Penn State wrestling sets NCAA points record for second straight year

Penn State wrestling clinched the program’s 13th national title Saturday afternoon during the medal rounds of the 2025 NCAA Championships inside Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. The win was the fourth consecutive championship for the Nittany Lions under Cael Sanderson.

Not only is Penn State bringing the trophy back to Happy Valley again this year, but the program also broke another NCAA record in the process. The Nittany Lions set a new team total record with 177 points, breaking the 172.5 mark from last year’s squad.

Penn State wrestling flexes its depth at the NCAA Championships

There wasn’t much of a question about if Penn State wrestling would win the national title this season. The debate was whether this team could be the greatest of all time. The Nittany Lions answered that question this weekend in Philadelphia with an emphatic yes. With a 157-point projection entering the tournament, Penn State used a high bonus rate to blow by that prediction during Saturday morning’s session.

The Nittany Lions started the NCAA Championships a perfect 20 for 20, becoming just the third team in NCAA history to advance all 10 wrestlers to the Quarterfinals.  The Blue and White experienced some minor setbacks on Friday, with Penn State wrestlers going 7-3 in the Quarterfinals and 3-4 in the Semifinals.

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Penn State rebounded in a massive way on Saturday morning, dominating the consolation bracket. Five Nittany Lions claimed third place in their weight classes, while Braeden Davis took fifth and Greg Kerkvliet medically defaulted out of the tournament in sixth place.

Although its three NCAA Finalists were down from the record-setting six from 2024, Penn State wrestling made the most of the title round. Carter Starocci claimed a historic fifth individual title and Mitchell Mesenbrink brought home a championship as well.

2025 NCAA Championships results

NCAA Team Results

1. Penn State – 177

2. Nebraska – 117

3. Oklahoma State – 102.5

4. Iowa – 81

5. Minnesota/Ohio State – 51.5

Individual Results

125: Luke Lilledahl (FR) – 3rd

133: Braeden Davis (SO) – 5th

141: Beau Bartlett (GR) – 3rd

149: Shayne Van Ness (SO) – 3rd

157: Tyler Kasak (SO) – 3rd

165: Mitchell Mesenbrink (SO) – 1st

174: Levi Haines (JR) – 3rd

184: Carter Starocci (GR)- 1st

197: Josh Barr (FR) – 2nd

285: Greg Kerkvliet (GR) – 6th

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