Why Penn State Fans Can't Miss The US Open
Why Penn State Fans Can't Miss The US Open
Don't worry Nittany Lion fans, you still have a lot of fun wrestling to look forward to this off-season.
One month after winning their 12th NCAA team title, Penn State wrestling is already back in action. With future, current, and former wrestlers all competing at the US Open, the field in Las Vegas will be keeping Nittany Lion fans busy.
Penn State Entries
Current Athletes
U20 70 kg - Connor Pierce
U20 86 kg - Jack Kelly
Senior 65 kg - Beau Bartlett
Senior 79 kg - Carter Starocci
Senior 86 kg - Aaron Brooks
Off Season Transfers
U20 74 kg - Mitchell Mesenbrink
High School Commits
U20 57 kg - Cael Nasdeo
U20 65 kg - Tyler Kasak
U20 79 kg - Josh Barr
U20 86 kg - Connor Mirasola
U20 92 kg - Cole Mirasola
Senior Level
This is the first step in making the 2023 World Team for the senior level athletes. With a 2022 World Medalist already waiting in Final X, these three wrestlers will have to win the US Open to compete at Final X and have the chance to make the World Team.
Beau Bartlett is coming off a solid junior season where he took 3rd place at 141 lbs. However, I think at this point in his career he is still a little outmatched at the senior level. The 65 kg field includes the likes of Joey McKenna, Evan Henderson, Anthony Ashnault, Pat Lugo, and more. Bartlett is freestyle savvy (he made the 2021 Junior World Team) so I think he still performs well and picks up a big win or two.
The 79 kg field with Carter Starocci is absolutely brutal.
There is a brutal road to get to 79kg's final boss, @alliseeisgold.
— Christian Pyles (@CPyles8) April 22, 2023
The US Open will have:
Chance Marsteller
Carter Starocci
David McFadden
Alex Dieringer
Taylor Lujan
Michael Labriola
All vying for a US Open title and a shot at Burroughs.
At WTT last year Starocci took out Alex Dieringer and David McFadden before falling to Chance Marsteller. So, Marsteller will likely be the #1 seed with Starocci at the #2. However, Starocci beat Marsteller at 2021 WTT.
Watch Marsteller beat Starocci at 2022 WTT below.
Watch Starocci beat Marsteller at 2021 WTT below.
In classic Starocci fashion, he wasn’t shy about sharing his thoughts about Marsteller.
Aaron Brooks hasn’t competed in freestyle since the 2021 Olympic Trials. However, Brooks vs Zahid Valencia is one of the most anticipated potential matches of the entire tournament. Valencia is 2-0 against Brooks, but it went from 6-0 at the 2019 Senior Nationals to 6-3 at the Olympic Trials. And that was a long time ago. Brooks has continued to get better.
Watch Valencia vs Brooks from the 2019 Senior Nationals below.
Off Season Transfers
Mitchell Mesenbrink was a massive pick up for the Nittany Lions just last week. He made the U20 World Team last year by beating Levi Haines two matches to none.
Watch the highlights from Mesenbrink and Haines’s 2022 U20 WTT finals series below.
U20
This is not the World Team Trials for the U20 wrestlers. However, the winner gets to sit until the finals of the World Team Trials June 3-4. This can be a huge advantage. It might have helped Mesenbrink defeat Haines last year.
After making the U17 Team last year, Tyler Kasak is trying to make his 2nd straight World Team. However, he’ll have college freshmen stars Jesse Mendez and Vince Cornella in his bracket at his weight. As well as high school nationally ranked #1 Kannon Webster and #2 Koy Buesgens.
We could get round IV of Rocco Welsh - Josh Barr in what is one, if not the, best rivalries in high school wrestling. Welsh is committed to Ohio State, so this could still just be the beginning. Welsh won the first meeting at Fargo 2022. However, Welsh has gotten the last two.
Watch Josh Barr and Rocoo Welsh’s most recent match at the 2023 PWC below.
Similar to Mesenbrink, the Mirasola twins are products of the Askren Wrestling Academy. They're both top six at their weights and top 20 on the 2024 Big Board. The field at 86 kg, Connor's weight, is much more loaded than 92 kg. However, they both have a legit shot at winning.
Former Penn State Wrestlers Competing
65 kg - Nick Lee
74 kg - Jason Nolf
74 kg - Vincenzo Joseph
92 kg - Morgan McIntosh
65 and 74 have World medalists waiting in Final X already. However, Morgan McIntosh will be competing for the #1 seed and advantage of sitting out until the finals at the World Team Trials June 20-21.