Penn State Wrestling Dominates Princeton in Regular Season Finale

Marcus Blaze leads Nittany Lions to 50-0 shutout victory over Tigers

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling team continued their dominant season with a 50-0 shutout victory over the Princeton Tigers in their regular season finale. Led by standout wrestler Marcus Blaze, the Nittany Lions won every single match, including several by pin or technical fall, to cruise to an easy win on Senior Day.

Why it matters

Penn State has been one of the most dominant wrestling programs in the country in recent years, and this decisive victory over Princeton keeps their momentum going heading into the postseason Big Ten Championships and NCAA Tournament. The Nittany Lions are looking to defend their NCAA title, and this performance shows they have the talent and depth to do so.

The details

The dual meet started with a disqualification win for Penn State's Luke Lilledahl after his Princeton opponent Marc-Anthony McGowan violated combat rules. From there, the Nittany Lions took control, with Marcus Blaze, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Levi Haines, and Josh Barr all recording victories, with Barr and Mesenbrink winning by pin. PJ Duke and Rocco Welsh also won decisively for Penn State.

  • The Penn State vs. Princeton dual meet took place on February 21, 2026, which was Senior Day for the Nittany Lions.

The players

Marcus Blaze

A standout wrestler for the Penn State Nittany Lions who led the team to victory over Princeton.

Luke Lilledahl

A Penn State wrestler who won his match against Princeton by disqualification after his opponent violated combat rules.

Mitchell Mesenbrink

A Penn State wrestler who won his match against Princeton by pin.

Levi Haines

A Penn State wrestler who won his match against Princeton by pin.

Josh Barr

A Penn State wrestler who won his match against Princeton in under two minutes by pin.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to wrestle with the same intensity and focus that has carried us through the regular season. The postseason is where championships are won.”

— Cael Sanderson, Head Coach, Penn State Wrestling (profootballnetwork.com)

What’s next

Penn State will now turn its attention to the Big Ten Championships, where the Nittany Lions will look to defend their conference title and secure a high seed for the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Penn State's dominant performance against Princeton showcases the depth and talent of their wrestling program, which has established itself as one of the premier programs in the country. With the postseason looming, the Nittany Lions appear primed to make a strong push for another NCAA championship.