Penn State wrestling: True freshmen shine in weekend showcases

Top-ranked Penn State wrestling has yet to return to the mat as a team in the new year, but a few younger Nittany Lions made their mark over the weekend in notable tournaments across the country.

Penn State sent wrestlers to two tournaments over the weekend ahead of the program’s Big Ten opener against Michigan State on Friday night. Many of those participating were true freshmen who Cael Sanderson wants to get valuable experience outside of the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex. This weekend was a good opportunity for these young Nittany Lions to get matches under their belt while still retaining their redshirt status.

Nine Penn State wrestlers made the trip to the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Saturday and Sunday, while two other wrestlers traveled to the Edinboro Open on Saturday. Out of the 11 wrestlers who competed, four came home with individual titles, while a total of seven out of eleven participants placed at their respective events.

However, the most exciting part of the weekend for Penn State wrestling fans was just how dominant multiple true freshmen appeared still in the infancy of their careers.

Penn State freshman flash potential in early season opportunities

How true freshmen perform in tournaments such as the Southern Scuffle and Edinboro Open can help any program see around the metaphorical corner. Wrestlers can compete in five events and retain their redshirt for the season. But competing in tournament-style events only counts as one appearance and can help multiple matches of experience.

Last year, Josh Barr competed in the Journeymen Classic, Black Knight Invitational, Mat-Town Open II, and Edinboro Open in addition to his start in the dual against Indiana. Going 14-0 across those five competitions, the experience certainly contributed to his incredible start to the 2025 season.

Three more former top-10 recruits saw tremendous success this weekend at the Southern Scuffle. Zack Ryder won the scuffle title at 184 pounds with a 5-0 record. He picked up two ranked wins, including a 9-2 victory over No. 22 DJ Parker (Oklahoma) and a pin of No. 20 TJ Stewart (Virginia Tech) in the semifinals. Ryder now sits at 8-0 on the season after sweeping through both the Black Knight and Southern Scuffle.

The true freshmen Mirasola twins also put up impressive weekends on their way to individual titles at 197 and 285 pounds.

Connor Mirasola took home the 197-pound championship with a 5-0 record. The highlight of his tournament was a 7-3 victory over No. 30 Patrick Brophy of the Citadel. Mirasola is now 8-1 on the season, with his only loss coming to Josh Barr in the Black Knight Invitational.

Cole Mirasola had perhaps an even more impressive performance, finishing with a 4-0 record with a pair of ranked wins. The first came with a 21-6 tech fall over No. 29 Connor Barkett (Duke) in the quarterfinals, followed by a 9-0 major decision over No. 24 Lucas Stoddard of Army in the finals. Mirasola improves to 6-0 on the season and has picked up bonus points in five of his six matches. Projected to be the successor to heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet after this season, Mirasola is already showing signs that he’ll be able to instantly produce his first year in the starting lineup.

In the Edinboro Open, true freshman Cael Nasdeo went 3-0 against collegiate competition to win the 141-pound title. Nasdeo is now 5-3 on the season, with a 3-3 record against Division I competition.

Penn State wrestling returns to action for the first time in 2025 on Friday night, when the Nittany Lions take on Michigan State inside Rec Hall at 8 p.m.

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