Penn State Wrestling has found great success in the transfer portal over…read more.
Penn State Wrestling has found great success in the transfer portal over the past five years, but will they tap into it again this off-season?
Before the current era of transfer-driven collegiate sports, where the “free agent” mentality dominates, head coach Cael Sanderson and the Nittany Lions rarely pursued transfer athletes. And for a good reason:
They didn’t need to.
But, like any top program, Penn State has adapted to the shifting landscape. In fact, they’ve had remarkable success with key transfers in recent years. Just consider some of the standout wrestlers who joined them via the portal:
– Greg Kerkvliet (Ohio State)
– Drew Hildebrandt (Central Michigan)
– Max Dean (Cornell)
– Aaron Nagao (Minnesota)
– Mitchell Mesenbrink (Cal Baptist)
Of course, as much as the transfer portal can strengthen a team, it can also take talent away.
Penn State has seen notable departures, too. Wrestlers like Nick Suriano, Michael Beard, and Terrell Barraclough went on to achieve All-American honors after leaving Happy Valley. Others, such as Brody Teske and Seth Nevills, also enjoyed competitive careers elsewhere.
