Penn State Wrestling Lands Another All-American From the Transfer Portal
After guiding Penn State to its 10th NCAA Wrestling team title in 12 years, coach Cael Sanderson is putting together a roster to win yet another. The Lions gained another major commitment from the transfer portal Tuesday, when All-American Aaron Nagao announced his decision to join Sanderson's talent-rich team.
Nagao, who just completed his redshirt freshman season at Minnesota, announced his decision live on the BaschaMania wrestling podcast. He told host Justin Basch that Sanderson is running "something very, very special" at Penn State of which he wanted to be a part.
"In an environment where I'm around people who have the same goals as me, that live the same lifestyle as I do and are God-fearing men and just want to wrestle and be the best they can be to glorify God, then I can be very, very dangerous," Nagao said on the show. "And I know that's where I need to be to get to that next level."
Nagao went 23-6 last season at 133 pounds, the same weight class opened at Penn State with Roman Bravo-Young's departure. Nagao lost to Bravo-Young in the Big Ten tournament final, then went on to place fifth at the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
At Minnesota, Nagao defeated 12 ranked opponents (most on the team) last season and compiled a 31-9 career record. He went 8-3 as a freshman competing in open events during the 2021-22 season. Nagao has three seasons of eligibility remaining at Penn State, where he joins a formidable lineup.
Nagao is the second NCAA medalist to transfer to Penn State this offseason. The Lions recently received a commitment from three-time All-American Bernie Traux IV of Cal Poly. With those two transfers, Penn State could field a lineup with as many as eight wrestlers who finished fifth or better at the 2022 NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Here's a tentative look at Penn State's potential lineup for the 2023-24 season.
125: Gary Steen/Robbie Howard (Steen went 6-15 last season, while Howard recovered from an injury)
133: Aaron Nagao (5th at NCAAs)
141: Beau Bartlett (3rd at NCAAs)
149: Shayne Van Ness (3rd at NCAAs)
157: Levi Haines (NCAA runner-up)
165: Alex Facundo (NCAA qualifier)
174: Carter Starocci (3-time NCAA champ)
184: Aaron Brooks (3-time NCAA champ)
197: Bernie Truax IV (4th at NCAAs)
285: Greg Kerkvliet (NCAA runner-up)
Watch Basch's interview with Nagao here.
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