This weekend, select Penn State wrestlers traveled to Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the 2025 Southern Scuffle. Additionally, two wrestlers made an appearance at the Edinboro Open in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. The Nittany Lions combined for a 39-12 record in 51 bouts across the two tournaments.

Highlighting the events were Zack Ryder, Connor and Cole Mirasola, and Cael Nasdeo taking home titles in their respective weight classes.

Southern Classic

Kurt McHenry – 125 pounds

Kurt McHenry went 6-2 in the tournament, finishing in fifth place. The graduate student started his run with an 18-3 tech fall victory over Weston Pisarchick of Clarion. The Nittany Lion dropped his second matchup in a close 5-4 loss with Beric Jordan of Oklahoma. McHenry won his first four consolation matches, including a 23-8 tech fall against Bryson Terrell of Appalachian State. After a 7-2 loss in the consolation semi-finals, McHenry took fifth place by way of medical forfeit.

Gary Steen – 133 pounds

Gary Steen finished his day at 2-2. The junior started hot, posting two tech fall victories over Josh Sanders of Bellarmine and Spencer Von Savoye of Duke. Steen lost his next two matches, including a 7-3 decision against Dom Serrano of Northern Colorado and then a close 5-3 decision against Cleveland Belton of Oklahoma.

Tim Levine – 141 pounds

Tim Levine also posted a 2-2 record. The senior pinned Josh Viarengo of Davidson within the first period to start his day. After losing a 17-10 decision to Kyren Butler of Virginia, Levine was bumped to the consolation bracket. The Nittany Lion won his first consolation match by decision against Hunter Hollingsworth of Oklahoma lost by fall to AJ Rallo of Bellarmine to end his tournament.

Connor Pierce – 149 pounds

Connor Pierce went 4-1 on the weekend, bringing in a second-place finish. Pierce, a sophomore, won four matches in a row, including a pinfall victory against Hunter Jones of Gardner-Webb. The Nittany Lion dropped his championship match against Jordan Williams of Little Rock in a 10-5 decision.

Aurelius Dunbar – 165 pounds

Senior Aurelius Dunbar finished the tournament 3-2, just missing out on the consolation semifinals. Dunbar started the tournament with an 11-3 major decision loss against the top-seeded Gunner Filipowicz of Army. In the consolation bracket, Dunbar rattled off three straight wins, including two major decisions against Gunner Holland of Little Rock and Tyler Brignola of Gardner-Webb. The Nittany Lion’s day ended when he lost 15-2 against Mannix Morgan of Oklahoma.

Jack Kelly – 174 pounds

Jack Kelly posted a 2-2 record. Kelly, a junior, lost his first match by major decision against Ty Finn of Virginia Tech. The Nittany Lion defeated Landon Jones of Tennessee at Chattanooga 12-6 and Caleb Roe of Presbyterian by fall. Kelly dropped his next consolation match by tech fall against Devin Wasley of North Dakota State.

Zack Ryder – 184 pounds

Zach Ryder went 5-0 on the weekend to win the 184-pound weight class. The Nittany Lion had a 17-2 tech fall in his second matchup against Keenan Wyatt of Bellarmine and a victory by fall against No. 20 TJ Stewart of Virginia Tech in the semifinals. In the finals, Ryder took on AJ Heeg of Northern Colorado. The Nittany Lion outscored his opponent 6-1 in sudden victory, taking home the 184-pound title.

Connor Mirasola – 197 pounds

Connor Mirasola went undefeated, going 5-0 and winning the 197-pound title. The true freshman had a pin, two techs, and a major decision. In the finals, Mirasola took on No. 30 Patrick Brophy of The Citadel. Mirasola won 7-3 and captured the 197-pound crown.

Cole Mirasola – 285 pounds

Cole Mirasola also went 5-0, winning the heavyweight class. The Nittany Lion rolled to the finals with two tech falls, one of which was against No. 29 ranked Connor Barket of Duke in the quarterfinals. In the finals, Cole Mirasola met No. 24 Lucas Stoddard of Army and dominated with a 9-0 major decision.

Edinboro Open

Cael Nasdeo – 141 pounds

Cael Nasdeo took home the 141-pound title. The freshman improved his season record to 4-3 as he won three straight to leave the tournament as champion. The Nittany Lion posted a tech fall and a major decision victory.

Sam Beckett – 174 pounds

True freshman, Sam Becket went 2-1 on the weekend, placing second in the tournament at 174 pounds.

What’s Next?

Penn State wrestling will be back in action against Michigan State in the first Big Ten dual of the season at 8 p.m. on January 10 in Rec Hall. The match will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.