Takedown Report

Penn State vs Iowa Wrestling Dual Preview & Prediction

A full preview with predictions for the upcoming wrestling dual between Penn State and Iowa.
#4 Iowa will welcome #1 Penn State to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Friday night in the most highly anticipated dual of the weekend. Wrestling starts at 7:00 pm (ET) on the Big Ten Network, but before the action goes down, check out a full preview for this rivalry dual in the article below. 
Probable lineups:
125: #2 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State vs #7 Dean Peterson, Iowa
133: #6 Marcus Blaze, Penn State vs #11 Drake Ayala, Iowa
141: #8 Braeden Davis, Penn State vs #15 Nasir Bailey, Iowa
149: #1 Shayne Van Ness, Penn State vs #10 Ryder Block, Iowa
157: #2 PJ Duke Penn, State vs #11 Jordan Williams, Iowa
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State vs #3 Michael Caliendo, Iowa
174: #1 Levi Haines Penn, State vs #3 Patrick Kennedy, Iowa
184: #4 Rocco Welsh, Penn State vs #1 Angelo Ferrari, Iowa
197: #1 Josh Barr, Penn State vs Harvey Ludington/Gabe Arnold/Brody Sampson
285: #12 Cole Mirasola, Penn State vs #5 Ben Kueter, Iowa

125: #2 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State vs #7 Dean Peterson, Iowa

Lilledahl and Peterson will meet for the second time in their college careers on Friday night. Peterson won their meeting last year in a one takedown, 4-1 decision. I expect a similar close match in this meeting and would be surprised if we see either wrestler light up the scoreboard. 
Both wrestlers have had similar seasons, with Lilledahl boasting a 9-1 record and Peterson with a 7-1 record. Lilledahl’s lone loss was to his teammate Nate Desmond, but he boasts ranked wins over #32 Ayden Smith, #13 Nico Provo, #19 Ezekiel Witt, and #27 Conrad Hendriksen. Peterson suffered a loss to #5 Nic Bouzakis at the National Duals Inviational but holds ranked wins over #15 Spencer Moore, #8 Troy Spratley, #27 Tyler Chappell, #25 Cooper Flynn, and #30 Bridger Ricks. Though Peterson won the last match, we haven’t seen him wrestle in over a month. Is Peterson healthy? Will there be any mat rust? Because of those questions, I give a slight edge to Lilledahl in their meeting on Friday. 
Prediction: Lilledahl wins by decision
Team score prediction: Penn State 3, Iowa 0 … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/15179310-penn-state-vs-iowa-wrestling-dual-preview-prediction

January 16, 2026 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | ncaa-football, sports