Penn State wrestling star Levi Haines was in class as head coach Cael Sanderson fielded questions Tuesday about his potential return to Penn State’s lineup.

Sanderson still can’t answer whether Haines will return to the Nittany Lions’ lineup, but the two-time national champion is “preparing just in case he gets that opportunity.”

Haines’ eligibility is part of a complicated offseason that saw hundreds of college athletes fight for their right to use the five-in-five rule change the NCAA enacted in June.

It’s unclear whether Haines has an active lawsuit pending; a national injunction is also possible. Penn State men’s basketball was in a similar situation with Josh Reed, who was recently granted eligibility through the same claim as Haines.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine also recently signed an executive order granting all athletes in his state an extra year of eligibility. That allowed Ohio State wrestling rival Jesse Mendez to return to the Buckeyes’ roster.

For now, Haines’ preparation has a clear focus. He’s training for the upcoming Senior World Championships in Kazakhstan, giving him a clear goal while his college future remains in the air.

“Levi’s been preparing for the World Championships in freestyle. If he gets called back to folkstyle, he’s been wrestling folkstyle his whole life; he’ll be good to go,” Sanderson said. “He wishes he was out hunting, but it’s not like we’re calling him back out of the woods. He’s preparing, he’s training, and he’s ready to compete.”

The Nittany Lions head coach also joked that Haines would like to spend more time hunting in the woods. But Sanderson made clear that returning to the program wouldn’t mean calling back someone who had stopped preparing to compete.

“He probably would rather not be in class, but he’s preparing just in case he gets that opportunity,” Sanderson said.

Sanderson added that the coaching staff has little more clarity than the public. Coaches follow developments through the news and prepare for the possibilities as they await a final answer, just like fans.

The lack of clarity has frustrated Sanderson, who said he had no idea what the odds were that the Nittany Lion faithful see Haines again this season.

Sanderson said he wants the NCAA to enforce standards so programs know what they’re working with.

His frustration went beyond whether Haines would return. Sanderson says the NCAA needs to have a say in those decisions and give teams a clearer understanding of what is

“It would be nice for college sports if, at some point, the NCAA could enforce rules and have a say in what’s going on right now,” Sanderson said. “It’s kind of wild and kind of embarrassing. What are we doing? What’s the standard? What’s allowed and isn’t?”

The decision also affects how Penn State fills out its lineup.

If Haines doesn’t return, Mitchell Mesenbrink could move up to 174 pounds, with PJ Duke at 165 and Tyler Kasak at 157.

Sanderson said that’s possible, but nothing has been announced and likely won’t be until the season opener against Bloomsburg on November 12 at Rec Hall.

For Penn State, that uncertainty affects the decision about the upcoming season. For Haines, the waiting doesn’t mean stepping away from wrestling; it means continuing to take classes and train without knowing if he’ll compete for Penn State again.

Sanderson’s frustration with the NCAA hasn’t changed that approach. Penn State still needs an answer, but Haines is staying ready with hard work that Sanderson believes will let him return to the lineup if he gets the chance.