Penn State got its answer on Levi Haines, and it changes the shape of the lineup heading into the season opener.
Haines will not be eligible for a fifth season, ending any chance of another run in a Penn State singlet. He spent all four of his years in Happy Valley and built a résumé that already stands on its own: two national titles, three trips to the national title match, four Big Ten championships and four All-America honors.
The ruling came Friday, when the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the NCAA in a case seeking an extra year of eligibility for athletes from the 2022 class who did not use a redshirt. For Penn State, that closes the book on Haines’ college career.
His wrestling career, of course, is nowhere near finished. Haines just won a world championship at 79 KG, and that gives him two world medals already.
The bigger ripple for Penn State is at 174 pounds. Barring something unexpected, reigning Dan Hodge Trophy winner Mitchell Mesenbrink is set to move up from 165 to 174, where FloWrestling has him ranked No.
- That likely pushes PJ Duke from 157 to 165, and he’s also No. 1 in Flo’s rankings at that weight.
If Haines had been cleared for another season, the whole picture would have looked different. He would have been back at 174, Mesenbrink likely would have stayed at 165, and 157 would have turned into a fight between Duke and Tyler Kasak. Instead, Kasak’s spot appears secure, and he comes in ranked No. 2 at 157.
The decision also means William Henckel will keep waiting for his chance. Henckel, a U20 World Silver Medalist, is another reminder of the kind of depth Penn State has to sort through when great wrestlers don’t all fit in the lineup.
Penn State opens against Bloomsburg on Saturday at 7 p.m. on Big Ten+ from Rec Hall.
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Penn State Fans Have Plenty To Say About These Offseason Changes
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There was plenty else for supporters to sort through, too, as the department unveiled a student rewards program that gives extra entries into the 2027 football ticket lottery for attending campus sporting events. Penn State also released its 2027 baseball schedule, which opens with a series in the Bahamas, while wrestling continued to draw attention after three recruits were ranked among the top 10 in the 2027 class by MatScouts. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Let This One Get Way Too Interesting Late
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Instead, Chattanooga made the second half a lot more interesting than Penn State probably wanted. The visitors kept chipping away and forced the Nittany Lions to hold on late, but Penn State did just enough to escape with a 97-93 win and move to 2-0, a result that should come with a reminder that early leads can disappear quickly if the pace slips. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Surge Faces Its Biggest Test Yet Against Washington
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The Huskies have had trouble getting much going on the ground and have also been tested in pass protection, which puts extra weight on every possession against a Penn State defense that has been difficult to move. Special teams and coaching will matter too, especially in a game where field position and adjustments could tilt things quickly, and the prediction record around this matchup reflects how closely the two teams are being measured even as Penn State enters with the clearer edge. [Read more 🡒]