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Live Updates From Day 1 of the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships

Top-ranked Penn State seeks to win its fifth straight NCAA Wrestling title.
Mark Wogenrich|
Wrestlers practice before the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
Wrestlers practice before the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. | Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Penn State wrestling's next major moment has arrived. The 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships are underway at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, where the Nittany Lions will pursue their fifth consecutive team title and 13th in the past 17 seasons.

And Penn State is ahead of the NCAA-record scoring pace it set on Day 1 last year in Philadelphia. The Nittany Lions recorded 40.5 team points through the first two rounds, one ahead of their 2025 Day 1 total. Though they didn't repeat the 20-0 start, Penn State did go 18-2 in the first two rounds with 15 bonus-point victories.

That included two first-period pins from freshman PJ Duke, who established himself as the 157-pound alpha. Fellow freshman Marcus Blaze (133) scored 34 points in two technical falls. Shayne Van Ness (149), Mitchell Mesenbrink (165), Levi Haines (174), Rocco Welsh (184) and Josh Barr also doubled up the bonus-point wins.

Here's the recap from Cleveland's Rocket Arena, where the quarterfinals begin at noon ET Friday. To refresh, check out our predictions for each weight class, Penn State's top storylines at nationals and the broadcast and streaming schedule for the week. Also, you're long out of luck if you want to bet on Penn State, but fans can wager on who places second to the Nittany Lions.

Wrestlers practice before the NCAA Wrestling Championships at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
Wrestlers practice before the NCAA Wrestling Championships at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. | Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Cole Mirasola falls to an Iowa rival

Iowa's Ben Kueter beat Mirasola for the second straight time at heavyweight, scoring a late takedown in the third period for a 4-0 decision. Trailing to start the third, Mirasola chose neutral to avoid Kueter's ride. He got in in a shot midwah through the period but could not convert it. Kueter responded with the takedown with 22 seconds remaining. It was the first takedown Kueter has scored in three bouts against Mirasola (18-7).

Josh Barr keeps the streak going

Barr (197) followed his first-round technical fall with a mechanical 11-3 major decision over Bucknell's Dillon Bechtold in the second. It was Barr's closest result since he majored Indiana's Gabe Sollars on Jan. 23. Yet Barr (21-0) continued his 100-percent bonus rate with a three-takedown performance, scoring two in the first period.

Rocco Welsh flips the script

When he wrestled Lehigh's Rylan Rogers in December, Welsh waded into the third period before scoring a takedown in a 4-2 decision. This time, Welsh needed 12 seconds. Penn State's top seed at 184 scored two first-period takedowns, and two more in the third, in a 13-4 major decision. Welsh (22-0) wasn't overly dominant; Rogers rode him for most of the second period and escaped quickly in the third. But Welsh was never in danger of allowing an offensive point.

Levi Haines tacks on more bonus points

Haines, the No. 1 seed at 174, scored Penn State's sixth technical fall of the day, cruising past Colgate's Nick Fine 21-5. Haines finished the day with a fall and a technical to ease his way into the quarterfinals.

Mitchell Mesenbrink fights through frustration for major

Mesenbrink (24-0 at 165) maintained his 100-percent bonus-point run this season with a 12-0 major decision of Ohio State's Paddy Gallagher, but he couldn't really wrestle. Gallagher gave up four stalling penalties and two points to Mesenbrink, who engaged as best he could. He scored three takedowns and added the final point with 3:10 in riding time. Gallagher was called for stalling even before Mesenbrink scored his first takedown. The win gave Penn State a 34-24 lead over Oklahoma State in the team standings.

PJ Duke scores his second fall

Duke, Penn State's top-seeded freshman, was the most dominant wrestler of Day 1. Duke followed his first-period pin in the opener with an even more impressive first-period pin in Round 2. Duke (21-1) scored six takedowns in 80 seconds, turning the last into a fall in 1:38 vs. Wisconsin's Luke Mechler. Duke did not wrestle even 2 minutes in either of his bouts Thursday. Building on his OW performance at Big Tens, Duke looks to be in peak form.

Shayne Van Ness looks energized

Van Ness, the No. 1 seed at 149 pounds, followed his first-round technical fall with a first-period pin of Iowa State's Jacob Frost. Van Ness (23-0) scored his second takedown two minutes into the first period and spun that into his sixth pin of the season. Van Ness looks like a different wrestler than the one who struggled to win two one-point decisions, one without scoring a takedown, at Big Tens.

Penn State's win streak ends at 12

Braeden Davis, the 14th seed at 141, hit the first takedown and looked determined to deliver an upset vs. Nebraska's third-seeded Brock Hardy. But Hardy worked key takedowns late in the second and third periods for a 9-4 decision. It was Penn State's first loss of the tournament and prevented the team from going 20-0 on Day 1 as it did last year.

The turning point occurred in the third, when Davis spent nearly a minute scrambling through a Hardy shot. After a stalement, Hardy continued attacking a winded Davis, scoring his third takedown with 39 seconds left.

Luke Lilledahl labors in second round

Top-seeded Lilledahl advanced to the quarterfinals for the second striaght year, though not without some struggle. Jett Strickenberger, a funky 17th seed from West Virginia, gave Lilledahl a hard time, which the Penn State sophomore outlasted for a 4-2 win. Lilledahl worked through an athletic Strickenberger scramble in the second period to record his only takedown.

Lilledahl (22-0) defended on good shot in the third period and was willing to let his takedown stand. Good sweat for Lilledahl, who will get Oklahoma State's Troy Spratley in the quarterfinals. Spratley, the fifth seeded, defeated defending national champ Vincent Robinson of NC State 8-5.

Marcus Blaze rages through Thursday

Penn State's Marcus Blaze jogs onto the mat to face Nebraska's Jacob Van Dee during a Big Ten dual meet.
Penn State's Marcus Blaze jogs onto the mat to face Nebraska's Jacob Van Dee during a Big Ten dual meet. | Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Missouri's Gage Walker, the 19th seed, sought to frustrate Blaze (133) early by taking three stalling calls in the first period. Blaze wasn't deterred, waited for his opening and turned it into a seven-point move late in the first. It was an impressive burst that Blaze turned into his a 17-2 technical fall, his second of the day.

Blaze (23-1) scored from multiple positions. He reversed Walker to start the second, followed that with a takedown and circled Walker for the clinching takedown in the third. Blaze scored 34 points in an impressive start to his first NCAA Tournament.

Cole Mirasola completes the first-round sweep

The ninth-seeded heavyweight completed Penn State's 10-0 sweep of the opening round, though he couldn't finish the major decision. Mirasola led Duke's Connor Barket 13-3 late in the third period but gave up an escape and takedown in the final 20 seconds. He looked a little gassed late in a 13-7 decision but has time to recover before the second round.

Josh Barr doesn't relent

Barr, the No. 1 seed at 197 pounds, continued Penn State's first-round roll with a 20-4 technical fall over Kent's Blake Schaffer. Barr (20-0) maintained his 100-percent bonus rate this season with his 11th technical fall. Barr scored six takedowns, added two near-fall points and accumulated 3:39 in riding for good measure.

Rocco Welsh gets to his offense

Penn State's top seed at 184 said after the Big Ten Championships that he needed to open up offensively. Welsh (21-0) converted six takedowns into a 19-4 technical fall over Utah Valley's Caleb Uhlenhopp for the Nittany Lions' fourth tech of the opening round. Welsh's win began extending Penn State's lead in the team standings (19-12.5 over Ohio State).

Levi Haines wastes no time

Haines, Penn State's top seed at 174, isn't here to savor his final NCAA Tournament. The senior needed just 1:33 to clinch a first-period fall over Bellarmine's Grant O'Dell. Haines scored a takedown 1:05 into the period and took it from there. The fall was Penn State's second of the opening round.

Mitchell Mesenbrink begins title defense

Mesenbrink, the undefeated defending champ at 165 pounds, wrestles every bout with the same relentlessness. He scored a takedown 6 seconds into the opener vs. Drexel's Cody Welsh, spinning that into a second-period technical fall. Mesenbrink scored five takedowns in the first period and completed the 21-5 tech in the second with a whirring single-leg takedoen.

PJ Duke dominates opener

Duke, voted the outstanding wrestler of the Big Ten Championships, kept his streak rolling. The top-seeded freshman scored three first-period takedowns before clinching a fall over Morgan State's Yannis Charles. The pin was Duke's ninth of the season and Penn State's first at NCAAs.

No scoring problems for Shayne Van Ness

Penn State's No. 1 seed at 149 got some offensive work in the first round, scoring a 19-4 technical fall over Brown's Austin McBurney. Van Ness hit four second-period takedowns and finished the tech 35 seconds into the third. Van Ness looked lively and aggressive in his opener, getting Penn State off to a 4-0 start.

Van Ness also gave Penn State its first lead (8-7 over Oklahoma State) of the three-day tournament. The Cowboys' David Taylor and Ohio State's Tom Ryan talked before NCAAs about what it will take to beat Penn State.

A grinding start for Braeden Davis

Davis, seeded 14th at 141, needed 7 grueling minutes to secure a 2-0 win over Utah Valley's Haiden Drury. Davis did so with a strong second-period ride and third-period escape. He got into a bit of a late scramble but avoided real trouble to advance. Davis gets a big rematch in the second round vs. Nebraska's Brock Hardy, who pinned him during the regular season in bout that ended with some saltiness.

Luke Lilledahl opens with a major decision

Lilledahl, the No. 1 seed at 125, cracked open his offense in the third period, scoring a pair of takedowns for an11-2 win over Missouri's Mack Mauger. Lilledahl (21-0) needed a period to get into the tournament but looked comfortable with two quick moves in the third. Lilledahl gets West Viginia's 17th-ranked Jack Strickenberger in Thursday night's second round.

Marcus Blaze gets Penn State started with a tech

Blaze, Penn State's No. 3 seed at 133 pounds, looked more likely on offense in opener against Oregon State's Gabe Whisenhunt. Blaze put together an excepetional second period, scoring 11 points in a 17-2 technical fall.

Blaze (22-1) got into an athletic scramble with Whisenhunt, from which he emerged with a seven-point move. Blaze took care of the technical with a third-period takedown, his fourth of the bout.

Penn State eases into the day

The Nittany Lions' seven top seeds must wade through the Session 1's preliminary bouts to get their first-round matchups. Luke Lilledahl (125) is scouting Missouri's Mack Mauger, who won his opener 4-1. Defending 125-pound champ Vincent Robinson of NC State advanced in his opener, as did Lehigh's Sheldon Seymour, who defeated Lilledahl last season.

Another perfect first day?

Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling coach Cael Sanderson reacts during Big Ten Wrestling Championships.
Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling coach Cael Sanderson reacts during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Wrestling Championships at Bryce Jordan Center. | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Penn State's opening day of the 2025 NCAA Tournament went better than even the team expected. The Nittany Lions went a perfect 20-0 in qualifying its entire lineup to the quarterfinals. The win sheet included seven technical falls.

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Published | Modified
Mark Wogenrich
MARK WOGENRICH

Mark Wogenrich is the editor and publisher of Penn State on SI, the site for Nittany Lions sports on the Sports Illustrated network. He has covered Penn State sports for more than two decades across three coaching staffs, three Rose Bowls and one College Football Playoff appearance.

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