Penn State Wrestler Tyler Kasak Credits Agricultural Roots and Beef Nutrition for Athletic Success
In the heart of Penn State’s elite wrestling program stands a young man whose strength and discipline don’t just come from hours on the mat—but from generations of hard work in the fields and barns of rural Pennsylvania. Tyler Kasak, a rising star and standout wrestler for the Nittany Lions, is more than an athlete. He’s a passionate advocate for agriculture and a living testament to the power of clean living, hard work, and high-quality nutrition.
Raised outside Doylestown, Tyler grew up working on his family’s farm and helping with their custom butcher shop, Kasak Kuts, where they raise and process beef to provide wholesome, locally sourced meat for their community and for fellow athletes. From learning butchering skills at just ten years old to feeding steers and raising livestock, Tyler’s hands-on involvement in agriculture has shaped his values, work ethic, and development as a Division I athlete.
“Farming was my escape growing up,” says Kasak. “It was a break from school and sports—something I truly loved. Being around animals and working on the farm gave me a different kind of discipline and appreciation for life.”
But it wasn’t just the farm work that shaped Tyler’s future success—it was also what he put on his plate. Tyler credits his diet—rich in high-quality, farm-raised beef—for fueling his body and elevating his athletic performance. “I eat steak almost every day, especially during the season,” he says. “It’s clean, fresh, and I know exactly where it came from. That’s been a game changer for me physically and mentally. I wouldn’t be in this position without it.”
That position includes being a Big Ten Champion, a third-place finisher at NCAA Division I Nationals, and having only one loss this past season for the prestigious Nittany Lions at 157 lbs. A true freshman All-American at 18, Tyler has embraced the culture of excellence at Penn State while staying grounded in his agricultural roots.
However, he shares that his path to Happy Valley wasn’t a straight shot. “My freshman year in high school I had a broken ankle for the first half of the season, so I didn’t wrestle a lot. My sophomore year was the Covid year, but I did win states at 126lbs,” says Kasak. After taking third at states in his junior year, Kasak committed to Penn State and eventually decided to forego his senior year of wrestling to compete at the U-17 in Italy where he placed an impressive second at 65kg.
Kasak, now a sophomore majoring in Recreational Parks and Tourism Management, brings his livestock passion with him to State College, where he’s expanding his longtime goat
breeding business into show goats and hopes to eventually bring beef production closer to campus. With the support of his dad Joel, his mom Janeice, and his siblings, Angelina and Nate, the Kasak family continues to invest in sustainable, community-focused farming at their home in Doylestown, and in Happy Valley.
“Part of my competitive edge is eating red meat. It’s 80-90% of my diet during the season. We are raising the beef I’m consuming. There’s something special about that. It comes full circle and makes you appreciate what’s on your plate. I’m grateful and fortunate to be in that position."
He also feels fortunate to be part of the storied wrestling tradition at Penn State. “I love it here,” says Kasak. “There is nowhere I’d rather be. This team is special; I’m proud to be part of the team and the culture we have.”
“It’s about knowing what goes into your body,” Tyler’s Dad Joel says. “Our family raises it, my wife cooks it, and together we live it. Agriculture isn’t just our lifestyle—it’s our foundation.” Tyler adds, “For me, I know it’s part of what makes competing at this level possible.”
As Tyler looks ahead to summer trials and potentially a future in mixed martial arts, one thing is certain—he will always remain connected to the land, the animals, and the values that shaped him. “Growing up wrestling steers, goats, hogs—it made me strong,” he laughs. “It taught me resilience. And it reminds me every day where I came from.”
“Tyler is proof of what’s possible when you focus on your nutrition and the quality of the food you put in your body,” says Joel Kasak. “He works hard every day and I’m super proud of him. I think Tyler’s story shows that opportunities happen as long you’re doing the right thing and being positive. No one can take hard work away from you—you just have to go out there and do it.”
Kasak’s story is a reminder that greatness is built not only in stadiums and gyms, but in barns, pastures, and butcher shops. It’s a story of grit, gratitude, and the power of beef—Pennsylvania-raised, family-grown, and athlete-proven.
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The Pennsylvania Beef Council is a producer-controlled and funded organization, which administers the Beef Checkoff Program in Pennsylvania. The Beef Checkoff Program assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. Checkoff revenues may be used for promotion, education and research programs to improve the marketing climate for beef.
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