Levi Haines may not be finished at Penn State after all, and that changes the picture for the Nittany Lions’ 2026-27 wrestling lineup.
What looked like the end of Haines’ run in Happy Valley has suddenly been thrown back into question after U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney ruled this past weekend that the recent “five-for-five” eligibility change applies to athletes from the 2022 recruiting class. For Penn State, that opens the door for Haines to return for another season.
That matters because Haines’ Penn State résumé already reads like the end of a career most programs would build a banner around: two national titles, four Big Ten titles, three appearances in national title matches and four All-America honors.
With that in mind, here’s the updated projected starting lineup for Penn State in 2026-27.
At 125, Luke Lilledahl remains the projection. The only wrinkle there is the new eligibility landscape, which gives Penn State no reason to redshirt Blaze if he’s ready to wrestle. The thinking is simple: if he’s good enough for the lineup, he’ll be in it.
At 149, Shayne Van Ness stays put.
At 157, PJ Duke stays in place as well, with the same Blaze note applying there.
At 165, Mitchell Mesenbrink is still projected.
The biggest change, naturally, sits at 165 because of Haines. He has not made a decision yet, but the expectation for now is that he’ll be back. When a wrestler has the chance to compete, they usually take it, and that’s the working assumption here.
Rocco Welsh is projected at 184, Josh Barr at 197, and heavyweight is where things get interesting.
Penn State is expected to have a Mirasola at heavyweight, but the question is which one. Connor Mirasola gives that spot a strong case after winning gold at 125 KG, or 275 pounds, at the U23 Pan American Championships this summer.
Connor had been at 197 pounds, but that path is blocked by Barr, the reigning national champion and Hodge Trophy finalist. So heavyweight is where the puzzle piece appears to fit.
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This is the sort of opening a young lineman waits for, but it is also a reminder that nothing will be handed out. The staff has other options to evaluate as well, and the next few weeks should go a long way toward clarifying how the tackle spots and the rest of the starting five shake out. For Goodman, the chance is real, the timing is right, and camp will determine how far he can push it. [Read more 🡒]