Wrestling Falls to #1 Penn State

Friday, February 20

University Park, Pa.

7:00 PM

Princeton University

Penn State

Photo by: Lisa Elfstrum

February 20, 2026 | Wrestling

PRINCETON, N.J. – The Princeton men's wrestling team fell to #1 Penn State on Friday evening in University Park, Pa., as the Tigers closed out the 2025-26 dual season.

With a final score of 50-0, the Tigers were shut out by the Nittany Lions.

Several Tigers put up solid efforts on the night, with Matthew Martino taking the lead in the first period with a takedown over #12 Braeden Davis. Making another takedown as he kept the match close, first-year Martino fell just short with Davis taking the 11-8 decision.

#14 Eligh Rivera also put work in, getting a takedown back after conceding one to #1 Shayne Van Ness. Despite some strong looks early, Van Ness went on to take a major decision over Rivera.

First-year Gavin Hawk also scored eight points on #4 PJ Duke, ultimately falling by TF despite the effort from the freshman.

The Nittany Lions took three falls on the night over Ty Whalen, Cody Tavoso and Conor McCloskey. They also took technical falls over Hawk, Xavier Giles and Sebastian Garibaldi.

Leading the national rankings as a team and individually at six weight classes, the shutout is Penn State's eighth of the year.

The Tigers will now close the regular season action with some of the squad heading to the Patriots Last Chance Open on Sunday in Fairfax, Va.

#1 Penn State def. Princeton, 50-0
125: #1 Luke Lilledahl (PSU) over #12 Marc-Anthony McGowan (PRIN) (DQ)
133: #2 Marcus Blaze (PSU) over #32 Ethan Rivera (PRIN) (MD 11-3)
141: #12 Braeden Davis (PSU) over Matthew Martino (PRIN) (Dec 11-8)
149: #1 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) over #14 Eligh Rivera (PRIN) (MD 15-6)
157: #4 PJ Duke (PSU) over Gavin Hawk (PRIN) (TF 24-8 6:08)
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) over #19 Ty Whalen (PRIN) (Fall 3:31)
174: #1 Levi Haines (PSU) over Cody Tavoso (PRIN) (Fall 4:06)
184: #1 Rocco Welsh (PSU) over Xavier Giles (PRIN) (TF 21-6 4:11)
197: #1 Josh Barr (PSU) over Conor McCloskey (PRIN) (Fall 1:29)
285: #6 Cole Mirasola (PSU) over Sebastian Garibaldi (PRIN) (TF 21-6 3:46)