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The crowded Penn State wrestling national championship room may be losing its most promising prospect yet.
Could he possibly follow a former Nittany Lion mentor out West, too?
Redshirt freshman Zack Ryder reportedly is entering the NCAA transfer portal less than two weeks after Penn State won its fourth straight national title − and just a few days after Ohio State All-American Rocco Welsh announced he would join the program and, ultimately, compete against Ryder for a starting spot.
Ryder was one of the nation's top high school wrestlers and a three-time junior world team member. He won a silver medal at the 2024 U-20 championships in Spain.
He figured to fight fellow redshirt freshman Connor Mirasola for the open 184-pound spot next season − that is until Welsh, a national finalist two seasons ago, was added to the mix.
[IMG alt="Minisink Valley's Zack Ryder stands for a portrait at Newburgh Free Academy in Newburgh, NY on Thursday, February 17, 2022.
Ekmsection9wrestlepractice08"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/york-daily-record/04b9d0521f22fd74580fe91f681d5d0f[/IMG]
Ryder's transfer intentions were first reported by national wrestling insider Justin Basch, host of the BaschAMania podcast.
Ryder went 8-0 for the Nittany Lions during this past redshirt season, which included crushing the 184-pound field to win a Southern Scuffle title in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week.
Ryder was a four-time New York state champion at Minisink Valley High and the No. 6 overall ranked wrestler in the 2024 recruiting class, according to FloWrestling.
He's the eighth and arguably the highest-regarded Nittany Lion to transfer away from Penn State since it won its 12th national championship in 14 years and broke its own NCAA points record in Philadelphia.
Could Ryder soon join two of his former teammates at Oklahoma State?
That's certainly a potential landing spot, which would reunite him with Alex Facundo and Gary Steen, former PSU starters who had been relegated to backup status over the past year. Both announced this week that they would head to Oklahoma State to wrestle for PSU icon and first-year head coach David Taylor.
Taylor lived, worked out and ran a training school in the State College area after he won two national championships at Penn State and an Olympic gold medal.
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Facundo, a redshirt sophomore, was a PSU starter two years ago at 165 pounds, going 19-6 but losing both of his NCAA Championships matches. He took an Olympic redshirt last year. He moved down to 157 pounds this season but quickly lost the starting spot to sophomore Tyler Kasak, who was ranked No. 1 nationally heading into the postseason.
Facundo was 34-10 in his PSU career, including 5-0 this past season.
Steen, a junior, started most of the 2022-23 season at 125 pounds but had seen little dual meet action since.
[IMG alt="Minisink's Zack Ryder, top wrestles Pine Bush's Braydon Pennell, bottom in the 189lb weight class in the Section 9 Division I wrestling finals in Central Valley, NY on Saturday February 11, 2023.ALLYSE PULLIAM/For the Times-Herald Record.
Minisink S Zack Ryder Top Wrestles Pine Bush S Braydon Pennell Bottom In The 189lb Weight Class In The Section 9 Division I Wrestling Finals In Central Valley Ny On Saturday February 11 2023 Allyse Pulliam For The Times Herald Record"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/york-daily-record/7a859cb10e307beb409285c71f52e990[/IMG]
Of course, those transfers may have come, in part, because of Penn State's reloading process. In the past two weeks coach Cael Sanderson's program has added Welsh, a Japanese world champion (Masanosuke Ono) and one of the top high juniors in the country (Jayden James).
The Lions already were returning seven All-American starters from their deepest team ever under Sanderson.
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 lose Zack Ryder: Could he join David Taylor?
Continue reading...
Could he possibly follow a former Nittany Lion mentor out West, too?
Redshirt freshman Zack Ryder reportedly is entering the NCAA transfer portal less than two weeks after Penn State won its fourth straight national title − and just a few days after Ohio State All-American Rocco Welsh announced he would join the program and, ultimately, compete against Ryder for a starting spot.
Ryder was one of the nation's top high school wrestlers and a three-time junior world team member. He won a silver medal at the 2024 U-20 championships in Spain.
He figured to fight fellow redshirt freshman Connor Mirasola for the open 184-pound spot next season − that is until Welsh, a national finalist two seasons ago, was added to the mix.
[IMG alt="Minisink Valley's Zack Ryder stands for a portrait at Newburgh Free Academy in Newburgh, NY on Thursday, February 17, 2022.
Ekmsection9wrestlepractice08"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/york-daily-record/04b9d0521f22fd74580fe91f681d5d0f[/IMG]
Ryder's transfer intentions were first reported by national wrestling insider Justin Basch, host of the BaschAMania podcast.
Ryder went 8-0 for the Nittany Lions during this past redshirt season, which included crushing the 184-pound field to win a Southern Scuffle title in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week.
Ryder was a four-time New York state champion at Minisink Valley High and the No. 6 overall ranked wrestler in the 2024 recruiting class, according to FloWrestling.
Penn State wrestling: Could Zack Ryder join David Taylor at Oklahoma State?
He's the eighth and arguably the highest-regarded Nittany Lion to transfer away from Penn State since it won its 12th national championship in 14 years and broke its own NCAA points record in Philadelphia.
Could Ryder soon join two of his former teammates at Oklahoma State?
That's certainly a potential landing spot, which would reunite him with Alex Facundo and Gary Steen, former PSU starters who had been relegated to backup status over the past year. Both announced this week that they would head to Oklahoma State to wrestle for PSU icon and first-year head coach David Taylor.
Taylor lived, worked out and ran a training school in the State College area after he won two national championships at Penn State and an Olympic gold medal.
PSU lands All-American: How the Penn State wrestling dynasty just got better again. Welcome, Rocco Welsh
Get to know Max Granville: The next great Penn State football pass-rusher? Why Max Granville is one to watch in 2025
Another national title coming? The hottest team in America? How Penn State men's ice hockey flies into first Frozen Four
Facundo, a redshirt sophomore, was a PSU starter two years ago at 165 pounds, going 19-6 but losing both of his NCAA Championships matches. He took an Olympic redshirt last year. He moved down to 157 pounds this season but quickly lost the starting spot to sophomore Tyler Kasak, who was ranked No. 1 nationally heading into the postseason.
Facundo was 34-10 in his PSU career, including 5-0 this past season.
Steen, a junior, started most of the 2022-23 season at 125 pounds but had seen little dual meet action since.
[IMG alt="Minisink's Zack Ryder, top wrestles Pine Bush's Braydon Pennell, bottom in the 189lb weight class in the Section 9 Division I wrestling finals in Central Valley, NY on Saturday February 11, 2023.ALLYSE PULLIAM/For the Times-Herald Record.
Minisink S Zack Ryder Top Wrestles Pine Bush S Braydon Pennell Bottom In The 189lb Weight Class In The Section 9 Division I Wrestling Finals In Central Valley Ny On Saturday February 11 2023 Allyse Pulliam For The Times Herald Record"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/york-daily-record/7a859cb10e307beb409285c71f52e990[/IMG]
Of course, those transfers may have come, in part, because of Penn State's reloading process. In the past two weeks coach Cael Sanderson's program has added Welsh, a Japanese world champion (Masanosuke Ono) and one of the top high juniors in the country (Jayden James).
The Lions already were returning seven All-American starters from their deepest team ever under Sanderson.
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 lose Zack Ryder: Could he join David Taylor?
Continue reading...
