Penn State’s wrestling team is entering the 2025 NCAA Championships with a formidable lineup, reflecting their dominant performance throughout the season. The Nittany Lions have secured four No. 1 seeds among their ten qualifiers, underscoring their depth and talent across multiple weight classes.
Top Seeds and Key Wrestlers:
- 125 pounds: Freshman Luke Lilledahl holds the No. 1 seed. He clinched the Big Ten title with a narrow 4-3 victory over Nebraska’s Caleb Smith, showcasing resilience and tactical prowess.
- 157 pounds: Sophomore Tyler Kasak is the top seed, entering the championships after winning the Big Ten title. He boasts a 17-1 record this season and aims to improve upon his third-place NCAA finish from last year.
- 165 pounds: Sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, another No. 1 seed, secured his second consecutive Big Ten title with a 4-1 win over Michael Caliendo. His undefeated season keeps him in contention for the prestigious Hodge Trophy.
- 184 pounds: Senior Carter Starocci leads this weight class as the No. 1 seed. A four-time NCAA champion, Starocci demonstrated his mettle by overcoming a 3-0 deficit to defeat Minnesota’s Max McEnelly 8-5 in sudden victory during the Big Ten finals.
Additional Notable Seeds:
- 133 pounds: Sophomore Braeden Davis is seeded third and will face Bucknell’s Kurt Phipps in the opening round.
- 141 pounds: Senior Beau Bartlett, a two-time All-American and last year’s national runner-up, holds the No. 2 seed. He begins his campaign against West Virginia’s Jordan Titus.
- 149 pounds: Sophomore Shayne Van Ness is the No. 3 seed and will wrestle Wyoming’s Gabe Willochell in his first match.
- 174 pounds: Sophomore Levi Haines, seeded second, will compete against the winner of the preliminary match between No. 33 Richard Fadelan (Columbia) and No. 32 Landen Johnson (Northern Illinois).
- 197 pounds: Freshman Josh Barr enters as the No. 2 seed, facing No. 31 Luke Daly from Binghamton in the first round.
- 285 pounds: Senior Greg Kerkvliet, the defending NCAA champion, is seeded third. He will take on Sam Mitchell of Wyoming in his opening bout. Kerkvliet seeks redemption after a recent loss to Minnesota’s Gable Steveson in the Big Ten finals.
Team Outlook:
Penn State’s comprehensive seeding positions them as strong contenders for the team title at the NCAA Championships. Their performance at the Big Ten Championships, where they amassed 181.5 points and crowned five individual champions, highlights their dominance this season. With all ten wrestlers seeded within the top eight of their respective weight classes, the Nittany Lions are poised for a potentially historic showing at the national tournament.
