The awards keep coming, folks.

Following Penn State wrestling’s fifth consecutive NCAA Championship title, Mitchell Mesenbrink and PJ Duke received tournament awards.

At 165 pounds, Mesenbrink was unstoppable, running through the field with relative ease and earning the tournament’s Most Dominant and Most Outstanding Wrestler awards.

The Nittany Lion beat Cody Walsh in the first round via a 21-5 technical fall in the second period. In the second round, Mesenbrink took out Ohio State’s Paddy Gallagher in a 12-0 major decision. The Nittany Lion then met Bryce Hepner, whom he only beat in a 6-0 decision, the only match of the season where Mesenbrink didn’t bonus his opponent. The Nittany Lion then capped off his junior season with two technical falls against Cesar Alvan and Mikey Caliendo to claim his second consecutive NCAA title.

PJ Duke may have placed third in his first NCAA tournament, but he was an offensive machine prior to being bounced from the championship bracket. The Nittany Lion earned the Gorriaran Award for the most amount of pins in the least amount of time.

Duke tallied two falls in his first two matches, both coming in the first round. First, he beat Yannis Charles at 1:56 and then Luke Mechler at 1:38. The Nittany Lion also had two technical falls in the tournament.

About the Author

Cooper Cazares

Cooper was a member of Onward State from 2023 to 2026, serving on the Penn State wrestling and football beats. He can be found frowning on most Sunday afternoons, for he is a lifelong Washington Commanders fan. When he isn't watching sports, Cooper is usually tearing up at "Rudy" or taking a well-deserved nap. To reach him, follow him on Instagram (@cooper_cax) or Twitter (@CooperCazares).

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