Mitchell Mesenbrink

Last updated

Mitchell Mesenbrink
Personal information
Full nameMitchell Owen Mesenbrink
Born2003
Hartland, Wisconsin, U.S.
Sport
CountryUnited States
Sport Wrestling
Weight class74 kg (163 lb)
Event(s) Freestyle and Folkstyle
College team Penn State Nittany Lions
ClubAskren Wrestling Academy
Coached by Cael Sanderson
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing the Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
World U20 Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2023 Jordan 74 kg
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2022 Sofia 70 kg
Pan American U20 Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2023 Santiago 74 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2022 Acapulco 70 kg
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the Penn State Nittany Lions
NCAA Division I National Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2024 Kansas City 165 lb
Big Ten Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2024 College Park 165 lb

Mitchell Mesenbrink (born 2003) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes internationally at 74 kilograms and collegiately at 165 pounds. [1] In freestyle, he won the gold medal at the 2023 U20 World Championships and was a silver medalist in 2022. [2] In folkstyle, he is a redshirt freshman wrestling for the Penn State Nittany Lions and 2024 NCAA silver medalist. [3]

Contents

Career

Early life

Born in Hartland, Wisconsin, Mesenbrink started wrestling at a young age, following the footsteps of his father, John Mesenbrink, who was a former wrestler at Drake University and coached Mitchell throughout his youth. [4] Mesenbrink attended Arrowhead High School, where he became a three-time WIAA state champion. He trained under NCAA champion Ben Askren at Askren Wrestling Academy. In August 2021, Mesenbrink committed to wrestle for California Baptist University. [5]

In June 2022, Mesenbrink defeated future teammate Levi Haines at the U20 World Team Trials to qualify for the 70 kg spot on the U.S. U20 World Team. In July 2022, he won gold at 70 kg at the Pan American U20 Championships in Acapulco. In August 2022, Mesenbrink won silver at the 2022 World U20 championships at 70 kg after falling to Kanan Haybatov of Azerbaijan in the final. [6]

California Baptist University (2022–2023)

Mesenbrink began his true freshman season in a November 5 doubleheader dual versus Cal Poly and Vanguard (NAIA). He wrestled at 165 pounds and would finish the day with pins in both of his matches. [7] These two matches would be Mesenbrink's only appearances in a Cal Baptist singlet, as he left the team and moved back home to Wisconsin in December. [8] In January, Mesenbrink announced that he would be entering the transfer portal with four years of eligibility remaining. [9]

Pennsylvania State University (2023–Present)

On April 21, 2023, Mesenbrink announced that he would be transferring to Penn State, citing his trust in Penn State's coaching staff and their ability to help him become an Olympic gold medalist. [8]

In July 2023, Mesenbrink continued his freestyle career with a gold medal in the 2023 Pan-Am U20 Championships. In August 2023, he had a dominant showing at 74 kg at the World U20 Championships in Jordan. There, he went 5-0 with five technical falls to win the gold medal, outscoring his opponents by a margin of 59 to 6. [10]

Mesenbrink began his Penn State career as the starter at 165 pounds, beating out the incumbent Alex Facundo, who would take an Olympic Redshirt. [11] Mesenbrink began the season with first place finishes at the Journeymen Classic and Black Knight Invitational, leading to an initial #23 ranking from FloWrestling. [12] He would proceed to go undefeated in the regular season, including two victories over top ten opponents in Iowa's Michael Caliendo and Michigan's Cameron Amine. [13] On February 14, he was named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week. [14]

Mesenbrink, a two seed at the Big Ten Tournament, swept through his first two opponents, setting up a clash with top seeded Dean Hamiti of Wisconsin. Mesenbrink defeated Hamiti in a come from behind victory to remain undefeated and claim his first Big Ten title. [15] Mesenbrink was slotted as the two seed at the NCAA Tournament, where he won four matches, including rematches with Caliendo and Amine, to advance to his first NCAA title match. [13] In the final, Mesenbrink would record his first collegiate loss in a 9-8 decision to Iowa State's David Carr.

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References

  1. ↑ "Mitchell Mesenbrink - Wrestling". Penn State Athletics. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  2. ↑ Collegian, Kaleb Boyer | The Daily (August 16, 2023). "Penn State wrestling Mitchell Mesenbrink wins U20 World Championship". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  3. ↑ Pickel, Greg (April 21, 2023). "Penn State wrestling makes another transfer portal splash". On3. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Wisconsin Wrestling Hall of Fame :: Mesenbrink, John". wiwrestlinghofhonorees.org. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  5. ↑ Staff, Dave Radcliffe-Freeman (March 1, 2022). "Don't mess with Mesenbrink". Greater Milwaukee Today. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Mesenbrink Takes Silver at U20 Freestyle World Championships". CBU Athletics. March 29, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Mitchell Mesenbrink and Caden Gerlach Go Undefeated On Opening Day For CBU Wrestling". CBU Athletics. March 29, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Kozak, Jon (April 21, 2023). "Mitchell Mesenbrink On Commiting To Penn State, Next Year's Lineup, & NIL". FloWrestling. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Mitchell Mesenbrink To Enter Transfer Portal". Heavyweight Nation. January 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  10. ↑ Lister, Joe (August 16, 2023). "Penn State Wrestler Mitchell Mesenbrink Wins UWW U-20 Championship". Onward State. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Happy Valley Insider - Alex Facundo will Olympic Redshirt, Mesenbrink at 165". pennstate.rivals.com. November 16, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  12. ↑ "165". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  13. 1 2 "WrestleStat | Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) Profile". www.wrestlestat.com. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Mitchell Mesenbrink named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare". www.themat.com. February 14, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Penn State Wins Big Ten Wrestling Title". bigten.org. July 15, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
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