Penn State Wrestler Mitchell Mesenbrink Wins Second NCAA Title

Mesenbrink compiles one of Penn State wrestling's greatest careers with second national championship

Mar. 22, 2026 at 12:10am

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Mitchell Mesenbrink, a wrestler for Penn State, won his second NCAA title on Saturday, defeating Iowa's Mikey Caliendo by a 20-4 technical fall in the 165-pound final. Mesenbrink improved his career record at Penn State to 82-1, holding the best career winning percentage in school history at 98.8%. He is a three-time All-American, with his only loss coming in the 2024 NCAA final.

Why it matters

Mesenbrink's dominant performance and impressive career accomplishments cement his status as one of the greatest wrestlers in Penn State history. His success has helped the Nittany Lions clinch their fifth straight NCAA team title, further solidifying the program's wrestling dynasty.

The details

Mesenbrink won 25 bouts this season with bonus points, getting just one decision in the NCAA quarterfinals. He has 11 technical falls this season (38 for his career) and 10 pins. Mesenbrink has now beaten Caliendo nine times in three seasons, including the past two NCAA tournaments.

  • Mesenbrink won his second NCAA title on Saturday, March 22, 2026.
  • Mesenbrink's only loss came in the 2024 NCAA final.

The players

Mitchell Mesenbrink

A wrestler for Penn State University who has compiled one of the greatest careers in the program's history, winning two NCAA titles and holding the best career winning percentage in school history at 98.8%.

Mikey Caliendo

A wrestler for the University of Iowa who has faced Mesenbrink nine times in the past three seasons, including in the past two NCAA tournament finals.

Cael Sanderson

The head coach of the Penn State wrestling team, who helped Mesenbrink transfer to Penn State after he began his career at Cal-Baptist.

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What they’re saying

“I really enjoy music, and I really enjoy the different aspects that it offers compared to wrestling. Obviously like you're going out there and battling someone's will, and you've got to take them out. There's the weight aspect. There's all different aspects.”

— Mitchell Mesenbrink

“The Hodge is such an opinionated thing, such a futile kind of thing at the end of the day that people vote on. I'm not going to put my hope or well-being into something that people are going to vote and think about. It's a cool thing, but yet again it's interesting because come Sunday night and Monday night or even when they crown the Hodge trophy, then they're going to be talking about who's going to get it the next time.”

— Mitchell Mesenbrink

What’s next

Mesenbrink is expected to be a heavy favorite to win the Hodge Trophy, awarded to the nation's most outstanding collegiate wrestler, after Ohio State's Jesse Mendez's loss.

The takeaway

Mitchell Mesenbrink's dominant NCAA championship performance and his impressive career accomplishments at Penn State cement his status as one of the greatest wrestlers in the program's storied history, further solidifying the Nittany Lions' wrestling dynasty.