A key contribution to Penn State’s recent success has been its domination of the 174-pound and 184-pound divisions.

Both weight classes are set with proven winners and depth pieces with immense potential, positioning themselves for another deep postseason run.

Here’s how the two weight classes shape up in 2026-27.

174

If Mitchell Mesebrink ends up making the jump to 174-pounds, he’ll become the easy favorite to repeat as a National Champion within the division.

The reigning Dan Hodge Trophy winner and two-time national champion is the strongest pillar of Penn State’s wrestling dynasty. Mesenbrink posted another undefeated season with an extremely impressive 96.3% bonus rate, meaning he won all but one match by major decision, tech fall, or fall.

Over his three years at Penn State, Mesenbrink has amassed an 80-1 overall career record, with his lone defeat occurring during the 2024 NCAA finals against Iowa State’s David Carr.

While it isn’t nearly to the same degree as Mesenbrink, redshirt freshman William Henckel was flawless during his freshman season as well. Henckel went 9-0 in official matches and dominated the Southern Scuffle, defeating Caden Bellis to earn the 174-pound tournament title.

Prior to officially joining Penn State, Henckel earned a U20 silver medal in 2025, proving to be one of the top young wrestlers in his weight class. He’ll provide Cael Sanderson with an exceptional weapon in the room.

True freshman Jayden James enters the fray as the No. 3 ranked pound-for-pound recruit in the 2026 class. James flipped his commitment from Virginia Tech to Penn State and plans to grayshirt this season, allowing him to keep his 5 years of eligibility while not competing.

James’ resume on the domestic and international stage adds context to his high rank. The Morristown, New Jersey, native went undefeated over his final two seasons at Delbarton High School. James won a 2025 U17 World Championship gold medal and two silver medals in the U20 and U23 World Championships.

While he plans to grayshirt, he’ll still have the opportunity to learn behind two of the best wrestlers in the division.

184

After finishing as a NCAA runner-up for the second time in his career, Rocco Welsh will enter the season as a title contender in the 184-pound weight class.

In his debut season in the blue and white, Welsh dominated with a record of 29-2 while notching a 59% bonus rate during the year. Welsh claimed his first Big Ten Championship after defeating Minnesota star Max McEnelly in a 2-1 tiebreaker victory.

Welsh continued his run by cruising through the opening rounds of the NCAA tournament, winning his first three matches against Caleb Uhlenhopp, Rylan Rogers and Silas Allred by a combined 39-9. His final matches were as tight as they come, outlasting Michigan’s Brock Mantanona in a 4-2 battle and falling short 4-3 in the final in a rematch against McEnelly.

While Welsh is the main attraction, Asher Cunningham is a key lineup piece and a dark-horse contributor for the Nittany Lions at both 174 and 184.

During his redshirt freshman season, Cunningham compiled a 7-1 record in open tournaments, with his only defeat coming against Welsh in a 13-5 decision. His marquee victories included a 9-8 win over All-American Caleb Campos, an 11-3 win over Aaron Ayzerov and an 8-0 shutout against Christian Hansen.

With two outstanding options at 184-pounds, Penn State is primed for a good chance at an individual championship win during the 2027 Big Ten and National Championships.

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