Penn State wrestling to add world champion to roster

Penn State wrestling dominated the NCAA Tournament field yet again this weekend, claiming the program’s fourth consecutive and 13th national championship. A lineup stacked with 10 All-Americans is set to get even better in 2026, as the Nittany Lions are preparing to add Japanese World Champion Masanosuke Ono to the roster.

Ono confirmed his plans to compete for the Nittany Lions on FloWrestling Radio Live on Monday morning.

“Penn State will help me. Penn State is the best in the world,” he said. “I want to be a NCAA Champ.” Ono added that he is currently working on obtaining his visa to return to the United States.

Before the NCAA Championships opened on Thursday, wrestling insider Pat Mineo reported that the 21-year-old Ono is now registered in the Penn State student directory. Ono had been training with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club ahead of his February match with former Iowa Hawkeye Spencer Lee, which he won 3-2.

Ono’s decision is a massive pickup for Cael Sanderson. Ono has already won Gold at the 2024 U20 World Championship and the 2024 World Championship. His U20 world title included a 7-2 finals victory over 2026 Penn State wrestling commit Marcus Blaze.

2026 Penn State wrestling lineup projections

Penn State wrestling will return seven of ten starters for next season. Only Beau Bartlett, Carter Starocci, and Greg Kerkvliet are moving on from the program.

Luke Lilledahl projects to again be the 125-pound starter after winning the Big Ten title and finishing third at the NCAA Championships. The question then becomes 133 and 141 pounds. Ono wrestles internationally at 61 kilograms, which is 134 pounds. The top recruit in the 2025 cycle, Blaze projects to compete at either 133 or 141 early in his collegiate career. With 133-pounder Braeden Davis returning for his junior season, there would likely be competition for a starting role in one of those weight classes.

When asked about where he would wrestle, Ono noted that he still isn’t certain.

“Actually I don’t know yet, but coach [Sanderson] said to me, ‘It’s no problem: 125, 133, 141, 149, 157 – it’s okay.”

Regardless of how the Nittany Lions lineup shakes out, Penn State wrestling will be favored to win a fifth straight national title next March in Cleveland.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, one of the fastest-growing outlets covering Penn State athletics. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned and operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!

Please follow us on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for breaking news and notifications. For feedback, questions, or concerns, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on social media.