After big win, Penn State wrestling’s Luke Lilledahl leaps up Intermat rankings

After pulling off an upset of Nebraska’s Caleb Smith, who was the No. 6-ranked wrestler in the country last Friday, Penn State wrestling fans waited in anticipation to see where Luke Lilledahl would end up in the rankings.

When the Intermat rankings came out on Tuesday, Lilledahl leaped up to No. 6 from No. 12 at 125 pounds. With Lilledahl’s rise, the Nittany Lions now have all 10 of their wrestlers in the top 10 of their respective weight classes for the first time this season.

Penn State saw Braeden Davis and Shayne Van Ness suffer losses against the Cornhuskers, which caused them to fall in the rankings.

Davis fell out of the top five while Van Ness is just inside the top 5. Davis is No. 7 at 133 pounds with Van Ness coming in at No. 4 at 141 pounds.

The rest of the Nittany Lions’ wrestlers saw no changes for another week.

Mitchell Mesenbrink (165 pounds) and Carter Starocci (184) are still No. 1 at their respective weights. Levi Haines (174) and Greg Kerkvliet (285) are No. 2.

Beau Bartlett (141) and Tyler Kasak (157) sit at No. 3 with Josh Barr (197) at No. 4.

There was a new No. 1 wrestler crowned this week in Iowa’s Stephen Buchanan at 197 pounds. He replaced Cal State Bakersfield’s AJ Ferrari, who fell to No. 3. Michigan’s Jacob Cardenas is No. 2.

Nittany Lions remain No. 1

Another week has come and gone, and Penn State continues to receive all the first-place votes from coaches in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Top 25.

In fact, the top 5 teams, who are all undefeated, remain the same in Penn State, Iowa (No. 2), Oklahoma State (No. 3), Ohio State (No. 4) and Northern Iowa (No. 5). The Buckeyes are the lone top five team with double-digit victories at 11.

Illinois, who suffered a loss to the Hawkeyes last Friday, fell one spot to No. 10. Michigan also fell down the poll after suffering a loss to No. 8 Minnesota.

The Wolverines are now No. 18 after being No. 15 a week ago. Even after losing to the Nittany Lions, Nebraska remained the same at No. 7.

Penn State’s opponent on Friday is Rutgers, who remained ranked No. 14. The only other Big Ten team ranked is Indiana, who jumped up one spot to No. 24.

NWCA Top 25 Poll

Others Receiving Votes: Maryland 10, Arizona State 8, Navy 7, Penn 7, Utah Valley 1, Northern Colorado 1, Virginia 1, Wyoming 1

Dropped Out: None