Penn State wrestling sends seven to NCAA Semifinals

Penn State wrestling will once again headline the NCAA Semifinal Round with seven Nittany Lions qualifying as All-Americans and advancing during Friday afternoon’s quarterfinals.

Despite the majority of the lineup advancing, it wasn’t a perfect day by any means for the Nittany Lions. Penn State saw two of its top-ranked wrestlers defeated during the first session on Friday.

Two Penn State top seeds go down in NCAA Quarterfinals

Penn State wrestling 157-pounder Tyler Kasak. © Chris Eutsler / Basic Blues Nation, 2025.

Starting off the day on a sour note at 125 pounds, No. 1 Luke Lilledahl lost on riding time criteria in tiebreakers to No. 8 Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh). Lilledahl attempted to get his offense going late in the third period and in sudden victory, but couldn’t secure the takedown. The true freshman was granted a stalling point during the tiebreak but couldn’t escape Seymour’s grasp as time expired. It was a shocking loss that started a string of tough results for Penn State.

Right after, at 133, No. 8 Braeden Davis suffered his first defeat of the NCAA Tournament with an 11-1 major decision at the hands of No. 1 Lucas Byrd (Illinois). The second time Davis has fallen to Bird this year, it was the only Nittany Lion loss of the session that wasn’t considered an upset.

Perhaps the most shocking result of the tournament so far was No. 1 Tyler Kasak losing 5-4 to No. 8 Joey Blaze (Purdue). The sophomore appeared to be on his way to the Semifinals after securing an early takedown and adding to his lead with several escapes. However, Blaze flipped the lead with a late takedown and held Kasak off for the final 40 seconds to get the upset. Along with Meyer Shapiro (Cornell), Kasak was a heavy favorite to win the national title at 157 pounds.

Team standings following Quarterfinal matchups

1 Penn State – 90.5  

2 Nebraska – 65.5  

3 Oklahoma State – 63  

4 Iowa – 42  

5 Northern Iowa – 37.5  

6 Ohio State – 37  

7 Minnesota – 35.5  

8 Illinois – 33  

9 Cornell – 29.5  

10 Michigan – 27.5  

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Penn State wrestling sets focus to NCAA Semifinals

Penn State wrestling 184-pounder Carter Starocci. © Chris Eutsler / Basic Blues Nation, 2025.

After sending six Nittany Lions to the 2024 NCAA Finals, Penn State wrestling has seven competitors who will be vying for a spot in the national title bout. Penn State is favored in four of the seven Semifinal matchups based on seeding alone.

141: No. 2 Beau Bartlett (PSU) vs No. 3 Jesse Mendez (OHST)

Beau Bartlett and Jesse Mendez will meet for the third time this season and the sixth time in their careers. Bartlett took both the regular season and Big Ten Championship matches by 4-2 decisions. Last year, the two wrestlers also met three times, with Bartlett winning the dual but Mendez taking the Big Ten and NCAA Championships. Both were viewed as favorites heading into the season, and now only one will make it to Saturday night’s final. A win would keep the graduate senior Bartlett alive in his final chance to win an NCAA title.

149: No. 3 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) vs No. 2 Ridge Lovett (NEB)

Shayne Van Ness and Ridge Lovett will meet for the second time this season. The Cornhusker took the first meeting by 10-2 major decision in Lincoln earlier this year. In that match, Van Ness led during the second period before Lovett went on a flurry of scoring to put the match away late. Lovett will be looking to return to his first NCAA Final since 2022, while Van Ness will look to make his first-ever appearance.

165: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) vs No. 12 Christopher Minto (NEB)

Shockingly, Mitchell Mesenbrink didn’t score bonus points during his 5-0 victory over Oklahoma State’s Cam Amine in the Quarterfinals. Friday night’s Semifinal will be his first-ever meeting with Christopher Minto. The Cornhusker has pulled multiple upsets so far this tournament, defeating No. 5 Julian Ramirez (COR) and No. 4 Terrell Barraclough (UVU). This match is one to keep an eye on as Penn State wrestling looks to add bonus points on to its 25-point lead.

174: No. 2 Levi Haines (PSU) vs No. 3 Dean Hamiti (OKST)

Friday night will be the first-ever meeting between Levi Haines and Dean Hamiti. The 174-pound weight class has been a three-way race between No. 1 Keegan O’Toole (MIZ), Haines, and Hamiti all season. Haines and Hamiti each have only lost once this season, both to O’Toole. Haines suffered a 4-1 sudden victory defeat back in December at the Journeyman Duals. Hamiti lost in sudden victory 7-4 at the Big 12 Championships.

184: No. 1 Carter Starocci (PSU) vs No. 4 Dustin Plott (OKST)

This is another first-time matchup at 184. Carter Starocci is now two wins away from winning his fifth national championship. But first, he will have to battle Dustin Plott, who is looking to make his second consecutive NCAA Final after becoming a four-time All-American earlier in the day. Starocci was one of just two Penn State wrestlers to get bonus points during the Quarterfinal and looked in control the entire match. Don’t be surprised if he puts on a show during the Semifinals.

197: No. 4 Josh Barr (PSU) vs No. 1 Jacob Cardenas (MICH)

Josh Barr and Jacob Cardenas will meet for the third time this season, splitting the first two matchups. Barr won the first 3-2 in tiebreakers at the BJC dual, while Cardenas got his revenge on Barr 4-1 in sudden victory at the Big Ten Championships. It is only fitting that these two meet for the rubber match with a chance to go to the NCAA Finals. The winner will face either No. 2 Stephen Buchanan (IOWA) or AJ Ferrari (CSUB). This weight class has been headlined by four wrestlers all season and will be one of the most highly anticipated Semifinals entering Friday night.

285: No. 3 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) vs No. 2 Wyatt Hendrickson (OKST)

Greg Kerkvliet and Wyatt Hendrickson will meet for the second time in their careers. Kerkvliet defeated Hendrickson by 4-2 decision in the 2023 NCAA Semifinals while Hendrickson was wrestling for Air Force. Hendrickson has yet to lose this year and is trying to make the NCAA Finals in his last year of eligibility. Kerkvliet is looking to return to the NCAA Finals for the third consecutive season and defend his national title from a year ago.

Penn State round of 12 matchups

Penn State wrestling 125-pounder Luke Lilledahl. © Chris Eutsler / Basic Blues Nation, 2025.

Penn State wrestling will have its three remaining wrestlers competing in the fourth round of the consolation bracket on Friday night.

125: No. 1 Luke Lilledahl (PSU) vs No. 12 Nicolar Rivera (WISC)

133: No. 8 Braeden Davis (PSU) vs No. 11 Evan Frost (ISU)

157: No. 1 Tyler Kasak (PSU) vs No. 14 Jude Swisher (PENN)

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