TODAY'S ACTION
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lions (6-0, 6-0 B1G), ranked No. 2 in the latest InterMat Tournament Power Index (TPI), will serve as the host for the 2021 Big Ten Wrestling Championships. The Nittany Lions and the rest off the conference's 14 teams will take part in the event, which serves as the NCAA qualifier for the Big Ten. Action is set for Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7, in the Bryce Jordan Center.
Under current state guidance, spectators will not be permitted to attend the 2021 Big Ten Wrestling Championships at Penn State set for Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7. The Big Ten Network recently announced an increase of its linear coverage of the event, giving fans around the country the chance to see the nation's best wrestlers throughout the weekend. Saturday's sessions begin at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. while Sunday's action starts at 12 p.m. followed by the individual championship round at 4 p.m.
The network will air whip-around coverage of all four mats during session one on Saturday and air Saturday night's Big Ten semifinals. All four individual mats for both Saturday sessions will have mat cams available on the Big Ten Network+. Sunday afternoon's Big Ten Championship finals will also air live on the Big Ten Network. Big Ten Network+ will feature the consolation action occurring before the finals, as well as placing bouts during the title tilts.
Penn State claimed a share of the 2021 Big Ten Dual Meet Championship, the seventh regular season crown for the Lions since head coach Cael Sanderson's arrival in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions went 6-0 in the conference and shared the title with 5-0 Iowa.
Penn State's Big Ten Championships line-up features six freshmen and a sophomore for a seven-underclassmen contingent ready to compete in the tournament. Senior Nick Lee (141) and juniors Roman Bravo-Young (133) and Brady Berge (157) are Penn State's upperclassmen. True freshmen Robert Howard (125) and Beau Bartlett (149) will be joined by redshirt freshman Joe Lee (165), Carter Starocci (174), Michael Beard (197) and Greg Kerkvliet (285) in the line-up.
The Nittanny Lions are coming off a 6-0 season that saw the team earn a share of its seventh Big Ten Dual Meet Championships with 5-0 Iowa. The Lion line-up features nine ranked wrestlers according to InterMat. Bravo-Young is ranked No. 3 at 133; Nick Lee is No. 2 at 141; Bartlett is No. 10 at 149; Berge is No. 8 at 157; Joe Lee is No. 15 at 165; Starocci is No. 4 at 174; Brooks is No. 1 at 184; Beard is No. 15 at 197 and Kerkvliet is No. 6 at 285.
The event serves as the national qualifier for all 14 Big Ten teams. Penn State's qualifiers will trek to the Enterprise Arena for the 2021 NCAA Wrestling Championships on Thursday-Saturday, March 18-20.
All rankings listed are InterMat/InterMat TPI as of Jan. 12, 2021. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at @pennstateWREST, on Penn State Wrestling's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.
#2 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (6-0, 6-0 B1G)
WT NAME EL HT/HS REC
125 Robert Howard Fr. Cranford, N.J./Bergen Catholic 2-1
(2-1 vs. B1G this year; 2-1 vs. B1G career; 0-0 in B1G tourney)
133 #3 Roman Bravo-Young Jr. Tucson, Ariz./Sunnyside 6-0
(6-0 vs. B1G this year; 25-7 vs. B1G career; 6-3 in B1G tourney)
141 #2 Nick Lee Sr. Evansville, Ind./Home schooled 6-0
(6-0 vs. B1G this year; 45-7 vs. B1G career; 8-2 in B1G tourney)
149 #10 Beau Bartlett Fr. Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) 7-1
(7-1 vs. B1G this year; 7-1 vs. B1G career; 0-0 in B1G tourney)
157 #8 Brady Berge Jr. Mantorville, Minn./Kasson-Mantorville 5-0
(5-0 vs. B1G this year; 11-4 vs. B1G career; 2-1 in B1G tourney)
165 #15 Joe Lee R-Fr. Evansville, Ind./Mater Dei 4-2
(4-2 vs. B1G this year; 4-2 vs. B1G career; 0-0 in B1G tourney)
174 #4 Carter Starocci Fr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 6-1
(6-1 vs. B1G this year; 6-1 vs. B1G career; 0-0 in B1G tourney)
184 #1 Aaron Brooks So. Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown 6-0
(6-0 vs. B1G this year; 15-1 vs. B1G career; 3-0 in B1G tourney)
197 #15 Michael Beard R-Fr. Pottstown, Pa./Malvern Prep 3-1
(3-1 vs. B1G this year; 3-1 vs. B1G career; 0-0 in B1G tourney)
285 # 6 Greg Kerkvliet Fr. Grove Heights, Minn./Simley 2-0
(2-0 vs. B1G this year; 2-0 vs. B1G career; 0-0 in B1G tourney)
Rankings listed are InterMat Indiv./Team Ranking InterMat TPI (3/2/21)
PENN STATE WINS SHARE OF 2021 REGULAR SEASON TITLE
Penn State claimed a share of the 2021 Big Ten Dual Meet Championship, the seventh regular season crown for the Lions since head coach Cael Sanderson's arrival in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions went 6-0 in the conference and shared the title with 5-0 Iowa.
SIX NITTANY LION FRESHMEN MAKE REC HALL DUAL DEBUTS IN 44-0 SHUTOUT OF MARYLAND
Penn State closed out the 2021 dual meet season by shutting out Maryland 44-0 on Feb. 22. The Lions featured a line-up that had seven underclassmen; one sophomore and six freshmen. All six freshmen won in their Rec Hall dual debuts. Greg Kerkvliet saw his first action of the season, getting a pin in both the dual meet and extra bouts. Beau Bartlett also went 2-0, winning in the dual and extras at 149. Robert Howard won at 125; Joe Lee won at 165; Carter Starocci won at 174 and Michael Beard won at 197.
PENN STATE ROLLS OVER OHIO STATE IN COLUMBUS
Carter Starocci took down #3 Kaleb Romero and Michael Beard's pin sealed the deal in Penn State's 28-12 win over #11 Ohio State in Columbus on Feb. 19. Starocci used a rideout in the tie-breaker to down Romero 2-1 and Beard pinned Gavin Hoffman at the 1:20 mark. Penn State won seven of ten bouts, getting victories from Roman Bravo-Young (133), Nick Lee (141), Brady Berge (157), Starocci (174), Aaron Brooks (184), Beard (197) and Seth Nevills (285).
SANDERSON GETS 200TH CAREER COACHING WIN
as penn state downs #2 michigan on the road
Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson earned his 200th career collegiate coaching victory on Feb. 14, 2021, when the Nittany Lions notched an 18-13 victory at #2 Michigan. Sanderson's victory total includes three seasons at Iowa State. His full and up-to-date coaching record can be found on page three off these notes.
STAROCCI TAKES DOWN #2 MASSA IN PENN STATE'S WIN AT MICHIGAN; NAMED B1G WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
Freshman Carter Starocci used a four-point turn in the tie-breaker period to take down sixth-year senior Logan Massa of Michigan in Penn State's dual victory over the Wolverines. Starocci and No. 2 Massa ended regulation and sudden victory tied 1-1 before the Lion freshman used the back points to break away for a 7-1 (tb) win at 174. Starocci earned Big Ten Wrestler of the Week (2/16) honors for his efforts.
FRESHMAN ROBERT HOWARD WINS COLLEGIATE DEBUT
Nittany Lion freshman Robert Howard made his Penn State and collegiate debut in Penn State's dual meet at Michigan on Feb. 14 and came away victorious. Howard picked up takedowns in the first and second period to down UM's Jack Medley 6-5 at 125. His win helped spark Penn State to an 18-13 victory in Ann Arbor.
BROOKS MAJORS #10 WEILER AND BEARD SHINES IN DEBUT AS PENN STATE WINS AT WISCONSIN
Sophomore Aaron Brooks took care of #10 Chris Weiler of Wisconsin in a marquee match-up at 184 to lead Penn State to a 34-6 win in Madison on Feb. 2. The Lions won all nine contested bouts and went 4-0 in extra matches to go 13-0 in live action and 13-1 overall (giving up a forfeit at 125). True freshman Michael Beard made his collegiate debut in fine fashion as well, posting an 18-2 technical fall over Andrew Salemme at the 4:43 mark. Beard tallied four takedowns, three two-point turns and a four-point tilt to grab the win.
NITTANY LIONS ROUT #16 NORTHWESTERN TO CLOSE OUT TRI-DUAL IN EVANSTON
Penn State won seven of ten bouts to roll through No. 16 Northwestern in the final dual at a tri-meet in Evanston on Jan. 30, grabbing a 29-13 victory. Carter Starocci picked up his first dual win as a Nittany Lion at 174 and classmate Joe Lee capped off a 2-0 debut day with another win at 165. Roman Bravo-Young notched a pin at 133 and Nick Lee grabbed a major at 141. Brady Berge notched a decision at 157. Aaron Brooks (184) and Seth Nevills (285) both picked up tech falls to close out the action.
LIONS TAKE DOWN INDIANA 24-15 IN SEASON OPENER
The Penn State Nittany Lions won six of ten bouts in the season opener against Indiana, posting a 24-15 victory in the first dual at a tri-meet hosted by Northwestern on Jan. 30. Freshman Joe Lee picked up a win at 165 in his Lion dual debut. Roman Bravo-Young notched a win at 133, Nick Lee got a tech fall at 141, Brady Berge posted a decision at 157, Aaron Brooks opened his season with a major at 184 and Seth Nevills capped off the dual with a pin at 285.
PENN STATE PICKS UP 13 WINS IN TRI-MEET EXTRA BOUTS
Head coach Cael Sanderson's squad took advantage of a day of wrestling in Evanston, Ill., as the squad totalled 13 wins in extra bouts wrestled during the Penn State/Indiana/Northwestern tri-meet on Jan. 30. Penn State went 13-3 overall during extra action, going 7-0 against Indiana and 6-3 vs. Northwestern. True freshman Beau Bartlett went 3-0 at 141 in the first action of his collegiate career. Sophomore Konner Kraeszig went 3-0 at 165 and sophomore Creighton Edsell went 3-0 at 174. Luke Gardner went 2-0 at 149 and Terrell Barraclough picked up a win at 149 as well.
PENN STATE'S FIRST TWO DUALS POSTPONED
On Wednesday, Jan. 13, Penn State wrestling paused all team-related activities due to positive COVID-19 results among Tier 1 personnel. Due to the pause, the Nittany Lions' match at Rutgers scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 16, was postponed. The next weekend, the home opener against Michigan State was postponed. The Big Ten conference will work to reschedule both dual meets.
NITTANY LIONS RANKED #2 ON INTERMAT'S TPI; NINE INDIVIDUALS RANKED AS WELL
The Penn State Nittany Lions are ranked No. 2 on InterMat's Tournament Power Index (TPI) and have nine wrestlers ranked by InterMat. Sophomore Roman Bravo-Young is ranked No. 3 at 133 and senior Nick Lee is ranked No. 2 at 141. Freshman Beau Bartlett is No. 10 at 149 and sophomore Brady Berge is No. 8 at 157. Redshirt freshman Joe Lee is ranked No. 15 at 165 while classmate Carter Starocci is ranked No. 4 at 174. Sophomore Aaron Brooks his ranked No. 1 at 184. Redshirt freshman Michael Beard is ranked No. 15 at 197 and freshman Greg Kerkvliet is No. 6 at 285. While freshman Robert Howard is unranked by InterMat at 125, he is ranked No. 18 by TrackWrestling.
MILESTONES
Individual records and milestones that are in play as of now:
* 100 Career victories
Nick Lee, 89
* 200 Career coaching wins (overall career)
Cael Sanderson, 202
* 100 Career Big Ten coaching wins
Cael Sanderson, 88
* 175 Career coaching wins at Penn State
Cael Sanderson, 158
