Jump to content

Logjam at Penn State 2024-25


peanut

Recommended Posts

Based on my super ill informed guesses, it looks like the most high profile battles for starting spots will look like this:

  • 133- This seems to be a battle between Davis and Nagao. Davis has a RS available.
  • 149 & 157- I suppose Sealey redshirts behind a true sophomore (Kasak) and a junior (SVN). But maybe Sealey wants to go now.
  • 165 & 174- Two of the following four sit: Haines, MM, Facundo, and U20 silver medalist Ryder. Haines and Ryder have redshirts available. None of the four can go up to 184 because one of Starocci/Barr is in the way.

I like Penn State, but I would not blame an athlete for transferring under these circumstances. It's nuts. 🥜🥜

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Davis has a redshirt remaining but I would let him wrestle and run Nagao out of town personally. He honestly was better at Minnesota. SVN is being remembered for his NCAA finish but he was seeded #12 I believe and lost a lot of matches. Facundo is going to have to do it elsewhere kind of like Michael Beard. He just isn’t that guy

  • Bob 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have no inside info but it seems to me all these "problems" are solvable with redshirts, right?  Davis redshirts and Nagao goes.  Van Ness redshirted already so he goes 149, and at 157, either Kasak or Sealey can redshirt.  My guess is Sealey redshirts in the hope that Kasak can pick up where he left off.  Haines/Ryder redshirt so Mesenbrink/Facundo can go at 65/74.  I guess it's a bit odd for a 2x champ to redshirt, but if he's OK with it, I see how it makes sense both for the team and for Haines to bulk up and learn some freestyle.  

To me the biggest lineup conundrum is at '84, where it looks like Starocci will land, and you have Barr there, ready to go, with no redshirt available.  My guess is Barr bumps up to 97, if he can beat Cochran, and both Mirasolas redshirt.  Was kinda hoping to see Starocci bulk up and throw some people around at '97, but I guess that ain't happening.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, BAC said:

 Haines/Ryder redshirt so Mesenbrink/Facundo can go at 65/74.  I guess it's a bit odd for a 2x champ to redshirt, but if he's OK with it, I see how it makes sense both for the team and for Haines to bulk up and learn some freestyle.  

Haines has only won 1 NCAA title.  Wrestlestat currently has him listed at 165 and redshirting this year.  Flo has him ranked #2 at 174lbs behind Keegan O'Toole.  Haines lost the best of three to make the Junior World team a couple years ago to Mesenbrink 2 matches to 0.  He lost to Facundo at the Olympic Trials in April.  Crazy to think he could be the odd man out.

  • Bob 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Lunaticfringe said:

SVN is being remembered for his NCAA finish but he was seeded #12 I believe and lost a lot of matches. 

He was a true freshman that lost 3x to 6th year senior Max Murin, 4x NCAA Champ Yianni, NCAA finalist Sammy Sasso, future finalist Austin Gomez, and Paniro Johnson.

  • Bob 1
  • Jagger 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, peanut said:

Based on my super ill informed guesses, it looks like the most high profile battles for starting spots will look like this:

  • 149 & 157- I suppose Sealey redshirts behind a true sophomore (Kasak) and a junior (SVN). But maybe Sealey wants to go now.

I like Penn State, but I would not blame an athlete for transferring under these circumstances. It's nuts. 🥜🥜

Is it me, or is stock WAY down on Sealey?  A couple years back,he was the talk of that class, and it seems to have died down. A lot.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, 1032004 said:

He was a true freshman that lost 3x to 6th year senior Max Murin, 4x NCAA Champ Yianni, NCAA finalist Sammy Sasso, future finalist Austin Gomez, and Paniro Johnson.

And at NCAAs he blew Johnson's doors off, beat Caleb Henson and Kyle Parco and  then had a 3rd period lead on Yianni. 

Edited by Pinnacle
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

Is he enrolled?

Let's not forget he DID leave his shoes on the mat.

Pretty sure he is a lock to AA this year again.

There are those who would say as much... (still)...

  • Bob 1

"I know actually nothing.  It isn't even conjecture at this point." - me

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, 1032004 said:

He was a true freshman that lost 3x to 6th year senior Max Murin, 4x NCAA Champ Yianni, NCAA finalist Sammy Sasso, future finalist Austin Gomez, and Paniro Johnson.

In light of what SVN did at NCAA's and then to the follow up performance at the All-Star Classic, I think it is sufficient to say that he is the real deal. 

  • Bob 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, peanut said:

Based on my super ill informed guesses, it looks like the most high profile battles for starting spots will look like this:

  • 133- This seems to be a battle between Davis and Nagao. Davis has a RS available.
  • 149 & 157- I suppose Sealey redshirts behind a true sophomore (Kasak) and a junior (SVN). But maybe Sealey wants to go now.
  • 165 & 174- Two of the following four sit: Haines, MM, Facundo, and U20 silver medalist Ryder. Haines and Ryder have redshirts available. None of the four can go up to 184 because one of Starocci/Barr is in the way.

I like Penn State, but I would not blame an athlete for transferring under these circumstances. It's nuts. 🥜🥜

PNut is correct it is nuts and it is going to get more nuts over the next 2 seasons.  Lets look at 3 weights for the 2026 season and those following - 165, 174, and 184.  I would guess that Tyler Kasek will be holding down 157 for 26 ^ 27 and Conner Mirasola will have 197 locked down for 26, 27, & 28 (maybe 29 also if he RS this season)

M Messenbrink will be the assumed starter at 165 for the 26 and 27 season but PJ Duke will be on campus and both Facundo and Sealy will be also there.

At 174 you will have NC Levi Haines with 2 years of eligibility which can put him there through 2027 if he RS one year.  You have Z Ryder as well as A Cuningham arriving next season.  

At 184 C-Star will most likely hold down that spot this season in the quest for his unprecedented 5th title.  That will force RS Frosh Barr to either go up to 197 (putting CM into RS for the season) or drop to the crowded 174 weight which I don't think he can do.  Next season Wm Henckle gets added to this mix.  Add to this Lucas Cochran who may still be able to make 184 and has eligibility through 2027 at least.

So to sum up the embarrassment of riches scenario that P-nut describes as nuts PSU will have 10 elite talents (not including C-Star who is done this year) competing for 3 spots over the next few seasons.   There are also other wrestlers in these weights that I did not include in this analysis.  I would expect some defections over the next couple of years.  Hope they go to Lehigh 🙂

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...