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Penn State

Where are Penn State wrestlers in Flo's first rankings for the 2025-2026 season?

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•06/29/25•

GregPickel

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(Photo by Mark Selders/Penn State Athletics)

Penn State wrestling is picked to win its fifth consecutive NCAA title and have eight All-Americans, including three champions, in 2025-2026 by FLO Wrestling, which has posted its first rankings for the new season.

The outlet predicts that Mitchell Mesenbrink will win his second national title at 165 pounds. It also projects that Levi Haines will take first at 174 pounds while Josh Barr will do the same at 197 pounds.

Here’s a full rundown. Note that FLO does not yet have a Penn State wrestler ranked at 141 pounds.

125 pounds: Luke Lilledahl, No. 3

133 pounds: Braeden Davis, No. 6

141 pounds: NONE.

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).

Thoughts on where Penn State wrestlers are in Flo’s first rankings

There’s not a whole lot to nitpick here. After all, these rankings are being posted in mid-June. A lot of clarity will be had in the Penn State room and across the country by the time October rolls around.

It goes without saying that the biggest question is whether or not Marcus Blaze or Masanosuke Ono end up taking the 133-pound job away from Braeden Davis. And, if so, if that means he wrestles off with Aaron Nagao for the 141-pound job. That is a fascinating part of the lineup for the Lions. They have all the talent in the world, quite literally, and perhaps too much of it. Our guess is Blaze goes at 133, Ono redshirts, and Davis or Nagao takes 141. But, time will tell on that front.

Then, at 157 pounds, many will wonder if newly minted U.S. World Team member and incoming freshman PJ Duke can overtake returning All-American Tyler Kasak for the starting spot. It’s hard to believe that either one of the youngest senior team members ever or two-time All-American may find themselves on the outside looking in at the starting lineup. But, it’s a very real possibility.

And, it won’t shock us if Welsh or Mirasola outperform their initial rankings.

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