For Mitchell Mesenbrink, growth isn’t measured through trophies or titles. It’s measured through the process and what you learn along the way.  

Penn State wrestling’s Mesenbrink is coming off an impressive season on both the collegiate and international levels. The Nittany Lion won his first NCAA national title in March, finishing the season with a perfect 27-0 record at 165 pounds. He also won the U.S. Open Senior Freestyle Championship, going 5-0 at the tournament.   

Even in a year full of success, Mesenbrink realized that even the biggest moments don’t define you. Life keeps going, and the lessons are what stay with you, not the accolades.  

“Either way, wins or losses don’t really change much. They don’t change who you are. Sometimes we think wins are going to change something big. After NCAAs, when I got back home and looked around, I realized nothing truly changed,” Mesenbrink said. “That was solidification that everything is just a process. You are just constantly getting better. It is more than just wrestling.”  

As Mesenbrink aims to build on last season’s success, he reminds himself that progress is not individual; it is shared. In a room full of accomplished wrestlers, it can be difficult not to isolate yourself from the team. At Penn State, however, wrestling emphasizes a collaborative environment, and leaning on teammates like Levi Haines and PJ Duke is helping Mesenbrink continue to develop this season.  

“Levi is my guy, and I think instead of playing the comparison game, we help each other achieve the things we want to achieve. You know, learning from everybody and continuing to chase your own goals, but making it more than just about yourself,” Mesenbrink said. “We can all take from each other. It is not just a one-way thing, where if you’re older, you can teach. PJ can teach me things, Marcus can teach me things, and Levi can teach those guys things. It is definitely a collaborative team effort.”  

As Mesenbrink excelled on the mat, some of his toughest challenges happened off it. In early June, his former coach and lifelong mentor, Ben Askren, was hospitalized with severe pneumonia. As his condition worsened, Askren was placed on life support and eventually underwent a double-lung transplant. 

“That was right around Final X when all of that was happening, so you know you are trying to make a world team, but at the same time, my coach and a guy I have known for my whole life is suffering,” Mesenbrink shared.  

Askren was eventually released from the hospital in late July but had to relearn how to walk and perform other basic movements. While he is making remarkable progress in recovery, his near-death experience has become another profound lesson that Mesenbrink will carry throughout the season.  

“It becomes a lot bigger than just winning or losing. That is the perfect example when talking about life. It is just way bigger,” Mesenbrink said. “I think that is what I mean when I say this season everything was more solidifying in a sense that it is bigger than just trying to win.”   

Mesenbrink and the team will continue their process in Laramie, Wyoming, this weekend, where they will take on the Wyoming Cowboys. The match is set for Saturday, December 13, at 8 p.m.