Penn State Sends Full Squad to NCAA Championships with Four Top Seeds
The Penn State Nittany Lions continue their reign as college wrestling’s gold standard, heading into the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships with all 10 starters qualified and four earning No. 1 seeds in their respective weight classes. The championship tournament, set to take place in St. Louis, Missouri, features Penn State as the overwhelming favorite after a dominant showing at the Big Ten Championships.
Leading the charge for the Nittany Lions are top-seeded wrestlers Luke Lilledahl (125 lbs), Tyler Kasak (157 lbs), Mitchell Mesenbrink (165 lbs), and Carter Starocci (184 lbs). Each of these athletes has had a standout season and enters the NCAA bracket with an undefeated or near-perfect record.
This level of top-tier qualification reflects the depth and excellence instilled by head coach Cael Sanderson, whose program has won 10 NCAA team titles since 2011. “It’s an honor to have all ten guys earn a trip to the tournament,” Sanderson said. “That consistency is what we strive for. Now it’s about staying focused and performing on the big stage.”
In addition to the four No. 1 seeds, Levi Haines (174 lbs), a returning NCAA finalist, and several other wrestlers enter the tournament seeded in the top eight, giving Penn State strong scoring potential across the board.
Fans and analysts alike expect Penn State to push for another team title, possibly even challenging the record for total team points set by the 2017 Nittany Lions. With both individual stars and depth across all weights, the team is poised to dominate.
If the seeds hold and performances match expectations, Penn State could walk away with multiple individual champions and yet another NCAA trophy to add to its already legendary legacy.
