Japanese superstar wrestler Masanosuke Ono commits to Penn State

Penn State is officially adding Japanese wrestler Masanosuke Ono. The reigning 61 kilogram (134.4 pounds) World Champion told FLO Wrestling Monday that he is coming to the Nittany Lions. Pat Mineo of The Wrestling Room first reported last week that Ono was in the university directory.

“Just because Penn State is the best in the world,” Ono told FLO when asked why he wanted to join the Lions.

Ono told Flo he is not yet sure what weight class he will compete in at the college level. He is a freestyle standout but is not familiar with folkstyle. But, that obviously is not expected to be a major issue. Ono figures to compete at 133 pounds, though 125 or 141 isn’t out of the question. It is unclear when he will get to State College. He told FLO he is going through the visa process.

“Penn State will help me,” Ono told FLO. “Penn State is the best in the world.”

PSU wrestling already has the nation’s best Class of 2025. Ono now joins it and only further adds to what the program is bringing in. The Nittany Lions must replace three All-Americans in its 2025-2026 lineup but will still be heavily favored to win another national title.

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Ono is a U20 World Champ, a World Champ at the senior level, a Japan national champ, and the 2024 Asian Championships bronze medalist.

“On the biggest stage, Ono put together his best performance winning another gold medal highlighted by wins over world champion Vito Arujau (12-0) and World/Olympic champion Zaur Uguev (10-2). Masanosuke Ono cemented himself as one of the best pound-for-pound wrestlers in the world and has the potential to win world/Olympic medals for years to come,” FLO writes.

Penn State recruit postseason results

Ono last wrestled in the U.S. when he dropped to 59 kilograms to beat Spencer Lee in a FLO event. His future classmates wrestled more recently in the postseason. Here’s how each Penn State recruit fared:

Perrysburg, Ohio senior and the nation’s No. 1 Class of 2025 recruit, Marcus Blaze, headlines our postseason recap. With his team facing a hole in its lineup, the future Nittany Lion bumped up two weight classes, from 138 pounds to 150, and won his fourth and final state title anyway. He beat St. Edwards junior Bradley Eaton by technical fall, 17-2 in 3:19, in the finals. It marked his 200th high school win. And, the move up paid off, as The Blade reports that Perrysburg’s team points total of 180.5 was the most in school history and good for a third place finish at the OSHAA Tournament.

How did the other Penn State Class of 2025 commits fare?

Two of the Nittany Lions’ Class of 2025 signees compete at prep schools. Wyoming Seminary senior Nate Desmond suffered an injury during the regular season that kept him out of the postseason. In New Jersey, Blair Academy senior William Henckel won a New Jersey/New York National Prep School title at 175 pounds and followed that up by winning his second National Prep Title.

In the high school ranks, State College Area senior Asher Cunningham won his second PIAA Class 3A title and first at 172 pounds when he beat Bode Marlow of Thomas Jefferson in the finals by decision, 12-6. Central Mountain senior Dalton Perry finished second at 145 pounds after losing in the Class 3A finals to Michigan commit Eren Sement of Council Rock North 1-0. In New York, Class of 2025 Minisink Valley commit PJ Duke won his fourth NYSPHSAA state title. He beat Casey Liess of McQuaid Jesuit by technical fall, 24-8, in the finals after winning via fall in his first three matches at the tournament.

How did the Lions’ lone Class of 2026 commit fare?

Johnstown, Pa., Bishop McCort junior Sam Herring finished third in his first PIAA tournament. After losing his Class 2A 139-pound semifinal, he hammered back through the consolation bracket and beat Noah Doi of Camp Hill by technical fall, 17-2 in 2:17, in the third-place match. He will be back to vie for his first state title as a senior.