Penn State Sets Team Scoring Record During Memorable NCAA Finals

It was truly a historic night in Philadelphia! Penn State casually re-established a team scoring record - one that they had set just a year ago. Cael Sanderson’s team totaled 177 points after rolling to 172.5 points in 2024. The Nittany Lions total came from two national champions and ten All-Americans overall. The latter statistic made them the only second team in DI history (Minnesota 2001) to put their whole team on the medal stand. 

Making individual history for Penn State was 184 lber Carter Starocci who became the first wrestler to earn five DI national titles. Barring a change in eligibility requirements, it should be a mark that stands for eternity. Starocci started the night with a win over the weight class’ returning champion Parker Keckeisen in one of the most anticipated of the finals bouts.

Oh yeah, by the way, we might have seen the biggest upset of our lifetime at this event. Wyatt Hendrickson stunned two-time national champion, two-time Hodge Trophy winner, and Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson. Hendrickson stopped Steveson’s 70-match winning streak with a late takedown and rideout to seal a 5-4 victory. It was the third All-American honor for Hendrickson, who was third at this event in each of the last two seasons. Hendrickson earned those placements competing for the Air Force Academy - this title was won as a member of David Taylor’s first Oklahoma State University team.

Teammate Dean Hamiti also claimed a title in his final opportunity by downing two-time champion Keegan O'Toole. Both Hamiti and Hendrickson had to defeat two national champions to get their titles.

The Hendrickson title was made all the more unique after his entrance carrying the American flag and the fact that the match took place in front of President Donald Trump. In another first, Trump was the first sitting president to attend the NCAA Championships. He was at the event in 2023, in Austin, but was not in the White House at the time. 

Not to be lost in the shuffle, Nebraska came in a distant second place, with 117 points, but ahead of third place Oklahoma State by 14.5 points. In many years, the Cornhuskers would have been able to win a title with that point total. Nebraska also saw two of their wrestlers earn national titles - Ridge Lovett at 149 lbs and Antrell Taylor at 157. The last time a Nebraska wrestler captured an NCAA championship was in 2011, when Jordan Burroughs wrapped up his storied career, inside the same Wells Fargo Center. 

Vince Robinson (NC State/125), Lucas Byrd (Illinois/133), Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State/165), and Stephen Buchanan (Iowa/197) all became first-time champions. 141 lber Jesse Mendez of Ohio State went back-to-back with a thrilling 12-9 win over top-seeded Brock Hardy.