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The prodigious Penn State wrestling team just got stronger, stunningly so.
Former Ohio State All-American Rocco Welsh is joining coach Cael Sanderson's Nittany Lions. The redshirt freshman from Waynesburg, Pa. announced his transfer move on a podcast with national wrestling insider Justin Basch.
The addition further solidifies Penn State as the runaway national title favorite in 2025-26. The Lions already were returning seven of 10 starters from the team that just won its 12th national championship in the past 14 years in history-making fashion.
The Lions tied an NCAA record with 10 All-Americans two weekends ago in Philadelphia and broke their own record for most team points. Penn State's Carter Starocci also became the first five-time individual title winner in NCAA history.
Welsh's commitment comes less than a week after Penn State landed Japanese world freestyle champion Masanosuke Ono, who figures to wrestle next season at 133 or 141 pounds.
Welsh expects to compete at 184 pounds, replacing Starocci − the PSU wrestler he lost to in the NCAA finals, 2-0, last year in Kansas City. (Both were at 174 pounds then).
Welsh redshirted this past season after moving up in weight, wrestling only in open tournaments at 184 pounds. He'll have three years of eligibility with the Lions.
Welsh said this about his decision on the Sunday podcast:
"It really is just (about) being in the room with all those really good (training) partners and the coaches. They’ve accomplished all the stuff that I want to accomplish there, and I think it’s going to be a confidence thing. ... So it’s like, it can be done there."
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The previous favorites to take over for Penn State at 184 pounds were redshirt freshmen Zack Ryder or Connor Mirasola. Both project as future stars. Ryder, a three-time world junior team member, won silver at the 2024 U20 World Championships in Spain.
Penn State will return senior and former national champ Levi Haines at 174 pounds.
News broke Thursday night that Welsh was entering the transfer portal. Rumors immediately began surfacing that he was being courted hardest by Penn State and Oklahoma State, led by former PSU national champ David Taylor.
Welsh went 26-6 as an Ohio State freshman in 2023-24, making the NCAA final at 174 pounds as the No. 6 seed − where he lost to Starocci for the second time that season.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State wrestling for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Ohio State All-American Rocco Welsh transfers to Penn State wrestling
Continue reading...
Former Ohio State All-American Rocco Welsh is joining coach Cael Sanderson's Nittany Lions. The redshirt freshman from Waynesburg, Pa. announced his transfer move on a podcast with national wrestling insider Justin Basch.
The addition further solidifies Penn State as the runaway national title favorite in 2025-26. The Lions already were returning seven of 10 starters from the team that just won its 12th national championship in the past 14 years in history-making fashion.
The Lions tied an NCAA record with 10 All-Americans two weekends ago in Philadelphia and broke their own record for most team points. Penn State's Carter Starocci also became the first five-time individual title winner in NCAA history.
Welsh's commitment comes less than a week after Penn State landed Japanese world freestyle champion Masanosuke Ono, who figures to wrestle next season at 133 or 141 pounds.
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Welsh expects to compete at 184 pounds, replacing Starocci − the PSU wrestler he lost to in the NCAA finals, 2-0, last year in Kansas City. (Both were at 174 pounds then).
Welsh redshirted this past season after moving up in weight, wrestling only in open tournaments at 184 pounds. He'll have three years of eligibility with the Lions.
Welsh said this about his decision on the Sunday podcast:
"It really is just (about) being in the room with all those really good (training) partners and the coaches. They’ve accomplished all the stuff that I want to accomplish there, and I think it’s going to be a confidence thing. ... So it’s like, it can be done there."
Abdul Carter update: Why he's a No. 1 NFL Draft pick: Abdul Carter talks injury, Penn State football, more
Their best lineup yet? Can NCAA wrestling champion Penn State be even better? A projected lineup for 2025-26
Top college wrestler: Will Carter Starocci win the Hodge Trophy? How to vote for Penn State wrestling finalists
The previous favorites to take over for Penn State at 184 pounds were redshirt freshmen Zack Ryder or Connor Mirasola. Both project as future stars. Ryder, a three-time world junior team member, won silver at the 2024 U20 World Championships in Spain.
Penn State will return senior and former national champ Levi Haines at 174 pounds.
News broke Thursday night that Welsh was entering the transfer portal. Rumors immediately began surfacing that he was being courted hardest by Penn State and Oklahoma State, led by former PSU national champ David Taylor.
Welsh went 26-6 as an Ohio State freshman in 2023-24, making the NCAA final at 174 pounds as the No. 6 seed − where he lost to Starocci for the second time that season.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State wrestling for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Ohio State All-American Rocco Welsh transfers to Penn State wrestling
Continue reading...
