Penn State wrestling has hole to fill at 141 pounds. How will the Nittany Lions do it?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Penn State faces a 141-pound vacancy after Aaron Nagao suffered a forearm injury.
- Penn State coach Sanderson lists multiple options: Desmond, Nasdeo or redshirted Davis.
- Desmond has won at two weights; Nasdeo and Davis provide depth if Nagao misses time.
When Penn State’s wrestling season got underway in November, Aaron Nagao was expected to be the team’s 141-pound starter, with Braeden Davis, who was an All-American at 133 pounds last year, taking a redshirt season.
Nagao’s season got off to a 4-0 start and a spot in the Black Knight Invitational finals, where he went for a takedown that was stopped, and he grabbed his right forearm right above his wrist.
Nagao was unable to finish the match and missed all of the Nittany Lions’ duals in December. He made an appearance at the Southern Scuffle last weekend, winning the lone match we wrestled, but medically forfeited out of the tournament.
“He wanted to get back on the mat and see how he would feel, and that was kind of the idea,” Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said during Wednesday’s media day. “Obviously, things didn’t go as we kind of hoped for him.”
Ahead of the Nittany Lions opening up Big Ten Conference action Saturday against Rutgers in Rec Hall, questions remain about that weight class. Sanderson said that they weren’t sure of Nagao’s status going forward, but they would “know shortly.”
When the redshirt junior transferred to Penn State after just one season with Minnesota, he was seen as the replacement for Roman Bravo-Young. However, he’s been injury plagued since the transfer, even missing last season recovering from an injury he suffered two years ago.
“He has a very positive mindset,” Sanderson said. “He’ll rebound, keep plugging away and give his best effort — that’s what he does. He’s got a great future ahead.”
Sanderson talking about Nagao’s future didn’t sound too optimistic about him returning this season, so that begs the question: What does Penn State do at 141 pounds now?
According to Sanderson, the Nittany Lions have “a lot of options.”
Cael Nasdeo and Nate Desmond filled in during Nagao’s absence during those December duals. Redshirt freshman Nasdeo is 2-6 on the season, dropping bouts in the duals against Drexel and Lehigh.
Desmond, who began the season as the backup at 125 pounds, won the Black Knight Invitational by topping Luke Lilledahl, and then jumped two weight classes. He’s 6-0 on the season with three wins each at 125 pounds and 141 pounds.
Plugging Davis back into the lineup is another option for Penn State — something Sanderson said they are exploring.
“Davis has kind of been on standby. He competed last week,” Sanderson said. “Nate Desmond did a great job filling in when he moved up to 41 even having wrestled 25 this year and being a true freshman. We love the progress he’s making. We know he’s ready to go, and wouldn’t hesitate to jump in there and compete, as we’ve obviously already seen.”
No. 1 Penn State (6-0) vs. No. 16 Rutgers (6-2)
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Rec Hall, University Park
Radio: Big Foot Legends (103.7 & 104.3 FM)
TV: Big Ten Network
Online: Radio, Lionvision at GoPSUsports.com
X: @byncobler, @pennstatewrest
Projected lineups: Nittany Lions — No. 2 Luke Lilledahl (125 pounds), No. 5 Marcus Blaze (133), No. 9 Aaron Nagao or Nate Desmond or Cael Nasdeo (141), No. 1 Shayne Van Ness (149), No. 4 PJ Duke (157), No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (165), No. 1 Levi Haines (174), No. 4 Rocco Welsh (184), No. 1 Josh Barr (197), No. 15 Cole Mirasola or Lucas Cochran (285); Scarlet Knights — No. 29 Ayden Smith (125), No. 24 Dylan Shawver (133), Tahir Parkins or Mason Gibson (141), Devon Magro (149), No. 32 Anthony White or Easton Doster (157), No. 21 Andrew Barbosa or Ryan Ford (165), No. 9 Lenny Pinto or Jordan Chapman (174), No. 15 Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184), No. 18 Remy Cotton (197), No. 21 Hunter Catka (285)
This story was originally published January 8, 2026 at 11:31 AM.
