Penn State Wrestlers Dominate NCAA Coaches' Rankings

Nittany Lions hold top spots in most weight classes ahead of busy weekend

Jan. 29, 2026 at 12:07pm

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The first NCAA coaches' rankings for the 2025-2026 wrestling season have been released, and Penn State wrestlers continue to hold most of the top spots. The Nittany Lions have several wrestlers ranked No. 1 in their weight classes, including Shayne Van Ness at 149 pounds, Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165 pounds, Levi Haines at 174 pounds, Rocco Welsh at 184 pounds, and Josh Barr at 197 pounds. The team is gearing up for a busy weekend, hosting Nebraska on Friday night.

Why it matters

Penn State's wrestling program has been a dominant force in college wrestling for years, and their continued success in the rankings underscores their status as one of the premier programs in the country. As the Nittany Lions prepare to take on Nebraska, this ranking update provides valuable context and insight into the team's strengths heading into the matchup.

The details

In the first set of NCAA coaches' rankings, Penn State has several wrestlers holding the top spot in their respective weight classes. This includes Luke Lilledahl at 125 pounds, Shayne Van Ness at 149 pounds, Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165 pounds, Levi Haines at 174 pounds, Rocco Welsh at 184 pounds, and Josh Barr at 197 pounds. The team also has strong showings in other weight classes, with Marcus Blaze at No. 2 in the 133-pound division and PJ Duke at No. 2 in the 157-pound class.

  • The first NCAA coaches' rankings for the 2025-2026 wrestling season were released on January 29, 2026.
  • Penn State will host Nebraska on Friday night, January 31, 2026.

The players

Luke Lilledahl

Penn State wrestler ranked No. 2 at 125 pounds.

Marcus Blaze

Penn State wrestler ranked No. 2 at 133 pounds.

Shayne Van Ness

Penn State wrestler ranked No. 1 at 149 pounds.

PJ Duke

Penn State wrestler ranked No. 2 at 157 pounds.

Mitchell Mesenbrink

Penn State wrestler ranked No. 1 at 165 pounds.

Levi Haines

Penn State wrestler ranked No. 1 at 174 pounds.

Rocco Welsh

Penn State wrestler ranked No. 1 at 184 pounds.

Josh Barr

Penn State wrestler ranked No. 1 at 197 pounds.

Cole Mirasola

Penn State wrestler ranked No. 9 at 285 pounds.

Mark Manning

Head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers wrestling team.

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What they’re saying

“They got really good guys, obviously, at every weight class, and you know, lot like these guys, every one of these guys are ranked, so not really that much difference. Just got to go in (with a) fighter's mentality and perform. We have to be aggressive, we have to be aggressive. So we have that element that we need to unleash more, be more aggressive.”

— Mark Manning, Head Coach, Nebraska Cornhuskers

What’s next

Penn State seeks its 83rd consecutive dual meet victory when it hosts Nebraska on Friday night. The Cornhuskers come to town after losing to Iowa last Friday and Ohio State on Sunday. Head coach Mark Manning's team figures to be favored at heavyweight, where AJ Ferrari will take on the aforementioned Mirasola.

The takeaway

Penn State's continued dominance in the NCAA coaches' rankings underscores their status as one of the premier wrestling programs in the country. With several wrestlers ranked No. 1 in their weight classes, the Nittany Lions are poised for another successful season as they prepare to take on Nebraska in a highly anticipated matchup.