Penn State wrestling show: Updates on Lions' 2024-2025 schedule and recruiting news
The Penn State wrestling show from Blue-White Illustrated is back to get you up to speed on the latest news and information about the Nittany Lions. The 2024-2025 regular season is almost here, and the leaves are starting to turn color to prove that the calendar is inching closer to NCAA title defense time for head coach Cael Sanderson and his legendary program.
On this week’s show, BWI reporter Greg Pickel and host Thomas Frank Carr start by recapping the latest recruiting information. Top Class of 2026 recruit Bo Bassett had Penn State coaches at his Pa., house for an in-home visit on Tuesday. He also reduced his list of suitors to 17 schools, while fellow teammate, top recruit, and junior Jax Forrest dropped his list to 10. The Nittany Lions are on both prospects’ rundown of schools, which are still in the running, of course. Bassett is still considering Virginia Tech, Cornell, Michigan, Ohio State, Lehigh, Air Force, Rutgers, Iowa State, Pitt-Johnstown, Princeton, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Northern Iowa, Missouri, and PSU. Forrest is down to Lehigh, NC State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa, Iowa State, Nebraska and Oklahoma State. Where do the Lions stand with each? The duo discuss that and also a recent visitor to campus.
You can watch this week’s Penn State wrestling show in the video player above and also on YouTube. Or, you can listen at your favorite destinations for audio like SPOTIFY and APPLE.
Following the recruiting update, Pickel and Carr move on to the latest schedule news. The Lions will host Drexel in December during the non-conference portion of their 2024-2025 schedule. Here’s where things stand on that front as of Thursday night:
Nov. 16: NWCA All-Star Classic/Army Black Knight Invitational
Nov. 17: vs. Drexel
Dec. 8: at Lehigh, 2 p.m. (PPL Center in Allentown)
Dec. 15: vs. Wyoming
Dec. 21-22: Collegiate Wrestling Duals (Nashville, Tenn.)
Feb. 21: vs. American
There will be eight Big Ten matches, as well. Four are at home and four are on the road. The dates and times for those are not yet out. But, the opponent list is:
Penn State wrestling home Big Ten matches: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Maryland
Nittany Lion wrestling road Big Ten matches: Nebraska, Illinois, Ohio State, Rutgers
The show closes with a look at the NWCA All-Star Classic. Levi Haines is competing in it at 174 pounds after winning last year’s 157-pound title. And, Shayne Van Ness is returning from last season’s injury to wrestle at 149 in the event. What do those two developments tell us about the Penn State projected lineup in 2024-2025? Pickel and Carr discuss. Update: After the taping of this episode, Flo announced two more matches involving Penn State wrestlers. Beau Bartlett faces Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez at 141 pounds. And, Greg Kerkvliet faces Buckeye Nick Feldman at heavyweight.
