Cael Sanderson always envisioned Rocco Welsh as a Nittany Lion, despite the fact the former Pennsylvania high school star never saw himself wearing a Penn State singlet.

After a dominant career at Waynesburg Central High, the powerful, hard-charging, technically gifted wrestler quickly committed to Ohio State before the 2023-24 season. Sanderson would have to look elsewhere to bolster his upper weights with a championship prospect.

As it turns out, Penn State’s head coach just needed to be patient — something he’s quite good at — in this transfer portal era. Welsh transferred to Penn State following two seasons in Columbus and will face his old team when the Nittany Lions host the Buckeyes at the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday.

“It’s been a pretty crazy journey,” Welsh said earlier this year. “Coming out of high school, I don’t know if I would see myself here, but I’m just really grateful where it’s brought me.”

Welsh has not been made available to reporters who cover the team since Penn State’s opening dual against Oklahoma.

Since that debut in the Bryce Jordan Center, Welsh has won 15 matches in a row — including 10 with bonus points — at the 184-pound spot vacated by Carter Starocci.

“I think he’s just a student of the game,” Sanderson said. “He’s a great competitor and I think he’s just getting more and more comfortable. He knows this is where he belongs. He knows that we love him that he’s our guy and I think he’ll just continue to improve.”

Welsh admitted his last year in Columbus didn’t go as he intended. He hinted that he felt like he was stuck between 174 and 184 pounds for a time and opted to redshirt to try and figure it out.

In the end, 184 was the weight and Welsh concluded he’d have a better chance to develop at Penn State with the upper weights Sanderson and the Nittany Lions already had in their program.

Ironically, Welsh’s 2024-25 NCAA finals loss to Starocci was his last defeat.

That fact, coupled with realization he was potentially replacing the NCAA’s only five-time champion made Welsh’s transition into the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex a bit awkward.

Sanderson sensed it right away.

“Any time you transfer, it’s probably weird,” Sanderson said. “If you come to Penn State, there’s a high expectation here and so when the kids transfer in here, it’s a different kind of pressure. You’re in a lineup with a bunch of killers and so you don’t give yourself a lot of room to breathe.”

Welsh is long past questioning if he belongs in this lineup. He’s tied for third on the team with 16 wins and is coming off back-to-back wins against Top 10 opponents.

Next, he’ll face former NC State veteran Dylan Fishback, who transferred to Ohio State to take the spot that Welsh otherwise might’ve occupied. 

“I’m just grateful to be here,” Welsh said.

The 141-Pound Carousel

Braeden Davis has had an unfortunate two weeks.

The junior 141-pounder burned his hand on an electric scooter charger two weeks ago, and although that didn’t keep him out of the team’s matchup against Nebraska, he was forced to sit out the Michigan match with a skin ailment.

Sanderson said Davis should be cleared to wrestle against Ohio State on Friday.

In the meantime, Davis’ absence gave Penn State’s staff another chance to evaluate freshman Nate Desmond’s early development.

The former Bethlehem Catholic star impressed, taking down Michigan sixth-year senior Dylan Ragusin 8-5 in sudden victory.

By rule, true freshman can compete in up to five events and still redshirt. The match against the Wolverines was the fourth dual appearance for Desmond, who’s wrestled at 125 and 141 this year.

He also competed in the Army Black Knight Invite.

“That’s kind of what we hope they get out of their redshirt year — that they’re even more excited about wrestling in college wrestling than they are when they get here, and I think he’s on that path,” Sanderson said.

Mitch’s Stitches

For a moment during Penn State’s 38-3 win over Michigan on Friday, Shayne Van Ness was worried about teammate Mitchell Mesenbrink.

As Van Ness watched his 165-pound teammate pick his opponent apart, he was alarmed at the blood that was accumulating on the mat. After a quick whistle, Mesenbrink stood and walked over toward his corner, his forehead gushing blood.

“When you’re in the match, you don’t really notice it and then they’ve got to pull you off to clean it up, but for (guys watching), you’re always worried about making sure that they’re safe,” Van Ness said. “There was a lot of blood, but he finished up OK.”

Penn State trainer Dan Monthley quickly fashioned a full headband-style wrap to keep Mesenbrink from leaking over the final minute and change. Afterward, Sanderson said the 165-pounder needed stitches to close the cut.

“It was pretty nasty,” Sanderson said. “When our trainer pulled his hair up and it kind of pulled his skin, it was pretty nasty. The doctors did a nice job and he’s a quick healer and he’s Mitchell, so he’ll keep doing what he does.”