PHILADELPHIA — Mitchell Mesenbrink talks as fast as he moves on the mat. And, his words are as insightful as his actions are productive throughout a seven-minute, and often less, matches with his latest opponent. The nation’s leader in technical falls — victories of 15 points or more in regulation — with 18 won his first 165-pound NCAA title on Saturday night simply by decision. But, the way the Penn State redshirt sophomore works before, during, and after every bout is the reason why he is a two-time All-American and first-time champ. And, more success is coming his way because of it.
“If I wouldn’t have went out there and brought it, then, honestly, I’d rather lose and I’d rather bring it losing,” Mesenbrink said.
He brought it. Always does. And he did not lose. Not before this postseason. And certainly not in the NCAA finals. Mesenbrink carried a 19-0 regular season record into the Big Ten tournament. He cruised through the initial rounds of the conference event before meeting Iowa’s Mikey Caliendo in the finals. The Penn State wrestler beat the Hawkeye, but he held him to just a 4-1 decision victory, becoming the first opponent of the season not to lose to the Nittany Lion by bonus points. Afterward, Mesenbrink said he appreciated Caliendo’s approach.
“Obviously, I want to score more points but sometimes you gotta battle,” Mesebrink said, per PennLive. “And I appreciate Mikey because he wants to battle. There’s not many that do and I appreciate that.”
It turns out he’d see it again one more time this season.
Mesenbrink started the 2025 NCAA Championships as the top seed. Caliendo came in at No. 3. The Nittany Lion cruised to the final on the back of two quick technical falls, a decision, and a major decision. The Hawkeye matched his first two results and then won twice by decision to reach the final. The sixth meeting between the two looked much like the fifth. Caliendo slowed Mesenbrink early. The Penn State wrestler led 1-0 after two and just 4-2 after two. But, eventually, as is always the case, the Nittany Lions’ offense became too much. He quickly escaped to start the third, and then worked for a takedown late to win his first national title by decision, 8-2.
“It was a specific opponent and just keep on getting better,” Mesenbrink said when asked what he learned from his previous meetings with the Hawkeye that led to a win in the finals. “Man, it’s so awesome to be able to have those people there in your corner. My parents and my girlfriend and my family, my siblings. And then I look over in my corner, and I’ve got the best coaches in the entire world. It’s, like, that’s what — is how I can not even make it a thing about how many times I wrestle a guy. Just keep getting better and better and better.”
Mesenbrink will do just that. All the evidence presented over his first two seasons suggests as much. And, because of it, more success is coming his way. In fact, as Carter Starocci prepares to move on, Mesenbrink appears next in line to be the hammer in and star of the Lions lineup in 2025-2026 and beyond.
“I’m just really appreciative of where I’m at and the people that surround me,” Mesenbrink said. “I said this [after the NCAA semifinals] and Carter said this: It’s a lot more than just me and him towing the line. It’s pretty much our whole life.
“Those are people included and the great men and women and your parents and your family and your friends and all the people that you surround yourself with and that I’ve been so lucky that God has surrounded me with, to be able to do something like this.”
