Penn State’s 2026-27 wrestling roster is set, and it already reads like a lineup built to chase hardware from top to bottom.
The 28-man group includes three national champions, a senior world medalist and a senior world champ. If Levi Haines ends up being eligible, that total jumps to four national champs and two senior world champs. For now, though, this is the roster as it stands.
At 125, Luke Lilledahl is positioned to make a run at a second national title. He enters the year as the preseason No. 1 in both FloWrestling and InterMat’s rankings, which puts him in the favorite’s chair right away. Branden Wentzel is also listed at 125.
Penn State’s 133-pound picture got a notable shakeup when coach Cael Sanderson confirmed Tuesday that Masanosuke Ono will compete at 133, while Marcus Blaze moves up from 133 to 141. Also listed at 133 are Nate Desmond and Braiden Weaver.
Blaze is slotted at No. 3 at 141 by InterMat, behind freshman sensation Bo Bassett of Virginia Tech at No. 1 and Lehigh’s Luke Stanich. Blaze could see Stanich on Dec. 6 at Lehigh.
That weight also includes Hayden Cunningham, Kyison Garcia and Sam Herring. Sanderson had plenty to say about Herring, a true freshman who spent time at the World Championships in Kazakhstan.
“Sam was over at the World Championships (in Kazakhstan),” Sanderson said. “If you don’t have your school, academics and life in order, you can’t take two weeks away.
He was Zay’s (Zain Retherford’s) training partner over there and did a great job. He’s a little behind on getting started, but he’s got a lot of talent, loves the sport and is an outstanding human being.
He’s going to do really well.“
At 149, Shayne Van Ness is one of the more compelling names on the roster. He’s ranked No. 3 by Flo and No. 4 by InterMat as he goes after his first national title in his final year of eligibility. Also at 149 are Cael Nasedo, Dalton Perry, Connor Pierce and Brock Weiss.
Tyler Kasak is back at 157 after redshirting last season, and he comes in ranked No. 2 by both Flo and InterMat, behind defending national champion Landon Robideau of Oklahoma State. Kasak is chasing his first national title and still has two years of eligibility left.
Penn State’s 165-pound move was another one Sanderson confirmed Tuesday: PJ Duke is up from 157 to 165, where he’s ranked No. 1 by both Flo and InterMat. Joe Sealy is also listed at 165.
Sanderson said the reigning Hodge Trophy winner will move from 165 to 174, where both outlets also have him at No. 1.
That weight class also includes Sam Beckett, Sean Degl and Ty Watson.
Rocco Welsh enters at 184 as the reigning national runner-up and the No. 2 wrestler in both rankings behind defending national champ Max McEnelly of Minnesota. Welsh beat McEnelly for the Big Ten title before McEnelly got him back at nationals.
Penn State and Minnesota meet Jan. 29 in Minneapolis. Asher Cunningham is also listed at 184.
At 197, Josh Barr is back as the defending champ and the No. 1 wrestler in both rankings. The question around him now is whether he can add his first Hodge Trophy.
He finished third last season, and with Mesenbrink and Oklahoma State’s Jax Forrest back in the mix, the race should be a good one. Mason Ellis is also listed at 197.
Heavyweight brings a different kind of storyline. Connor Mirasola is on the roster, but his twin brother Cole, who was Penn State’s heavyweight last season, will not be on it because he is going on a religious mission trip, along with sophomore William Henckel. Sanderson addressed that Tuesday.
“Both are strong men of faith and felt like this would be a good opportunity for them to go out and share that with the world,” Sanderson said Tuesday. “Those are their personal decisions, obviously, so they won’t be on our roster this year. You’ll see that when the roster comes out.”
Also at heavyweight are Elijah Brown and Dawson Bundy. Sanderson said Brown is still adding size, but the upside is obvious.
“He’s putting some weight on, but he’s got the frame,” Sanderson said. “He’s tall, very athletic and very tough on the mat.
If you followed him through the Pennsylvania state championships and what he’s done there, he has a ton of potential. The sky really is the limit.“
Penn State-Bloomsburg is scheduled to begin at 7 on Big Ten+.
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