From Penn State Nittany Lions On SI · · 3m
Penn State Wrestling Preseason Moves
Penn State wrestling team navigates eligibility shifts and lineup decisions ahead of NCAA title hopes.
In brief
Penn State wrestling team navigates eligibility shifts and lineup decisions ahead of NCAA title hopes. 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. Originally reported by Penn State Nittany…
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.
What to remember
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.
