After winning its 12th national championship in 14 years, it appeared as if Penn State wrestling had assembled one of the most successful teams in Division I wrestling history. At the NCAA Championships, Penn State had two national champions, one runner-up, five third-place finishers, and a fifth- and sixth-place finish. The team recorded a record 177 points, beating second-place Nebraska by 60.

Although the season is over, it’s never too early to start looking at next season. The loss of multi-year starters such as three-time All-American Beau Bartlett, former national champion Greg Kerkvliet, and five-time national champion Carter Starocci will make for a number of new faces to grace the lineup next season. Penn State will aim to reload as it has in years past with an impressive recruiting class and several returning starters.

125 Pounds: Luke Lilledahl

In his first season at Penn State, “Lightning” Luke Lilledahl made it clear that he was no ordinary freshman. The Nittany Lion went 26-3 with over a 58% bonus rate, securing a Big Ten title and a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships. The first-time All-American lived up to the hype in his debut season and will continue to be a mainstay at the 125-pound weight class, an area where Penn State has had its fair share of troubles.

133 Pounds: Masanosuke Ono

In one of the most anticipated signings of the offseason, Masanosuke Ono announced he will wrestle for the Nittany Lions next season.

Ono, who is the defending Japanese national champion at 61 kilograms, won the U20 World Championships and then took home the World Championship last year at the age of 20. He outscored his opponents in the World Championships 55-2, notably beating multiple Olympic and world champions. Recently, Ono dropped down to 59.5 kilograms to take on former Iowa legend and defending Olympic silver medalist Spencer Lee in the main event of FloWrestling: Night in America.

This signing is proof that Penn State’s brand is worldwide, as it has become known that Ono has been a fan of the Nittany Lions since his childhood. He will get the start over All-American Braeden Davis this season.

141 Pounds: Marcus Blaze

Another winner on the recruiting trail for Sanderson and Co.. While also being a four-time Ohio state champion, Blaze has had numerous run-ins with world-class wrestlers in the freestyle circuit.

In 2023, Blaze claimed a U.S. national championship and U17 world championship at 55 kilograms. Later in his high school years, Blaze made the U.S Olympic team as a junior after defeating NCAA Champion Nico Megaludis, U20 world finalist and now Penn State teammate Luke Lilledahl, and U17 world finalist Jax Forrest. He earned a bronze medal in the U20 World Championships, only losing to now-teammate and 2024 world champion Masanosuke Ono. Blaze went on to place second in the World Team Trials.

Blaze is a proven competitor with high-level competition and will surely be a worthy heir to Beau Bartlett’s 141-pound spot.

149 Pounds: Shayne Van Ness

After suffering a season-ending injury last year, Shayne Van Ness returned without any drop off in his sophomore season. As a redshirt freshman, Van Ness went 24-7 and secured a third-place finish at the national tournament, good enough for his first All-American designation. As for this season, Van Ness had a similar finish with a 25-3 record, along with third-place finishes in the Big Ten Championships and NCAA Championships. Van Ness will continue to be a starter in this lineup as a proven winner at the 149-pound weight class.

157 Pounds: Tyler Kasak

Tyler Kasak built on an impressive freshman year this season. Since filling in for an injured Van Ness last season and going 24-5, the true sophomore looked bigger, stronger, and more dominant at his new 157-pound weight class. Kasak only lost once in the regular season when he got injured against Maryland’s Ethen Miller. Besides that moment, Kasak was in the driver’s seat of most of his matches, boasting a 50% bonus rate. The Nittany Lion once again finished this season as a third-place finisher at the NCAA Championships and will continue to grow into a leadership role next season as a junior.

165 Pounds: Mitchell Mesenbrink

Mitchell Mesenbrink is coming off an incredible sophomore season at Penn State. After winning all but the national championship finals in his first season with the Nittany Lions, Mesenbrink came back with a vengeance. Mesenbrink compiled a 27-0 record and led Division I with 18 tech falls, dominating his opponents through the Big Ten Championships and NCAA Championships. Mesenbrink will be a mainstay in the lineup until he has no eligibility left to give.

174 Pounds: Levi Haines

Levi Haines had high expectations coming into the 2024-25 season. In his freshman season, Haines was the NCAA runner-up, going 25-2, and ran the table in his sophomore season, going 23-0 with a 65.22% bonus rate. This year, Haines went undefeated in the regular season and claimed his third consecutive Big Ten championship. After reaching the semifinals of the NCAA tournament, Haines was upset by Dean Hamiti of Oklahoma State and had to settle for a third-place finish.

Haines has been nothing short of consistent, even after bumping up two weight classes this season. He’ll be the team’s starting 174-pounder in his senior season.

184 Pounds: Zack Ryder

Redshirt freshman Zack Ryder will overtake Carter Starocci’s position at 184 pounds this upcoming season. As a four-time New York state champion, U20 World Championships silver medalist, and three-time world team member with two bronze and silver medals, Ryder will fit just fine into the lineup next season. Before redshirting this season, Ryder went 8-0 in his bouts for the Nittany Lions, including two falls and a takedown.

197 Pounds: Josh Barr

Josh Barr took the 197-pound class by storm this season with a 22-5 record in his redshirt freshman year. The starting role seemed to be up for grabs after four-time national champion Aaron Brooks completed his time at Penn State.

However, Barr took the starting job and never looked back as he rose to the top of the weight class rankings throughout the season. The Nittany Lion medically forfeited out of the Big Ten Championships but came back to make it all the way to the national finals against Iowa’s Stephen Buchanan, beating No. 1 Jacob Cardenas of Michigan along the way. Josh Barr will want to build on his fantastic debut season for years to come.

Heavyweight: Cole Mirasola

Cole Mirasola, although questionable, will be the next heavyweight for Penn State as he fills in for five-time All-American Greg Kerkvliet. The redshirt freshman won three Wisconsin state championships in high school and has gone 6-2 since joining the Nittany Lions this year. Heavyweight is by far the most vulnerable weight class for Penn State next season, so it’ll be something to watch out for if someone with more experience throws their hat in the ring from the transfer portal. But for now, Mirasola will be the starter for the Nittany Lions.