165 LBs: Penn State's Mitchell Mesenbrink vs. Iowa's Michael Caliendo | Big Ten Wrestling |1/31/2025

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[@jrandberh]

If Caliendo is #2, 165 weight class has NO CHANCE against Mess

[@letsssgooo4618]

Hall’s got the chance simply because he’s an elite scrambler and pinner. The only way any of the current 165s are going to MM is to catch him. Which damn near happened earlier this year when he was caught in a cradle on his back. I would have liked to see him vs Hamiti again. Plus it would have been nice if O’toole stayed down but this is MM’s weight for the next three years. His best comp would prolly the 157s and 174s that wrestle for PSU going forward lol.

[@notmyname1038]

The number 3 guy actually gave him a close match last year

[@samcooper4024]

@@letsssgooo4618Hall has no chance against Mesenbrink. The pace, pressure, mobility, and movement of Mesenbrink is way too much for anyone in the country. Hall might even get teched lol

[@nathanstuller4056]

@@letsssgooo4618 That was the beginning of last season, not this year. Seeing him against Hamiti and O’Toole would have been a lot of fun.

[@chasinwhitetail9426]

@@samcooper4024maybe hall can keep it close, get up late and Mes will forget what the score is again

[@billgrubb2799]

Messenbrink is a good example of you can't judge a book by it's cover. Doesn't look like an assassin but the dude is lethal! 😮

[@yourdaddy6030]

Kinda like Nolf and Retherford were .

[@treasurethetime2463]

I need to speak to a therapist after watching that. Brutal. Took his soul. Humbling sport.

[@shwnusmc119]

As a hawkeye fan, the gap between these two programs is undeniable. And thank god Sanderson didn't stay to coach at ISU 😂😂

[@davidrobinson8]

Penn St invested into Cael Sanderson. Like Coach Prime, CS's reputation brings nothing but the elite best to Penn St. Dan Gable was the same for Iowa! I went Dan Gable Wrestling Camps all though highschool. I'm still an Iowa Wrestling fan to this day... I respect CS and what he has done for their program. I can't think of the Coach at Oklahoma st now but he will turn their program around pretty soon too.

[@nathanstuller4056]

@@davidrobinson8 David Taylor

[@scottburgess696]

Mesenbrink is soooooooo fluid, damn impressive!

[@hugostiglitz8465]

He's on another level.

[@BertJones-u5b]

Slicker than a weasel, as the song says. You see pictures of him off the mat, he's always smiling. On the mat, he's a different guy. Incredible pace.

[@reubensandwich9249]

He has a motor that doesn't stop.

[@hdvictoryford5329]

Every time I watch MM he just keeps improving. He almost makes it look effortless. And the way he rolled through No.2. The rest of the field must be taking notice that was crazy!

[@stephenmoist623]

PSU BEST PROGRAM IN THE WORLD BY FAR !!!! ONLY GONNA GET BETTER !!!!

[@ozguraydn8407]

​@PrismaticRevolutionBum Taylor can't do nothing. Coaching isn't wrestling

[@andrewkennedy-9912]

@@ozguraydn8407 The very best technical wrestlers tend to make the best coaches. Taylor is going to do fine, but he has a long way to go.

[@cootriley6]

Cael's recruiting, development.. He'll beat Gable's coaching record with ease.

[@JS45678]

Messenbrink is so relaxed wrestling the #2 ranked opponent in the nation that he is talking to the referee during the action for clarification. Incredible!

[@armanifryeowens5518]

Man to get to the point of trying to prevent the top wrestler from cutting you, so as not to tech you, is insane

[@ianshue2890]

This was one of the matches that I was waiting for, both have looked great this year. As an Iowa fan I did want to see Caliendo pull the upset, but at the same time Mesenbrink is the wrestler I’ve been waiting for. He brings the old school Iowa style of constant attacking, but brings the technique of a Cael Sanderson or any of the other Penn State greats. Messenbrink proved he’s the best in this match, he’s gonna win it this year

[@JasonJanczak-k6v]

Well put. I like your perspective.

[@l.rongardner2150]

Caliendo needed to call 911 to stop the beatdown.

[@ramic7151]

Straight fuxked😂

[@cootriley6]

LOL. MM is a freak.

[@billybud9557]

OMG Hodge!

[@georgesealy4706]

Definitely has a shot. He is averaging 18 points a match.

[@chase86903]

He definitely has a chance, but it’s probably gonna go to Carter or Gable this year, and then Mitchell will (likely) win it his junior and senior year

[@billybud9557]

@ Carter won 3-1 against a freshman and sudden vic against Keck., I think Gable already has his. so maybe...

[@chase86903]

@@billybud9557 I thought about that, but I just don’t see how they could not give the hodge trophy to the first ever (and probably only) 5x NCAA champion or Gable Steveson (arguably the greatest heavyweight wrestler of all time). Also being objective, 165 is easier to win than 184 and especially heavyweight. Heavyweight has: Gable, Kerk, Hendrickson, trumble, Shultz, Feldman, kueter, along with a few other studs. 184 has starocci, Parker, and plott. 165 really doesn’t have the depth that these two weight classes have, since guys who have given Mitch close matches last year either graduated (like David) or went up a weight class (like Kegan and dean).

[@billybud9557]

@@chase86903 good point

[@cootriley6]

Messenbrink makes it look so easy...

[@prescottosegie]

let go!!! mesenbrink great job dude. penn state wrestling is amazing

[@Jo-oc-0]

Mesenbrink - wrestler of the year!

[@robertmccamman4630]

Caliendo has gotten stronger but Messenbrink is so darn quick,

[@Danimal6100]

That doesn't mean he improved his defense

[@dankibler6306]

Did it look like the iowa just gassed out at the end of the 2nd?

[@outdooraddictionpa8218]

Wow. Amazing!

[@mineshaftrisotto]

Caliendo started really strong but clearly felt something - an unnerving amount of strength, endurance - that caused him to mentally pull back. Especially after that first takedown defense on part of Messenbrink.

[@josephriley3658]

BEAST

[@Kilty007]

Mesenbrink has got to be a serious early Hodge contender at this point, agree? Caliendo is obviously very good yet Mesenbrink has now destroyed him what, 3 or 4 times? Remarkable.

[@312Football-w3e]

Mitchell will be the most prolific scorer in PSU history

[@jordanarchuleta4179]

Just let this kid know who is opponent is for the finals and he will see them there

[@henkvanderstoep9381]

Thats a future world and olympic medal winner.

Messinbrink is what Carter thinks he is. Best wrestler in the ncaas

[@jamescicalese]

He's literally a talent that we get to see once every 10 years. At this point he has more promise than Spencer Lee.

[@opaca512]

Wow! 😳

[@RapYouCanUnderstand]

Bruh he teched him last year and the dude almost took him down immediately lmao

[@shortwidgets]

WTH is up with Iowa?! Losing on a stall call. I said it last week Iowa has been stalling like crazy looking weak and tired.

[@BertJones-u5b]

It's noticeable, Penn State in the third period, Sanderson's got their conditioning down to a science that no other team can match. Teemer had a mid-match break against Kasak with the blood time and still couldn't match Kasak in the third. Was it Nickal or RBY who said, when asked about the Penn State wrestling room magic, that it was a secret and the only for guys to learn the secret is to wrestle for Penn State. That sums it up.

[@americanaamerican]

Caliendo just gave up in round 3. He’s got the talent, he just doesn’t want it bad enough

[@WhosWatchingWhat]

Is this Frank Caliendo the guy who does impressions son? Lol

[@donjohnson3873]

Made the hard stuff look easy....

[@outdooraddictionpa8218]

Dominance

[@Charactermatters650]

Iowans crow…but the real deal has always been in PA 😢

[@firstgenchevelleman]

Can we agree that Cael has eclipsed gable ?

[@Wheeler85]

Schooled him. Impressive!!

[@b.b.5048]

His motor is unreal.

[@youngkim8493]

this dude is a relentless honey badger

[@CharlesMac-tv1rm]

What happened with that danger count. The ref counted danger 3. What do you need to get points? Serious question, I get so confused on that rule sometimes. Did the ref say that the count reset or do you need a 4 count?

[@johnulmer6715]

Wow, really don't know what you can do against Mitchell. He just doesn't make mistakes and he's got an endless gas tank. Very impressive.

[@BertJones-u5b]

How about, he lip-synched the lion roar as the ref raised his arm.

[@WhosWatchingWhat]

This looked like me when I wrestle my son, he’s 2

[@jurrytaalib-deen9788]

I wonder when it's all said & done, will he MM have more bonus points than Nolf.

[@jamescicalese]

If Barraclough gets a 2 or 3 seed at Nationals, then it will be Barraclough vs. Mess in the finals. And Barraclough has a much better chance of beating Mess than anyone else in the field. He wrestled with Mess in the same room for a year.

[@MrCinester]

And lost...

[@jamescicalese]

@@MrCinester And your point? The guy transferred to UV so he could get a shot at being the starter. He couldn't break the line-up at PS. I think everyone is aware that he is not up to the level of Mess.

[@MrCinester]

@@jamescicalese oh I get it. Yeah he did. Good for him to get the opportunity to start. Misunderstood your post. My bad

[@travismcadams]

That class is cooked

[@Ohio98]

The same skills that made Tom an olympian are not the same skills that makes him motivate men. I'm a huge wrestling fan. I attend the big tens and NCAAs. IA does a good job at recruiting hs standouts, generational talents, and acclimating them to the grind of DI athletics. Then Tom does what Tom does - he continues to grind. His wrestlers get tough but not better. Its patently obvious that IA is the North Korea of college wrestling programs. They got muscle, they got resumes, they can take a beating, and most of the time get up return to their post - but they wilt on the world stage. Whether in arts or athletics, virtuoso performers are much more than willpower military machines. They must engage their heart & passion as composite human beings. The best and brightest win in rarified air because they improve without being introspectively critical. After getting used to the toughness of college, Iowas grapplers don't improve. They are all like Kemerer. They end up physically emaciated (think McDonough), psychologically exhausted (Lee, Marinelli). By the time March rolls around The team looks like a bunch of bandaged civil war veterans. As chaplain i was responsible for the spiritual lives of NFL & DI athletes. Across the board all athletes work until exhaustion and the fun comes with winning. Its fun to win. But his recruits are not winning. They're not having fun. And the fans are not enjoying it. New case study: let watch Ben Kueter follow this same pattern and end up another patient in the VA medical center of college wrestling.

[@JG-re2bb]

Thats a little over the top. Yes, PSU dominates. But Iowa is still number 2

[@beaubristol9552]

#2 and he finished off a TF with a stall???

[@georgesealy4706]

MM takes no prisoners. Yikes!

[@Jo-oc-0]

4:23 Looks like Caliendo gave up at this point right here.

[@Arigonzzo]

Just another reason to go to psu. To become dominant

[@Charactermatters650]

Dom-in-ation!

[@MrOhyea92]

Last stall call was bs how are you stalling with a single leg locked up

[@Jdninja-lz6rm]

He was trying to stay on bottom so he didn’t get teched. He didn’t want to get up which seems like stalling to me

[@michaelbradley7621]

He has to be taking something

[@JesseFromal-i5g]

Tyler is P4P the best in the country and the Brands bros deep dirty secrets about top conditioned athletes is finally decoded

[@tommycryptic]

Hilarious

[@dereklatshaw3017]

#2 and giving up a TF on a stall.

[@blessedboxer3449]

Top 2 but he aint 2

[@holdencawffle626]

4:11. Caliendo be cheating!

[@markdemi2164]

Iowa wrestling .. tech on a stall ..😅 hold me mommy

[@raywalteroutdoors]

Stud

[@youarerightboss]

WE ARE PENN STATE WRESTLING!

[@BertJones-u5b]

A lot of these Iowa guys with the high rankings... I don't see it.

[@dohcsmr1175]

MC is a fantastic wrestler. As with most opponents they just get overpowered. Penn State just looks bigger and stronger than their opponents. And have better gas tanks. Difficult combination to overcome.

[@joenu7s]

mesenbrink looks like a small 165 and he certified at 157. i don’t think he cuts much so he’s not drained ever. same thing with most of the psu lineup. caliendo looks bigger then him. people that liked your comment are blind.

[@toddbennett6737]

Penn state wins through technique and aggression not size or strength

[@dohcsmr1175]

@ Technique and aggression? Not Size and strength? Well then. Let us explain the sport of wrestling at this level. ALL WRESTLERS at this level are the best at technique and aggression. Work ethic. Intelligence and sport knowledge. These wrestlers are one tenth of one percent of all High School athletes. Size and strength IS ABSOLUTELY the dominant attribute for the best wrestlers at each wt. Your skewed and ignorance of the sport is delusional. If both individuals are attempting the same “technique” the stronger wrestler will win. Simple. To deny this you do nothing but gaslight the opponents by insinuating the lack wrestling skills!!!!??? Please. Power and strength is the deference between Penn State and the rest of the Nations wrestling Teams. Delusional posts are not unintentional. It is ignorance of the sport. You obviously have never wrestled.

[@joenu7s]

@@dohcsmr1175 you’re right but wrong at the same time

[@dohcsmr1175]

@ No…..I m not “wrong”. The denial of the most obvious is delusional. This is not an opinion or an argument. It is fact. Penn State absolutely overpowers there opponents. Understanding leverage is essential at this level. To say one opponent is better because of his knowledge of the sport he was recruited for is just disrespectful and condescending. An excuse and self effacing. I understand there is a biased towards a favored team and individuals. I respect the loyalty. That is what makes our sport special. But……..there is a lack of knowledge even among the most educated about the sport. Quickness can help with technique. An example. Dayton Fix. He was an absolute beast. Vito just hammered him. It was not technique that put Fix on his back and almost pin him. From Suriano to RBY he lost for 2 reasons. He was as predictable as a broken clock and was overpowered by better wrestlers. RBY road him for an entire period in their first NC match. The refs did everything they could to give fix the match and he still lost. After he was caught juicing he was not the same wrestler and refused to make changes. You do not lose at this level by a lack of “technique”. One loses because his opponent is stronger at the same technique. To deny this for any reason is ignorance of the sport.

[@JakeWilsonMMA]

Messenbrink kinda that would choke on a hot dog And like it

[@ronhenry3440]

You talking from experience 😅

[@TravisRollins-rm2en]

❤ L I O N S ❤

[@dougmasters4620]

Boring match - just countering

[@timhavens6361]

I will never understand how these guys get stalking calls? In my entire career I never got a stall call. Just shows a lack of will

[@jcapellocolon]

damn dude that's awesome, how far did you go in your wrestling career?

[@VincentBradbury]

IS THIS TIM HAVENS THE LEGENDARY FOUR TIME NCAA CHAMPION! Bro I have a poster of you above my bed. I kiss it every night before I go to sleep. It fills me with a lot of will

[@timhavens6361]

@ junior college

[@timhavens6361]

@ ha ha ha don’t get me wrong these guys are elite and they would mop me up, but how do you just lay there with your head down?

[@ladev91]

​​@@timhavens6361 I thought the same thing. I think when you go against someone like Mesenbrink and you never been dominated like that before, your brain goes a bit haywire.

[@jasongiambuzzi4229]

MESSINFREAK!!! Absolute STUD💪💪 WE ARE!!!