrink wins U23 World Bronze Medal

Penn State wrestling is right around the corner, but several wrestlers are finishing up international competition before the season kicks off. Over the weekend, Nittany Lions star Mitchell Mesenbrink competed in the United World Wrestling U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania. Mesenbrink finished with a 3-1 record at 74 kg, earning a Bronze Medal on Saturday.

Mitchell Mesenbrink started the tournament with a shocking 7-2 upset victory over No. 2 seed Murat Dzhakupov of Kazakhstan in Friday’s opening round. He then fell in a hard-fought 11-8 loss to Japan’s Kota Takahashi in the quarterfinals.

Every Mitchell Mesenbrink Match at U23 World Championships pic.twitter.com/7JkZAlL8JX

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) October 28, 2024

On Saturday morning, Mesenbrink rebounded with a 16-7 win over Ali Abbas of Iran in the repechage. The victory propelled the rising redshirt sophomore to the Bronze Medal match, where he faced No. 6 Magomedrasul Asluev of Bahrain.

Mesenbrink jumped out in front early and would only add on, cruising to a 6-0 victory. The win adds another medal to the Penn State wrestling star’s young international career, previously claiming two Gold Medals at the U20 Pan American Championships and a Silver and Gold at the U20 World Championships.

High expectations for Penn State wrestling star in 2025

Mitchell Mesenbrink stormed into his first year with the Penn State wrestling program, winning the Big Ten Championship as a redshirt freshman at 165 pounds. He then went on to earn the No. 2 seed at the NCAAs before falling 9-8 to No. 4 seed David Carr of Iowa State in the Final, his only loss of the season.

Most think 2025 is Mesenbrink’s year to reach the top of the podium. Last spring, he was one minute of riding time away from sending his match with Carr to overtime, where many think he could have carried the momentum of his late rally to win the title.

That’s a wrap for the 2024 season with Mitchell Mesenbrink winning U23 World Bronze Medal. Now onto the 2025 season! 💪🏼⁦@Mitch_Mes⁩ pic.twitter.com/BsoV8A2uWI

— Casey Cunningham (@cwcunningham1) October 27, 2024

Now, Carr has graduated and Missouri standout Keegan O’Toole has moved up in weight class, leaving Mesenbrink as the odds-on favorite to win the 165 pound crown.

Mesenbrink enters the season ranked No. 1 in the country and is a heavy favorite to win the National Championship and finish the year undefeated. Iowa’s Mikey Caliendo, ranked No. 2 in the country, is someone that Mesenbrink beat three times in 2024, showing the gap between the Penn State wrestling star and the rest of his weight class. Mesenbrink may have a chance to push for the Dan Hodge Trophy if he dominates on the mat as much as is expected this season.

Penn State wrestling kicks off its dual season against Drexel at Rec Hall on Sunday, November 17, at 1:00 p.m.

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