Penn State Gets Verbal From #13 Junior Mangano

On Sunday evening, Penn State received its first commitment from a wrestler in the Class of 2027. Gavin Mangano (Shoreham-Wading River, NY), the #13 overall prospect in the junior class, has committed to the four-time defending national champions. Mangano is currently ranked sixth in the nation at 138 lbs.

Mangano is a two-time New York DII state finalist. He won a title in 2025 at 138 lbs after finishing as a runner-up during his freshman year.

Next month, Mangano will be in action at the Super 32. In 2024, he finished sixth at the tournament, competing at 132 pounds. His entry in 2025 is at 138 lbs.

Additionally, Mangano was an NHSCA Freshman national champion in 2024 and took third place in the 16U freestyle division last year at Fargo.

Mangano could project at the 141-157 lb range for Penn State, which would be needed. While the upperweights for the Nittany Lions are overflowing with talent, there is less in the pipeline at the middleweights.

Mangano is the latest product of Khaled Dassan (KD Training Center) to select the Nittany Lions. PJ Duke and Rocco Welsh are already on the Penn State roster and U17 world champion Jayden James is slated to join PSU from the Class of 2026.

Before committing to Penn State, Mangano also took trips to Cornell, NC State, and North Carolina.

For all of the Class of 2027 commitments: Click Here