Penn State wrestling isn’t just chasing another NCAA title—it’s continuing one of the most dominant dynasties in college sports history. Under Cael Sanderson, the Nittany Lions have turned into an unstoppable force, racking up championships like clockwork. Now, as the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships kick off in Philadelphia, all 10 Penn State wrestlers are primed to extend the program’s dominance. But who are the wrestlers leading the charge this time?
Penn State has a full roster of national title contenders, proving once again why they are the team to beat. Leading the charge is Carter Starocci (184 lbs), aiming to become the first five-time NCAA champion in history. Starocci remains a top contender despite injuries and is extremely determined to make history.
He will be accompanied by Aaron Brooks (197 lbs), a four-time NCAA champ who is looking to make it official. He’s been among the top wrestlers in the country, and another championship would make him a great all-time wrestler.
Rising freshman Luke Lilledahl will make his NCAA tournament debut at 125 pounds, with Braeden Davis (133 lbs) challenging himself against the best.
Penn State’s middleweights run deep with Beau Bartlett (141 lbs), Shayne Van Ness (149 lbs), and Tyler Kasak (157 lbs) all poised to be serious threats. Mitchell Mesenbrink (165 lbs) has been a wrecking ball all season with a relentless and aggressive style that’s a nightmare to match up with.
Weighing 174 pounds, Levi Haines returns to the NCAA stage after last year’s deep postseason run and is more than capable of claiming a national title. And heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet (285 lbs) is looking to upset top-seeded Gable Steveson.
Penn State is poised to again control all weight classes with four No. 1 seeds and several reigning champions. It’s time to look after their legacy.
Cael Sanderson’s legacy—how Penn State built a Wrestling dynasty
Penn State wrestling is not just dominant—it’s at a level that few other sports ever attain. Under Cael Sanderson since the 2009-2010 season, he has built an empire that keeps breaking record books. His legacy is not just measured in titles but in how he has changed the sport.
The numbers tell part of it. Having claimed 11 of the last 13 NCAA team championships, Sanderson has turned Penn State into a collegiate wrestling dynasty. This year they can win their fourth straight team title and potentially break their own NCAA scoring record. That’s a level of dominance that’s rarely seen in college sports. But more than numbers is the culture that Sanderson has created at Penn State that keeps them in a class by themselves.
Unlike other top programs that work on breaking their athletes down through grinding, Sanderson’s philosophy is based on mental toughness, gratitude, and ongoing improvement. It’s not necessarily training harder that enables him to create champions—it’s training smarter.
When Carter Starocci got injured in 2024 and couldn’t perform at full capacity, Sanderson didn’t simply push him physically—instead, he rewrote his entire attitude by letting him know that he could win the tournament on one leg but not with a bad attitude. Starocci went on to win his fourth title with the injury as a testament to the mental toughness that Penn State wrestlers have.
Recruiting is another secret to this dynasty. Sanderson does not recruit top high school prospects—rather, he recruits those who fit. His program is built on wrestlers who buy into his system more than those with the best résumés. Penn State recruits frequently pass up starting roles immediately at other programs because they believe in the long-term vision that Sanderson has in store for them. Such belief has created a pipeline of wrestlers who do not simply aim to win NCAA championships—rather, they have their sights set on the future after college, looking to succeed at the international and Olympic levels.
The numbers don’t lie. Penn State has had at least two national champions as individuals since 2016. The program already matched the NCAA record of most individual champions at a single tournament twice and this year is poised to break that record by claiming six or more titles. It’s a nearly unprecedented level of dominance, and here’s the incredible part: Sanderson isn’t satisfied.
Even with all those championships under their belt, he still strives to do more. His wrestlers are well aware of that and it motivates them to continue setting higher standards. When asked to talk about Penn State’s greatness, Sanderson dismissed it with a wave of his hand and said, “We don’t think about that stuff. We think about our next match and getting better.” It’s that attitude that’s not merely making Penn State win—they’re redefining what success is in college wrestling.
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