Penn State wrestling: After winning second straight title, what could the Lions' lineup look like in 2023-2024?

The dynastic Penn State wrestling program has put another memorable season in the books. Head coach Cael Sanderson’s Nittany Lions won their second straight NCAA title at the national tournament in Tulsa, Okla.

Two national champions were crowned, as juniors Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks won their third-straight first-place crowns at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively. Three Nittany Lions – super senior Roman Bravo-Young (133 pounds), freshman Levi Haines (157), and junior Greg Kerkvliet (285) – finished in second place. And, those five plus three other Penn State wrestlers – Junior Beau Bartlett (third place at 141 pounds), redshirt freshman Shayne Van Ness (third place at 149 pounds), and senior Max Dean seventh place at 197 pounds) were All-Americans.

By all accounts, it was a historic season. The program now has 11 all-time team championships, and its 55-point margin of victory over Iowa in this year’s team tournament is a new progam record. 

With all of that said, there is one obvious question left on the mind of Penn State wrestling fans, and it’s a simple one with complex answers: What’s next?

Cael Sanderson and his unwavering staff of associate head coach Cody Sanderson and head assistant coach Casey Cunningham are entering their 15th season in State College. No staff changes are expected as of this publication. So, the group that has propelled Penn State wrestling to new and routinely unexpected heights will be in place, barring a surprise.

Two starters will definitely not return

Let’s move on to who will definitely not be back. Bravo-Young ended his brilliant career with an unexpected loss in the 133-pound NCAA finals to Vito Arujau of Cornell. But, that doesn’t detract from the spectacular career he had in a blue and white singlet as a multi-time champion and All-American. He will now move into the freestyle wrestling world.

The other surely departing Lion is Max Dean. A four-time All-American, he secured two of those at Penn State and finished seventh this year at nationals after winning a title at 197 pounds a year ago. He told the Penn State Sports Network that he doesn’t know his future. But, if it’s in wrestling, he said he wants it to be at Penn State. Whether that could be as a coach, or competitor in the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, or something else, though, remains to be seen.

Penn State should have its other starters back, but..

The rest of Penn State’s 2022-2023 lineup is expected to return. We’ll get to that in a moment. But first, let’s look at Starocci’s interesting comments about what’s next for the 174-pounder to ESPN following his national title win over Mike Labriola of Nebraska. 

“It feels good being a three-timer,” Starocci said. “That’s not where this train stops. It keeps moving. Dreams don’t work unless you do. An Olympic gold medal, that’s my next stop. This is cool, but that’s the peak of our sport. I don’t look past this. But I want an Olympic gold, and then an MMA title.”

He added more commentary to reporters during a Saturday night news conference, saying that:

 “I kinda want to be a four-timer [national champion], and [with] how the Olympics fall, that will be next year, my senior year. If I come back and wrestle next year we’ll see. We’ll take a day — I plan on winning the Olympics, that’s where my head is.

“After I complete something like that, it’s kind of like you’re not going to want to come back to this. So you see what Gable, he’s doing his things now. But we’ll see. I enjoy the sport. I love it, but I also love fighting. And I see Bo Nickal eating those dudes like it’s candy [i the UFC]. It’s pretty easy. I think that game’s a lot easier. So we’ll just take it a day at a time.”

It all means that the Nittany Lion star will leave have to decide whether or not he is going to leave college eligibility on the table. Time will tell. And, Aaron Brooks could consider an Olympic redshirt, as well.

Either way, lineup decisions await

Penn State has many decisions to make as it prepares for its next season. The first centers on Robbie Howard. He has now lost two seasons to shoulder injuries. If finally healthy for the 2023-2024 season, he could finally fill the 125-pound spot. Or, perhaps he could bump up to the 133-pound level vacated by Bravo-Young. His status must be determined moving forward. Incoming recruits Cael Nasdeo and Branden Wentzel, both of Pennsylvania, are candidates at 125. So, is Gary Steen, who returns too, of course. At 133, Baylor Shunk is back. And, Ohio State transfer Will Betancourt, who was not able to compete last season, should be in the mix this fall for a spot. But, all told, there is no cut and dry replacement at 133, and 125 is anyone’s guess.

Beau Bartlett will be at 141 pounds as a senior. The same goes for redshirt sophomore to be Shayne Van Ness at 149. But, what will happen at 157 pounds? NCAA runner-up Haines may make that weight again. However, it’s possible he grows out of it. One school of thought suggests Haines goes to 165, Alex Facundo moves to 174, Carter Starocci bumps to 184, and Aaron Brooks moves to 197. It seems unlikely. But, based on what Starocci and Brooks decide, maybe it’s not so far-fetched. On the other hand, Haines may have to wrestle off Facundo for the 165-pound job. He’d be a decisive favorite to win it. Where would that leave NCAA qualifier Facundo, though? Haines could always of course stay at 157, or Terrell Barraclough could return to his starting role.

Taking the speculation aside, there is not a clear replacement for Dean at 197 pounds, either. Incoming Michigan star Josh Barr, a 175-pound state champ, could fill a middle-weight spot. Penn State has had no issue with redshirting many of its freshmen, though, Haines’ case aside. 

Finally, Greg Kerkvliet will be back at heavyweight and is looking to build on his runner-up finish with hopes of finally winning a national title.

All told, Penn State will enter next season as the favorite to win its third consecutive NCAA title. But, that does not mean the Lions have no questions to answer up and down the lineup. In fact, they have many, and the transfer portal could help solve them. However, unlike this past season, the team will enter the fall with weight classes to fill as it aims to continue its historic run.