Breaking News
Penn State is reportedly close to finalizing an agreement that would make Matt Campbell its next head football coach.
But beyond football headlines, another story continues to unfold in Happy Valley — the remarkable performance of the Penn State wrestling team’s reserve athletes. Even with four straight national titles, the Nittany Lions’ extraordinary depth means that many elite wrestlers spend their seasons waiting behind established starters. Their opportunities often come in tournaments and invitationals, where they consistently show that Penn State’s bench could form a competitive team of its own.
Below is a look at how those backups have performed this year and how they might fare if they were elevated to starting roles.
125 Pounds
At 125 pounds, Nate Desmond has been a standout among the reserves. He delivered one of the strongest performances of the season at the Army Black Knight Invitational, toppling Chattanooga’s Cooper Flynn — who held a No. 16 national ranking — and Army’s Charlie Farmer, then ranked No. 23. Desmond went on to win the entire event, earning a 5-3 victory over his teammate Luke Lilledahl, who was the nation’s top-ranked wrestler at the time. His showing demonstrated that Penn State’s depth at the lightest weight is almost unmatched.
133 Pounds
Masanosuke Ono serves as the backup at 133 pounds, though his reputation extends far beyond collegiate wrestling. Considered one of the most gifted athletes globally at this weight, Ono has yet to compete in a Nittany Lion singlet this season. That likely will not change this year, but heading into next season he is already viewed as a contender for a national title the moment he officially enters the lineup.
141 Pounds
At 141, the reserve role belongs to Braeden Davis — an All-American last season at 133 pounds after finishing fifth at the NCAA Championships. With Aaron Nagao returning from injury, Davis is expected to redshirt this season. On almost any other roster, he would be a clear starter, but Penn State’s extraordinary depth allows the coaching staff to preserve his eligibility. Based on his résumé, Davis would realistically project as a top-10 finisher had he been in the lineup this year.
149 Pounds
Junior Connor Pierce has made noise at 149 pounds. At the Black Knight Invitational, he secured lopsided wins over Army’s Ryan Franco and Columbia’s Richard Fedalen. Pierce recorded a 19-4 technical fall against Franco with six takedowns, then produced an 18-5 major decision with five takedowns against Fedalen. His run carried him to the finals, where he fell 14-7 to teammate and starter Shayne Van Ness. Even in defeat, the performance solidified him as a high-level competitor.
157 Pounds
Last season’s breakout at 157 pounds, Tyler Kasak, will spend the current season redshirting. Kasak took third at the NCAA Championships and entered this year ranked No. 1 nationally and favored to win a title. His 23-2 record last season underlined his dominance, but with PJ Duke and Joe Sealey available at this weight, Penn State has the flexibility to redshirt him. As a starter, he would be a clear national championship contender.
165 Pounds
At 165 pounds, Sam Beckett is the primary backup behind Mitchell Mesenbrink. Beckett placed fifth at the Black Knight Invitational, going unbeaten in the consolation rounds after receiving an opening-round bye. A transfer from Stanford, he demonstrated reliability and toughness, reinforcing that Penn State has capable depth waiting behind one of its most dynamic starters.
174 Pounds
The backup at 174 pounds is William Henckel, who reached the finals at the Black Knight Invitational. His run ended with a 4-0 loss to starter Levi Haines, one of the top wrestlers in the country. Still, Henckel’s overall performance showed he could be competitive against strong competition and hold his own at this weight class if given a starting opportunity.
184 Pounds
Freshman Asher Cunningham, serving as the reserve at 184, impressed with a dominant march to the finals at the same invitational. He scored double-digit points in both of his opening matches before falling 13-5 to starter Rocco Welsh. A two-time Pennsylvania state champion, Cunningham already looks capable of competing at a national level and has one of the highest ceilings among Penn State’s younger backups.
197 Pounds
At 197 pounds, Connor Mirasola has emerged as one of Penn State’s most impressive reserves. Early in the season, he defeated DJ Parker — then ranked No. 8 nationally — in a 5-2 decision. Due to an injury to starter Josh Barr, Mirasola has seen significant time on the mat and has made a legitimate case to retain the starting position even once Barr returns, despite Barr entering the season ranked No. 1 in the country.
285 Pounds
The heavyweight position began with a battle between Cole Mirasola and Lucas Cochran, with Mirasola ultimately earning the starting role. Cochran, however, has delivered strong performances of his own. He pinned his way to the finals at the Shorty Hitchcock Memorial tournament and later finished third at the Black Knight Invitational. After spending previous years shifting between 197 and heavyweight, this season marks his first full campaign as a true 285-pounder, and he has handled the transition well.
Predictions
If each of Penn State’s backups were thrust into the starting lineup, these are the projected finishes:
Desmond: All-American
Ono: National champion
Davis: All-American
Pierce: Top 20
Kasak: National champion
Beckett: Top 30
Henckel: Top 20
Cunningham: Top 20
Mirasola: All-American
Cochran: Top 20
And if Penn State were to compete nationally using only its second string, that team alone would likely finish fifth at the NCAA Championships — behind Penn State’s starters, Ohio State, Nebraska, and