Rising Penn State wrestling star may make unexpected move in 2025

Rising Penn State wrestling sophomore star Tyler Kasak could be in for a significant change this offseason. However, it may not be the one that many expected. After Kasak missed weight at the U20 World Team Trials last weekend, there is growing speculation that the 2024 Freshman All-American could be moving up, not down, in weight within the Nittany Lions lineup in 2025. Kasak would potentially be joining a series of possible lineup moves for Cael Sanderson and the Nittany Lions for the upcoming season.

Tyler Kasak has a big decision ahead of him this summer

Going into the summer, there were some who thought that Tyler Kasak would possibly go back down to 141 pounds once Beau Bartlett moves on after the upcoming season. The freshman had previously filled in for Shayne Van Ness at 149 pounds this past season and finished third at the NCAA Championships.

But as Pat Mineo noted on X recently, Tyler Kasak may be making the move to 157 pounds for the 2025 season.

“For all the doubters last month who told me ‘no way Kasak goes 157’ for PSU and that ‘he’s a 141 lber’…He scratched out of the [U20 World Team] Trials at 70 kg (154 lbs) because he couldn’t get to weight,” Mineo wrote last weekend. “Kid is bulking!”

For all the doubters last month who told me “no way Kasak goes 157” for PSU and that “he’s a 141 lber”… He scratched out of trials at 70kg (154 lbs) because couldn’t get to weight. Kid is bulking!

— The Wrestling Room (Pat Mineo) (@MrPatMineo) June 1, 2024

The jump to 157 pounds makes sense for Kasak, as it would keep him in the lineup with All-American Shayne Van Ness expected to return next winter. Van Ness should retake his spot at 149; so unless Kasak redshirted, he would have to find a new weight.

While Tyler Kasak didn’t make weight at U20 Trials, there is still a possibility that he is a little overweight because the season is over. Like many wrestlers, he may be returning to his natural weight.

It will be hard to determine exactly what the reason is for the weight miss until we get closer to the season, but it certainly could have massive implications on the national landscape in 2025.

Other possible lineup changes for Penn State wrestling

In addition to Tyler Kasak, Levi Haines, and Carter Starocci potentially making moves, the Penn State wrestling lineup still has some other questions that need to be answered.

The 2024 No. 1 overall recruit Luke Lilledahl is expected to arrive as a 125-pounder. Braeden Davis occupied that role in 2024, earning the No. 1 overall seed at the NCAA Championships and making it to the round of 12.

Davis was rumored to be cutting significant weight to make it to 125 last season, so moving up to 133 isn’t out of the question. He also still has his redshirt, so that could be a possible scenario. He could even eventually move to 141 once Beau Bartlett graduates. Lilledahl seems like the more natural 125-pound wrestler and, possibly, the more talented of the two at the class.

If Davis moves up, that would put him in direct competition with Aaron Nagao at 133 pounds. Nagao struggled some in 2024, but was an All-American at the 2023 NCAA Championships.

The other key areas to watch are 174 and 184. It is widely expected that Levi Haines will take that 174-pound spot, leaving Alex Facundo without a position. Facundo was an NCAA qualifier in 2023 before taking an Olympic redshirt this past season.

While redshirt freshman Josh Barr is expected to step into the 184-pound slot, Facundo could move up if he puts on some weight. He has more experience than Barr, but both have had tremendous success in recent months at the international level.

Cael Sanderson and Penn State wrestling have the best problem that any program can hope for. Ultimately, the Nittany Lions have 12 wrestlers who have All-American potential, and only 10 spots in the lineup. The coaching staff could get creative with the use of redshirts or they could simply let the best wrestler come out on top and have some cushion in case of injuries.

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