Less than 48 hours after locking up its 12th national title in 14 years, it became official that Penn State wrestling has added a world champ.
Japan’s Masanosuke Ono, who won the world title at 61 KG this past October in Albania, announced on FloWrestling radio that he’s coming to America and wrestling collegiately at Penn State.
World champion Masanosuke Ono ➡️ Penn State! pic.twitter.com/G9urWQtERz
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) March 24, 2025
Ono is already familiar with PSU.
He has been training with Nittany Lion Wrestling club since January, so people wondered if the 21-year-old would join Cael Sanderson’s empire full-time. Earlier this week, word got out that Ono was listed as a “student” in Penn State’s directory.
From there, it felt inevitable that Ono would be joining the team, and the inevitable became reality late Monday morning.
WHERE WOULD ONO FIT?
A big question now becomes: What weight class will Ono compete at?
Where would Ono fit at Penn State? The obvious answer would be “well, anywhere, he’s a world champ.”
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.But, realistically, the best option for him seems to be at 133.
With or without Ono, Penn State wrestling is slated to have a few options at 133 next season.
Braeden Davis, the team’s current starter, will have two years of eligibility left. Aaron Nagao, who started last year and then lost all of this season to injury, is also slated to be in the mix, and there’s also a chance Luke Lilledahl, who finished third at 125 as a true freshman this year, moves up as Davis did from 125 after last season.
We’ll see what happens, but Ono would become the instant favorite to win it all at 133 should he come to Penn State. This year, Davis finished fifth.
THE RICH GET RICHER
Penn State just broke its own points record en route to its latest title.
Carter Starocci Makes History, Penn State Breaks Own Points Record at NCAA Wrestling Championships
Now, it has one of the best wrestlers in the world. I think we all know who the favorite to win next year’s Championships will be.
