Penn State All-American Wrestler to Miss Remainder of 2023 Season

Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 2 nationally at 149 pounds, is out for the season, coach Cael Sanderson said.

Penn State All-American wrestler Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 2 nationally at 149 pounds, will miss the remainder of the season with an undisclosed injury, head coach Cael Sanderson told reporters Tuesday in State College. Van Ness began the season with a 3-0 record but did not wrestle in the Nittany Lions' 30-10 victory over Lehigh at Red Hall last 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 said at his weekly media availability, according to Travis Johnson. "Obviously, he’ll be sorely missed, and there’s nothing worse than injuries.

"When somebody's done for the year, we're not going to play games and say otherwise," Sanderson added.

Van Ness, a redshirt sophomore, returned this season as a national-championship contender at 149 after placing third last season. Seeded 12th at the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships, Van Ness reached the semifinals before defeating third-seeded Kyle Parco of Arizona State in the third-place match. Van Ness finished with a 24-7 record.

The New Jersey native began this season sharply, winning outstanding-wrestler honors at the season-opening Journeymen Classic in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Van Ness scored three first-period pins at the tournament and was named the Big Ten co-wrestler of the week. Van Ness also looked strong at the NWCA All-Star Class in State College, defeating Parco again 5-1. Parco was ranked third according to InterMat Wrestling at the time.

At a late-November media availability, Van Ness discussed his approach to the 2023 season. Van Ness also had been scheduled to compete at the 2023 U.S. Senior Nationals this month in Texas. 

"I just believe that I have the skills and the abilities to be dominant and be the best," Van Ness told reporters Nov. 28 in State College. Here's a clip from the availability, courtesy of the Centre Daily Times.

"We just feel bad for him," Sanderson told reporters in State College. "When there's an injury, I mean, it's just tough. Like I said, injuries are the worst thing. You just feel sick to your stomach and just bringing it back up, it was kind of feeling a little more normal again, because it happened about a week ago. But yeah, it just makes me sick."

Penn State's Tyler Kasak competed at 149 against Lehigh, wrestling up a weight class to win a 7-6 decision over the Mountain Hawks' Drew Munch. Kasak is listed on Penn State's wrestler at 141 or 149.

Penn State returns to action Sunday against Hofstra at Rec Hall. The match begins at 1 p.m. ET and will be streamed on BIG+.

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