Welsh Announces Transfer to Penn State

Last week was filled with high-profile wrestlers heading into the transfer portal. One of the biggest of that group was 2024 NCAA finalist Rocco Welsh. Welsh wasn’t in the portal for long as he announced this evening that he will transfer to wrestle for the four-time defending champion Penn State Nittany Lions. 

Welsh made the 2024 NCAA finals as a true freshman for Ohio State. That year he was pulled from redshirt in December and finished the season with a 26-5 record. Three of his five losses came to returning NCAA champions (Carter Starocci/Shane Griffith), while the other two were to the eventual Big Ten champion Edmond Ruth. 

With Carson Kharchla back and healthy at 174 lbs and Ryder Rogotzke at 184 lbs (and both without redshirt options), Welsh took a redshirt during the 2024-25 campaign. He would compete in open tournaments and posted a perfect 15-0 record while at 184 lbs. 

In his interview on BaschaMania, Welsh stated that he intends on competing at 184 lbs for the Nittany Lions. Though they are losing Carter Starocci, redshirt freshman Zack Ryder was expected to be the frontrunner at that weight class and 184 wasn’t thought to be a pressing need for Penn State. 

In the week since the NCAA Tournament wrapped up, Penn State has added Welsh and world champion Masanosuke Ono of Japan. The Nittany Lions won their latest team title by a 60-point margin over second-place Nebraska. With such an incredible nucleus returning and these high-profile additions, it looks like Penn State will start the 2025-26 season as huge favorites once again.