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The best Penn State wrestling team ever? Here's why the Lions could make history in 2024

frank bodani, york daily record
·4 min read

Penn State wrestling is building steam for yet another national title run.

Could it possibly be the most dominating one yet under coach Cael Sanderson?

This comes as the Nittany Lions keep stacking blocks as the top current sports dynasty — winning 10 of the last 12 national titles.

This team, which may be its deepest and most well-rounded, will take a run at surpassing its top NCAA Championship points showing of 146.5 in 2017. (Iowa owns the all-time record of 170 points in 1997).

Penn State could also match — or even better — its record of five individual national champions.

Sophomore Levin Haines, the nation's No. 1-ranked wrestler at 157 pounds, is gunning for his first national title in March. He was an NCAA runner-up last year.
Sophomore Levin Haines, the nation's No. 1-ranked wrestler at 157 pounds, is gunning for his first national title in March. He was an NCAA runner-up last year.

The Lions began this season with three dominating dual meet victories, including the most recent 36-3 demolition of No. 18 Oregon State in front of a record crowd.

The Lions now boast seven wrestlers (out of 10 weight classes) ranked in the top five nationally. Four of those are No. 1, including Carter Starocci (174 pounds) and Aaron Brooks (197). They will try to become just the sixth and seventh Division I wrestlers ever to win four individual NCAA titles.

The Lions must now stay healthy and expectedly handle key Big Ten matches in February — at home against Ohio State and Rutgers (Bryce Jordan Center); on the road against Iowa and Nebraska.

Cael Sanderson, center, coaches Carter Starocci during the 2022 USA Wrestling World Team Trials tournament in Iowa. Starocci is now a three-time NCAA champ -- and one of the main reasons why this Penn State team could be its most dynamic ever.
Cael Sanderson, center, coaches Carter Starocci during the 2022 USA Wrestling World Team Trials tournament in Iowa. Starocci is now a three-time NCAA champ -- and one of the main reasons why this Penn State team could be its most dynamic ever.

Following the Big Ten and NCAA Championships in March, Penn State hosts the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team Trials in mid-April. Possibly 15 to 20 current and former Nittany Lion wrestlers expect to compete for spots on the freestyle team.

Here are Penn State X-factor wrestlers this season, the ones who should determine just how high this national-title favorite lands in March:

Braedan Davis, 125 pounds

The freshman is attempting to solidify Penn State's only weak spot in its reloading lineup. He's excelled so far, even surprisingly so, by winning each of his nine matches, including an 11-6 decision over the nation's No. 15 wrestler at Oregon State.

The Nittany Lions are just 3-6 in NCAA tournament matches at 125 pounds over the past seven years − since Nico Megaludis' national title.

Follow PSU wrestling: Penn State wrestling, 2024: schedule, results, details

Aaron Nagao, 133 pounds

The sophomore transferred from Minnesota last year − not long after losing to Penn State’s Roman Bravo-Young in the Big Ten finals. Nagao finished fifth nationally.

He's undefeated so far this season.

PSU transfer portal tracker: Penn State football adds two Wisconsin transfers: Who's joining, leaving Lions in 2024

Tyler Kasak/David Evans, 149 pounds

Kasak, another true freshman, is 5-1 after upsetting Oregon State's No. 12 Nash Singleton.

The other option here is Davis, a junior, who's spent most of his Penn State career at 141 pounds. He's 6-2 this season after moving up.

They're replacing All-American Shayne Van Ness who was the nation's No. 2 wrestler at 149 before suffering an undisclosed, season-ending injury in practice more than a month ago.

Levi Haines, 157 pounds

The Biglerville High grad was the surprise success of the 2023 season, earning a Big Ten title and NCAA runner-up status as a true freshman.

Haines has been ranked No. 1 throughout this season. He did need a big comeback (two third-period takedowns) to beat an unranked Oregon State opponent, 10-8.

Mitchell Mesenbrink, 165 pounds

Mitchell Mesenbrink (right) won three state titles as a high school wrestler in Wisconsin. Can the redshirt freshmen now uphold Penn State's national-title expectations as a first-time starter at 165 pounds?
Mitchell Mesenbrink (right) won three state titles as a high school wrestler in Wisconsin. Can the redshirt freshmen now uphold Penn State's national-title expectations as a first-time starter at 165 pounds?

Yet another ever-important freshman. The redshirt transfer from Cal-Baptist is undefeated and has surged to a No. 10 ranking. He was a three-time high school state title winner in Wisconsin.

Bernie Traux, 184 pounds

The former Cal-Poly wrestler — and three-time All-American — dropped a close decision to Oregon State's No. 6 Trey Munoz.

Traux still holds a No. 5 ranking and is expected to help anchor Penn State's upper-weight domination in the postseason. He's taking over here for Brooks, who bumped up to 197 pounds after winning three NCAA titles at 184.

Greg Kerkvliet, 285 pounds

Penn State's Greg Kerkvliet wrestles at 285 pounds during the second session of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Thursday, March 16, 2023, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla.
Penn State's Greg Kerkvliet wrestles at 285 pounds during the second session of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Thursday, March 16, 2023, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla.

The three-time All-American and NCAA runner-up last year is overcoming an apparent minor injury to star this season.

The No. 1 ranked heavyweight skipped senior nationals in December but returned to action in dominating form at Oregon State. He hit seven takedowns in a tech fall victory.

Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at  fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State wrestling, Cael Sanderson to make NCAA history in 2024?