Penn State enters the 2024-25 season with eight returning All-Americans, five national finalists, and three NCAA champions. The Nittany Lions have won 11 of the past 14 contested NCAA Championships. 

Carter Starocci is expected to compete at 184 pounds after winning four NCAA titles at 174. He could be the first five-time NCAA wrestling champion. 

Heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet returns for his fifth season after winning the 2024 NCAA Championships.

Levi Haines won the 2024 NCAA Championships at 165 and is expected to compete at 174. 

Beau Bartlett (141) and Mitchell Mesenbrink (165) finished second at the 2024 NCAA Championships and are seeking their first NCAA title. 

Shayne Van Ness returns to the lineup after a season-ending injury. He finished third at the 2023 NCAA Championships. 

Braeden Davis reached the Round of 12 at the 2024 NCAA Championships as a true freshman but is expected to move up to 133 where he will battle All-American Aaron Nagao for the spot. 

National qualifier Alex Facundo returns from a redshirt season and could see the line-up anywhere from 157 to 174 based on need, but 157 seems like his best spot. Tyler Kasak finished third at the 2024 NCAA Championships at 149 but will likely move up to 157 where he is the current favorite to start.

Two-time age-level World champion Luke Lilledahl could see the line-up at 125 as a true freshman. 

Below is a depth chart for the Nittany based on possible starters. The line-up can change throughout the season but this provides a snapshot of the team. Wrestlers can move up or down based on need. 

True freshmen can use five competition dates as a starter without losing their redshirt.

A wrestler’s finishes at the NCAA Championships are in parenthesis. National qualifiers are listed as NQ. 

The Cael Sanderson Era: NCAA Championships

125 Pounds

Luke Lilledahl, FR
Kurt McHenry, SR
Gary Steen, JR
Brendan Wentzel, FR

Cael Nasdeo, FR

133 Pounds

Aaron Nagao, JR (NQ-5th)
Braeden Davis, SO (NQ)
Kyison Garcia, FR
Karl Shindledecker, SO
Sean Wang, JR
Hayden Cunningham, FR

141 Pounds

Beau Bartlett, SR (2nd-3rd-NQ)

149 Pounds

Shayne Van Ness, JR (3rd)
David Evans, SR
Connor Pierce, SO
Tim Levine, SR
Matt Rodriguez, SO
Brock Weiss, FR

157 Pounds

Tyler Kasak, SO (3rd)
Alex Facundo, SO (NQ)
Ty Watson, FR

165 Pounds

Mitchell Mesenbrink, SO (2nd)
Alex Facundo, SO (NQ)
Joe Sealey, FR
Matt Lee, SR
Erik Gibson, FR

174 Pounds

Levi Haines, JR (1st-2nd)
Zack Ryder, FR
Brian Borden, SR
Aurelius Dunbar, SR

184 Pounds

Carter Starocci, SR (1st-1st-1st-1st)
Jack Kelly, JR

197 Pounds

Josh Barr, FR
Connor Mirasola, FR
Lucas Cochran, JR
AJ Fricchione, FR

285 Pounds

Greg Kerkvliet, SR (1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th)
Cole Mirasola, FR

Cael Sanderson's All-Americans and NCAA Champions