Penn State Wins 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships

EVANSTON, Ill. - Penn State won the 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships title on Sunday with a team score of 181.5. The Nittany Lions earned their ninth Big Ten Championship crown overall and third consecutive title. Penn State won five individual titles from Luke Lilledahl (125), Tyler Kasak (157), Mitchell Mesenbrink (165), Levi Haines (174) and Carter Starocci (184).

Nebraska finished in second place with 137 points, followed by third-place Iowa with 112 points. Minnesota claimed fourth place with 108.5 points and Illinois rounded out the top five with 105.5 points.  

Penn State’s Starocci was named the Big Ten Wrestler of the Year, Minnesota’s Gable Steveson was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Championships, while teammate Max McEnelly received the Big Ten Freshman of the Year honor. Cael Sanderson was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the third consecutive year and ninth overall.  

Penn State freshman Lilledahl claimed the Big Ten Championship at 125 pounds, following a 4-3 decision against Nebraska’s Caleb Smith. At 133 pounds, Illinois’ Lucas Byrd earned his first-ever championship, pinning (3:16) Drake Ayala of Iowa.  

At 141 pounds, Nebraska’s Brock Hardy claimed first place with a fall (1:59) over Minnesota’s Vance Vombaur. Huskers’ Ridge Lovett topped Michigan’s Austin Gomez, 1-0, to successfully defend his 149-pound title. At 157, Kasak earned a 12-2 major decision over Ohio State’s Brandon Cannon to take home the belt.   

Mesenbrink successfully defended his title at 165 with a 4-1 decision against Iowa’s Mike Caliendo. Haines became a three-time Big Ten champion following a 12-1 major decision over Nebraska’s Lenny Pinto at 174 pounds. Nittany Lion teammate Starocci also became a three-time Big Ten Champion with an 8-5 sudden victory against Minnesota’s Max McEnelly at 184.

Jacob Cardenas became Michigan’s first champion at 197 since 2021 with the 4-2 upset decision against Iowa’s Stephen Buchanan. Gophers’ Steveson capped the evening with a 10-3 win against Penn State’s Greg Kerkvliet at 285 to become the program’s second four-time Big Ten Champion, joining Verne Gagne (1944-49) in the record books.

The complete list of Big Ten individual awards and All-Big Ten honorees can be found below. 

BIG TEN WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS INDIVIDUAL AWARDS  

Wrestler of the Year: Carter Starocci, Penn State

Freshman of the Year: Max McEnelly, Minnesota

Coach of the Year: Cael Sanderson, Penn State

Outstanding Wrestler of the Championships: Gable Steveson, Minnesota

2025 ALL-BIG TEN FIRST TEAM 

Luke Lilledahl, Penn State, 125

Lucas Byrd, Illinois, 133

Brock Hardy, Nebraska, 141

Ridge Lovett, Nebraska, 149

Tyler Kasak, Penn State, 157

Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State, 165

Levi Haines, Penn State, 174

Carter Starocci, Penn State, 184

Jacob Cardenas, Michigan, 197

Gable Steveson, Minnesota, 285

2025 ALL-BIG TEN SECOND TEAM 

Caleb Smith, Nebraska, 125

Drake Ayala, Iowa, 133

Vance Vombaur, Minnesota, 141

Kannon Webster, Illinois, 149

Brandon Cannon, Ohio State, 157

Mike Caliendo, Iowa, 165

Lenny Pinto, Nebraska, 174
Max McEnelly, Minnesota, 184

Stephen Buchanan, Iowa, 197

Greg Kerkvliet, Penn State, 285

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