Penn State wrestling won another dual meet, and this one made history.
The triumph over Illinois in Champagne was Cael Sanderson’s wrestling empire’s 70th straight win, breaking Iowa’s Big Ten record.
Iowa set that record in the Tom Brands era, putting that streak together between 2007 and 2011.
Penn State started its streak Feb. 2, 2020, with a 40-3 win over Maryland at Rec Hall. It’s now Feb. 16, 2025, and no team has beaten Penn State. History aside, Sanderson and company are worried about the form the current team is in. Penn State, dealing with injuries to national title contenders in Tyler Kasak (157) and Greg Kerkvliet (heavyweight), as well as 133-pounder Braeden Davis, who isn’t wrestling at 100%, just keeps winning.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Cael Sanderson
Here’s how the latest Penn State wrestling win happened.
125: No. 7 Luke Lilledahl (Penn State), 19-3 tech fall over Caelen Riley
Penn State 5, Illinois 0
133: No. 4 Lucas Byrd (Illinois) 7-1 over No. 8 Braeden Davis (Penn State)
Penn State 5, Illinois 3
141: No. 3 Beau Bartlett (Penn State) 9-2 over No. 17 Danny Pucino (Illinois)
Penn State 8, Illinois 3
149: No. 2 Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) 15-4 major over No. 14 Kannon Webster (Illinois)
Penn State 12, Illinois 3
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.157: No. 30 Jason Kraisser (Illinois) 2-1 over Joe Sealey (Penn State)
Penn State 12, Illinois 6
165: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) 10-1 major over No. 14 Braeden Scoles (Illinois)
Penn State 16, Illinois 6
174: No. 2 Levi Haines (Penn State) 5-1 over No. 23 Danny Braunagel (Illinois)
Penn State 19, Illinois 6
184: No. 1 Carter Starocci (Penn State) DQ over No. 12 Edmond Ruth (Illinois)
Penn State 25, Illinois 6
197: No. 3 Josh Barr (Penn State) 15-4 major over No. 17 Zack Braunagel
Penn State 29, Illinois 6
285: No. 10 Luke Luffman (Illinois) 4-0 over Cole Mirasola (Penn State)
Penn State 29, Illinois 9
