EARLY 2026-27 lineup projections/discussions

jstross

Senior
Oct 28, 2005
235
503
93
Ono gets chunky and can see 155 with no issues. He said he was over 170 before. He had a kidney issue trying to make 57KG he gets big and has no issues cutting weight. Blaze looks like a 133 again Seidel made him look small. And Luke is a 125 looks like career at this point
At this point it's clear LL 125, Ono 133, but obviously adjustments from there.
 

Nitlion1986

All-Conference
Apr 13, 2024
1,549
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If Blaze decides he wants the RS to get stronger (possible after this year’s finish) or if Desmond beats him in a wrestle off then it could go this way.

Otherwise, it’s best 10. In sure the coaches do pay attention to eligibility, but it’s not driving the train like it does on these boards. If someone isn’t good enough to make the lineup they don’t wrestle and there’s no “hey, let’s sit you so this other guy you can beat doesn’t waste a year.” Before someone rebuts with Kasak, that wasn’t the case this year. If Tyler could have wrestled he would have. Next year if PJ wants to and can win the 65 spot, he will. Whether he can is another story, but I wouldn’t bet on him not being confident he can.

Long, long way to go until September and I would wager not even the staff sees it this far ahead every year. It will work itself out and the best kids in the room that want to be on the mat that year will be on the mat if they’re ready. This is very much still a meritocracy.
The kids involved will get a say in what, where, who.
I ask Levi and Mitch which one of you is wrestling 165 and which 174. The both laughed and said where ever the coaches tell us. I then laughed and said "bullshiit, you both knew what you were doing at the end of the first day you were in the room together. You two then told the coaches and they kind of shrugged and grunted yeah, ok. Then reminded you that everything is Top secret so don't tell." Levi burst out laughing and ask me, "yep. But, since you know how it works why did you ask."
 

WV lion

All-Conference
Oct 17, 2021
1,383
1,882
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Looking ahead some with upper weights. When does Cunningham get in the lineup? Does he go up to 197 when Barr is gone or stay 184 to replace Rocco when he is gone? Is Henkle a career 174? Seems like the 197lb Mirasola brother is the odd man out?
Connor will replace barr. When barr is done or when barr takes an Olympic shirt.
 
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Sandy2176

Freshman
Nov 1, 2025
96
91
18
Yeah. I am a believer in Ross. He is not yet a heavy, but will fill out nicely in 2 years. I am quite confident his ceiling is higher than Cole who really is a 197 pushed to heavy.

Other than that most of our problems are 2-3 years out when possibly Ono, Mitch, Shane move on, and then the following when Luke, and Josh say goodbye. That's a lot of firepower in a short amount of time and only a few have an answer in our current pipeline. DTs squad with be full to the brim at that time.
and Welsh,LL JB
 
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Sandy2176

Freshman
Nov 1, 2025
96
91
18
Fit goes away as soon as Jax can’t pull 133 anymore. The problem with the slide up is that there’s no one at 149 , no? So Jax to 141, Vega to 149, ?? 157, Robideau 165, Dee 174.

Can the Raney twins be 133/157? If the plan is 133/149, is Vega a 157?
Maybe Jax all the way up there eventually.
Good problem to have but the meat being in that window means we’re probably seeing one Raney a year until it clears out in 2030. That ignores Rocklin Zinkin and Ramirez.
Zinkin, Raney, Forrest, Vega , Raney, Robideau, Lockett, Ryder, Merrill, Ross , National championship possible team for 2 or 3 years, then following recruits. Great competition.
 
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Sandy2176

Freshman
Nov 1, 2025
96
91
18
People are saying to RS Duke as he doesn’t have a spot so it’s tough to make room for Sealey. Then there’s James coming in too.

I understand if he transfers and would root for him should he go to Minnesota or anywhere else (against anyone not PSU of course)

No room at the inn for sealey.
Sealey might be a guy who wants to be at PSU and is willing to wait till his Sr. Year?
 

Junglekat

Sophomore
Feb 14, 2018
57
140
33
Except my post didn't settle anything. Other than, Ono is not wrestling 141 next year.
You say it very matter of factly. We've seen Desmond this year at 41. I believe his best win at 41 was against Ragusin SV who was a shell of himself this year and not a NQ. We've also seen Ono win the 24 Asian games at 65 kg. I realize freestyle and folkstyle are different animals, but in my opinion right now Ono scores more points at 41 than Desmond. Now if that was just your opinion than I misinterpreted and I apologzie. But this thread is pure speculation and the only thing we can go on is LL said he'll be back at 25. Other than that, all we can go on is speculation.
 
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vhsalum

All-Conference
Nov 14, 2002
1,003
2,219
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The Raneys don’t fit given same weights as Jax and Vega

Ross is a stud but last summer Cole handled him twice in freestyle

other guy is “only” #11, who might be replacement for 125 when Spratley leaves

PSU is knocking, James coming in next year and in 2027 have a great class lined up in lower/middle weights which will fit like a glove

One Raney will be out of the lineup, no matter what. Little Raney is in if Jax/Vega move up. Big Raney (149) is out if Jax/Vega move up.
 

vhsalum

All-Conference
Nov 14, 2002
1,003
2,219
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Bear in mind, 5 of the 7 minutes can be wrestled on their feet and the other 2, the opponent would have to choose top.
I'm not worried about Ono on bottom actually. He's athletic as all hell. I'd be worried about him on bottom against Jax or Seidel, but that's EVERYBODY anyway, so it's a push.

His biggest struggle is going to be the scrambling/defense from his leg attacks.
 

Steelhead52

Junior
Oct 18, 2012
194
364
63
It will be interesting to see where JJ ends up weight wise. He said in an interview after going 43-0 with all bonus wins and teching and pinning his way through the state tournament at 165 that he was walking around at 162 and didn't cut weight. KD has been an amazing mentor and coach to this kid and his ceiling is off the charts. His match with Marvin Miller was incredible as I felt I was watching two of the best and explosive kids I have seen. His older brother is a running back at Notre Dame so he may keep growing. I think he was around 115 as a freshman. As a jr. he won states at 150 and now he's at 165. He's one of these kids that is just so good he wrestles where he is without the need to cut weight to be competitive.
 

BWFight

Senior
Feb 6, 2014
163
604
93
well there is one freak here unable to answer a simple question!
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Lots of people have difficulty understanding the concept of walking around weight vs. actual weight. Assuming you are naked in both instances, you will weigh the same. 🥸
 

Anon1771451651

Redshirt
Feb 18, 2026
4
1
1
125 - Lilledahl
133 - Desmond
141 - Ono (Blaze RS)
149 - Van Ness
157 - Kasak
165 - Messenbrink (Duke RS)
174 - Henckel
184 - Welsh
197 - Barr
285 - Mirasola
Yeah-125-Luke
133-Desmond
141-Ono
149 -Shane
157-Kasak
165 Duke or Messinbrink
174-Messinbrink or James
184-Rocco -mirasola
197-Barr
Hey -mirasola
 

Nitlion1986

All-Conference
Apr 13, 2024
1,549
4,574
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You say it very matter of factly. We've seen Desmond this year at 41. I believe his best win at 41 was against Ragusin SV who was a shell of himself this year and not a NQ. We've also seen Ono win the 24 Asian games at 65 kg. I realize freestyle and folkstyle are different animals, but in my opinion right now Ono scores more points at 41 than Desmond. Now if that was just your opinion than I misinterpreted and I apologzie. But this thread is pure speculation and the only thing we can go on is LL said he'll be back at 25. Other than that, all we can go on is speculation.
Combination of what I have been told and what I believe. Things change, but I really don't see that one changing.

Of course, I could be wrong or you know full of baloney.

However they work it out, it will be another record setting lineup. Nobody told me that one, I just know it to be true.
 

BriantheLion

All-Conference
Nov 27, 2023
1,401
1,903
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Don’t be too hard on yourself. Lots of people have difficulty understanding the concept of walking around weight vs. actual weight. Assuming you are naked in both instances, you will weigh the same. 🥸
I am “walking around” every afternoon dressed, fed and watered, ten pounds more than first thing in the morning, no clothes, food or water!
 
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J.E.B

All-Conference
Jul 8, 2001
2,216
3,221
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Flip Ono and Desmond and you have my prediction.

I think 133 'could' be a struggle for Desmond but who knows. He definitely grew out of 125 in half a season.

Blaze needs another year of muscle and experience, he is an A+++ talent but Devino and Seidel out powered him. He was consistently too cautious from neutral against the elite guys and his mat wrestling is just shy of what you need to beat the very best.

Duke will be a 3xer whether he redshirts or not but taking the Zain route to total domination makes sense for the lineup, and his legend. He could definitely make a run at multiple Hodges. I don't think I will ever get over how badly he got screwed.
No reason not to believe that Lilledahl, Ono, Desmond, SVN is the front half. Blaze and Duke need to RS. Heck, Duke has been competing at the highest level for 9-12 months. Kid needs a break. Bulk up, rest up and rock in roll at 165 or 174 after MM departs. Kasak is at 157. It will be interesting to see where Henkel RSF, Cunningham RSF, James TrF, and other Mirasola RSSo end up. One of them may go at 174 next yr. But that’s 184 thru 197 for the future… in 3 yrs.

We have another team going for gold, again and will definitely threaten another team record score.

Great to see Okie St. coming but PSU has withstood runs by O$U, Iowa, Michigan, and now Nebraska. Not sustainable. Pressure is now all on them to elevate. Not sure the experience, talent, or depth is there to overtake PSU in the next three yrs…. With 155 pts returning, PSU will be sniffing 200 pts. next year.

Let them meet in December with 6 others and have a tournament. It’s great for the sport. Everyone wrestles 3 matches for places 1-8… One match each on Friday Saturday Sunday. It would be a huge event and would be a boom for any city hosting it. The weekend before the CFB playoffs.
 
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Efejle

All-Conference
Apr 30, 2023
855
2,006
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LL stays at 125 because why move a champ that easily makes weight. Ono 131 is pretty clear IMO. Blaze could go 141, but it will be his choice as Caael lets them decide.
Pyles and his buddy JD this morning said Ono will not wrestle for Penn State next year: They claim zero matches this year was not good, they also claim that Seidel would easily turn Ono on top, and they claim he isn't big enough for even 133.
 

Nitlion1986

All-Conference
Apr 13, 2024
1,549
4,574
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Pyles and his buddy JD this morning said Ono will not wrestle for Penn State next year: They claim zero matches this year was not good, they also claim that Seidel would easily turn Ono on top, and they claim he isn't big enough for even 133.
OK, I was wondering. Now I know Pyles is just click baiting.
Next Pykes show will be discussing Oklahoma State's first place ranking entering the 2026-27 season.
Little wonder Cael would like to practice blast doubles on the twins with Pyles standing in the middle.
 

J.E.B

All-Conference
Jul 8, 2001
2,216
3,221
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Yeah. I am a believer in Ross. He is not yet a heavy, but will fill out nicely in 2 years. I am quite confident his ceiling is higher than Cole who really is a 197 pushed to heavy.

Other than that most of our problems are 2-3 years out when possibly Ono, Mitch, Shane move on, and then the following when Luke, and Josh say goodbye. That's a lot of firepower in a short amount of time and only a few have an answer in our current pipeline. DTs squad with be full to the brim at that time.
Did you see the new arrivals in two yrs? Four out of top 12 already. Although not necessarily desirable the portal will still plug any holes but shouldn’t be needed.

It’s really hard to see PSU tumbling in the next ten yrs… can OkSt sustain their push? They are Gen3 and will appeal to a certain type of grappler as will PSU…

They’re checking a lot of boxes but… must see TV!
 
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zzs006

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2017
780
4,435
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I have this in another thread but figured it should go as well


With this debate raging on I wanted to do a side by side comparison of next years team along with what’s coming in the pipeline. OkSt has 2 incredible classes in a row but their 2027 class is small. 2028 is the class that will really decide if they will push PSU in the near future. It’s a really good class but one I expect PSU to sign the number 1 class

PSU next year

125-Lilledahl
133-Blaze, Ono, Desmond
141-Blaze, Ono, Davis
149-SVN, Pierce, Perry, Herring
157-Duke, Kasak, Sealey
165-Mesenbrink
174-Henckel, James
184-Rocco, Asher
197-Barr, Mirasola
Heavy-Mirasola, Brown

2027 Recruits

125-Sidun
133-Burnett
149-Mangano
149/157-Shepherd

OkSt next year

125-Spratley, Sakamoto, Zinkin
133-Jax, Ramirez, Hughes, McComas, Raney
141-Vega, Jamison
149-Swiderski, Jamison, Raney
157-Robideau, Routledge
165-Lockett, Guerrero
174-Facundo
184-Ryder, White
197-Merrill, Johnson
Heavy-Ross

2027 Recruits

125-Villasenor
197-Hodgins

2028- PSU targets
Sammy Sanchez- #1 Flo big board
Cam Howard- #2 Flo big board
Jaydin O’Farrill- #7 Flo big board
Cameron Hazelett- #9 Flo big board
Mario Hutcherson- #10 Flo big board
Kendall Hoare- #11 Flo big board

I think 3 of these kids are definite PSU leans (Howard, O’Farrill, and Hutcherson) with supposed interest from the others. If PSU gets 4 of these kids it’s hard to see OkSt truly pushing them for a title in the near future. Looking at the existing lineups and what each team has coming I just don’t see it neck and neck like many are saying. I think OkSt will be in its own tier at 2nd but still a sizable amount of points behind PSU. They are paper thin in the upper weights and still need to develop a bunch of the depth that PSU has. If Lockett can grow into a 174, Robideau into 165, and Raney into 157 it would help a ton. Otherwise there is going to be some truly elite guys sitting in those lower weights. For PSU they need Mangano to be a 149, Herring to jump another level, or one of Blaze or Desmond to grow into that weight. 149 is really the only weight with question marks in the near future.
 

Efejle

All-Conference
Apr 30, 2023
855
2,006
93
Wait a second, is Ross coming in and taking a championship next year at 285? He is that good?