Everyone likes to say the Big Ten is the "SEC of wrestling," but that honestly feels like an understatement at this point. If you watched the big ten finals wrestling sessions at Welsh-Ryan Arena back in March, you know exactly what I mean. It wasn't just a tournament; it was a meat grinder.
Penn State basically turned Evanston into State College West. Cael Sanderson’s crew didn't just win; they dismantled the field, putting up 181.5 points. That’s a school record, by the way. They had five individual champions. Think about that for a second. Half of the weight classes in the toughest conference in America were won by guys wearing blue and white singlets. It's getting to the point where the "battle for second place" is the most exciting storyline in the room.
The Night Penn State Owned the Big Ten Finals Wrestling
Let’s look at how it actually went down. Going into Sunday, we all knew the Nittany Lions were the favorites, but the way they executed was sorta scary.
True freshman Luke Lilledahl kicked things off at 125 pounds. Most freshmen look like deer in headlights in a conference final, but he took out Nebraska’s Caleb Smith with a 4-3 decision. It was tactical. It was gritty. It set the tone for the rest of the night.
Then you had Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165. He’s basically a human hurricane. He faced Mike Caliendo from Iowa—a rematch of last year's final—and while it wasn't the technical fall we saw in the regular season, his 4-1 win was pure control. Levi Haines at 174 and Carter Starocci at 184 also did their thing, both becoming three-time Big Ten champions. Starocci’s match against Minnesota’s Max McEnelly was probably the highlight of the night. It went to sudden victory, and Starocci showed why he's one of the best to ever do it with an 8-5 win.
The Return of Gable Steveson
If Penn State was the story of the team race, the individual story was undoubtedly Gable Steveson. Seeing him back on a college mat feels a bit like watching a cheat code. He won his fourth Big Ten title at heavyweight, beating Greg Kerkvliet 10-3.
💡 You might also like: What Channel is Champions League on: Where to Watch Every Game in 2026
Kerkvliet is an incredible wrestler—an NCAA champion in his own right—but Gable is just... Gable. He joins Verne Gagne as the only Gopher to ever win four conference titles. He was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Championships, and honestly, who else was it going to be? Even in a room full of hammers, he's the sledgehammer.
Nebraska and the Battle for the Podium
Nebraska ended up in second place with 137 points. Mark Manning has built a serious program in Lincoln, and they actually walked away with two individual titles. Brock Hardy (141) and Ridge Lovett (149) were absolute studs.
Hardy pinned Minnesota’s Vance Vombaur in under two minutes. That doesn't happen in a Big Ten final. Usually, these matches are 2-1 or 3-2 slugfests decided by riding time. Seeing a fall at that level is rare. Lovett then followed it up with a 1-0 win over Kannon Webster of Illinois. It was the polar opposite of Hardy's match—a defensive masterclass that proved why Lovett is so hard to beat when he gets an early lead.
Iowa finished third with 112 points. For a program with their history, third place might feel like a "down year," but let’s be real: they still qualified most of their lineup for nationals. Drake Ayala had a tough night, getting pinned by Illinois’ Lucas Byrd at 133, which was probably the biggest "wow" moment of the finals.
What People Miss About the 197-Pound Final
Everyone talks about the heavyweights or the Penn State stars, but Jacob Cardenas from Michigan winning at 197 was huge. He took down Stephen Buchanan from Iowa 4-2. Michigan hasn't had a Big Ten champ since 2021, and Cardenas was the lone bright spot in what was a bit of a rebuilding year for the Wolverines.
📖 Related: Eastern Conference Finals 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
It’s interesting because 197 is often a "boring" weight class where guys just push each other around for seven minutes. Cardenas actually attacked. He looked like he wanted to be there, and that's the difference at this level.
Looking Ahead to State College in 2026
If you think the atmosphere in Evanston was intense, wait until next year. The 2026 Big Ten Wrestling Championships are heading to the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pennsylvania.
It starts March 7, 2026. If you’re a wrestling fan, you’ve basically got to be there. Penn State hosting the tournament while they are in the middle of this historic run is going to be a madhouse. Tickets are going to be impossible to find, and the noise level will probably break a few decibel meters.
The Big Ten Finals Wrestling: Final Results Recap
For those who just want the raw data, here is how the 2025 podium looked across the board:
- 125 lbs: Luke Lilledahl (PSU) dec. Caleb Smith (NEB), 4-3
- 133 lbs: Lucas Byrd (ILL) fall Drake Ayala (IOWA), 3:16
- 141 lbs: Brock Hardy (NEB) fall Vance Vombaur (MINN), 1:59
- 149 lbs: Ridge Lovett (NEB) dec. Kannon Webster (ILL), 1-0
- 157 lbs: Tyler Kasak (PSU) maj. dec. Brandon Cannon (OSU), 12-2
- 165 lbs: Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) dec. Mike Caliendo (IOWA), 4-1
- 174 lbs: Levi Haines (PSU) maj. dec. Lenny Pinto (NEB), 12-1
- 184 lbs: Carter Starocci (PSU) dec. Max McEnelly (MINN), 8-5 (SV)
- 197 lbs: Jacob Cardenas (MICH) dec. Stephen Buchanan (IOWA), 4-2
- 285 lbs: Gable Steveson (MINN) dec. Greg Kerkvliet (PSU), 10-3
Why These Results Actually Matter
The Big Ten tournament isn't just about the trophies; it's about the NCAA seeding. Because the conference is so deep, the guys who finish 5th or 6th here often go on to become All-Americans two weeks later.
👉 See also: Texas vs Oklahoma Football Game: Why the Red River Rivalry is Getting Even Weirder
Look at someone like Matt Ramos from Purdue. He finished 3rd at 125. In any other conference, he's a shoe-in for a title. Here, he has to claw through a gauntlet just to get a bronze. That’s why the big ten finals wrestling is the premier event in the sport. It forces these kids to peak twice—once for the conference and once for the national tournament.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're planning on following the road to the 2026 finals, here is what you need to do right now.
First, keep an eye on the transfer portal. With the way rosters are shifting, a guy who wrestled for Iowa today could be in a Nebraska singlet tomorrow. Second, bookmark the Bryce Jordan Center’s event page. They’ll be announcing ticket sale dates for the 2026 championships soon, and you do not want to be late to that party.
Finally, watch the mid-season duals. Matchups like Penn State vs. Iowa or Nebraska vs. Ohio State in January and February are where the seeds for the Big Ten finals are actually earned. If you want to understand why a guy gets a #1 seed in March, you have to see the scramble he won in a cold gym in January. The Big Ten is a marathon, not a sprint, and the finals are just the finish line.