# Penn State Wrestling Preseason Moves

> Penn State wrestling team navigates eligibility shifts and lineup decisions ahead of NCAA title hopes.
- Title: Penn State Wrestling Preseason Moves | Shortify
- Summary: Penn State wrestling team navigates eligibility shifts and lineup decisions ahead of NCAA title hopes. Penn State wrestling team waits for antitrust lawsuit…
- Keywords: penn state, ncaa wrestling, levi haines, cael sanderson, mitchell mesenbrink, josh barr, masanosuke ono, jayden james, cole mirasola, connor mirasola, sports, Penn
- Source: Penn State Nittany Lions On SI — https://si.com/college/pennstate/wrestling/penn-state-wrestling-preseason-news-lineup-moves-weight-class-duels-injury-updates
- Published: 2026-10-21T20:06:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: penn state, ncaa wrestling, levi haines, cael sanderson, mitchell mesenbrink, josh barr, masanosuke ono, jayden james, cole mirasola, connor mirasola, sports
## Antitrust lawsuit delays Levi Haines
Penn State wrestling team waits for antitrust lawsuit resolution to determine whether two-time NCAA champion Levi Haines is eligible to compete this season.
## Cael Sanderson on NCAA rules
Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said that Haines, the defending NCAA champ at 174 pounds, would wrestle if granted a fifth season.
## Sanderson criticizes NCAA enforcement
At Penn State wrestling media day, Sanderson also chastised the NCAA for its lack of rules enforcement surrounding the eligibility of fifth-year athletes.
## Mitchell Mesenbrink's flexibility
Mitchell Mesenbrink, the two-time defending NCAA champ at 165 pounds, and Sanderson both confirmed that Mesenbrink could wrestle at 174 this season.
## Mesenbrink's career record
Mesenbrink has a career record of 82-1, losing only in the 2024 NCAA final.
## Mesenbrink's weight class adaptability
Mesenbrink said he's 'very comfortable' with the potential move to any weight class, emphasizing the team's collective decision.
## Two key health updates
Tyler Kasak, who returns after redshirting last season, and Josh Barr, the defending NCAA champ at 197, are cleared to wrestle after offseason injuries.
## Kasak and Barr's injury recovery
Sanderson said both athletes had temporary injuries that lasted weeks, not months, and have since returned to compete hard.
## Kasak's weight class uncertainty
Kasak, a two-time NCAA medalist at 157 pounds, likely will return to that weight class unless Haines' eligibility changes.
## Barr's undefeated season
Barr is the no-doubt starter at 197, where he put together an undefeated season and beat Oklahoma State's Cody Merrill 6-3 in the NCAA final.
## Masanosuke Ono's weight class
Sanderson wouldn't commit to a weight class for Masanosuke Ono, Penn State's prized Japanese transfer who did not compete in folkstyle last season.
## Ono's folkstyle transition
Ono has returned to freestyle competition, beating Ohio State's Ben Davino in a Real American Freestyle event in August, but has yet to make his folkstyle debut.
## Jayden James' grayshirting
Penn State commit Jayden James announced this summer that he will delay enrolling at Penn State, a process known as 'grayshirting' before the NCAA moved to a five-for-five eligibility model.
## James' future role
James, the top-ranked recruit of Penn State's 2026 class, will join the team officially for the 2027-28 season.
## Twin brothers at heavyweight
The most intriguing competition in Penn State's lineup will be at heavyweight, where twin brothers Cole and Connor Mirasola will duel for the starting role.
## Mirasola's weight class shift
Connor Mirasola made the competitive jump to heavyweight, winning the 125 kg men's freestyle weight class at U23 Nationals.
## Key takeaway

Penn State wrestling team waits for antitrust lawsuit resolution to determine if Levi Haines can compete this season while adjusting weight class strategies for key athletes.