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Penn State wrestling All-Americans announce new NIL partnership

Penn State wrestling stars Beau Bartlett and Shayne Van Ness recently inked a new NIL deal aimed at taking training to a higher plane of thinking.

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Penn State wrestling, Beau Bartlett, Shayne Van Ness, NIL
Mar 22, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Beau Bartlett of Penn State celebrates his victory over Lachlan McNeil of North Carolina during the semifinal of the Men’s Division I NCAA Wrestling Championships at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Tre. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Penn State wrestling stars Beau Bartlett and Shayne Van Ness are using NIL to help promote their unique brands of mental fortitude. Earlier this month, the Nittany Lion All-Americans announced a new partnership with Wrestling Mindset, a leading mental performance training provider in the sport.

“Wrestling Mindset is thrilled to partner with such accomplished and dedicated athletes,” said the company’s co-founder, Gene Zannetti. “Beau and Shayne exemplify the commitment and perseverance that our training aims to instill in all wrestlers.”

Founded by brothers Gene and Jeff Zannetti, who both wrestled at the University of Pennsylvania, Wrestling Mindset aims to help athletes sharpen their mental edge on and off the mat. The company is the official mental training partner of USA Wrestling.

“I really am excited for this,” Beau Bartlett said in a short video as part of the NIL partnership’s announcement. “Wrestling Mindset aligns perfectly with who I am, and together, we’re all going to jump levels.”

For Shanye Van Ness, the NIL deal is an opportunity to rejoin a group that benefited his rise as a high school wrestler.

“I worked with their program when I was in high school, and I’m really excited to be working alongside them now,” Van Ness said. “Wrestling Mindset gives you the tools for [a] mindset master. And I believe that if you can master your mind, you can master your life.”

Penn State wrestling stars have unfinished business in 2025

Penn State wrestling, Beau Bartlett, Shayne Van Ness, NIL

Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Both Penn State wrestlers will have their resolve tested as they seek to join the program’s list of individual National Champions. 

Beau Bartlett returns to Happy Valley with one final season to capture the title that has eluded him throughout his Penn State wrestling career. Bartlett’s 2024 campaign ended as National Runner-Up. The Arizona native lost only twice all year, both to eventual National Champion Jesse Mendez. The fifth-year senior finished third at the NCAAs in 2023.

Shayne Van Ness is also looking to move up the podium after finishing third at Nationals in his last competitive season. However, Van Ness’s comeback is of a different sort, after suffering a season-ending injury last December.

The information trickling in regarding the redshirt sophomore’s recovery has seemed positive thus far. But we likely won’t get a better picture of the 149-pounder’s status until much closer to the season. 



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Matt is a co-owner and Editor in Chief of Basic Blues Nation. Launched in 2022, Basic Blues Nation is one of the fastest-growing websites covering all Penn State athletics, with over 3.5 million readers in 2023. Matt is also a credentialed member of the Penn State football beat, and is a member of the Football Writers Association of America.

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