Penn State wrestling offseason roundup: What's up with the Lions as August continues?

Penn State wrestling sits roughly four months from its first match of the 2025-2026 season. If you think that means things are quiet around head coach Cael Sanderson’s program, we’re here to tell you that’s anything but the case. The program is currently celebrating its first World champion of the year. Class of 2026 commit Jayden James, who hails from New Jersey, is the U17 champ at 71 kilograms (156.5 pounds). He had a perfect two-day tournament in Athens, Greece Aug. 2-3, and finished his gold medal run by decking Arsham Mostafa of Iran, 9-2. He is one of four U17 men’s freestyle champions for Team USA, which stormed back to win the team title over Iran.

“He went up 2-0 by earning a passivity point and a step out,” Derik Schwanz writes for USA Wrestling. “James followed with a clean takedown to extend the lead to 4-0 at the break. In the second period, James used a strong left-side underhook to run the corner and hook a leg for another takedown. He tacked on another takedown to seal the dominant, 9-2, victory—and with it, the U17 World crown.”

More World title opportunities are coming

James is unlikely to be the only connection to the Penn State wrestling program to win a medal — gold or otherwise — before the focus switches back to folkstyle for the college season. Incoming freshmen Marcus Blaze (61 kilograms), PJ Duke (70 kilograms), and William Henckel (79 kilograms), plus redshirt freshmen Connor Mirasola (92 kilograms), and Cole Mirasola (125 kilograms) are on Team USA for the U20 World Championships in August. Incoming freshman PJ Duke (70 kilograms), senior Levi Haines (79 kilograms), and NLWC member Kyle Snyder (97 kilograms) will represent the U.S. at the World Wrestling Championships in September. And, in October, seven of the 10 Team USA lineup spots for the U23 World Championships are filled by Nittany Lions The list includes:

57 kg – Luke Lilledahl (St. Charles, Mo./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

65 kg – Marcus Blaze (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg WC/Titan Mercury WC)

70 kg – PJ Duke (Slate Hill, N.Y./KD Training Center)

74 kg – Mitchell Mesenbrink (Bellefonte, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

79 kg – Levi Haines (Arendtsville, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

86 kg – Rocco Welsh (Fredericktown, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

92 kg – Josh Barr (Davison, Mich./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

Here’s what we know about the 2025-2026 Penn State wrestling schedule

Penn State has just one competition date set in stone as of early August. The Lions will travel to Drexel for a non-conference match on Dec. 5. Time, TV, and ticket information are not yet available. Head coach Cael Sanderson’s team beat the Dragons 41-3 to start last year’s dual meet season.

We’re still waiting on other schools to release their 2025-2026 schedules to see if the Lions are on them since Sanderson’s side never releases its full schedule until sometime in late September or early October. We do know which Big Ten foes the team will face, though, without dates and times. Here’s that list:

Home Big Ten duals: Ohio State, Nebraska, Indiana, and Rutgers.

Away Big Ten duals: Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, and Northwestern.

In addition to dates, times, and non-conference opponents, we also await word on how many matches will be held at the Bryce Jordan Center this season. That info will not come out until sometime in the fall, either.

First Flo rankings are out

FLO released its first preseason rankings for the 2025-2026 season over the summer. Penn State has a wrestler listed in all 10 weight classes. The outlet projects last year’ds 133-pound starter, Braeden Davis, to bump up to 141 pounds this year, while freshman Marcus Blaze will move into Davis’ old role. But, what the Lions will do at 133 and 141 pounds is hardly set in stone yet. At any rate, here’s the list as of early August:

125 pounds: Luke Lilledahl, No. 3

133 pounds: Marcus Blaze, No. 12

141 pounds: Braeden Davis, No. 6.

149 pounds: Shayne Van Ness, No. 2

157 pounds: Tyler Kasak, No. 3

165 pounds: Mitchell Mesenbrink, No. 1

174 pounds: Levi Haines, No. 1

184 pounds: Rocco Welsh, No. 3

197 pounds: Josh Barr, No. 1

285 pounds: Cole Mirasola, No. 11

As for the pound-for-pound rankings, Mesenbrink leads those. He is joined in the top 20 by Haines, who is No. 3, and also Kasak (No. 12), Van Ness (No. 14), and Barr (No. 18).