Masanosuke Ono eligiblity: Penn State wrestling makes initial roster listing for the Japanease superstar

Japanese superstar Masanosuke Ono is officially on the 2025-2026 Penn State wrestling roster. The 2024 U20 and Senior World champion committed to wrestle collegiately for the Nittany Lions back in March. He’s been with head coach Cael Sanderson’s team off and on ever since. And now the Matsue City, Japan native has his first online listing at his new school.

The Lions list Ono with junior eligibility. That means he could redshirt this year, which is expected, before competing down the road as a redshirt junior and redshirt senior. Penn State also lists him at 133 pounds. He will wrestle in the 2025 Bill Farrell Memorial International wrestling tournament this weekend at 57 kilograms. That equates to about 125 pounds. But, his folkstyle future appears to be at either 133 or 141 pounds. His two International gold medals, for what it’s worth, both came at 61 kilograms, which is 134.1 pounds.

Assuming Ono sits out this season while getting accustomed to college life in the U.S., Penn State is likely to go with Perrysburg, Ohio freshman Marcus Blaze at 133 pounds. Junior Braeden Davis, then, could bump up to handle the 141-pound starting spot that is open following Beau Bartlett’s graduation.

“Just because Penn State is the best in the world,” Ono told FLO when asked why he wanted to join the Lions.

“Penn State will help me,” Ono told FLO. “Penn State is the best in the world.”

Looking ahead to the Penn State 2025-2026 season

Sanderson will speak at his first media availability this week since winning the 2024-2025 NCAA championship back in March. There is plenty to discuss. The plan for Ono, Blaze, and Davis will lead the way. But, there is also a question mark about who will start at 157 pounds. Freshman PJ Duke will vie for that role against returning All-American Tyler Kasak. And, heavyweight figures to be a battle between veteran Lucas Cochran and redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola.

Where are the Lions in the latest rankings?

The Nov. 4 update is below. The number in parentheses is where the Nittany Lion was ranked last week.

Weight	Name	FLO	InterMat	The Open Mat
125 pounds	Luke Lilledahl	No. 3 (3)	No. 3 (3)	No. 3 (3)
133 pounds	Marcus Blaze	No. 9 (10)	NR	No. 7 (8)
141 pounds	Braeden Davis	No. 8 (8)	No. 9 (9)	No. 7 (7)
149 pounds	Shayne Van Ness	No. 1 (2)	No. 1 (1)	No. 1 (1)
157 pounds	Tyler Kasak	No. 2 (2)	No. 2 (2)	No. 2 (2)
165 pounds	Mitchell Mesenbrink	No. 1 (1)	No. 1 (1)	No. 1 (1)
174 pounds	Levi Haines	No. 1 (1)	No. 1 (1)	No. 1 (1)
184 pounds	Rocco Welsh	No. 3 (3)	No. 2 (2)	No. 2 (2)
197 pounds	Josh Barr	No. 1 (1)	No. 1 (1)	No. 1 (1)
285 pounds	Cole Mirasola	No. 11 (12)	No. 11 (12)	No. 13 (13)