Penn State Wrestling Shuts Out Princeton 50-0

Nittany Lions record eighth shutout of the season in Levi Haines' final home dual meet

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The Penn State wrestling team dominated Princeton 50-0 in their latest dual meet, recording their eighth shutout victory of the season. The Nittany Lions, led by head coach Cael Sanderson, have now tallied 33 shutouts since his arrival in 2009-10. Several Penn State wrestlers had impressive performances, including Levi Haines who won by pin in his final home match.

Why it matters

Penn State's wrestling program under Cael Sanderson has become one of the most dominant in the country, routinely finishing near the top of the NCAA rankings. This latest shutout victory showcases the team's depth and talent, as they continue to assert their dominance over opponents in the Big Ten and beyond.

The details

The dual meet began at 125 pounds, where Luke Lilledahl won by disqualification over Marc-Anthony McGowan. Penn State then rolled through the rest of the weights, with several Nittany Lions recording bonus point victories including major decisions, technical falls, and pins. Standout performances came from Marcus Blaze, Shayne Van Ness, PJ Duke, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Levi Haines, Rocco Welsh, Josh Barr, and Cole Mirasola.

  • The dual meet took place on February 21, 2026 in Rec Hall on the Penn State campus.
  • Levi Haines wrestled in his final home dual meet for the Nittany Lions.

The players

Cael Sanderson

The head coach of the Penn State wrestling team since 2009-10, Sanderson has built the program into one of the most dominant in the country.

Levi Haines

A senior wrestler for Penn State who competed in his final home dual meet, recording a pin victory.

Luke Lilledahl

A Penn State wrestler who won by disqualification at 125 pounds to start the dual meet.

Marcus Blaze

A Penn State wrestler who recorded an 11-3 major decision victory at 133 pounds.

Shayne Van Ness

A Penn State wrestler who won a 15-6 major decision at 149 pounds.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

Penn State's wrestling dominance under Cael Sanderson continues, as the Nittany Lions recorded their eighth shutout victory of the season. The team's depth and talent were on full display, with several wrestlers earning bonus point wins to secure the 50-0 rout of Princeton.