Cael Sanderson confirmed that Marcus Blaze will wrestle at 141 pounds for Penn State in the upcoming season, a move that the head coach described as both beneficial for Blaze and the team. Speaking at a media session on Tuesday, Sanderson explained the decision to shift Blaze up from 133 pounds ahead of Penn State’s season opener against Bloomsburg on Thursday, November 12.
Sanderson said the change made sense given Blaze’s physical development and long-term plans, especially with the Olympic year approaching. “Marcus is a guy who’s ready to go at any time,” Sanderson said. “He’s getting a little bit bigger and, while he’s disciplined enough to cut to 133 pounds, we feel like it was a good move for him. He’ll be a good size 141 pounder. We’re not worried about his size.” The coach added that Blaze could live a lifestyle at either weight but moving up aligns with his plans to compete at 65 kilograms internationally.
The adjustment came as part of broader roster updates Sanderson shared. Two wrestlers, Will Henckel and Cole Mirasola, will be taking religious mission years, meaning they will not be on the roster this season. Sanderson described both as “strong men of faith” who chose to pursue their missions this year.
As for the lineup on Thursday, Sanderson said decisions were still being finalized. Masanosuke Ono, who wrestled at 133 pounds last season, is a possible starter but the coaching staff had yet to confirm the full roster. “We’re getting close,” Sanderson said. “We’re going to have to make those decisions.”
The coach also touched on the uncertain eligibility status of Levi Haines following a recent court ruling. Sanderson admitted he was unclear on the details, describing the situation as uneven across states and sports. “I don’t really understand that whole process,” he said. “Some kids in some states and some teams get that year and some don’t.” Sanderson called it a “sad thing” that individual athletes have to pursue their cases and said the team was still deciding how to proceed with Haines, who remains an important figure in the program and recently won a world championship through the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club.
In the back half of the lineup, Sanderson confirmed that Nate Desmond and Ono are expected to lead at their weights, with Mitchell Mesenbrink and PJ Duke moving up. If Haines returns, it will complicate the lineup but the team is prepared to adapt. “We’ve got a pretty solid lineup,” Sanderson said. He praised Desmond’s versatility and toughness, calling him “a beast all the way around.”
Sanderson also spoke about the impact of assistant coach Nick Lee, a multiple-time national champion and All-American. Lee’s competitive mindset and team focus are benefiting the wrestlers, including Blaze. “Nick Lee’s been a tremendous addition to our staff,” Sanderson said.
At heavyweight, Sanderson expressed confidence in Connor Mirasola, the twin brother of Cole, who has put significant effort into moving up to compete at that weight class. Connor previously won the University or U23 nationals last spring and has grown physically. “He’s big and strong,” Sanderson said. “He’s made the transition to heavyweight already. I’m really excited to see him compete.”
Penn State’s season opens on November 12 at Rec Hall against Bloomsburg, where these roster decisions will start to take shape on the mat. Sanderson’s remarks indicate a team balancing experienced leaders, new weight class adjustments, and a few roster gaps due to personal decisions and eligibility questions.
According to Yahoo Sports.
