Aaron Nagao injury update plus more Penn State wrestling thoughts following a 43-3 win over Drexel

Penn State wrestling traveled to Philadelphia on Friday night to win its second dual of the 2025-2026 season and 73rd consecutive match overall. Head coach Cael Sanderson’s team won nine of 10 bouts en route to a 43-3 win over Drexel at the DAC Center. The No. 1 Nittany Lions racked up bonus points in each match they won, and only redshirt freshman Cael Nasdeo lost his bout, by decision, 8-5 to 2024-2025 NCAA qualifier Jordan Soriano at 141 pounds.

Our top takeaways from the night that was and what lies ahead are below.

PJ Duke picked up his fourth pin

There was never any doubt about the fact that PJ Duke would be ready for action as a true freshman if called upon. It just wasn’t always clear during the offseason if he would be. But, as his first year in State College following an impressive International freestyle season this summer inched closer to starting, rumblings about returning All-American starter Tyler Kasak redshirting while Duke took the mat fresh off earning the No. 1 ranking in the Class of 2025 grew louder. You’re seeing why.

Duke picked up his second pin at Penn State against the Dragons. Leading 12-3 at the time, he shot in again on Drexel’s Luke Nichter and connected on it before pinning his foe via cradle in 1:15. It is his first victory by fall in a Nittany Lions dual meet.

“I always stay right on attack and try to put up as many points as I can,” Duke said on the Penn State Sports Network, per PennLive. “My dad always said, ‘put up as many points as you can on the board and the match is probably going to go your way.’

“It’s the best room I’ve ever been in and just to wake up and be in that room, it’s such a blessing. And the guys are in the room are great wrestlers and even better people, so I’m not only growing as a wrestler, I’m growing as a person. Every day is a fight in there and everyone’s a dog, so it’s hard not to get better when you’re wrestling dogs every day.”

Aaron Nagao injury update

California junior Aaron Nagao did not wrestle on Friday night after suffering an upper-body injury at the Army Black Knight Invitational two weeks ago. But, according to head coach Cael Sanderson on the Penn State Sports Network, he does not have a long-term injury.

“Yeah, he’s just working closely with [trainer] Dan Monthly and our doctors,” Sanderson said. “And so we’re just kind of waiting to see what the timing will be on that. And, in the meantime, obviously, we got some great competitors that can jump in there and wrestle matches. Tonight’s going to be Cael Nasdeo, and so it’s a great opportunity for him. He’s wrestled for us before, but he’s a tough wrestler and hopefully just takes advantage of the opportunity and goes out and scores some points.”

Nasdeo, who filled in against Soriano for Beau Bartlett in last year’s Penn State-Drexel dual meet, led the match 4-1 at one point. Then, the Dragon went on a 7-1 run to win it.

Penn State-Drexel box score

Courtesy of Penn State Athletics:

#1 Penn State 43, Drexel 3

December 5, 2025 –  Daskalaskis Athletic Center – Philadelphia, Pa.

125: #2 Luke Lilledahl PSU maj. dec. Desmond Pleasant DREX, 19-7                                     4-0

133: #11 Marcus Blaze PSU pinned Kyle Waterman DREX, WBF (4:33)                                   10-0

141: Jordan Soriano DREX dec. Cael Nasdeo PSU, 8-5                                                                      10-3

149: #1 Shayne Van Ness PSU tech fall Patrick Kelly DREX, 20-4 (TF; 6:52)                                          15-3

157: #15 PJ Duke PSU pinned Luke Nichter DREX, WBF (1:15)                                                     21-3

165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU tech fall Cody Walsh, 19-4 (5:13)                                         26-3

174: #1 Levi Haines PSU maj. dec. #17 Jasaiah Queen DREX, 12-1                                                           30-3

184: #4 Rocco Welsh PSU maj. dec. Ethan Wilson DREX, 13-3                                                    34-3

197: Connor Mirasola PSU tech fall Justin Griffith DREX, 22-5 (TF; 5:38)                                39-3

285: #10 Cole Mirasola PSU maj. dec. Nate Schon DREX, 10-2                                                    43-3

Takedowns: 38-2

Bonus points: 16-0

Attendance: 2,217 (sell out)

Records: Penn State (2-0, 0-0 B1G); Drexel (2-1)