A former NCAA finalist is in the transfer portal, and Penn State wrestling has reportedly added him.
Now-former Ohio State star Rocco Welsh, who made it all the way to the finals at the 174-pound weight class as a true freshman in 2024, entered the portal Thursday evening.
Per MatScouts, Welsh to Penn State is “already a done deal.”
i’m told it’s penn state and it’s done. https://t.co/VQ643WMpxn
— MatScouts (@MatScouts1) March 27, 2025
This is a big deal for a few reasons.
It’s big news in the general wrestling world because Welsh is a former national finalist who is on the verge of leaving one of America’s most prominent programs. It also makes Penn State wrestling even better.
WHY WELSH TO PENN STATE MAKES SENSE
So why would Welsh leaving Ohio State for Penn State, one of its rivals, make sense? Well, let’s start with the obvious. Penn State has the best wrestling program in the world and arguably the most dominant operation anywhere in college sports. The team just wrapped up its 12th team title in 14 years, breaking the points record with 177 and becoming the first team since 2001 Minnesota— and just the second ever— to have all 10 starters be All-Americans.
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For Welsh specifically, Penn State makes sense because of the location.
Before Welsh was a star at Ohio State, he wrestled at Waynesburg Central High School, which is about an hour south of Pittsburgh.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.WHERE WOULD WELSH FIT?
So where would Welsh fit in Penn State’s lineup?
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It seems that 184 is the best bet.
Although Welsh has had his most success in college wrestling at 174, he moved up a class between his freshman and sophomore seasons.
This past season, Welsh wrestled unattached and went 15-0.
With Levi Haines, who took third for Penn State at 174, set to come back, and five-time champ Carter Starocci out of eligibility, 184 seems to be the most logical spot for Welsh.
Welsh was the victim in Starocci’s historic fourth national title win in March 2024.
Now, he could be winning titles for Penn State.
