IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Penn State Nittany Lions (8-0, 2-0 Big Ten) dominated home-standing Iowa (8-3, 1-1) in a Big Ten dual meet in Iowa City on Friday night. Penn State won nearly every bout on its way to a 32-3 victory on the Hawkeyes’ mat.

Penn State, with a line-up featuring six underclassmen, won nine of ten bouts including three bonus point wins. Eight of the ten match-ups featured two ranked wrestlers with 18 ranked individuals competing.

The dual began at 125 pounds. Sophomore Luke Lilledahl, ranked No. 2 at 125, dominated No. 6 Dean Peterson. Lilledahl tallied the bouts only three takedowns in a strong 11-5 victory. True freshman Marcus Blaze, ranked No. 4 at 133, turned a second period takedown into a thrilling 4-2 win over Iowa senior No. 8 Drake Ayla. Blaze’s win gave Penn State an early 6-0 lead.

Junior Braeden Davis, ranked No. 7 at 141, lost a hard fought 3-2 decision to No. 11 Nassir Bailey, cutting the Nittany Lion lead to 6-3. Junior Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 1 at 149, used a furious third period to major No. 17 Ryder Block. Van Ness used a takedown and four back points to roll to the 13-4 win. True freshman PJ Duke, ranked No. 3 at 157, used a third period escape and takedown to notch a hard fought 4-2 win over No. 12 Jordan Williams. Penn State led 13-3 at halftime.

Junior Mitchell Mesenbrink, ranked No. 1 at 165, posting a convincing 11-2 major over No. 3 Michael Caliendo. Mesenbrink used a takedown in each period to secure the convincing win and give the Nittany Lions a 17-3 lead. Senior Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 174, used a first period takedown to notch a strong 4-2 win over Iowa’s Gabe Arnold.

Sophomore Rocco Welsh, ranked No. 4 at 184, battled No. 1 Angelo Ferrari through sudden victory before posting a thrilling 2-1 (TB) victory. Walsh rode Ferrari out in the first tie-breaker session then escaped midway through the second to grab the win. Sophomore Josh Barr, ranked No. 1 at 197, grabbed Penn State’s first pin of the dual in the next bout.

He pinned Brody Sampson at 3:42 to give the Nittany Lions a 29-3 lead. Redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola, ranked No. 13 at 285, capped off the stellar night with an exciting 4-3 win over No. 5 Ben Kueter. Mirasola used a second period takedown for the advantage in the victory. Penn State walked out of Iowa City with an impressive 32-3 win.

Penn State gave up only two takedowns in the entire dual meet and owned a 15-2 takedown margin. The Nittany Lions picked up five bonus points off a pin (Barr) and two majors (Van Ness, Mesenbrink).

Penn State is now 8-0 on the year, 2-0 in the Big Ten. Iowa falls to 8-3, 1-1 B1G. The Nittany Lions continue their Big Ten road weekend with a match-up at Northwestern on Sunday at 3 p.m.

No. 1 Penn State 32, No. 3 Iowa 3

125: No. 2 Luke Lilledahl (PSU) dec. No. 6 Dean Peterson, 11-5. 133: No. 4 Marcus Blaze (PSU) dec. No. 8 Drake Ayala, 4-2. 141: No. 11 Nassir Bailey (I) dec. No. 7 Braeden Davis, 3-2. 149: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) maj. dec. No. 17 Ryder Block, 13-4. 157: No. 3 PJ Duke (PSU) dec. No. 12 Jordan Williams, 4-2. 165: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) maj. dec. No. 3 Michael Caliendo, 11-2. 174: No. 1 Levi Haines (PSU) dec. Gabe Arnold, 4-2. 184: No. 4 Rocco Welsh (PSU) dec. No. 1 Angelo Ferrari, 2-1 (TB). 197: No. 1 Josh Barr (PSU) pinned Brody Sampson, 3:42. 285: No. 13 Cole Mirasola (PSU) dec. No. 5 Ben Keuter, 4-3.