What could Penn State’s wrestling lineup look like for upcoming season?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Penn State returns seven All-Americans and adds international and elite recruits.
- Multiple weight classes feature open battles for starters and transfer contenders.
- Champions Mesenbrink and Haines anchor title bid; Kasak and others provide depth.
Penn State will start off another wrestling season as the No. 1 team in country, having won four straight NCAA titles for the third time in program history.
Last year, the Nittany Lions became just the second team in NCAA history to have 10 All-Americans, joining Minnesota from 2001.
This year’s Penn State squad returns seven of those All-Americans, but also added a world champion from Japan, an NCAA finalist from two years ago and several high profile freshmen.
Below is a look at the Nittany Lions’ roster as the first dual of the season approaches. Penn State will open its season against Oklahoma at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Bryce Jordan Center.
125 pounds
Returning All-American: Luke Lilledahl, Soph. Wrestlers listed at weight: Lilledahl; Nate Desmond, Fr. Outlook: There’s only two wrestlers listed at the weight in Lilledahl and Desmond, so it’s hard to see either of these guys redshirting. Lilledahl enters this season fresh off a third-place finish in the NCAA Championships. He just won a U23 World Championship in Serbia last month. Desmond joins the program after a stellar high school career that saw him win two PIAA titles at Bethlehem Catholic. He transferred to Wyoming Seminary, where he won a national prep title in 2024. His record was 116-7 while in high school.
133 pounds
Returning All-American: None Wrestlers listed at weight: Marcus Blaze, Fr.; Kyison Garcia, Soph.; Masanosuke Ono, Jr. Outlook: This is one of the open weight classes in the Penn State lineup. Last year, Braeden Davis was an All-American at this weight, but he has moved up a weight class. Garcia filled in a couple of times last year when Davis was out of the lineup, and had a big win against Michigan’s Nolan Wertanen in the Bryce Jordan Center dual. Blaze and Ono are the wildcards here. Blaze had a phenomenal high school career going 196-2 and claiming four Ohio state titles. He really came on the scene during the freestyle competition this offseason, by claiming a spot on the U.S. National Team in the Olympic Team Trials inside the Bryce Jordan Center. He also earned a U20 title in August. Ono is a world champion from Japan. He claimed a U20 title and Senior National world title in 2024.
141 pounds
Returning All-American: Braeden Davis, Jr. (133 pounds, last year) Wrestlers listed at weight: Hayden Cunningham, R-Fr.; Davis; Aaron Nagao, Jr.; Cael Nasdeo, R-Fr Outlook: As previously mentioned, Davis was an All-American last year at 133 pounds, finishing fifth. Nagao, who transferred in two years ago, was in and out of the lineup his first year, and completely out last year. These two will battle it out for the starting spot here with former State College wrestler Hayden Cunningham possibly in the fold too.
149 pounds
Returning All-American: Shayne Van Ness, Jr. Wrestlers listed at weight: Dalton Perry, Fr.; Connor Pierce, Jr.; Van Ness; Brock Weiss, R-Fr. Outlook: Van Ness looked great last year after missing the previous season due to an injury. He was able to come away with a third-place finish in the NCAA Championships, but is a favorite to win the weight this year. Pierce filled in a couple of times last year for the Nittany Lions. Perry, who is a former District 6 wrestler from Central Mountain, will also get his college career underway this season.
157 pounds
Returning All-American: Tyler Kasak, Jr. Wrestlers listed at weight: PJ Duke, Fr.; Kasak; Joe Sealey, R-Fr. Outlook: This is probably the deepest weight for Penn State. Kasak returns after what may have been a disappointing third-place finish last year. He was the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Championships and was upset in the quarterfinals by Blaze’s older brother, Joey, who competes for Purdue. Duke comes to the team after winning multiple New York state titles and holding a career record of 173-1. He also earned a U20 world title in August and a U23 bronze last month. Sealey redshirted last year, but was called into action in two duals for the Nittany Lions — suffering losses in both matches.
165 pounds
Returning All-American: Mitchell Mesenbrink, Jr. Wrestlers listed at weight: Sam Beckett, Grad.; Sean Degl, Fr.; Mesenbrink; Ty Watson, R-Fr. Outlook: Mesenbrink, who is the reigning 165-pound NCAA champ, returns to lead the Nittany Lions toward another national title. He’ll be looking to make his third straight NCAA finals as well after losing to Iowa State’s David Carr in 2024. Mesenbrink had quite the offseason by claiming a U23 world title and a U23 Pan-American crown. Should he miss any time, it’s possible that Penns Valley graduate Ty Watson could see some time in the lineup this year.
174 pounds
Returning All-American: Levi Haines, Sr. Wrestlers listed at weight: Asher Cunningham, Fr.; Degl, Fr.; Haines; William Henckel, Fr. Outlook: Haines is back looking to make the finals for the third time in his career after finishing third last season. He was a runner-up as a freshman in 2023, and won a title in 2024. Haines had a stellar offseason by claiming a U23 world crown, and was runner-up in the Senior World Championships. Should Haines redshirt, Penn State has some capable guys in State High graduate Cunningham and Henckel following behind. The pair squared off in the prestigious Ironman finals this past high school season with Henckel coming out on top of a scorefest, 15-12, in overtime. Local fans realize the high school career that Cunningham had, with two PIAA titles as a junior and senior for the Little Lions. He was four-time PIAA medalist overall, and won four District 6 and PIAA Northwest Region titles. Henckel, who wrestled for national powerhouse Blair Academy, was two-time National Prep champion, and three-time finalist. This summer, Henckel won a U20 silver medal.
184 pounds
Returning All-American: None Wrestlers listed at weight: Cunningham; Mason Ellis, Fr.; Rocco Welsh, Soph. Outlook: For the first time in five years, Carter Starocci’s name won’t be on the Penn State roster. He capped off his collegiate career by winning the 184-pound title last year for his fifth NCAA title. Two years ago, Starocci faced off with Welsh in the 174-pound finals. Welsh is expected to take over the starting role at the weight this year after transferring from Ohio State. He redshirted last year for the Buckeyes after starting as a true freshman, which is when he lost to Starocci in the NCAA finals. During the offseason, Welsh collected a U23 Pan-American title, while also competing in the U23 world championships. Should he miss any time, Cunningham could be in the lineup at this weight.
197 pounds
Returning All-American: Josh Barr, Soph. Wrestlers listed at weight: Barr; Ellis; Connor Mirasola, R-Fr. Outlook: Barr returns after a season that saw him reach the NCAA finals, where he came up just short of earning a crown. He battled through an injury at the end of the season too during that run. This summer, Barr was competing in the U23 World Championships, and looked well on his way toward getting a medal there, but he suffered an injury that kept him from competing on the second day of the championships. The severity of his injury is unknown, and if he’ll miss any time for the Nittany Lions. Mirasola had an undefeated redshirt freshman campaign as his lone loss he had was against Barr, so it didn’t count against his record. Mirasola claimed a Southern Scuffle. This summer, he also collected a U20 Pan-American title and a U20 world bronze medal.
285 pounds
Returning All-American: None Wrestlers listed at weight: Dawson Bundy, R-Fr.; Lucas Cochran, Sr.; Cole Mirasola, R-Fr. Outlook: Penn State has three wrestlers here looking to take over the spot that Greg Kerkvliet held for the past several years. Kerkvliet even won a NCAA title. Cochran and Mirasola both have stepped into the lineup for the Nittany Lions in the past. Two years ago, Cochran, who wrestled 197 pounds at the time, bumped up to his current weight, and beat a ranked wrestler from Rutgers inside the Bryce Jordan Center. Mirasola subbed twice last year when Kerkvliet was out, and suffered losses in each match. Last season, Mirasola won a Southern Scuffle title during his redshirt campaign. This summer, Mirasola claimed a U20 Pan-American title as well as a U20 world bronze medal.
