2025-2026 Weight Certifications

[LemonPie]

That time of year. About 1/2 of the team has certified already. As a reminder, the way this data is inputted, the weight assigned to each wrestler means that he weighed somewhere below that threshold, but also above the previous weight. So for example, Mesenbrink at “174” means he certified while weighing somewhere between 165.1 and 174.0 pounds

Lineup is pretty straight forward, so not a lot surprises (like Facundo last year), but Nagao definitely on his way up as expected. Blaze and Ono keeping weight nice and low. Sealey likely staying at 157.

As for those who haven’t yet certified, Duke will be interesting to see if his weight balloons to over 165. Also interested to see where Davis ends up, and if Connor keeps his weight under 197 as a sign of a potential run at Welsh.

Haven’t really gone through much other rosters, but did see that LaDarian Lockett is > 174, so that brief talk of 157 definitely seems unlikely

 

[El_Jefe]

For those not used to looking at these reports: don't be confused by "certification weight." These are their actual weight classes on Cert Day, not their minimum allowable weight classes during the season.

It is very normal for guys to wrestle at 1-2 weights lower than listed on Cert Day. So "157 Nagao" is not going 157 this year. He's probably targeting 141, and maybe today's weight was a little extra wedding cake plus the insane cert hydration.

Guys after the Cert Day hydration test:

 

[Goggles Paisano]

So much for my Nagao vs Davis commentary. At least I don't know if I like his chances 16 lbs lower. Yep, I know it's early, but... Wow.

 

[El_Jefe]

So much for my Nagao vs Davis commentary. At least I don't know if I like his chances 16 lbs lower. Yep, I know it's early, but... Wow.

How do you know it's not 8.1 lb lower?

 

[Goggles Paisano]

How do you know it's not 8.1 lb lower?

Common core math, which for me is obviously flawed ;-)

 

[LemonPie]

How do you know it's not 8.1 lb lower?

Yep. Nagao not even necessarily a big 141. Some teams, like NCState, let their guys get nice and fat and them let the descent plan go to work for them. But I’ve noticed Cael usually prefers his roster certify close to desired weight class (and many times on weight), so Nagao definitely caught my eye. Especially coming up from 133.

I think it’s a good thing. With Blaze and Ono in the room, I don’t mind if Davis and Nagao get as big as possible. There’s no guarantee that Shayne comes back for a 6th year.

 

[GregPickel]

Thanks for posting this! Another sign that the season is fast approaching. Are any of you familiar with Mason Ellis? Looks like he wrestled a bunch of college opens unattached last year.

 

[El_Jefe]

Thanks for posting this! Another sign that the season is fast approaching. Are any of you familiar with Mason Ellis? Looks like he wrestled a bunch of college opens unattached last year.

He's listed as from Washington PA but I'd never heard of him ... Plenty of guys from there I've never heard of, but none good enough to make Cael's roster.

Turns out he has no entry in PA-Wrestling.com -- zero career folk matches on any PA HS team (including the private schools). Which is again curious for a PA wrestler good enough to make Cael's team.

There's a reason for that: he's not from PA. He's from Alabama. 2x state champ there. Then he competed for Team PA at 2024 Fargo. Guessing he moved north and got snared by the PIAA transfer rules.

He's a Fargo double AA and beat 12 college wrestlers last year while still in HS. He's not a threat to Barr or Mirasola, but not a stiff either.

 

[CROSSFACE CRADLE]

Just from the eyeball test at the NLWC practice I would have guessed Davis is heavier than Nagao. Maybe Nagao just hides his weight well but my eyes would have had Davis at a higher weight class than Nagao. I never thought Davis was a big 125 or 133 but was impressed with his size at the practice.

 

[Matter7172]

Haven’t really gone through much other rosters, but did see that LaDarian Lockett is > 174, so that brief talk of 157 definitely seems unlikely

IDK. I heard John Smith is coming back as a special assistant this season.

 

[Reslo]

IDK. I heard John Smith is coming back as a special assistant this season.

I heard that too, and just in time to get into the Halloween spirit.

 

[LemonPie]

 

[LemonPie]

Braden Davis- between 141 and 149

Nate Desmond between 125 and 133. Maybe hasn’t outgrown 125 yet.

Connor Mirasola. Weighed under 197!! Let’s go! He did not do that last year. I was telling y’all when he was weighing in light for 92kg. It’s happening.

 

[randyl]

so what is actually being "certified"?
what is the purpose?

 

[El_Jefe]

so what is actually being "certified"?
what is the purpose?

The purpose is to eatablish a minimum allowable weight claas for the season, to prevent weight cut-related deaths and long-term health issues like kidney damage.

The weights listed today are not the season targets. They're inputs for the equation, along with tested hydration and target body fat (IIRC 5%).

 

[CTStall]

Braden Davis- between 141 and 149

Nate Desmond between 125 and 133. Maybe hasn’t outgrown 125 yet.

Connor Mirasola. Weighed under 197!! Let’s go! He did not do that last year. I was telling y’all when he was weighing in light for 92kg. It’s happening.

Talked to Nate's dad a couple of months ago. 125 was getting harder for Nate to make .

 

[Walkon86]

Braden Davis- between 141 and 149

Nate Desmond between 125 and 133. Maybe hasn’t outgrown 125 yet.

Connor Mirasola. Weighed under 197!! Let’s go! He did not do that last year. I was telling y’all when he was weighing in light for 92kg. It’s happening.

So, by “it’s happening” you mean he’s dropping to 184? Rocco was a national finalist as a freshman. Not sure how Mirisola possibly beating him out for a spot…helps the team at all? I know 184 is brutal this year, but I don’t see Rocco scoring any less points that Mirisola would do. It also reinforces my bias that Cole, a genetically identical twin, is our 285. Just too small.

 

[LemonPie]

So, by “it’s happening” you mean he’s dropping to 184? Rocco was a national finalist as a freshman. Not sure how Mirisola possibly beating him out for a spot…helps the team at all? I know 184 is brutal this year, but I don’t see Rocco scoring any less points that Mirisola would do. It also reinforces my bias that Cole, a genetically identical twin, is our 285. Just too small.

No, it probably doesn’t help the team, but makes for an interesting storyline. Not sure how effective Connor would be at 184, but my guess is he’d be in the same tier as Rocco. Though it’s funny, the idea is to move down from Barr to take your shot at a guy who beat Josh 2 out of 3 times in Hs. Personally, I’m just rooting for the guy who was written out of the lineup for the next 3 years. And I like his style more. Nothing against Rocco - who is the favorite to start. I would feel the same if Ryder was still here.

Might all be nonsense anyway, as Connor might stay up at 197 for all I know.

But yeah, Cole will probably never get above 235. Even if he gets to that weight, I’d consider it a win.

 

[PSU Mike]

Maybe we’ll get a leak that knows whether Connor’s body fat at certs allows him to get to 184 on paper. I hope we get to see him compete a good bit wherever he falls.

 

[Goggles Paisano]

11 weight classes will never happen but the Marisolla's would be perfect 220s. When/if they modify the existing classes, a tweener that fills the gap between 197 and the dancing bears makes sense. People are simply bigger this century

 

[mjmirv]

I don’t see Asher Cunningham on the list. Maybe he is greyshirting???

 

[McScoreley]

I don’t see Asher Cunningham on the list. Maybe he is greyshirting???

He’s in the student directory so he enrolled

 

[El_Jefe]

I don’t see Asher Cunningham on the list. Maybe he is greyshirting???

Lots of reasons he might not be. Might have flunked the hydration test. Or deferred the certification for whatever reason (injury, too far off weight, out of town, whatever).

Also note that the official descent plan starts with the first official weigh-in, which is on Certification Day. If you don't want to be on a descent plan yet, then don't weigh in yet.

 

[LemonPie]

I don’t see Asher Cunningham on the list. Maybe he is greyshirting???

I hadn’t posted the full list, sorry. Only those who certified already. Asher has since certified while somewhere between 174 and 184. Only Kasak, Duke, Haines, and Degl remain.

 

[LemonPie]

 

[5q]

Why no kasak? That mean he is redshirting and Duke is going? I understand why Levi and Duke havent.

 

[LemonPie]

Why no kasak? That mean he is redshirting and Duke is going? I understand why Levi and Duke havent.

PSU is on the early side of certifications. They seem to trickle in based on the individual. It’s not a process that’s done all at once. I believe you just gotta get it done before official practices (early next month) to be able to participate.

 

[El_Jefe]

Why no kasak? That mean he is redshirting and Duke is going? I understand why Levi and Duke havent.

Finally transferred to Rutgers.

 

[GregPickel]

Why no kasak? That mean he is redshirting and Duke is going? I understand why Levi and Duke havent.

Kasak is now certified and did so at 174.

 

[GregPickel]

Why no kasak? That mean he is redshirting and Duke is going? I understand why Levi and Duke havent.

Kasak is now certified and did so at 174.

 

[5q]

Thanks GP

 

[PSU Mike]

Kasak is now certified and did so at 174.

That should get some HR buzz if he’s bigger in season than last year.

 

[vhsalum1]

That should get some HR buzz if he’s bigger in season than last year.

He definitely wasn't a small 157.

If concussions are an issue, I bet kasak uses the year to shirt, wrestle at 165 whenever/if ever he does. Then back down to 157 next year.

 

[Corby2]

That means he weighed between 165.01 and 174.0.That doesn't mean he's a 174.

 

[PSU Mike]

That means he weighed between 165.01 and 174.0.That doesn't mean he's a 174.

Okay, thanks I guess. The meaning of the weights has been explained a handful of times in the thread

 

[LB99]

Just from the eyeball test at the NLWC practice I would have guessed Davis is heavier than Nagao. Maybe Nagao just hides his weight well but my eyes would have had Davis at a higher weight class than Nagao. I never thought Davis was a big 125 or 133 but was impressed with his size at the practice.

FWIW, I had heard Davis was weighing around 150 after last season. I also am pretty certain I saw him walking through football tailgates last weekend with a plate with two very large bagel with egg and bacon sandwiches. Maybe it wasn’t him, but it sure looked like him and seeing that plate made me think 133 is in the review for him.

 

[wrestlingfan22]

The interesting ones to me are Cochran back, Ono being under 141, and Connor being under 197. Also, since Nagao is that big, he is likely aiming for 141.

 

[GregPickel]

Levi Haines is now certified at 184 pounds. So, just PJ Duke to go.

 

[mcpat]

The interesting ones to me are Cochran back

Thx. I totally missed that. Provides needed competition and depth at 285. He’s good.

 

[GregPickel]

PJ Duke is now certified, per Track Wrestling. He's listed at 174.