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It took just two days for Penn State wrestling to symbolically turn the championship page to next season.
The Nittany Lions had barely returned home from last weekend's history-making NCAA Championships in Philadelphia when official news spread: Japanese world champion Masanosuke Ono, 21, will be joining their team.
No sooner had this dynasty won their 12th national championship in 14 years than they proved how they would go about reloading.
Could coach Cael Sanderson's team be just as good, or, somehow, even better, in 2025-26?
There's a good case to be made, stunningly enough, for improvement. Even with missing graduating Carter Starocci, arguably the best wrestler in school history, Penn State will be in an enviable position for next season: It returns seven of 10 starters − including national champ Mitchell Mesenbrink − from the most balanced, deeply-talented team in school history.
And there's this: Only one of Penn State's projected starters next season (Biglerville's Levi Haines) will even be senior.
Here's a projected 2025-26 lineup (including wrestlers' upcoming class years) that will be favored to dominate the nation, yet again:
The rookie steadily improved as last season progressed (25-3 overall record) and came within a wisp of wrestling for his first national title in Philadelphia.
Losing his semifinal match on tiebreaker criteria in overtime doesn't diminish what this under-20 world champion accomplished − or how much better he may get in his second year. He will be one of the national title favorites at 125 pounds from the start.
Ono, the reigning world champion at 61 kilograms (134.5 pounds), may have his pick of weights − that's how dynamic and valuable he should be.
Ono has been training with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club and staff in State College, which included his preparations for defeating Olympic silver medalist and Pennsylvania native Spencer Lee in a late-February challenge match.
If Ono slots at 141, then Davis, who finished fifth at nationals at 133, and former All-American Aaron Nagao, will battle for this spot.
Penn State must replace three-time NCAA top-three finisher Beau Bartlett at 141 pounds.
Ono could move up in weight to take this slot. If not, Davis could do the same − though he would have to beat out Ohio rookie Marcus Blaze, the top recruit in the nation.
An impressive return for Shayne Van Ness. He finished 25-3 with third-place finishes in the Big Ten and NCAA championships after missing nearly all of 2023-24 with a knee injury.
Another PSU national title contender/favorite.
Can they change PSU football? Penn State football receiver reboot: What James Franklin said of Kyron Hudson, Devonte Ross
Adding a world champ: Penn State wrestling adds world champion: Japan's Masanosuke Ono commits to Cael Sanderson
Another top recruit joins: How Penn State wrestling, Cael Sanderson just got better: Meet top recruit Jayden James
Tyler Kasak owned the 157-pound class during the regular season, his only lost coming when he couldn't finish the Maryland match in concussion protocol.
The back-to-back third-place finisher at NCAA's is super-aggressive on the mat and may be, pound-for-pound, the strongest member of the team.
National champion Mitchell Mesenbrink has lost just one match in two years in college − his freshman national title bout by a point.
Mesenbrink (27-0 last season) keeps growing as one of the highest (and fastest)-scoring wrestlers, anywhere. He led the nation with 18 technical falls.
Haines (25-2 last season) may be Penn State's steadiest, most dependable returning wrestler. He won a national title at 157 pounds two years ago, then came close to getting a shot at 174 pounds in Philadelphia.
His new weight appears to clear out for next season. He will be the clear national title favorite.
Blue-White Game plan: The Penn State football plan for the Blue-White Game: What James Franklin had to say
How PSU proved its power: NCAA wrestling: How many Penn State team points, All-Americans, national champions?
Two Lions may leave: Penn State wrestling at the NCAA Championships: Two Lions to enter transfer portal?
Both redshirts will battle for the 184-pound slate − as long as sophomore Josh Barr stays at 197.
Zack Ryder and Connor Mirasola have seven high school state titles between them. Ryder is the more accomplished junior wrestler, though. He's as a three-time world team member with a silver medal at the 2024 Under-20 championships in Spain.
Josh Barr showed remarkable promise, resiliency and toughness in a top-heavy weight class. He beat all-comers during the NCAA Championships until his final bout − even with a left injury suffered just two weeks before.
He will be favored to return to the nation championship match, where he just lost a second tight bout to Iowa senior Stephen Buchanan.
Cole Mirasola is the top contender to replace former national heavyweight champ Greg Kerkvliet.
Mirasola, though, may have to add significant size and strength to be title contender in the Big Ten. The Lions also could still bring in a transfer here as prime competition.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State wrestling for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State wrestling may get even better: A projected 2025-26 lineup
Continue reading...
The Nittany Lions had barely returned home from last weekend's history-making NCAA Championships in Philadelphia when official news spread: Japanese world champion Masanosuke Ono, 21, will be joining their team.
No sooner had this dynasty won their 12th national championship in 14 years than they proved how they would go about reloading.
Could coach Cael Sanderson's team be just as good, or, somehow, even better, in 2025-26?
There's a good case to be made, stunningly enough, for improvement. Even with missing graduating Carter Starocci, arguably the best wrestler in school history, Penn State will be in an enviable position for next season: It returns seven of 10 starters − including national champ Mitchell Mesenbrink − from the most balanced, deeply-talented team in school history.
And there's this: Only one of Penn State's projected starters next season (Biglerville's Levi Haines) will even be senior.
Here's a projected 2025-26 lineup (including wrestlers' upcoming class years) that will be favored to dominate the nation, yet again:
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125 pounds: Luke Lilledahl (sophomore)
The rookie steadily improved as last season progressed (25-3 overall record) and came within a wisp of wrestling for his first national title in Philadelphia.
Losing his semifinal match on tiebreaker criteria in overtime doesn't diminish what this under-20 world champion accomplished − or how much better he may get in his second year. He will be one of the national title favorites at 125 pounds from the start.
133 pounds: Masanosuke Ono (freshman) or Braeden Davis (junior)
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Ono, the reigning world champion at 61 kilograms (134.5 pounds), may have his pick of weights − that's how dynamic and valuable he should be.
Ono has been training with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club and staff in State College, which included his preparations for defeating Olympic silver medalist and Pennsylvania native Spencer Lee in a late-February challenge match.
If Ono slots at 141, then Davis, who finished fifth at nationals at 133, and former All-American Aaron Nagao, will battle for this spot.
141 pounds: Masanosuke Ono (freshman) or Marcus Blaze (freshman) or Braeden Davis (junior)
Penn State must replace three-time NCAA top-three finisher Beau Bartlett at 141 pounds.
Ono could move up in weight to take this slot. If not, Davis could do the same − though he would have to beat out Ohio rookie Marcus Blaze, the top recruit in the nation.
149 pounds: Shayne Van Ness (junior)
You must be registered for see images attach
An impressive return for Shayne Van Ness. He finished 25-3 with third-place finishes in the Big Ten and NCAA championships after missing nearly all of 2023-24 with a knee injury.
Another PSU national title contender/favorite.
Can they change PSU football? Penn State football receiver reboot: What James Franklin said of Kyron Hudson, Devonte Ross
Adding a world champ: Penn State wrestling adds world champion: Japan's Masanosuke Ono commits to Cael Sanderson
Another top recruit joins: How Penn State wrestling, Cael Sanderson just got better: Meet top recruit Jayden James
157 pounds: Tyler Kasak (junior)
Tyler Kasak owned the 157-pound class during the regular season, his only lost coming when he couldn't finish the Maryland match in concussion protocol.
The back-to-back third-place finisher at NCAA's is super-aggressive on the mat and may be, pound-for-pound, the strongest member of the team.
165 pounds: Mitchell Mesenbrink (junior)
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National champion Mitchell Mesenbrink has lost just one match in two years in college − his freshman national title bout by a point.
Mesenbrink (27-0 last season) keeps growing as one of the highest (and fastest)-scoring wrestlers, anywhere. He led the nation with 18 technical falls.
174 pounds: Levi Haines (senior)
You must be registered for see images attach
Haines (25-2 last season) may be Penn State's steadiest, most dependable returning wrestler. He won a national title at 157 pounds two years ago, then came close to getting a shot at 174 pounds in Philadelphia.
His new weight appears to clear out for next season. He will be the clear national title favorite.
Blue-White Game plan: The Penn State football plan for the Blue-White Game: What James Franklin had to say
How PSU proved its power: NCAA wrestling: How many Penn State team points, All-Americans, national champions?
Two Lions may leave: Penn State wrestling at the NCAA Championships: Two Lions to enter transfer portal?
184 pounds: Zack Ryder (freshman), Connor Mirasola (freshman)
Both redshirts will battle for the 184-pound slate − as long as sophomore Josh Barr stays at 197.
Zack Ryder and Connor Mirasola have seven high school state titles between them. Ryder is the more accomplished junior wrestler, though. He's as a three-time world team member with a silver medal at the 2024 Under-20 championships in Spain.
197 pounds: Josh Barr (sophomore)
You must be registered for see images
Josh Barr showed remarkable promise, resiliency and toughness in a top-heavy weight class. He beat all-comers during the NCAA Championships until his final bout − even with a left injury suffered just two weeks before.
He will be favored to return to the nation championship match, where he just lost a second tight bout to Iowa senior Stephen Buchanan.
Heavyweight: Cole Mirasola (freshman)
Cole Mirasola is the top contender to replace former national heavyweight champ Greg Kerkvliet.
Mirasola, though, may have to add significant size and strength to be title contender in the Big Ten. The Lions also could still bring in a transfer here as prime competition.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State wrestling for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State wrestling may get even better: A projected 2025-26 lineup
Continue reading...
