2026 NCAA Championship Session II Thread

GregPickel

Heisman
Staff member
Jul 25, 2021
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Team race on the score board shows as follows:

In the team race, PSU has 32 points and leads Oklahoma State (21.5), Iowa (19.5), Ohio State (19.5), and Iowa State (16.5). The rest of the top nine is Nebraska (16), Cornell (13), Arizona State (12), and Lehigh (11.5).
 

GregPickel

Heisman
Staff member
Jul 25, 2021
44,209
95,617
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Penn State is 4-1 in round two on Thursday night, with Braeden Davis' loss at 141 pounds the only one on the Lions' docket so far today. Luke Lilledahl (125), Marcus Blaze (133), Shayne Van Ness (149), and PJ Duke (157) are all into Friday morning quarterfinals. Duke has two first period falls today.

In the team race, PSU has 32 points and leads Oklahoma State (21.5), Iowa (19.5), Ohio State (19.5), and Iowa State (16.5). The rest of the top nine is Nebraska (16), Cornell (13), Arizona State (12), and Lehigh (11.5).

First five bout recaps:

125 pounds: No. 1 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State d. No. 17 Jett Strickenberger, West Virginia, 4-2

After a scoreless first period that saw Lilledahl get in on a shot but not be able to finish it, Strickeneberger took down to start the second and escaped to a 1-0 lead. A short while later, Lilledahl came out on top of a scramble to take a 3-1 lead. Strickenberger escaped to make it 3-2 after two. Lilledahl chose down to start the third and quickly escaped to 4-2. There was no additional scoring, making that the final score.

133 pounds: No. 3 Marcus Blaze, PSU TF No. 19 Gage Walker of Missouri, 17-2 (6:10)

Blaze got a stalling point midway through the first period and then had a seven point throw late in the period to take an 8-0 lead into the second. The Nittany Lion chose down and reversed Walker eight seconds into the second to swell his lead to 10-0. Blaze cut Walker and then took him down again for a 13-2 lead. That was the score after two. Blaze escaped to start the third to 14-2. The Nittany Lion then scored a takedown to seal it at the 6:10 mark of the match, 17-2.

141 pounds: No. 14 Braeden Davis, Penn State vs. No. 3 Brock Hardy of Nebraska

Davis scored a takedown halfway through the first period, but Hardy reversed him quickly before the Nittany Lion escaped to 4-2 with about 1:20 left in the first period. Davis was the aggressor from there, but no more points were scored before the end fo the first three minutes. Hardy took down to start the second, and Davis rode for 48 seconds before the Cornhusker escaped to 4-3. Hardy then used an inside trip and got three near fall points from the danger position to go up 6-4. That was the score after two. Davis took neutral to start the third, and Hardy would eventually drop in on a low double to swell his lead to 9-4 with 48 seconds left. Davis could not escape, and that is the final. He's off to the consolation bracket.

149 pounds: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness, PSU F No. 16 Jacob Frost of Iowa State, 2:23

After building a 6-1 lead, Shayne Van Ness readjusted twice before pinning No. 16 Jacob Frost of Iowa State at the 2:23 mark of the first period to move onto the 149-pound quarterfinals.

157 pounds: No. 1 PJ Duke, Penn State F. No. 17 Luke Mechler of Wisconsin, 1:38

Duke scored a lightning quick takedown, cut Mechler, then took him down again and cut him for a 6-2 lead and then did it again for a 9-3 lead and then again for a 12-4 lead just 54 seconds into the match. Another shoot and score made it 15-4 with 1:48 left in the first period. Another cut and takedown made it 18-5 before Duke locked up a cradle and threw Mechler to his back for the fall at 1:38.
 

GregPickel

Heisman
Staff member
Jul 25, 2021
44,209
95,617
113
Penn State is 4-1 in round two on Thursday night, with Braeden Davis' loss at 141 pounds the only one on the Lions' docket so far today. Luke Lilledahl (125), Marcus Blaze (133), Shayne Van Ness (149), and PJ Duke (157) are all into Friday morning quarterfinals. Duke has two first period falls today.

In the team race, PSU has 32 points and leads Oklahoma State (21.5), Iowa (19.5), Ohio State (19.5), and Iowa State (16.5). The rest of the top nine is Nebraska (16), Cornell (13), Arizona State (12), and Lehigh (11.5).

First five bout recaps:

125 pounds: No. 1 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State d. No. 17 Jett Strickenberger, West Virginia, 4-2

After a scoreless first period that saw Lilledahl get in on a shot but not be able to finish it, Strickeneberger took down to start the second and escaped to a 1-0 lead. A short while later, Lilledahl came out on top of a scramble to take a 3-1 lead. Strickenberger escaped to make it 3-2 after two. Lilledahl chose down to start the third and quickly escaped to 4-2. There was no additional scoring, making that the final score.

133 pounds: No. 3 Marcus Blaze, PSU TF No. 19 Gage Walker of Missouri, 17-2 (6:10)

Blaze got a stalling point midway through the first period and then had a seven point throw late in the period to take an 8-0 lead into the second. The Nittany Lion chose down and reversed Walker eight seconds into the second to swell his lead to 10-0. Blaze cut Walker and then took him down again for a 13-2 lead. That was the score after two. Blaze escaped to start the third to 14-2. The Nittany Lion then scored a takedown to seal it at the 6:10 mark of the match, 17-2.

141 pounds: No. 14 Braeden Davis, Penn State vs. No. 3 Brock Hardy of Nebraska

Davis scored a takedown halfway through the first period, but Hardy reversed him quickly before the Nittany Lion escaped to 4-2 with about 1:20 left in the first period. Davis was the aggressor from there, but no more points were scored before the end fo the first three minutes. Hardy took down to start the second, and Davis rode for 48 seconds before the Cornhusker escaped to 4-3. Hardy then used an inside trip and got three near fall points from the danger position to go up 6-4. That was the score after two. Davis took neutral to start the third, and Hardy would eventually drop in on a low double to swell his lead to 9-4 with 48 seconds left. Davis could not escape, and that is the final. He's off to the consolation bracket.

149 pounds: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness, PSU F No. 16 Jacob Frost of Iowa State, 2:23

After building a 6-1 lead, Shayne Van Ness readjusted twice before pinning No. 16 Jacob Frost of Iowa State at the 2:23 mark of the first period to move onto the 149-pound quarterfinals.

157 pounds: No. 1 PJ Duke, Penn State F. No. 17 Luke Mechler of Wisconsin, 1:38

Duke scored a lightning quick takedown, cut Mechler, then took him down again and cut him for a 6-2 lead and then did it again for a 9-3 lead and then again for a 12-4 lead just 54 seconds into the match. Another shoot and score made it 15-4 with 1:48 left in the first period. Another cut and takedown made it 18-5 before Duke locked up a cradle and threw Mechler to his back for the fall at 1:38.
 

Misalorales

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2025
1,126
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Wow. This is a rough time to be a buckeye fan. Stiles and Cannon getting beat( assuming Cannon goes on to lose) side by side on mat cast.
 
  • Haha
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