Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1518105
4 8 A P R I L 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M H aving scored a record 172.5 team points and crowned four individual champions en route to its 11th na- tional title under coach Cael Sanderson, the Penn State wrestling program is in the midst of one of the great runs in college sports history. The challenge is to sustain that dynasty by continually bringing in elite recruiting classes, and Penn State's coaching staff appears to be succeeding on that front, too. Indeed, the future of PSU's program appears to be in good hands if the high school postseason results from across the country are any indication. Future Nit- tany Lions won multiple titles across vari- ous weight classes and competition levels in March. Starting on the prep side, 120-pounder Nate Desmond, a 2025 commit and two- time Pennsylvania state champ, is now a first-time Prep Nationals champ. The Wyoming Seminary junior and No. 2 wrestler in the country at 120 pounds won six matches at the tournament Feb. 23-24 in Bethlehem, Pa., including a 5-3 decision over Leo DeLuca of Blair Acad- emy in New Jersey, FloWrestling's No. 3 120-pounder nationally. Luke Lilledahl, a 2024 Penn State com- mit from Wyoming Seminary who wres- tles at 126 pounds, won his second con- secutive National Prep title by crushing the field over the course of five matches, one of which was a 7-3 decision over No. 2-seed Charlie DeSena of Lake Highland (Fla.) Prep in the final. FloWrestling lists Lilledahl as the No. 1 overall high school wrestler in the nation. At 165 pounds, 2024 commit Joe Sealey was named the outstanding wrestler at PA State Preps and then became a three- time Prep Nationals champ, winning by a combined score of 34-13 in the semifinal and final rounds. He is rated No. 11 overall in the country. Will Henckel, a 2025 commit from Blair Academy, won the 175-pound bracket at Prep Nationals, defeating Dominic Federici of Wyoming Seminary, the No. 9 175-pounder in the land, in the final. FloWrestling ranks Henckel as the na- tion's No. 16 pound-for-pound wrestler. In the high school ranks, the Mirasola twins, Connor and Cole of West Bend (Wis.) West High, both shined at the state tournament. Connor Mirasola became one of just 28 Wisconsin wrestlers to ever win four state titles, securing a spot in the final round with a pair of technical falls and a pin be- fore claiming the 190-pound crown just 4 seconds into his match due to a medi- cal forfeit. Cole Mirasola earned his third heavyweight title by pinning his way to the final before beating second-seeded Brock Arndt for the championship. The two 2024 recruits are headed to PSU this summer. In FloWrestling's pound-for- pound national rankings, Connor is listed No. 10, while Cole is No. 20. Junior PJ Duke of Minisink Valley High won a 160-pound New York state title by crushing the field at the Division 1 cham- pionships. Three victories, two by techni- cal fall and one by fall, took him to the fi- nal, where he won by technical fall, 27-12. In Pennsylvania, numerous future Penn State wrestlers placed at the PIAA state tournament. Mason Gibson, a 2024 commit from Bishop McCort, finished fourth at 133 pounds. FloWrestling ranks Gibson as the No. 16 132-pounder in the country. Class of 2024 commit Brock Weiss of Jersey Shore, ranked No. 11 nationally at his weight class, was stunned in the quarterfinals at 139 pounds when he was pinned from the defensive position while leading 11-4. Weiss forfeited in the con- solation bracket to end his tournament. PENN STATE SIGNEES SHINE IN TOURNAMENT ACTION G R E G P I C K E L | G R E G . P I C K E L @ O N 3 . C O M Even as he was leading Penn State to the past three NCAA wrestling championships, Cael Sanderson was stocking his 2024 and '25 recruiting classes with elite high school talent. PHOTO BY GREG PICKEL Date Opponent Result Nov. 12 Journeymen Collegiate Classic* Individ. Nov. 19 Army Black Knight Invite** Individ. Nov. 21 NWCA ALL-STAR CLASSIC Individ. Dec. 3 LEHIGH W, 30-10 Dec. 10 HOFSTRA W, 43-10 Jan. 5 at Oregon St. W, 36-3 Jan. 14 INDIANA W, 46-0 Jan. 19 at Michigan W, 27-9 Jan. 21 at Michigan State W, 35-0 Jan. 28 at Maryland W, 42-6 Feb. 2 OHIO STATE W, 28-9 Date Opponent Result Feb. 9 at Iowa W, 29-6 Feb. 12 RUTGERS^ W, 35-3 Feb. 18 NEBRASKA W, 22-13 Feb. 25 EDINBORO W, 55-0 Mar. 9-10 Big Ten Championships% 1st Mar. 21-23 NCAA Championships# 1st * at Bethlehem, Pa. ** at West Point, N.Y. ^ at Bryce Jordan Center % at College Park, Md. # at Kansas City, Mo. Penn State 2023-24 Wrestling Schedule