With Penn State releasing their schedule today, I thought it would be a good time to remind everyone that their lineup could look very different than expected, especially at the beginning of the season. This is due to one thing: 2024 is an Olympic year. Olympic years cause some unusual disruptions to the sport of wrestling. 

As it pertains to Penn State, 10 PSU wrestlers are currently eligible for an Olympic redshirt. Only one, Mitchell Mesenbrink, is currently qualified for the Olympic Trials, however. Several of the starters have already confirmed that they will be competing at Bill Farrell in November and/or Senior Nationals in December to try and qualify. My guess is that this means we won’t see them in the starting lineup regularly until the second semester.

First, a look at what will most likely be their starting lineup come post-season time.

PSU Projected Starting Lineup

125: Robert Howard

133: Aaron Nagao

141: Beau Bartlett

149: Shayne Van Ness

157: Levi Haines / Mitchell Mesenbrink

165: Alex Facundo / Mitchell Mesenbrink / Levi Haines

174: Carter Starocci

184: Bernie Truax

197: Aaron Brooks

285: Greg Kerkvliet

Penn State Wrestlers Eligible For An Olympic Redshirt

Kurt McHenry - gold medal, 2016 Cadet World Championships

Greg Kerkvliet - gold medal, 2017 Cadet World Championships

Aaron Brooks - gold medal, 2017 Cadet World Championships

Alex Facundo - bronze medal, 2018 Cadet World Championships

Beau Bartlett - silver medal, 2021 U20 World Championships

Tyler Kasak - silver medal, 2022 U17 World Championships

Mitchell Mesenbrink - silver medal, 2022 U20 World Championships

Carter Starocci - 2022 National Team member

Shayne Van Ness - 3rd place, 2023 NCAA Championships

Levi Haines - 2nd place, 2023 NCAA Championships

Do I expect all of these wrestlers to take an Olympic redshirt? No. In fact, my guess is the only wrestlers even considering it will be Mesenbrink, Kasak, and/or Haines. 

Penn State Lineup Without Olympic Redshirt Eligible Wrestlers

125: Robert Howard

133: Aaron Nagao

141: David Evans

149: Connor Pierce / Imran Heard

157: Terrell Barraclough

165: Matt Lee / Erik Gibson

174: Josh Barr

184: Donovan Ball

197: Luchas Cochran

285: AJ Fricchione

It's still not a bad squad, but a significant drop-off from their best lineup. 

Remaining Ways For Penn State Wrestlers To Qualify For Olympic Trials

1. Bill Farrell - November 17-18

• must place top four and be the highest placer that has yet to qualify for the Trials

2. Senior Nationals - December 16-17

• must place top five

3. NCAA Championships - March 21- 23

• must be NCAA champion

My guess is we will see some of these backups, and maybe even several more, in the starting lineup in the first four events of the season for Penn State as guys with Olympic aspirations compete at Bill Farrell Senior Nationals. Starting on January 5th in Corvallis, Oregon, I think that will change.