US EditionPenn State two-time NCAA champion Mitchell Mesenbrink wins Hodge Trophy as nation's top wrestler
Mesenbrink's perfect 27-0 season included 17 wins over NCAA Tournament wrestlers and 61 of 65 first-place votes from a national committee.
- On Monday, Penn State's Mitchell Mesenbrink won the Dan Hodge Trophy, recognized as the nation's top college wrestler, after an undefeated season at 165 pounds.
- Mesenbrink finished the season 27-0 with eight pins and 11 technical falls, securing 61 of 65 first-place committee votes and claiming nearly 68 percent of the fan voting.
- Including a technical-fall victory over Iowa's Michael Caliendo in the championship match, Mesenbrink earned 17 wins against NCAA Tournament competitors, stating, "People want to be entertained."
- The victory marks the sixth Hodge Trophy for Penn State, with Mesenbrink becoming the second Nittany Lion to win in three years while seeking a sixth consecutive NCAA team title.
- Mesenbrink now targets a third national championship with a 98.8 percent career winning percentage, describing the trophy as "opinionated" and prioritizing faith and family over individual accolades.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Associated Press News
Penn State two-time NCAA champion Mitchell Mesenbrink wins Hodge Trophy as nation's top wrestler
Two-time NCAA champion Mitchell Mesenbrink of Penn State has been named winner of the Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation’s top men’s college wrestler.
Penn State's Mitchell Mesenbrink Wins Hodge Trophy
Penn State's Mitchell Mesenbrink has won the Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation's top collegiate wrestler following a dominant 2025-26 campaign. The redshirt junior received 66 out of 71 first-place votes, with Oklahoma State freshman Jax Forrest getting four and fellow Nittany Lion Josh Barr earning one, according to WIN Magazine, which oversees the award. He took first place in the fan vote, which accounts for five first-place votes, by taking 67.…
Penn State Wrestling Star Mitchell Mesenbrink Wins Hodge Trophy
The results for the 2026 Dan Hodge Trophy are in, and to no surprise, Penn State wrestling star Mitchell Mesenbrink is the winner. Mesenbrink, who was up for the award last season after going 27-0 and winning his first national championship at 165 pounds, crossed winning the Hodge off the list after an even better campaign in 2025-26. Mesenbrink finished this year with the same 27-0 record, with 26 of those wins being of the bonus point variety.…
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