Penn State Wrestling Wraps Up Big Tens, Looking Ahead to Nationals

Penn State Wrestling Wraps Up Big Tens, Looking Ahead to Nationals

The Penn State Nittany Lions wrapped up the Big Ten wrestling tournament this past Sunday, finishing in second place for the team score, and coming behind Michigan. Michigan finished the tournament with an overall score of  143 points, and Penn State finished with a total of 141.5 points. On January 21st the Nittany Lions defeated the Michigan Wolverines in their regular season dual meet in dominating fashion 29-6. But it was the Wolverines who came out on top with the upset win over the Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Tournament team race.

The Nittany Lions had four individual Big Ten champs, that being the most individual champs by one team in the tournament. Roman Bravo Young (133 lbs), Nick Lee (141 lbs), Carter Starocci (174 lbs), and Max Dean (197 lbs) were the Nittany Lion individual champs. Nine of the ten Nittany Lions that wrestled in the tournament earned themselves a spot in the NCAA Nationals Tournament. Nationals will take place at Little Caesars Arena, in Detroit on March 17-19, and Penn State will be looking to win their ninth team national championship in the last 11 years. The Nittany Lions have had great success in the past with team and individual champions, there will be four returning national champions competing this year. Roman Bravo-Young (133 lbs), Nick Lee (141 lbs), Carter Starocci (174 lbs), and Aaron Brooks (184 lbs) are all looking to repeat as champions.

The Nittany Lions have a very high ceiling for nationals and could come out with more than a few national champions, as they always so show up and compete at Nationals.