Penn State wrestling’s offseason is swiftly coming to a close. The defending national champions are on the hunt for their fourth team title in a row, following a dominating win during last year’s finals.

To bring such success to a program, it’s important to allow the roster to naturally find its way during offseason training. This is the case for multiple wrestlers searching to take on new challenges after continued success at lighter weight classes.

“We let our guys make those decisions,” head coach Cael Sanderson said on Monday. “We’re trying to help each individual and figure out what’s in their best interest. So we’re obviously going to guide them and help them as much or as little as they want.”

Sanderson, entering his 16th season as Penn State’s head coach, isn’t new to this strategy of allowing his athletes to find their comfortable weight. Most recently, the then-three-time national champion at 184 pounds, Aaron Brooks, moved up to 197 pounds for his last season with the Nittany Lions. Brooks continued his historic dominance with his fourth straight national championship.

One of the nation’s top wrestlers, Carter Starocci, was the biggest story at Monday’s media day when it came to changing weight classes. Starocci, a four-time national champion at 174 pounds, will take on a new challenge in the 184-pound weight class as he strives for a fifth title.

“It’s getting tougher and tougher for [Starocci] to keep that weight down. I like the idea of him just going out and competing and making weight management less of a factor in his week,” Sanderson said.

Starocci thought the new weight class was better suited for his natural growth, noting it will allow him to focus more on technique and skill rather than worrying about losing weight. His willingness to go up in weight has been a topic of discussion since last year.

“I think they wanted me to go 184 last year, but I can be stubborn at times… I just don’t want to be up until 3 a.m., cutting weight anymore,” Starocci said. “It made sense for the lineup. We have some good guys in other places and things like that.”

This year, multiple wrestlers outside of Starocci are expected to make the jump to heavier weight classes, whether for comfort reasons or simply to better accommodate rising talent.

Braeden Davis is expected to move from 125 pounds to 133, allowing true freshman phenom Luke Lilledahl to fill his shoes in the lighter class. Tyler Kasak, last year’s third-place finisher at the NCAA Championships, is predicted to move up from 149 pounds to 157 and compete for the starting job with Alex Facundo. The move came after last year’s 157-pound national champion Levi Haines’ decision to rise to the vacated 174-pound spot that was once Starocci’s.

“We’ve had a lot of success with our guys going up over the years,” Sanderson said. “Our kids can feel good enough to focus on improving every day instead of trying to manage their weight. I think it’s a better plan. If it isn’t possible, then we make the most of it, and that’s what we’ll do.”

Multiple Penn State wrestlers will compete in the high-profile exhibition matches of the NWCA All-Star Classic at 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 16, in Rec Hall. The next day, Penn State’s season will begin as it hosts the Drexel Dragons at 1 p.m.