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EARLY 2026-27 lineup projections/discussions

backdrft76-1

backdrft76-1

Senior
Sep 7, 2012
189
954
93
Since the discussions about next season are already starting in several NCAA threads, and in order to hopefully consolidate those discussions and prevent the threads from derailing, might as well start this.

Who's gonna start at 25/33/41 next season between Luke, Marcus, Ono, Desmond, Davis?

Does Davis get his RS finally? Does he return?

Can Cole get bigger/stronger for HWT? Does Connor see the lineup?

I see it:
Luke
Desmond
Ono (or reverse the above)
SVN
Kasak
Mess
Henckel
Rocco
Barr
Cole
 
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R

Random4598375

All-Conference
Jan 10, 2020
580
1,693
93
gimb14 said:
Think Duke might redshirt.

Luke
Blaze
Ono
SVN
Kasak
Mesenbrink
Henckel
Rocco
Barr
Mirasola
Click to expand...
Agreed. I don't think Mesenbrink is going to move up, especially with an Olympic cycle at 74 kg approaching, and I don't think Duke wants to cut to 157 anymore either, so RS is most likely.

I also don't think Blaze will be 133 again after this season, so it would be on Ono to make 133, which will probably depend on whether he thinks he wants to go 57 kg or 65 kg in 2028. My best guess:

125 Lilledahl
133 Ono
141 Blaze
149 SVN
157 Kasak (Duke RS to prepare to move up to 165)
165 MM
174 Henckel
184 Welsh
197 Barr
285 Cole
 
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A

Anon231980

Senior
Dec 9, 2025
191
433
63
Random4598375 said:
Agreed. I don't think Mesenbrink is going to move up, especially with an Olympic cycle at 74 kg approaching, and I don't think Duke wants to cut to 157 anymore either, so RS is most likely.

I also don't think Blaze will be 133 again after this season, so it would be on Ono to make 133, which will probably depend on whether he thinks he wants to go 57 kg or 65 kg in 2028. My best guess:

125 Lilledahl
133 Ono
141 Blaze
149 SVN
157 Kasak (Duke RS to prepare to move up to 165)
165 MM
174 Henckel
184 Welsh
197 Barr
285 Cole
Click to expand...
Agree with the only exception with this off year, can Kasak make 157 next year. If he can, PJ redshirts, and Ono gets two years, it really puts up in great position with Oklahoma State making their "attempted" run!
 
G

gimb14

All-American
May 3, 2022
3,975
7,215
113
Random4598375 said:
Agreed. I don't think Mesenbrink is going to move up, especially with an Olympic cycle at 74 kg approaching, and I don't think Duke wants to cut to 157 anymore either, so RS is most likely.

I also don't think Blaze will be 133 again after this season, so it would be on Ono to make 133, which will probably depend on whether he thinks he wants to go 57 kg or 65 kg in 2028. My best guess:

125 Lilledahl
133 Ono
141 Blaze
149 SVN
157 Kasak (Duke RS to prepare to move up to 165)
165 MM
174 Henckel
184 Welsh
197 Barr
285 Cole
Click to expand...
yeah. ono and blaze can go either way. agreed
 
L

LemonPie

Senior
Jan 2, 2016
190
760
93
I don’t think Barr to 285 is completely out of the question. He’s on 97KG watch. Frees up a spot for Connor or Asher. Cole can take the next two years (only loses 1 year with Olympic redshirt) to bulk up and give his brother a turn.

I think James might start right away at 174. Just depends on what Duke and Messenbrink wants to do.
 
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L

Lil Nicky Scarfo

All-Conference
Jul 1, 2025
1,339
3,817
113
LemonPie said:
I don’t think Barr to 285 is completely out of the question. He’s on 97KG watch. Frees up a spot for Connor or Asher. Cole can take the next two years (only loses 1 year with Olympic redshirt) to bulk up and give his brother a turn.

I think James might start right away at 174. Just depends on what Duke and Messenbrink wants to do.
Click to expand...
Interesting thought re: Barr. That might be a plan.
 
R

Random4598375

All-Conference
Jan 10, 2020
580
1,693
93
Tri-Power65 said:
Man, I just don't see Duke redshirting.
Click to expand...
The issue is that it's been said multiple times that he won't be at 157 again, and I highly doubt MM wants to move up away from his Olympic weight, and I would consider MM pretty much the only guy on the roster who Duke couldn't just challenge him and take his spot, so it's either jump all the way to 174 or RS.
 
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B

BriantheLion

All-Conference
Nov 27, 2023
1,400
1,903
113
LemonPie said:
I don’t think Barr to 285 is completely out of the question. He’s on 97KG watch. Frees up a spot for Connor or Asher. Cole can take the next two years (only loses 1 year with Olympic redshirt) to bulk up and give his brother a turn.

I think James might start right away at 174. Just depends on what Duke and Messenbrink wants to do.
Click to expand...

Lil Nicky Scarfo said:
Interesting thought re: Barr. That might be a plan.
Click to expand...
“I bought TWO cows from Mr. Kasak.”!!
 
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M

MikeReichard25419

Freshman
Jul 3, 2025
28
81
13
Just to be an oddball I'll throw this one on here:
125 Lilledahl
133 Blaze
141 Ono
149 Van Ness
157 Kasak
165 Duke
174 Messenbrink
184 Welsh
197 Barr
285 Mirasola
If it's this linesup I'm already calling 10 in the NCAA finals
 
J

jqforster

Redshirt
Feb 7, 2019
45
33
18
I think it will be
125 Lilledahl (Does Lilledahl have a RS to use) Desmond if LL RS
133 Blaze or Ono
141 Blaze or Ono
149 Van Ness
157 Kasak (Duke RS)
165 Messenbrink
174 Henckel
184 Welsh
197 Barr
285 Mirasola

*Note* I dont see Davis at Penn State next year. Desmond too small for 141. Possible Desmond at 133 if Blaze RS.
 
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K

kingstown

All-Conference
Dec 7, 2025
614
1,934
93
I think James is going to keep growing. Henckel is a stud, so losing Levi will hurt less than it would to most teams. Desmond and Sealey along with Conner M. are such great wrestlers for backups. I wonder if a couple leave not out of spite or sour grapes but just simply to see the mat. I was very happy for the claw when he was able to AA. I just keep thinking Nate Desmond is going to be a National champ at some point if he can start lol.
 
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W

WV lion

All-Conference
Oct 17, 2021
1,382
1,880
113
backdrft76-1 said:
Since the discussions about next season are already starting in several NCAA threads, and in order to hopefully consolidate those discussions and prevent the threads from derailing, might as well start this.

Who's gonna start at 25/33/41 next season between Luke, Marcus, Ono, Desmond, Davis?

Does Davis get his RS finally? Does he return?

Can Cole get bigger/stronger for HWT? Does Connor see the lineup?

I see it:
Luke
Desmond
Ono (or reverse the above)
SVN
Kasak
Mess
Henckel
Rocco
Barr
Cole
Click to expand...
Blaze not Desmond
 
W

WV lion

All-Conference
Oct 17, 2021
1,382
1,880
113
LemonPie said:
I don’t think Barr to 285 is completely out of the question. He’s on 97KG watch. Frees up a spot for Connor or Asher. Cole can take the next two years (only loses 1 year with Olympic redshirt) to bulk up and give his brother a turn.

I think James might start right away at 174. Just depends on what Duke and Messenbrink wants to do.
Click to expand...
Out of question.
 
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W

WV lion

All-Conference
Oct 17, 2021
1,382
1,880
113
jqforster said:
I think it will be
125 Lilledahl (Does Lilledahl have a RS to use) Desmond if LL RS
133 Blaze or Ono
141 Blaze or Ono
149 Van Ness
157 Kasak (Duke RS)
165 Messenbrink
174 Henckel
184 Welsh
197 Barr
285 Mirasola

*Note* I dont see Davis at Penn State next year. Desmond too small for 141. Possible Desmond at 133 if Blaze RS.
Click to expand...
Desmond isn't making 125 anymore
 
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5

5q

All-Conference
Sep 8, 2001
1,497
2,022
113
Cael always tends to get a transfer
Something to think about
He will upgrade if a lesser weight has a better option available
 
L

Lil Nicky Scarfo

All-Conference
Jul 1, 2025
1,339
3,817
113
Funny to see some of the premature Intermat grave digging. One desperate Buckeye troll - who I guarantee is probably Degaz from their 247 board as his posts on the 2 boards often mimic each other - is comparing recruiting classes when Ok State had to go heavy and we had no real needs. Of course we only have 1 top rated recruit - we are loaded. And that 1 guy is James who is going to blow people’s minds.

Guy knows Tom Ryan can’t beat Cael so he’s relying on Taylor. Shambles!
 
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J.E.B

J.E.B

All-Conference
Jul 8, 2001
2,216
3,221
113
Okie State will be knocking. Four outstanding freshmen this year and four more coming in. Not sure where the Rainy brothers fit, though… PSU needs some competition otherwise they just compete against themselves which is fine and what they’ve done the last 3-4 yrs. Mirasola will be on the Cassar diet. He’ll be bulky next year.
 
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OzarkLion

OzarkLion

Senior
Oct 11, 2021
123
416
63
5q said:
A top 8 hwt
Click to expand...
We have one. People had some really high expectations for an undersized freshman Heavyweight. While he fell short of his goal this year, I have no doubt he will add some good size in the off season (you could hang a billboard on the kid's back, his frame is huge) and be challenging for Top 4 or so next year. As spoiled as we are becoming, we aren't going to have 10 AAs every year. I don't see anyone who may be entering the portal that would be an upgrade on what we have.
 
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H

HOA242n!

Senior
Aug 18, 2025
219
548
93
OzarkLion said:
We have one. People had some really high expectations for an undersized freshman Heavyweight. While he fell short of his goal this year, I have no doubt he will add some good size in the off season (you could hang a billboard on the kid's back, his frame is huge) and be challenging for Top 4 or so next year. As spoiled as we are becoming, we aren't going to have 10 AAs every year. I don't see anyone who may be entering the portal that would be an upgrade on what we have.
Click to expand...
This all aside, there is nobody to go after in the portal. All four semifinalists were seniors. Who are they going to go after, Christian Carroll? He beat Mirasola this year, but he's a year older and no closer to being a "full-sized" heavyweight.
 
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W

WV lion

All-Conference
Oct 17, 2021
1,382
1,880
113
OzarkLion said:
We have one. People had some really high expectations for an undersized freshman Heavyweight. While he fell short of his goal this year, I have no doubt he will add some good size in the off season (you could hang a billboard on the kid's back, his frame is huge) and be challenging for Top 4 or so next year. As spoiled as we are becoming, we aren't going to have 10 AAs every year. I don't see anyone who may be entering the portal that would be an upgrade on what we have.
Click to expand...
People just can't put on good weight at will. He had 2 years to put on weight, this may be as heavy as he can get.
 
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5

5q

All-Conference
Sep 8, 2001
1,497
2,022
113
WV lion said:
People just can't put on good weight at will. He had 2 years to put on weight, this may be as heavy as he can get.
Click to expand...
Exactly Now all of a sudden he can add the 15lbs Its not a knock on him, cael will upgrade if the chance presents itself, see rocco welsh, coming in to unseat zach ryder
 
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