Mitchell Mesenbrink: FloWrestling’s No. 1 Pound‑for‑Pound Collegiate Wrestler 🏆
FloWrestling has released its early 2025–26 pound‑for‑pound rankings for NCAA Division I wrestling—and Penn State’s Mitchell Mesenbrink sits at the very top of the list flowrestling.org+15flowrestling.org+15si.com+15.
⭐ Why Mesenbrink Reigns Supreme
1. Dominant NCAA champion at 165 lb
In March 2025, Mesenbrink captured the NCAA title at 165 pounds, finishing an undefeated season (27–0) with 18 technical falls and defeating Iowa’s Mikey Caliendo 8–2 in the finals si.com+1featureweekly.com+1. He wrapped up the year with a flawless 53–1 collegiate record—the highest winning percentage start in Penn State history (.981) si.com+1featureweekly.com+1.
2. Unparalleled scoring ability
Mesenbrink didn’t just win—he dominated. His 18 tech‑falls showcased his blend of precision, aggressiveness, and tactical prowess, consistently overwhelming top competition flowrestling.org+15si.com+15flowrestling.org+15.
3. Excelling in freestyle, too
On the freestyle scene, Mesenbrink claimed bronze at the 2024 U23 World Championships and then secured the U.S. national championship at 74 kg in April 2025—taking down fellow NCAA champ David Carr with a tech‑fall 16–6 featureweekly.com+9en.wikipedia.org+9flowrestling.org+9.
4. Elite across all weights
FloWrestling’s pound‑for‑pound rankings cut across weight classes, and Mesenbrink topped them all—highlighted by the fact that Penn State placed five wrestlers in the overall top 25 flowrestling.org+15si.com+15featureweekly.com+15.
🧩 What the Ranking Represents
FloWrestling’s pound‑for‑pound rankings are a composite measure—not just of weight class dominance, but of technical ability, consistency, breadth of achievements, and projected impact. Mesenbrink’s ascent to the top spot reflects his mastery of both folkstyle and freestyle wrestling flowrestling.org+15flowrestling.org+15flowrestling.org+15.
🚀 Looking Ahead to 2025–26
As the pendulum turns toward the upcoming season:
-
Mesenbrink remains the projected No. 1 wrestler in the nation across all classes en.wikipedia.org+4flowrestling.org+4featureweekly.com+4.
-
Penn State also boasts top talent at other weights—Levi Haines (165 lb champ) ranked No. 1 at 174, and Josh Barr at 197, plus several All-Americans in the p4p top 25 flowrestling.org+5si.com+5featureweekly.com+5.
-
With a loaded and experienced roster, Penn State is poised to once again lead the NCAA wrestling landscape si.com+1featureweekly.com+1.
🎯 The Bottom Line
Mitchell Mesenbrink represents the perfect combination: technical excellence, unrelenting aggression, versatility in multiple styles, and a spotless record. At just 22, he’s setting the bar incredibly high and has clearly earned the No. 1 pound‑for‑pound ranking in collegiate wrestling—thanks to a season that was as dominant as anyone’s.
Keep a close eye on him this season—it’s not just about repeating, it’s about redefining greatness.