Projecting Penn State wrestling's * best * possible starting lineup in 2024-25

Which version of the Penn State wrestling lineup in 2024-25 would be the best? Locked On Nittany Lions host Zach Seyko and Nittany Sports Now beat reporter Joe Smeltzer make their picks for who would be the best Nittany Lion wrestler at each of the 10 starting spots. Find out who will be the 125-pounder between Luke Lilledahl and Braeden Davis, if Tyler Kasak could fend off the return of Shayne Van Ness, which weight class Carter Starocci would be the most effective at, and if Connor Mirasola should start right away as a true freshman. Let us know your ideal starting lineup down in the comments!
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Chapters:
00:00:00 - Penn State Wrestling Lineup Predictions
00:04:18 - Potential Lineup Changes
00:08:25 - Lightning Luke's Impact
00:12:31 - Debate on the 149-pound weight class
00:16:45 - Redshirting Kasak and the Embarrassment of Riches at Penn State Wrestling
00:20:55 - Debating Weight Classes and Lineup Projections
00:25:18 - Financial Success with Yahoo Finance
00:29:31 - Carter Starocci's Injury and Potential Weight Class
00:33:51 - Carter's Return to Wrestling

[@bilbobaggins7095]

Davis will mop the floor with Nagao

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

lol no.

[@psmith6166]

I don't follow all this Nagao hate, he's young still, just came to a new team and was coming off a significant injury. He didn't meet expectations, but he had a lot going on. Let's see how he progresses this season.

[@xzjayz7925]

Exactly! A bunch off penn state bandwagons lmao. A “classy” fan base my ass. Bro is a freshman All American who was able to take TWO matches from Jesse Mendez who became a natty champ. He had potential to be great just gotta turn it on.

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

Best possible lineup for state 125 - lilledahl 133 - Nagao 141 - Bartlett 149 - Tyler 157 - Svn 165 - mitch 174 - levi 184 - Carter / barr 197 - conor/carter Hw -kerk

[@lexingtonconcord8751]

Replace Nagao with Davis at 133, and I'll be good

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

@@lexingtonconcord8751 I hope so, gotta root for the Michigan boys. Would be cool seeing facundo Barr and Braeden all in the starting lineup.

[@LockedOnNittanyLions]

Love it!

[@johnbrown3119]

Ben Askren has said that he hopes that Connor Mirasola can redshirt.

[@rodneyzaumetzer3626]

Lihidhal Nagaro or Davis shirt Bartlett Vanness kasak shirt Messinbrink Haines Facundo Starocci Barr Kirk

[@rodneyzaumetzer3626]

Penn state is another animal. Diff level.

[@jonespoint908]

I’m hoping Starocci wrestles at 184 instead of 197 for the 2024-25 Season. We all know if that happens at 184 Starocci’s toughest opponent will be Parker Keckeisen. At 197 Connor is the man there, 285 Kerkvleit, 174 Facundo, 165 Levi, 157 Mesenbrink, 149 Van Ness, 141 Bartlett, 133 Davis, 125 Luke Lilledahl. This Team I can see with 8/9 NCAA Champions

[@Jonathan7768]

PK beats Starocci.

[@cmap4519]

@@Jonathan7768 Stop it.

[@LockedOnNittanyLions]

Each one of them is a championship contender at the very least.

[@dannelson7534]

Davis and Kasak will redshirt

[@LockedOnNittanyLions]

It will be interesting to see what Cael decides.

[@williamoleary9330]

I would be surprised when push comes to shove that Carter goes 97. I mean at this point he’s already a 4 timer so I don’t think winning a 5th is or should be the most important thing. He’s already one of the greatest in College history. Sure it would be nice, but I wonder what his goals are? How does he see next season playing out for him? Levi and Mitchell flip flopping weights would be a surprise. Mitchell is such a high paced guy that I think he would need all of that 65 to keep that motor running. Great listen boys

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

I don’t think it makes sense for Carter to go 97. 197 is probably the weakest weight in the country with no clear cut top dogs (maybe AJ) To me it would look a lot like he is running from the competition of Keegan or Parker if he goes 97. Also if his goals is freestyle 86 kilo is only 189 so if he’s 197 that’s a lot harder to cut an extra 9 pounds than to put on 4 or 5 of muscle. And to be honest I don’t think he’s beating brooks anytime soon so he would have to go 79 kilo if he wants to go freestyle route. And if he goes the mma route he will almost assuredly be a 185 pounder not a 205, the best LHW guys are all 6’4+ with 80+” reach he’d most likely go 185 in mma. This last point I think is more for coaches than Carter but in my opinion getting Conor mirasola (who smoked everyone at u20, and took down brooks at Olympic qualifiers) in the lineup at 97 is better for the team than getting Josh Barr in the lineup (who got tech’d in u20 final) at 84. And it pains me to say that as I live about an hour from where Barr was a 4 timer in Michigan. Best for the team though is Carter at 74, Barr at 84, and Conor at 97.

[@combatspeed6392]

​@giacalonebuilding4443 Brooks is going 92kg after the Olympics for the next cycle. Carter going 197 makes the most sense for the team. He also looked very good at 86kg being both undersized and still recovering from a severe Knee injury. You simply want to see him face Keegan or Parker which is why you want him to go 174 or 184. That's all. Going 197 would be better for going 86kg as it allows him to get bigger and then cut down for freestyle which has far fewer weigh ins. Again you come up with phoney points ONLY because you want him to wrestle Keegan or Parker. Your arguments are all null and void. The best team would be 174 Facundo, 184 Barr, 197 Starrocci. This would allow both Mirasolas to redshirt together so they can both wrestle all 4 years together which they've stated in many interviews is very important to them.

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

@@combatspeed6392 so u think Carter will beat zahid? 🤨I just don’t see freestyle in his future, he might give it a go, but he’s supposedly already training mma and he has a clear path to be the best in mma where wrestling I just don’t see him breaking americas A team anytime soon. And yes I want to see Carter face Keegan or Parker! Badly lol.

[@combatspeed6392]

@giacalonebuilding4443 yes Carter will beat Zahid.

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

@@combatspeed6392 u r sleeping on zahid. He’s like that

[@robertmccamman4630]

David Taylor already has said he wants to pick up a few PSU wrestlers next year.

[@LockedOnNittanyLions]

He could with NIL and the transfer portal.

[@CharlieB-gs5uk]

Davis over Nagao all day. He’s going to RS though.

[@Vincentovich89]

Levi is really bigger than Mitchell? Everyone keeps saying that, but I feel like Mitchell is bigger. I must be mistaken.

[@thezeek2745]

You are

[@xzjayz7925]

Mitchell is taller/lengthier. As for muscle mass, Levi definitely has more. Messenbrink needs to fill out 165. He was a 157 pounder wrestling 165 which is crazy to me. His singlet didn’t even fit him lmao. If he feels out 165, that’s his spot for the best 3 years. Levi or no one takes it from him. But if he doesn’t want to fill out, he could simply drop to 157 and his biggest concern would be Meyer Shapiro.

[@Vincentovich89]

@@xzjayz7925 Well Meyer would certainly be a moderate to substantial underdog to Mitchell (or Levi). After seeing Mesenbrink last year, I feel like he may not lose another collegiate match. His only career loss would be 8-8 on criteria to David Carr. Same with Levi - he may not lose another match either. Insanity.

[@xzjayz7925]

@@Vincentovich89 I agree with Mesenbrink. But Levi Haines is very much beatable especially in the beginning of the season.

[@xzjayz7925]

@@Vincentovich89 but I wouldn’t be calling a u20 world champion like Messenbrink and a guy who dominated his way to third place (after getting upset after concussion protocol) a substantial underdog. I think Messnbrink is the favorite for sure. But I think Shapiro is more than capable of winning any match. Kid sees the game differently whereas Mesenbrink is just nonstop. That’ll be an interesting match. As for Levi Haines, while I think Haines is also a power house he’s a little more vulnerable compared to Mesenbrink. Granted Haines best style is folkstyle. In the post season all the rust is gone. Granted he also had knee surgery. If Mesenbrink never lost a match after Carr I wouldn’t be surprised. If Haines either lost or not I could see both but I can also see him being a 3x natty champ. I think if Haines goes 165 and O’Toole stays there, O’Toole beats out Haines. But O’Toole is apparently going 174, so who knows.

[@jonespoint908]

I disagree here regarding Nagao winning against Davis at 133lbs. Davis is better all around offensive and defensive. Hence my opinion would be Davis 133 for the 2024-25 season and Nagou Red Shirts this season

[@xzjayz7925]

1.) Nagao already redshirted. He’s a redshirt sophomore, now junior. He was a redshirt freshman when he took 5th. 2.) Nagao is visibly faster and has more raw speed. I completely disagree with the offense just based off the bonus percentage of both athletes…. A lot of Davis matches (when it came to high opponents) were relatively low scoring. Nagao goes for shots to his own disadvantage as well. 3.) I don’t see what offense you see in Davis that puts his offense above Nagao…. But I guess that’d be opinion based. To me it all comes down to Mat wrestling. Braeden Davis has yet to be ridden out by anyone, Richie Figs got a riding time point on him, so that’s plausible. But overall he’s extremely good at bottom. However, Nagao is EXTREMELY impressive on top. Ridden out RBY, has pinned multiple high level opponents, and honestly push comes to shove he can just stall. 4.) overall, neural game is pretty even. I said early I don’t see how Braeden has better offense, which I still don’t see. Nagao def has more offense, but Braeden is a good defense wrestler who can scramble, very lengthy, and is good in bottom. While Nagao is quick, better offense, and better at riding out and on top. That being said I think experience plays a factor and the fact Nagao has spent more time at 133 and has AAd at 133 he’d win the spot. I think Braeden if he redshirts and properly fills out 133 (I think at that point he’d beat out Nagao.) since by then he’d be a senior/graduate.

[@xzjayz7925]

9:35 he says it best here

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

Nagao redshirted at Minnesota already. And idk what you are seeing but Nagao (as of now) imo is much better than Braeden. And I think Nagao top game is best in the weight and we’ve seen Davis have trouble getting out bottom from the real strong guys

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

Not to mention Braeden got his ass handed to him at u20 (supposedly injured but who knows)

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

You guys completely skipped over Zack Ryder….Ryder just won u20 open, Barr got blown out 11-0 in the finals same tournament

[@LockedOnNittanyLions]

Fair point. Zack Ryder deserves more respect in these types of conversations.

[@jordanbanks6655]

I truly do not think Parker is someone that Carter wants to risk the feat of 5 with 😭 and understandable...he had 3 close matches with Brooks and beat Trent Hidlay convincingly

[@LockedOnNittanyLions]

I think the 184 class is tougher than 197.

[@jordanbanks6655]

@@LockedOnNittanyLions agreed

[@specspectacular1275]

184 is barr why burn his eligibility ? Why not shirt and further develop connor

[@LockedOnNittanyLions]

For this conversation, it was in regards to who would be the best wrestler at each weight class this season. Logistically, it makes sense to redshirt both of the Mirasola twins. However, I would not be surprised if Connor gets the green light in 2024-25.

[@johnlane3640]

DAVIS 133 ALL DAY

[@user-wf5tb2il2m]

Haines and kasak are never going to Oklahoma St and no one else is either. Taylor was a great wrestler but it doesn't mean he'll be a successful coach so relax on all hypothetical bullshit

[@lexingtonconcord8751]

You are delusional if you don't think anyone is following DT to OSU, and if you don't think he will be a good coach. Delusional...

[@user-wf5tb2il2m]

@lexingtonconcord8751 he's got to prove himself is what I Saud genius and yeah no one is going. No one gives a shit about them that's right

[@lexingtonconcord8751]

@@user-wf5tb2il2m No one cares about Okie State and DT 😂 In your dreams. You keep telling yourself that bub 👍🏻

[@user-wf5tb2il2m]

@lexingtonconcord8751 they haven't done a damn thing sincex2006 so yeah, no one even knows there around. IRRELEVANT BUB!

[@lexingtonconcord8751]

@@user-wf5tb2il2m I don't know why I have to explain this to you, but Penn State was the most irrelevant call a wrestling program on the planet before Cael Sanderson. His name alone brought huge recruits. Guess what? David Taylor is this generation's favorite wrestler. You don't think he's going to bring in top recruits? I don't know why you are in such bad denial... I don't get it

[@garyharrison539]

Davis will be the number 1 guy at 25

[@Jonathan7768]

He won't make that weight. Had a hard time at the end of 2024 season.

[@LockedOnNittanyLions]

Luke Lilledahl would beat Braeden Davis in a wrestle-off, IMO.

[@garyharrison539]

@@Jonathan7768 you don't know Braeden because if you did you wouldn't say that

[@garyharrison539]

@@LockedOnNittanyLions it will be a overtime match...could go either way..Even Cael said the same

[@bilbobaggins7095]

Levi and kasak will redshirt then transfer to ok

[@bilbobaggins7095]

You are wrong sir

[@cjpfeufer6844]

Bro really just said Davis is the defensive master and better on top u must be on crack it’s the opposite bro cmon 😂😂😂

[@LockedOnNittanyLions]

Are you gas lighting me? Most of Nagao’s matches ended with scores like 11-10. Davis’s matches are always 3-2.

[@robertmccamman4630]

Nagao is most over-rated PSU wrestler in history. Nagao is injury prone and a real liability.

[@bilbobaggins7095]

Nagao sucks

[@xzjayz7925]

Saying an AA who’s beaten Jesse Mendez sucks is CRAZY 😂. Some penn state you turned out to be, damn, cut boy some slack lmao.

[@garyharrison539]

This is a bunch of nonsense talk..

[@LockedOnNittanyLions]

I disagree.