Penn State has had some historic rosters and lineups under coach Cael Sanderson, winning the national championship in 11 of the last 13 seasons. Despite those previous successes, this season’s roster and lineup is the best Sanderson has ever had.
Penn State has an answer at 125 pounds — a weight class they’ve struggled in. Freshman Luke Lilledahl came in with high expectations and has answered them so far.
Lilledahl is ranked No. 8 and has a 16-2 record in his first collegiate season. Lilledahl was the No. 1 prospect in the 2024 class, according to FloWrestling, and has proved his worth at 125 for this year and beyond.
Early in the season, there were question marks at 157 and 197 pounds, but both weight classes have produced.
Tyler Kasak got his first crack to be the starter at 157 and has become one of the best wrestlers in the country. In Penn State’s victory over Iowa, Kasak defeated then-No. 1 Jacori Teemer, 5-2, to become the new No. 1 at 157. The sophomore is a true contender to win a national championship this March.
At 197, Lucas Cochran wrestled first, but Josh Barr was the starter. Cochran enjoyed a big performance, but Barr continued as the starter and has proved to his coaches that their decision was the right one. Barr is ranked No. 2 and enters the Big Ten Championships with a 17-1 record.
The redshirt freshman has faced some tough competition, including No. 7 Stephen Little and No. 5 Michael Beard, both of whom he defeated. Barr is making an impact this season and sets Penn State up for a bright future at 197.
