No. 1 Penn State Opens Season With 45-0 Shutout of No. 18 Oklahoma In BJC Dual

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Nov. 14, 2025 – Penn State wrestling (1-0, 0-0 B1G) opened up the 2025-26 wrestling season by shutting out visiting Oklahoma (0-1). The Nittany Lions, under the guidance of head coach Cael Sanderson, rolled to a 45-0 win over the Sooners in the season opener, held in the Bryce Jordan Center. 

The Nittany Lion line-up featured four freshmen and two sophomores. Penn State picked up its first shutout since blanking Michigan 39-0 on Feb. 7, 2025, in the Jordan Center.

The dual began at  197 where redshirt freshman Connor Mirasola got the call and took on No. 8 DJ Parker. Mirasola dominated the action, notching four takedowns and riding time to post an impressive 13-3 major decision. Redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 11 at 285, followed up his brother’s win with a strong 5-2 victory over No. 24 Juan Mora to give the Nittany Lions a 7-0 lead.

Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 3 at 125, continued Penn State’s hot start. He used a late takedown to secure bonus points in a 14-4 major decision over Conrad Hendrickson. True freshman Marcus Blaze made his collegiate debut and thrilled the Jordan Center crowd with an 18-3 tech fall over Conrad Hendrikson, picking up the final points with back points at 5:13. Junior Aaron Nagao, ranked No. 11 at 141, returned to the mat for the first time in over a year and posted 9-5 win over Alex Braun . Penn State led 19-0 at halftime. 

Junior Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 1 at 149, got the second half off to a hot start, rolling to a 20-1 tech fall over Layton Schneider at the 5:29 mark to put Penn State up 24-0. Redshirt freshman Joe Sealey got the call at 157 and thrilled the BJC faithful by rolling to a 19-4 tech fall (5:47) over Landyn Sommer.  Junior Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, picked up more bonus points for Penn State, posting the 19-4 tech fall in the first period at 2:45. 

Senior Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, posted Penn State’s first fall of the night, getting a second period pin over No. 33 Carter Schubert at 4:15 to put Penn State on top 40-0. Sophomore Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 2 at 184, made his Penn State debut and thrilled the Penn State fans with a dominating 19-4 tech fall over Andres Thompson at 5:28. Welsch’s debut win made the final score 45-0 in Penn State’s favor. 

Penn State posted a gaudy 35-1 edge in takedowns. The Nittany Lions picked up 15 points off a pin (Haines), five tech falls (Blaze, Van Ness, Sealey, Mesenbrink, Welsh) and two majors (Connor Mirasola, Lilledahl).

Penn State is now 1-0 on the year, 0-0 in the Big Ten. Oklahoma falls to 0-1. The Nittany Lions return to action next weekend, taking part in the Black Knight Invitational on Sunday, Nov. 23, at Army West Point.

Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via X/twitter at @pennstateWREST, on Penn State Wrestling's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. The Family Clothesline is the presenting sponsor for the 2025-26 Nittany Lion wrestling season. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.

November 14, 2025 – Bryce Jordan Center – University Park, Pa.

197: Connor Mirasola PSU maj. dec. #8 DJ Parker OU, 13-3 | 4-0

285: #11 Cole Mirasola PSU dec. #24 Juan Mora OU, 5-2 | 7-0

125: #3 Luke Lilledahl PSU maj. dec. Conrad Hendrickson OU, 14-4 | 11-0

133: Marcus Blaze PSU tech fall Tyson Charmoli OU, 18-3 (TF; 5:13) | 16-0

141: #11 Aaron Nagao PSU dec. Alex Braun OU, 9-5 | 19-0

149: #1 Shayne Van Ness PSU tech fall Layton Schneider OU, 20-1 (TF; 5:29) | 24-0

157: Joe Sealey PSU tech fall Landyn Sommer OU, 19-4 (TF; 5:47) | 29-0

165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU tech fall Owen Eck OU, 19-4 (TF; 2:45) | 34-0

174: #1 Levi Haines PSU pinned #33 Carter Schubert OU, WBF (4:15) | 40-0

184: #2 Rocco Welsh PSU tech fall Anders Thompson OU, 19-4 (5:28) | 45-0

Attendance: 8,003 (Penn State has wrestled in front of 86 sellouts in its last 92 home events, including 76-straight in Rec Hall and 10 of 16 in the BJC)

Records: Penn State (1-0, 0-0 B1G); Oklahoma (0-1)

Up Next for Penn State: at Black Knight Invitational, Sunday, Nov. 23, 10 a.m., West Point, N.Y.