Mitchell Mesenbrink

Mitchell Owen Mesenbrink (born June 2, 2003) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at 74 kilograms. In freestyle, he is a U.S. national champion, a bronze medalist at the U23 World Championships in 2024, and at the U20 World Championships, he claimed a gold medal in 2023 and a silver medal in 2022.

In folkstyle, he was a 2026 and 2025 NCAA Division I national champion for the Penn State Nittany Lions, as well as the 2024 runner-up. Mesenbrink won the 2026 Dan Hodge Trophy, awarded annually to the United States of America’s best college wrestler.

Career

Early life Born in Hartland, Wisconsin, Mesenbrink started wrestling at a young age, following the footsteps of his father, John Mesenbrink, a former wrestler at Drake University. Mesenbrink attended Arrowhead High School, where he became a three-time Wisconsin Division I state champion and broke into the national high school rankings. Before his senior season, he committed to wrestle for California Baptist University.

In freestyle, Mesenbrink claimed a silver medal from the U20 World Championships and a gold medal from the U20 Pan American Championships and U20 US National Championships in 2022, at 70 kilograms.

California Baptist University

2022–2023 Mesenbrink started the season at 2–0; however, he then entered the transfer portal and moved back to Wisconsin, closing his freshman year. In April 2023, he committed to the Penn State.

Pennsylvania State University

2023–2024 Before the folkstyle season, Mesenbrink made the jump to 74 kilograms and repeated as U20 US national champion and U20 Pan American champion before competing at the U20 World Championships. He once again reached the finals of the tournament, this time becoming the U20 world champion at 74 kilograms.

Starting at 165 pounds, Mesenbrink claimed titles at the Journeymen Classic and Black Knight Invitational, and racked up an undefeated 12–0 dual-meet record during regular season. At the Big Ten Championships, Mesenbrink claimed his first title with a come-from-behind victory over two-time All-American Dean Hamiti. At the NCAA tournament, Mesenbrink defeated All-Americans Cam Amine and Michael Caliendo in rematches, to make the finals, where he fell to NCAA champion David Carr to take runner-up honors.

In April, Mesenbrink made his senior level debut at the US Olympic Team Trials, where after a win over U17 World champion Ladarion Lockett, he fell to seven-time Olympic and World champion Jordan Burroughs in the semifinals. He then came back for third-place with wins over US National champion Quincy Monday and Jarrett Jacques, making the US National team.

2024–2025 Before the season started, Mesenbrink competed at the U23 World Championships, claiming a bronze medal by defeating Asian medalist Magomedrasul Asluev from Bahrain.

Back to folkstyle, Mesenbrink was undefeated through 27 matches, reaching the national finals once again though this time claiming the 2025 NCAA title, as well as the Big Ten Conference title.

Fresh off an NCAA championship run, Mesenbrink became the US National champion in freestyle, notably defeating two-time NCAA champion David Carr in a rematch from their 2024 NCAA finale, as well as NCAA finalist Quincy Monday. A rematch against Carr in a best-of-three format took place at Final X, on June 14, in which he dropped two bouts in a row to claim runner-up honors.

Freestyle record

Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event Location

Win 19-4

Novi Sad, Serbia Win 18-4

Win 17-4

Win 16-4

Win 15-4

Win 14-4

Asunción, Paraguay Win 13-4

Win 12-4

Loss 11–4

Newark, New Jersey Loss 11–3

Win 11–2

Las Vegas, Nevada Win 10–2

Win 9–2

Win 8–2

Win 7–2

Win 6–2

Tirana, Albania Win 5–2

Loss 4–2

Win 4–1

Win 3–1

State College, Pennsylvania Win 2–1

Loss 1–1

Win 1–0