Penn State wrestling is reportedly losing Zack Ryder to the transfer portal.
Per a report by wrestling insider Justin Basch, Ryder, who competes at 184 pounds, is entering the portal after two seasons with Penn State.
BREAKING: PSU's Zack Ryder has hit the Transfer Portal. pic.twitter.com/9MSJH7IY6L
— Justin Basch (@JustinJBasch) April 2, 2025
This is big news.
Many were looking forward to seeing Ryder compete with Rocco Welsh— a former national runner-up who Penn State just brought in from Ohio State— for the starting spot at 184. But if this report is accurate and Ryder does indeed end up leaving Penn State, that wrestle off won’t happen.
So this would seemingly mean that 184 is Welsh’s job to lose.
MORE ABOUT WELSH
Graphic by KD Training Center: Rocco Welsh
Here’s some more about Penn State’s latest acquisition.
For multiple reasons, this is a big deal for Penn State. Not that the program needed to get stronger— it just won a 12th national title in 14 years and broke the team points record while doing so— but having a guy like Welsh certainly doesn’t hurt.
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.
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.So where would Welsh fit in Penn State’s lineup?
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.
STAROCCI ENDORSED RYDER
Photo by Penn State Wrestling: Carter Starocci
Part of the reason Ryder reportedly entering the portal will surprise people is that, soon after Welsh’s commitment became official, Starocci seemingly endorsed Ryder for the starting spot at 184.
“Zach Ryder all day baby 💪” the since-deleted post read.
It must be pointed out that Starocci didn’t say anything disrespectful toward Welsh but the post was interesting, especially considering it came in the immediate aftermath of Welsh’s announcement.
Now, it looks like Ryder will be taking his talents elsewhere.
