Penn State will have a representative on the U23 U.S. wrestling team at this year’s World Championships. Redshirt sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink has accepted the 74-kilogram (163.1 pounds) spot, he announced on social media Tuesday. The second year Nittany Lion had until June 17 to claim it after he earned it by virtue of being a 2023 U20 freestyle champion. It was unclear why there was a week delay before the news got out. But either way, the Wisconsin native will head to Albania for the 2024 U23 Championships. Those run Oct. 21-27.
Mesenbrink exploded onto the national stage during the 2023-2024 season. He joined head coach Cael Sanderson’s program following an abbreviated 2022-2023 season at Cal Baptist. Once in State College, he quickly took control of the 165-pound starting spot left open by Alex Facundo’s decision to sit out of the collegiate season by virtue of taking an Olympic redshirt. Mesenbrink would go on to finish his first season in blue and white with a mark of 26-1. He had four pins, nine technical falls, and four major decisions while finishing second at NCAAs. He fell in the 165-pound title match to Iowa State’s David Carr. But, it didn’t dampen his outlook on the All-American season he had. Mesenbrink was The Open Mat’s freshman of the year.
More: Penn State will be well-represented on the U20 team, too
“It’s honestly, a big theme here that I keep talking about is not being too set on winning or losing,” Mesenbrink told reporters after reaching the NCAA finals. “That’s a big part in practice as well, right? So the way I wrestle, there is no “on” switch. In practice you’ve got to be wrestling like that, you’ve got to view life like that, you’ve got to be living at a vibration and an energy and an enthusiasm that’s pretty either at or over 100, you know?
“So that’s kinda just how I look at life. Whether it’s giving someone — meeting someone for the first time, I’m going to give them my utmost self, when I’m in wrestling in practice it’s not like being a jerk and not letting the guy win or do his moves it’s just bringing it, getting the cardio. Yeah, it was funny the other day I felt my heart rate and I was like, holy cow, I think I do have a heart rate of kind of a long distance runner. I kind of look like it, long, lanky, but I think that’s the ability to be able to go and go and go and go. I can wrestle forever, I feel like.”
Mesenbrink is currently the only U23 U.S. team member from Penn State.
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