Penn State All-American Wrestler Will Miss Remainder of 2023 Season
Shayne Van Ness, the nation’s second-ranked wrestler at 149 pounds, is gone for the season, according to coach Cael Sanderson.
Penn State All-American wrestler Shayne Van Ness, rated second nationally at 149 pounds, will miss the rest of the season due to an unidentified injury, head coach Cael Sanderson announced Tuesday in State College. Van Ness started the season 3-0, but he did not compete in the Nittany Lions’ 30-10 victory over Lehigh at Red Hall on Sunday.
“Unfortunately, he’s had issues with something, and it’s kind of gotten tough and kind of got tweaked again in practice, and [he will] get it repaired and get ready for next year,” Sanderson stated during his weekly media availability, according to Travis Johnson. “Obviously, he will be greatly missed, and there is nothing worse than injuries.
“When somebody’s done for the year, we’re not going to play games and say otherwise,” he said.
Van Ness, a redshirt sophomore, returns this season as a national title candidate at 149 after finishing third last year. Van Ness, ranked 12th at the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships, advanced to the semifinals before defeating third-seeded Kyle Parco of Arizona State in the third-place match. Van Ness finished 24-7.
The New Jersey native started the season strong, collecting outstanding-wrestler honors at the Journeymen Classic in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Van Ness won three first-period pins at the event and was named Big Ten co-wrestler of the week. Van Ness also performed well at the NWCA All-Star Class in State College, defeating Parco again 5-1. InterMat Wrestling placed Parco third at the time.
Van Ness spoke with the media in late November about his plans for the 2023 season. Van Ness was also set to compete in the 2023 U.S. Senior Nationals, which take place this month in Texas.
“I just believe that I have the skills and abilities to be dominant and the best,” Van Ness told reporters on November 28 in State College. Here’s an excerpt from the availability, courtesy of the Centre Daily Times.
“We just feel bad for him,” Sanderson told reporters at State College. “When there’s an injury, it’s just difficult. As previously stated, injuries are the worst possible outcome. You just felt sick to your stomach, and after bringing it back up, it felt a little more normal, because it happened about a week ago. But yes, it makes me sick.”
Tyler Kasak of Penn State wrestled at 149 pounds versus Lehigh and defeated the Mountain Hawks’ Drew Munch 7-6. Kasak is listed as 141 or 149 on Penn State’s wrestler roster.
Penn State faces Hofstra on Sunday at Rec Hall. The match begins at 1 p.m. ET and will be shown live on BIG+.
