Penn State Claims Weekly Wrestling Awards

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its wrestling weekly awards for competition taking place January 16-18, 2026.

Wrestler of the Week
Rocco Welsh, Penn State
184 pounds – So. – Waynesburg, Pa. – Ohio State (NCAA)

• Helped No. 1 Penn State roll to a 32-3 victory over No. 4 Iowa in Iowa City
• In a bout featuring top-four unbeaten combatants, No. 4 Welsh prevailed over No. 1 Angelo Ferrari, 2-1, in a tiebreaker
• Two days later, recorded a 22-7 tech fall at Northwestern on the strength of six takedowns, two escapes, and a two-point turn; improved to 11-0 on the season
• His efforts fueled Penn State’s 51-0 win over Northwestern in Evanston, Ill.
• Earns his second career Big Ten Wrestler of the Week Award, having previously been honored on Nov. 8, 2023

Freshman of the Week
Cole Mirasole, Penn State
285 pounds – R-Fr. – Jackson, Wis. – West Bend

• No. 12 Mirasole employed a second period takedown and a third period escape in a 4-3 decision over No. 5 Ben Kueter of Iowa Friday in Iowa City
• The victory sealed Penn State’s 32-3 win over Iowa, marking the Nittany Lions’ largest margin of victory in the all-time series
• Produced a 19-4 first period tech fall at Northwestern, raising his season record to 10-2
• The Wisconsin native garners PSU’s third Freshman of the Week honor for 2025-26
• Becomes the sixth Penn State wrestler to earn a Big Ten weekly award this season

2025-26 Big Ten Wrestler of the Week
Nov. 6
W: Koy Hopke, R-Fr., Minnesota
F: Koy Hopke, R-Fr., Minnesota

Nov. 13
W: Stoney Buell, Sr., Purdue
F: Isaiah Schaefer, Fr., Purdue

Nov. 20
W: Angelo Ferrari, R-Fr., Iowa
F: Ben Davino, R-Fr., Ohio State

Nov. 28
W: Massoma Endene, Gr., Iowa
F: Cameron Catrabone, R-Fr., Michigan

Dec. 4
W: Ryder Block, So., Iowa
F: Angelo Ferrari, R-Fr., Iowa

Dec. 11
W: Joey Blaze, Jr., Purdue
F: Eddie Enright, Fr., Northwestern

Dec. 18
W: Carson Kharchla, Gr., Ohio State
F: PJ Duke, Fr., Penn State

Dec. 23
W: Shayne Van Ness, Jr., Penn State
F: Marcus Blaze, Fr., Penn State

Jan. 8
W: Josh Barr, So., Penn State
F: Koy Hopke, R-Fr., Minnesota

Jan. 15
W: Zan Fugitt, R-So., Wisconsin
F: e'Than Birden, R-Fr., Ohio State

Jan. 22
W: Rocco Welsh, So., Penn State
F: Cole Mirasole, R-Fr., Penn State