Penn State exhibited exceptional performance during the Big Ten championships’ semifinal round. The Nittany Lions saw nine of their wrestlers compete in the semifinals, with an impressive eight securing their spots in Sunday’s championship matches. The sole Nittany Lion who did not advance was Cole Mirasola, who suffered a loss to Michigan’s top-seeded Taye Ghadiali. Notably, all ten of the No. 1 seeds successfully moved on to the Big Ten finals scheduled for Sunday.
285 pounds: No. 1 Taye Ghadiali (Michigan) and No. 2 AJ Ferrari prepare to contend for their inaugural Big Ten title tomorrow
No. 1 Taye Ghadiali (Michigan) over No. 4 Cole Mirasola (Penn State), 5-2: Taye Ghadiali initiated his semifinal bout against Cole Mirasola with an early takedown, aiming to prevent Penn State from securing a ninth finalist. Mirasola managed an escape and attempted to launch an attack but was unsuccessful in the first period. Ghadiali started the second period on the bottom and quickly escaped, establishing a three-point lead. Mirasola began the third period in the bottom position and struggled to escape, with precious seconds ticking away from his offensive opportunities. Mirasola finally broke free with 35 seconds left but couldn’t find a path to score, resulting in Ghadiali’s 5-2 victory.
No. 2 AJ Ferrari (Nebraska) over No. 3 Nick Feldman (Ohio State), 2-1: Nick Feldman, seeking to earn his third win of the season against AJ Ferrari, failed to score in the opening period. He chose the bottom position in the second and found it difficult to escape, allowing Ferrari to accumulate riding time. Feldman eventually secured his escape very late in the period, while Ferrari executed a swift escape at the start of the third, placing pressure on Feldman to overcome the riding time deficit. Ferrari effectively defended against all of Feldman’s offensive attempts, leveraging his riding time point to claim a narrow 2-1 win.
197 pounds: No. 1 Josh Barr (Penn State) and No. 2 Camden McDanel secure their berths in the Big Ten finals
No. 1 Josh Barr (Penn State) over No. 5 Luke Geog (Ohio State), 18-3: Josh Barr concluded the first period by taking down Luke Geog, establishing a 3-0 advantage from the initial frame. Barr escaped at the beginning of the second period and then took Geog down for additional points. Geog was penalized for stalling, and Barr earned another takedown to extend his lead to 11-1 after two periods. Geog escaped in the third period but subsequently gave up another takedown, allowing Barr to advance with an 18-3 technical fall victory.
No. 2 Camden McDanel (Nebraska) over No. 6 Wyatt Ingham (Wisconsin), 10-3: Camden McDanel and Wyatt Ingham were unable to break through each other’s defenses to score in the first period. McDanel opted for the bottom position in the second period and escaped after conceding some riding time, but he then executed a takedown on Ingham late in the second to lead 4-0. After starting on top, McDanel gave up an escape but quickly secured another takedown for more points. McDanel maintained his scoring momentum and ultimately won the match, 10-3.
184 pounds: No. 1 Rocco Welsh (Penn State) is poised to face No. 2 Max McEnelly (Minnesota) in the Big Ten finals
No. 1 Rocco Welsh (Penn State) over No. 4 Brock Mantanona (Michigan), 8-5: Following his loss in their previous dual meet, Brock Mantanona opened his rematch with Rocco Welsh by taking down the Nittany Lion. Welsh escaped and sought offense, but Mantanona’s takedown remained the only score of the first period. Welsh won the disc flip and started the second period on the bottom, escaping quickly. Welsh secured his takedown approximately halfway through the second, taking the lead. Mantanona escaped late in the second, narrowing Welsh’s lead to a single point. Mantanona started the third period on the bottom and escaped to tie the match. Welsh pressed his attacks but couldn’t secure another score, pushing the match beyond the regulation seven minutes. In the sudden victory period, Welsh converted a low shot into a single-leg takedown, and then countered Mantanona’s escape attempt to secure the match-winning points.
No. 2 Max McEnelly (Minnesota) over No. 3 Silas Allred (Nebraska) by forfeit: Silas Allred forfeited his semifinal match, allowing Max McEnelly to advance to the championship bout.
A medical forfeit from Allred sends McEnelly back to the 184 championship! pic.twitter.com/Acb446NJ0N
— Minnesota Wrestling (@GopherWrestling) March 8, 2026
174 pounds: No. 1 Levi Haines (Penn State) & No. 2 Chris Minto are set to clash again in the Big Ten finals
No. 1 Levi Haines (Penn State) over No. 5 Carson Kharchla (Ohio State), 5-1: Levi Haines and Carson Kharchla’s first period concluded without a score, though not for a lack of offensive effort from either competitor. Haines quickly escaped to begin the second period and immediately resumed his aggressive attacks, eventually securing a takedown with 12 seconds remaining in the period. Kharchla started the third period on the bottom and struggled against Haines’ riding, needing both an escape and a takedown to win. Instead, Haines maintained control over Kharchla for the full two minutes, winning 5-1.
No. 2 Chris Minto (Nebraska) over No. 3 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa), 5-1: After a scoreless first period, Minto earned an escape to open the second. Minto then took down Kennedy roughly halfway through the second, maintaining control over Kennedy and accumulating 1:06 of riding time heading into the third. Kennedy escaped quickly at the start of the third and sought offensive opportunities to mount a comeback against the Cornhusker. However, Minto’s riding time extended his winning margin to 5-1.
165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) and No. 3 Michael Caliendo are poised for another NCAA finals rematch in the Big Ten final
No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) over No. 5 Andrew Sparks (Minnesota), 19-4: Mitchell Mesenbrink began with an aggressive approach, aiming to maintain his perfect bonus rate, and quickly took down Andrew Sparks. Mesenbrink escaped swiftly in the second, preserving his riding time advantage. Mesenbrink then secured another takedown, intensifying the pressure on Sparks. In the third period, this translated into even more offense, culminating in a 19-4 technical fall victory.
No. 3 Mikey Caliendo (Iowa) vs. No. 7 Andrew Barbosa (Rutgers), 11-3: Mikey Caliendo achieved a quick takedown against Andrew Barbosa in his pursuit to return to the Big Ten championship match. Barbosa escaped, leaving Caliendo with a two-point lead entering the second period. Caliendo started on the bottom and escaped before seeking another takedown, which he earned to take a 7-1 advantage. Barbosa escaped to conclude the second period on his feet. He began the third period on the bottom and gained another escape point but failed to generate offense. Caliendo continued to apply pressure and won, 11-3.
Into the finals.
165 SF | #3 Michael Caliendo (Iowa) major dec. #7 Andrew Barbosa (Rutgers), 11-3 pic.twitter.com/3L7eXpknxW
— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling) March 8, 2026
157 pounds: No. 1 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) & No. 2 PJ Duke (Penn State) earn their first Big Ten final appearances
No. 1 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) over No. 4 Cameron Catrabone (Michigan), 7-1: Antrell Taylor secured a first-period takedown to put the initial points on the board against Cameron Catrabone. Taylor started the second period on the bottom, and Catrabone rode Taylor for over a minute before allowing Taylor to escape. Catrabone escaped to begin the third period but required more offense to advance. Instead, Taylor added three more points with a takedown and secured his advancement.
No. 2 PJ Duke (Penn State) over No. 3 Kannon Webster (Illinois), 4-2: PJ Duke continued his debut Big Tens campaign with aggression, taking Kannon Webster down early. Webster escaped, and Duke regained the escape point after starting on the bottom in the second period. Neither wrestler managed a takedown in the second, and Webster scored a point after escaping to begin the third. Webster could not find any offense, and Duke defended his way to a 4-2 victory.
149 pounds: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness & No. 2 Ethan Stiles persevere to reach the finals
No. 1 Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) over No. 4 Lachlan McNeil (Michigan), 11-10: Lachlan McNeil was the first to score in this clash of All-Americans, taking down Shayne Van Ness early. Van Ness escaped. McNeil then took the Nittany Lion down a second time and maintained control for the remainder of the first period. Van Ness started the second period on the bottom and quickly escaped. Van Ness then initiated offense and took down McNeil, but the Wolverine escaped to establish a two-point lead. McNeil chose the bottom position, and Van Ness opted for an optional start, conceding the point. Van Ness resumed his offense and took McNeil down, tying the match. McNeil escaped again, but Van Ness responded with another takedown, taking the lead. McNeil escaped once more, but Van Ness secured an 11-10 comeback victory.
No. 2 Ethan Stiles (Ohio State) over No. 3 Joseph Zargo (Wisconsin), 4-3: Ethan Stiles and Joseph Zargo battled to a scoreless opening three minutes. Stiles began the second period on the bottom and escaped with ease. Late in the period, Stiles secured a takedown and led 4-2 after Zargo escaped. Zargo escaped again to begin the third period after starting on the bottom. Stiles compelled Zargo to attempt a shot, but the Badger failed to break through. The Buckeye claimed the 4-3 win.
141 pounds: No. 1 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) & No. 2 Brock Hardy are set for an NCAA finals rematch in the Big Ten finals
No. 1 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) over No. 4 Nasir Bailey (Iowa), 19-4: Jesse Mendez scored the initial point of the match after Nasir Bailey was penalized for stalling. Bailey started the second period on the bottom and escaped after 19 seconds, but Mendez maintained relentless pressure. Bailey incurred another stall call, and Mendez took the Hawkeye down again for a 5-1 lead after two periods. Mendez unleashed a torrent of offense in the third period, repeatedly taking Bailey down and allowing him to escape. With this late offensive surge, Mendez secured a technical fall victory, 19-4.
No. 2 Brock Hardy (Nebraska) over No. 3 Vance Vombaur (Minnesota), 8-2: In a rematch of last year’s Big Ten championship match, neither Brock Hardy nor Vance Vombaur managed to score in the first period. Vombaur started the second period on the bottom and escaped after only two seconds. Hardy began to wrestle more aggressively in the second period, taking Vombaur down and then recording a three-point near fall. Hardy started the third period on the bottom and quickly reversed before allowing Vombaur to his feet. Neither wrestler scored further, and Hardy makes his return to the Big Ten final.
Back in the B1G finals🔥
No. 2 Brock Hardy defeats No. 3 Vance Vombaur (MIN) by decision, 9-2. pic.twitter.com/f9Wx8A3mKu
— Nebraska Wrestling (@HuskerWrestling) March 8, 2026
133 pounds: No. 1 Marcus Blaze (Penn State) & No. 3 Ben Davino (Ohio State) advance to the finals as freshmen
No. 1 Marcus Blaze (Penn State) over No. 5 Drake Ayala (Iowa), 4-1: After defeating Drake Ayala during the dual season, Marcus Blaze wrestled the Hawkeye to a scoreless first period. Ayala chose the bottom position to start the second and escaped after 16 seconds. Both competitors displayed strong defensive skills, preventing either from securing a takedown from the neutral position. Blaze went to the bottom to begin the third and escaped quickly to tie the score. Ayala defended from a knee, and Blaze could not penetrate the national finalist’s defense. Seven minutes proved insufficient to decide the winner, sending the match into sudden victory. Approximately one minute into extra time, Blaze initiated a low shot and grasped Ayala’s leg, completing the takedown. Blaze wins, 4-1.
No. 3 Ben Davino (Ohio State) over No. 10 Blake Boarman (Purdue), 21-5: Ben Davino commenced his first Big Ten semifinal by taking down Blake Boarman within the first minute. Boarman escaped, and Davino then took the Boilermaker down again. Davino’s offensive output continued as he secured a fourth first-period takedown and a three-point near fall. Boarman started the second period on the bottom and escaped, but Davino kept up his relentless attacks, taking Boarman down once more. Another escape and takedown gave Davino the 21-5 technical fall victory.
DAVINOOO is advancing to the Finals!! 🔥
Ben Davino WINS by TF over Blake Boarman, 21-5 !!#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/27d0KeHiwx
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 8, 2026
125 pounds: No. 1 Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) & No. 6 Jore Volk (Minnesota) are slated to meet in the championship bout
No. 1 Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) over No. 4 Jacob Moran (Indiana), 11-3: Luke Lilledahl assumed the aggressor role early in his match against Jacob Moran, registering two takedowns in the opening period. Moran started the second period on the bottom, and Lilledahl released him after establishing some riding time advantage. Lilledahl secured a late second-period takedown, which was confirmed following an official review. The Nittany Lion escaped swiftly to begin the third period and continued to wrestle despite his significant lead. With the added riding time point, Lilledahl emerged victorious, 11-3.
Luke Lilledahl advances to the B1G finals!
Lilledahl with the 11-3 major over Moran!#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/5Xs2Wmc2yV— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) March 8, 2026
No. 6 Jore Volk (Minnesota) over No. 2 Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State), 8-1: Jore Volk began his semifinal with a first-period takedown, establishing a 3-1 lead over Nic Bouzakis after the initial period. Volk started the second period on the bottom and escaped, further extending his lead. Volk once again breached Bouzakis’ defense, taking down the Buckeye to conclude the second period. Bouzakis started the third period on the bottom, and Volk returned him to the mat multiple times to secure the riding time point. With the bonus point, Volk advances to the Big Ten final with an 8-1 win.