Penn State wrestler Max Dean competed in the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships, where he became a four-time All-American and National Champion. He finished this season with a 25-5 record and his career with a 105-18 mark. Greg Kerkvliet also competed in the tournament, becoming Penn State’s seventh quarterfinalist and earning All-American status as the national runner-up. He finished his season with a 24-5 record. Penn State had seven quarterfinalists, with five advancing to the semifinals. Four of them advanced to the finals. The Nittany Lions had two champions, a runner-up, and two third-place finishers, earning the team their third consecutive NCAA team championship. The tournament took place in Detroit, Michigan.
Penn State Wrestlers Claim Two More Individual Titles at NCAA Wrestling Championship
The Penn State Nittany wrestling team, led by veteran head coach Cael Sanderson, added two more individual national champions to their record at the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championship held in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team clinched their team title early in the morning’s first session.
Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks won gold medals in the 174-pound and 184-pound categories, respectively. While Nittany Lion true freshman Levi Haines lost the title bout at 157, Greg Kerkvliet lost in the finals at 285, and Roman Bravo-Young lost his finals match at 133, all three wrestlers left Tulsa as 2023 National Runners-Up.
Penn State secured the team title with 137.5 points, beating second-place Iowa by 55.0 points. This margin of victory is the largest in Penn State history and the fifth-largest in NCAA history for any title winner. This is Penn State’s 11th overall team title and the tenth since Sanderson’s arrival in Happy Valley before the 2009-10 season.
The Nittany Lions have won ten of the last twelve contested NCAA Championship tournaments, with 2020 being cancelled by the NCAA. Since 2011, Penn State has a 34-16 record in the national finals, with a .680-win percentage.
True freshman Levi Haines, the No. 2 seed, battled No. 1 Austin O’Connor of North Carolina in his first NCAA title bout and Penn State’s first of five. Haines and O’Connor hand fought on the NCAA logo in the center circle for over a minute, and Haines briefly got in on a shot. However, O’Connor quickly defended it, and the period ended tied 0-0. Haines chose to start the second period in the down position, and O’Connor controlled the action, awarded two nearfall points. The call was reversed following Penn State’s challenge, but Haines was unable to break free of O’Connor’s control for the period, ending the second period tied 0-0. O’Connor chose to start the third period in the down position and quickly escaped to take a 3-0 lead. Haines escaped to a 3-1 score, but O’Connor quickly scored again to take a 5-2 lead. O’Connor tacked on a riding time point and won the bout 6-2.
Penn State’s team victory in Tulsa reflects their strong performance throughout the three-day event, and their latest championship victory adds to their long-standing legacy in NCAA wrestling.
Penn State Wrestlers Excel at 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championship
Penn State wrestling team performed excellently at the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championship, adding more individual titles to their records. Freshman Levi Haines became an All-American for the first time in his career earlier in the tournament, ending his freshman year as the 2023 National Runner-Up at 157 and a Big Ten Champion. He closed out his first NCAA tournament with a 4-1 mark and his first season with a 25-2 overall record.
Carter Starocci, the No. 1 seed at 174, battled No. 2 Mikey Labriola of Nebraska in his third-straight title bout. Starocci emerged victorious, earning his third NCAA title with a first-period pin at the 2:46 mark. He went 5-0 at the tournament and finished his season with a 24-0 record. Starocci is now a three-time All-American, two-time Big Ten Champion and became Penn State’s fifth three-time NCAA Champion. He will head into next season with a 61-2 career record.
Aaron Brooks, the No. 3 seed at 184, battled No. 1 Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa in his third straight title bout. Brooks won the bout with a 7-2 victory and another NCAA title. He became Penn State’s 17th four-time All-American earlier in the tournament and the sixth three-time NCAA Champion in school history. Brooks, a three-time Big Ten Champion, went 5-0 in Tulsa and concludes the season with a 17-1 overall record. Brooks will head into next season with a 67-3 overall record.
Penn State wrestling team’s success at the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championship, with Starocci and Brooks claiming individual titles, solidified their position as a dominant force in NCAA wrestling. Their individual victories add to their impressive records and legacy in the sport.
Penn State Wrestlers Achieve Success at NCAA Wrestling Championship
Penn State wrestlers put up an impressive performance at the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championship. The team secured two individual titles through Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks, making them one of the dominant forces in NCAA wrestling.
Kerkvliet, the No. 3 seed at 285, battled No. 1 Mason Parris of Michigan for his first trip to the NCAA Championship match. Parris took the lead early on, and Kerkvliet was unable to catch up, resulting in a 5-1 loss. Kerkvliet left Tulsa as the 2023 National Runner-Up, becoming a three-time All-American earlier in the tournament. Kerkvliet ended the season with a 19-3 record and will enter the next season with a 51-10 record.
Roman Bravo-Young, the No. 1 seed at 133, also lost his bout to No. 3 Vito Arujau of Cornell. Arujau took an early lead, and despite Bravo-Young’s best efforts, he was unable to secure a win, resulting in a 10-4 loss. Bravo-Young left Tulsa as the 2023 National Runner-Up and became Penn State’s second five-time All-American earlier in the tournament. Bravo-Young ended his career at Penn State with a 100-10 record.
However, Beau Bartlett, the No. 6 seed at 141, closed out the season with a third-place finish, posting a 5-1 record with one major and earning his first All-America honor. He ended his junior year with a 27-3 record. Redshirt freshman Shayne Van Ness, the No. 13 seed at 149, also achieved success at the tournament, wrapping up a superb first trip to the NCAA tournament with a third-place finish. Van Ness went 5-1 with a pin and became a freshman All-American. He ended the season with a 24-7 record.
Despite the losses, Penn State wrestlers continue to impress and solidify their position as a dominant force in NCAA wrestling. Their individual achievements and records speak for their dedication and hard work, and they will undoubtedly continue to strive for excellence in the coming seasons.
Penn State wrestlers shine at the 2023 NCAA Championships
Penn State wrestlers delivered an impressive performance at the 2023 NCAA Championships held at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. The Nittany Lions placed first with 137.5 points, beating Iowa and Cornell to secure their 11th NCAA title overall. The team was led by several individual champions, including Carter Starocci, Aaron Brooks, and Roman Bravo-Young.
Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks make history
Carter Starocci, the No. 1 seed at 174, dominated his opponent, Mikey Labriola of Nebraska, in the final, earning a first-period pin at the 2:46 mark. Starocci became Penn State’s fifth three-time NCAA Champion, finishing the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record and an overall record of 24-0.
Meanwhile, Aaron Brooks, the No. 3 seed at 184, claimed his third NCAA title with a 7-2 win over No. 1 Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa. Brooks became Penn State’s sixth three-time NCAA Champion and 17th four-time All-American. He ended his season with a 17-1 record and a 67-3 overall record.
Other top performers
Redshirt freshman Shayne Van Ness and Beau Bartlett both earned All-American honors. Van Ness finished third at 149, while Bartlett finished third at 141. Bartlett also secured his first All-America honor, closing out his junior year with a 27-3 record. Van Ness went 5-1 at the tournament and posted a 24-7 record for the season.
Max Dean finishes his career on a high note
Max Dean, the No. 9 seed at 197, ended his collegiate wrestling career with a seventh-place finish and a 5-2 mark at the tournament. Dean leaves Penn State as a four-time All-American and National Champion, finishing his career with a 105-18 mark. He collected 17 falls, 17 tech falls, and 19 majors during his career.
Penn State’s dominance at the NCAA Championships
Penn State has been a force to be reckoned with in wrestling in recent years. Since 2011, the Nittany Lions have won 11 NCAA titles overall, with ten coming under head coach Cael Sanderson, who has led the team since 2009. Penn State won four straight titles from 2011-2014 and again in 2006, 2017, 2018, and 2019. The team won last year’s championship in Detroit and made 2023’s title their second straight.
Penn State also boasts an impressive record of individual titles, with 55 spread among 35 individuals. Since 2011, Penn State has the most individual titles in the nation, with 34. The Nittany Lions have had 50 NCAA finalists and own a 32-13 record in the national finals. Since 2011, Penn State’s winning percentage in the NCAA finals is .680.
Conclusion
The 2022-23 Penn State Wrestling season ended on a high note, with the team dominating the 2023 NCAA Championships. The team’s impressive performance was led by individual champions Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks, while other wrestlers like Shayne Van Ness and Beau Bartlett also delivered strong performances. With their 11th NCAA title, Penn State has solidified its position as one of the top wrestling programs in the nation.
Roman Bravo-Young at 2023 NCAA Championships: Session 2-4
Roman Bravo-Young, the No. 1 seed at 133, started his journey at the NCAA Championships by taking on No. 33 Ethan Oakley of Appalachian State in the opening round. He took down Oakley early in the bout and added another takedown to lead 4-1 after one period. He led 7-1 after two periods with an escape and a takedown, and finished the match with two takedowns in the final period. He won the match 12-3 with over 4 minutes in riding time to his name.
In his second-round match-up, he faced No. 17 Brayden Palmer of Chattanooga. Bravo-Young dominated the match, taking Palmer down twice in the first period and controlling him for the rest of the match. He won the match 5-2 with over 2 and a half minutes in riding time.
In the quarterfinals, he went up against No. 8 Aaron Nagao of Minnesota. Bravo-Young fought off an early Nagao shot and both wrestlers remained neutral throughout the first period. Nagao chose down to start the second period but Bravo-Young controlled him for the entire period. Bravo-Young then chose down for the third period and secured a reversal to take the lead, eventually winning the match 4-1 with almost 2 minutes of riding time. This win made him a five-time All-American, the second wrestler in Penn State’s history to achieve this feat.
Bravo-Young met No. 4 Michael McGee of Arizona State in the semifinals. He was able to edge out McGee in a closely fought match, winning 6-4 to book a place in the final against No. 3 Vito Arujau of Cornell. Unfortunately, Bravo-Young was defeated in the final, losing 10-4 to take the National Runner-Up spot.
Roman Bravo-Young advances to the finals after a hard-fought win in the semifinals
Roman Bravo-Young, Penn State’s top-seeded wrestler, took on No. 4 Michael McGee of Arizona State in the semifinals. The match was tightly contested from start to finish, with Bravo-Young prevailing in sudden victory, 6-4. Bravo-Young fought hard against McGee, with the latter scoring an early low shot, but Bravo-Young managed to scramble out of it. McGee later reversed Bravo-Young in the second period, but the latter escaped to a 2-1 score. Bravo-Young chose down to start the third and managed to take control of the match, getting a single and a takedown to take a 4-2 lead. However, McGee managed to escape, cutting the lead to 4-3, and his riding time sent the match to sudden victory. Bravo-Young managed to get a takedown early in extra time, securing a spot in the NCAA title bout.
Beau Bartlett finishes 3rd after falling in the semifinals
Beau Bartlett, Penn State’s No. 6 seed at 141, also had a successful run at the NCAA Championships. In the opening round, he defeated No. 27 Shannon Hanna of Campbell with a 9-2 win. In round two, Bartlett faced No. 11 Clay Carlson of South Dakota State in a closely contested bout. Bartlett prevailed, 3-2, with an escape and a takedown. In the quarterfinals, Bartlett had a hard-fought match against No. 3 Cole Matthews of Pittsburgh, prevailing with a 3-1 win in sudden victory. However, he fell to No. 2 Andrew Alirez of Northern Colorado in the semifinals, losing 2-6. Bartlett recovered well in the consolation rounds, defeating Carlson again in the consolations with a 12-3 major decision. In the third-place match, Bartlett defeated No. 10 Lachlan McNeil of North Carolina with a 4-1 win.
Penn State’s overall performance at the NCAA Championships
Penn State’s wrestlers had a successful outing at the NCAA Championships, with Bravo-Young and Bartlett both earning All-American honors. The Nittany Lions won two of their seven quarterfinal match-ups, with Bravo-Young defeating No. 8 Aaron Nagao of Minnesota and Bartlett overcoming No. 3 Cole Matthews of Pittsburgh. In the end, Penn State finished with a 37-9 overall record, earning 16.0 bonus points off six pins and four majors. The Nittany Lions have won a total of 11 NCAA titles, with ten of them coming under head coach Cael Sanderson, the third-most in history. Penn State has also won four-straight titles in 2011, ’12, ’13 and ’14 and again in 2006, ’17, ’18 and ’19. Since 2011, Penn State has had 50 NCAA finalists and has a 32-13 record in the national finals, with a winning percentage of .680. Since 2011, Penn State has won ten of 12 NCAA team championships, an impressive 83 percent (with no tournament in 2020).
Penn State wrestler Beau Bartlett’s impressive run at the NCAA wrestling tournament
Penn State wrestler Beau Bartlett had a standout performance at the NCAA wrestling tournament, finishing in third place in the 141-pound weight class and earning his first All-American honor.
Bartlett’s path to the semifinals
Bartlett faced No. 3 Aaron Matthews of Pittsburgh in the quarterfinals. The wrestlers battled evenly in the opening period, with Bartlett choosing down to start the second and quickly escaping to take a 1-0 lead. Matthews chose down to start the third and escaped to tie the score at 1-1. The bout went to sudden victory and then to a tie-breaker, where Bartlett earned a takedown in the final seconds to win 3-1 (sv) and advance to the semifinals.
In the semifinals, Bartlett faced No. 2 Andrew Alirez of Northern Colorado. Alirez took an early lead with a takedown, but Bartlett quickly escaped to cut the lead to 2-1. Alirez added a second takedown and led 5-1 after two periods. Bartlett couldn’t mount a comeback and ultimately lost the match 6-2.
Bartlett’s impressive consolation run
Despite his semifinal loss, Bartlett bounced back in the consolation semifinals, where he faced No. 11 Clay Carlson of South Dakota State. Bartlett dominated the match, scoring multiple takedowns and adding a two-point turn to earn a 12-3 major decision victory.
In the third-place match, Bartlett faced No. 10 Lachlan McNeil of North Carolina. Bartlett took an early lead with a takedown in the first period and held on to win the match 4-1, earning his first All-American honor and finishing in third place in the 141-pound weight class.
Bartlett’s opening-round matches
In the opening round, Bartlett faced No. 27 Shannon Hanna of Campbell. Bartlett took control early, scoring multiple takedowns to earn a 9-2 decision victory.
In the second round, Bartlett faced No. 11 Clay Carlson of South Dakota State. Bartlett took an early lead with an escape and a takedown, and ultimately won the match 3-2 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Conclusion
Bartlett’s impressive performance at the NCAA wrestling tournament showcased his skill and determination on the mat. With his first All-American honor and third-place finish, Bartlett has cemented himself as one of the top wrestlers in his weight class.
Penn State Wrestler Beau Bartlett secures third place in the NCAA Wrestling Championships
Penn State wrestler Beau Bartlett faced a tough opponent in his quarterfinal bout, No. 3 Aaron Matthews of Pittsburgh. The two wrestlers battled evenly in the opening period, with both wrestlers working on their feet on the NCAA logo. After Bartlett chose down to start the second period, he quickly escaped to take a 1-0 lead, which was the only scoring of the period, leaving Bartlett ahead by one point after two periods. Matthews chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to tie the match 1-1. With the bout moving to sudden victory, Bartlett and Matthews worked in neutral but sent the bout to a tie-breaker. Bartlett was down first but couldn’t escape. Matthews chose neutral and worked the outside circle until Bartlett was able to bring him into the center and work through a low double in the final seconds for a takedown, earning Bartlett his first All-American honor and advancing him to the semifinals.
In the semifinals, Bartlett faced No. 2 Andrew Alirez of Northern Colorado. Alirez secured an early 2-0 lead with a high single takedown, but Bartlett managed to cut the lead to 2-1 with an escape with 1:08 left in the opening period. Alirez then quickly escaped to take a 3-1 lead, then controlled the match to secure a 6-2 victory, dropping Bartlett into the consolation bracket.
Bartlett then faced No. 11 Clay Carlson of South Dakota State in the consolation semifinals. Bartlett scored a quick 2-0 lead with a takedown, and Carlson escaped to cut the lead to 2-1. However, Bartlett took control of the match and secured a 12-3 major decision, advancing to the third-place bout against No. 11 Lachlan McNeil of North Carolina.
In the third-place bout, Bartlett and McNeil battled through a scoreless first period, with McNeil choosing down to start the second stanza and working his way to an escape and a 1-0 lead. Bartlett took control and dominated the last two minutes. He then chose down to start the third, quickly escaped to tie the bout 1-1 and then worked through a takedown to open up a 3-1 lead. Bartlett added 1:41 in riding time to secure a 4-1 win and third place in the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Penn State wrestler Shayne Van Ness also secured third place in the NCAA Wrestling Championships. Van Ness faced No. 21 Ethan Miller of Maryland in the first round, trailing 8-0 after one period. However, Van Ness went on an offensive torrent in the third period, securing four takedowns in the first 1:30 of the stanza and ultimately winning the match with a fall at the 6:26 mark. Van Ness then secured a 14-8 victory over No. 5 Paniro Johnson of Iowa State in the second round.
Van Ness faced No. 1 Yianni Diakomihalis of Cornell in the semifinals, losing 8-3 by decision. He then defeated No. 4 Caleb Henson of Virginia Tech 5-3 by decision in the consolation semifinals. In the third-place bout, Van Ness defeated No. 3 Kyle Parco of Arizona State 7-2 by decision to secure his third-place finish in the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Penn State Wrestler Shayne Van Ness Claims Third Place in NCAA Championship
Penn State freshman wrestler Shayne Van Ness had a successful run at the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships, earning All-American honors and claiming third place in the 149-pound weight class.
First Round Victory Over Miller
Van Ness kicked off his tournament run against No. 21 Ethan Miller of Maryland. Despite giving up an early lead, Van Ness made a strong comeback in the third period, rolling off four takedowns and ending the bout with a fall at the 6:26 mark.
Second Round Triumph Against Johnson
In his second round match against No. 5 Paniro Johnson of Iowa State, Van Ness dominated the match, finishing with a 14-8 victory and securing a trip to the quarterfinals.
Exciting Quarterfinal Win Over Rooks
Van Ness faced No. 20 Graham Rooks of Indiana in the quarterfinals. Despite trailing for most of the match, Van Ness made a late comeback in the third period, tying the bout at 7-7 with a takedown and two nearfall points. He finished in control, securing a 10-7 victory and All-American honors.
Semifinal Loss to Diakomihalis
Van Ness faced No. 1 seed Yianni Diakomihalis of Cornell in the semifinals. Despite a strong start, Van Ness couldn’t keep up with Diakomihalis, who secured a big move in the third period to win the match 8-3. The loss moved Van Ness into consolation action, with third place still within reach.
Consolation Semifinal Victory Over Henson
Van Ness bounced back in the consolation semifinals, taking on No. 4 Caleb Henson of Virginia Tech. In a closely contested match, Van Ness secured a late takedown to win 5-3 and advance to the third-place bout.
Third-Place Victory Over McNeil
Van Ness faced No. 11 Lachlan McNeil in the third-place bout. After a close first period, Van Ness dominated the final two minutes, securing a 4-1 victory and claiming third place in the 149-pound weight class. Van Ness finished the tournament with a 27-3 overall record and a bright future ahead.
Penn State wrestlers excel at NCAA tournament
The Penn State wrestling team had a strong showing at the NCAA tournament, with several wrestlers earning All-American honors and two making it to the national finals.
Shayne Van Ness
Freshman Shayne Van Ness earned All-American honors in his first NCAA tournament. He advanced to the semifinals before dropping a decision to No. 1 seed Yianni Diakomihalis of Cornell. In the consolation bracket, he defeated No. 4 seed Caleb Henson of Virginia Tech to set up a third place match against No. 3 seed Kyle Parco of Arizona State. In the match, Van Ness controlled the center of the mat and dominated the final two minutes to secure a 7-2 victory and finish in third place with a 5-1 record.
Levi Haines
Freshman Levi Haines had an impressive tournament, making it all the way to the national finals at 157 pounds. He started off with a 10-3 decision over No. 31 seed Ashton Eyler of Lock Haven and an 8-2 decision over No. 15 seed Jacob Wright of Wyoming. In the quarterfinals, Haines pinned No. 7 seed Bryce Andonian of Virginia Tech in 6:11 to secure a spot in the semifinals. He faced No. 3 seed Peyton Robb of Nebraska in the semifinals and won a close 5-3 decision. In the finals, Haines met No. 1 seed Austin O’Connor of North Carolina and dropped a 6-2 decision to finish as the national runner-up.
Other Penn State Wrestlers
Other Penn State wrestlers who earned All-American honors include:
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Joe Lee (165 pounds) – 5th place finish
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Michael Beard (197 pounds) – 5th place finish
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Carter Starocci (174 pounds) – 7th place finish
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Greg Kerkvliet (285 pounds) – 8th place finish
Overall, Penn State finished in 4th place as a team with 86.5 points. Iowa won the team title with 129.5 points, followed by Penn State’s Big Ten rivals Michigan and Ohio State. The strong performance by the Penn State wrestlers showcases the program’s continued excellence in college wrestling.
NCAA Wrestling Championships Day 2 Recap
The second day of the NCAA Wrestling Championships saw some Penn State wrestlers compete in critical matches that would determine their future in the tournament.
Carter Starocci
Carter Starocci had a match with No. 20 Graham Rooks of Indiana in the quarterfinals. Rooks took the lead early in the opening stanza by connecting on a quick single, but Starocci remained undeterred. After his escape, he got in on a shot but Rooks countered for a score and took the lead. Starocci narrowed the lead with an escape in the second period, but Rooks continued to rack up points. It wasn’t until the third period that Starocci made his move. He tied the bout at 7-7 and added two nearfalls to take a 9-7 lead, and finished the bout in control with a riding time point to post the thrilling 10-7 victory. The win moved him into the semifinals and earned him All-America honors as a freshman.
In the semifinals, Starocci faced No. 1 Yianni Diakomihalis of Cornell. Starocci came out strong, nearly taking Diakomihalis down off the opening whistle, but the Cornell wrestler was able to fight off the move. Starocci remained aggressive and stayed in the center circle, looking for his shots. He took the lead with a quick escape in the second period, but Diakomihalis quickly tied the bout. Starocci took the lead once more with a takedown, but Diakomihalis answered with a big move that made the difference in the bout. Starocci dropped the 8-3 decision, but still had a chance for third place.
In the consolation semifinals, Starocci took on No. 4 Caleb Henson of Virginia Tech. The duo worked neutral over the first minute with Starocci maintaining position on the NCAA logo. The first period ended in a scoreless tie, but Starocci managed to secure a takedown in the second period to take the lead. After a late Henson escape, Starocci led 2-2 heading into the third period. He quickly escaped to take the lead and continued to move in on offense, clinching the match with a late takedown on the edge of the mat. Henson escaped in the final seconds, but Starocci posted the 5-3 win to advance to the third place match.
In the third place match, Starocci met No. 3 Kyle Parco of Arizona State. Starocci controlled the center of the mat in the opening two minutes, holding position until Parco forced a scramble with a shot. Starocci worked his way through the move and countered it for a takedown and a 2-0 lead late in the period. Parco escaped to start the second period, cutting Starocci’s lead to 2-1. The duo battled evenly over the middle stanza, but Starocci took control in the final two minutes, adding an escape and two takedowns to roll to an impressive 7-2 victory. The win clinched third place for Starocci, and he leaves Tulsa and his first NCAA tournament as an All-American with a 5-1 mark and a 24-7 overall record.
Levi Haines
Levi Haines faced No. 31 Ashton Eyler of Lock Haven in the opening round. Haines notched the first takedown and added a second takedown with just :15 left in the opening period to lead 4-1 after one. Haines added an escape and a takedown to lead 7-2 after two periods. After an Ey
NCAA Wrestling Championship Day 2 Recap
The second day of the NCAA Wrestling Championship saw the Nittany Lions advancing three wrestlers to the national finals and four earning All-America honors.
174: #1 Carter Starocci, Jr., Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep – All-American – NATIONAL CHAMPION
In the first round, Starocci faced No. 33 John Worthing of Clarion. He quickly took Worthing down and secured the fall at the 1:21 mark. In the second round, he battled No. 17 Donnell Washington of Indiana. Starocci broke through Washington’s defense for a late takedown in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. He controlled the Hoosier wrestler for the rest of the match and won 4-0. Starocci moved to the quarterfinals, where he faced No. 8 Bailee O’Reilly of Minnesota. Starocci started strong, collecting both of O’Reilly’s ankles for a takedown and a 2-0 lead. He finished the match with a 5-2 decision to become a three-time All-American. In the finals, he faced No. 2 Mikey Labriola of Nebraska. Starocci dominated the match, securing a fall at the 2:46 mark and becoming a national champion.
157: #2 Levi Haines, Fr., Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville – All-American – NATIONAL RUNNER-UP
Haines faced No. 31 Ashton Eyler of Lock Haven in the opening round. He notched two takedowns to take a 4-1 lead after the first period and won 10-3. In the second round, he faced No. 15 Jacob Wright of Wyoming. Haines notched a takedown a minute into the bout to take an early 2-1 lead. He finished the match strong with an 8-2 decision. In the quarterfinals, he faced No. 7 Bryce Andonian of Virginia Tech. Haines trailed 6-1 early but came back to tie the match at 8-8 and secure a fall at the 6:11 mark. In the semifinals, he faced No. 3 Peyton Robb of Nebraska. Haines notched a takedown in the second period and held on for a 5-3 decision. In the finals, he faced No. 1 Austin O’Connor of North Carolina. Despite a strong effort, Haines fell short, losing 2-6 and earning the national runner-up title.
133: #4 Roman Bravo-Young, Jr., Tucson, Ariz./Sunnyside – All-American – THIRD PLACE
Bravo-Young started the day with a loss to No. 5 Micky Phillippi of Pittsburgh in the quarterfinals. He came back strong in the consolation bracket, defeating No. 9 Michael DeAugustino of Northwestern, No. 6 Chris Cannon of Northwestern, and No. 3 Daton Fix of Oklahoma State. In the third-place match, he faced No. 7 Korbin Myers of Virginia Tech. Bravo-Young dominated the match, securing a fall at the 1:32 mark and earning third place.
125: #5 Robert Howard, Fr., Cranford, N.J./Bergen Catholic – All-American – SEVENTH PLACE
Howard faced No. 28 Jaret Lane of Lehigh in the opening round and won 10-2. In the second round, he faced No. 12 Taylor LaMont of Utah Valley and lost 1-4. Howard battled back in the consolation bracket, winning four matches
NCAA Wrestling Championships Recap: Penn State dominates with four National Champions
Penn State wrestling dominated the NCAA Wrestling Championships with four National Champions, including Carter Starocci, Aaron Brooks, Roman Bravo-Young, and Nick Lee.
Starocci Wins National Title in Dominant Fashion
Carter Starocci, the #1 seed at 174 pounds, captured his first national title with a 2nd-period fall against #2 seed Mikey Labriola of Nebraska. In the semifinals, Starocci defeated #4 Chris Foca of Cornell in a 6-0 decision. In the quarterfinals, he defeated #8 Bailee O’Reilly of Minnesota with a 5-2 decision.
Brooks Wins Second Straight National Title
Aaron Brooks, the #3 seed at 184 pounds, claimed his second straight national title with a 7-2 decision over #1 seed Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa. Brooks also defeated #2 Trent Hidlay of North Carolina State in the semifinals with a 6-3 decision and #6 Kaleb Romero of Ohio State in the quarterfinals with a 4-1 decision.
Bravo-Young and Lee Win National Titles
Roman Bravo-Young, the #2 seed at 133 pounds, won his first national title with a 4-2 decision over #1 seed Daton Fix of Oklahoma State. Nick Lee, the #2 seed at 141 pounds, claimed his first national title with a 4-2 decision over #1 seed Jaydin Eierman of Iowa.
Facundo and Haines Fall Short
Unfortunately, Alex Facundo and Robert Howard both failed to place. Facundo lost his first-round matchup against #20 Holden Heller of Pittsburgh and his consolation match against #4 Julian Ramirez of Cornell. Haines fell short in the semifinals, losing to #3 Peyton Robb of Nebraska in a 5-3 decision.
Penn State Wrestling once again proved why they are one of the most dominant teams in college wrestling. With four national champions and two other wrestlers reaching the semifinals, Penn State’s dominance in the wrestling world is undeniable.
Recap of NCAA Wrestling Championships Session
The NCAA Wrestling Championships continued on Friday with a series of quarterfinal and consolation matches. Penn State’s Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks secured their spots in the finals, while Max Dean earned All-American status by finishing in seventh place.
Carter Starocci Advances to Finals
In his semifinal bout, Starocci faced off against No. 4 Chris Foca of Cornell. Starocci took control of the bout early, taking Foca down just over a minute in to lead 2-0. He then controlled the action on top for well over a minute and finished the period on top to lead 2-0 with 1:45 in riding time. Starocci chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Starocci controlled the tempo for the second period, forcing Foca backwards as the period played out to lead by three after two. Foca chose neutral to begin the last period and Starocci went to work. The Nittany Lion junior moved through a single for a second takedown and a 5-0 lead with :40 left in the bout. With riding time clinched, Starocci finished the match on top and advanced to the NCAA title bout once again with a strong 6-0 win.
Aaron Brooks Advances to Finals
Brooks faced No. 6 Kaleb Romero of Ohio State in the quarterfinals. Brooks set a fast pace, forcing Romero to the outside circle for the first two minutes. Brooks fought off a slight Romero shot as the period ended and the bout was tied 0-0 after one. Brooks chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. He continued to shoot Romero to the outside circle. Brooks was resilient, however, and finished off a last second takedown to lead 3-0 after two periods. Romero chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 3-1 score. Romero continued to live on the edge of the mat as Brooks worked on offense. Brooks finally forced the stall point and rolled on to the 4-1 victory. The win not only advanced the Nittany Lion to the semifinals but it made him a four-time All-American.
Brooks then faced off against No. 2 Trent Hidlay of North Carolina State in the semifinals. Brooks and Hidlay fought through an even opening minute-plus before Brooks used a swift low single to control Hidlay’s leg, take him down, and open up a 2-1 lead after a quick Hidlay escape. Brooks quickly added a second takedown to up his lead to 4-1 and worked his riding time over 1:00 with the rideout. Leading 4-1, Brooks chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. Brooks controlled the second period from neutral and carried that lead into the third period. Hidlay chose down to start the third period. Brooks gave up a stall point on top and then Hidlay escaped to a 5-3 score with 1:20 left (Brooks had 1:49 in time). Brooks added 1:49 in riding time and rode into the NCAA finals once again with a strong 6-3 win over Hidlay.
Max Dean Finishes in 7th Place
Max Dean earned All-American status in the 197-pound weight class by finishing in seventh place. He took on No. 24 Levi Hopkins of Campbell in the opening round and won 6-1. In the second round, he lost to No. 8 Silas Allred of Nebraska by a score of 2-7
Max Dean’s Consolation Bouts at NCAA Wrestling Championship 2021
Max Dean, a senior from Lowell, Michigan, was determined to fight his way back to All-America status at the NCAA Wrestling Championship 2021 after a tough loss in the second round.
Second Round Consolation: Dean vs. Hoffman
In his first consolation bout, Dean went head-to-head with No. 26 Gavin Hoffman of Ohio State. After a scoreless first period, Dean chose down and escaped quickly to take a 1-0 lead. He then converted a single leg into a takedown to increase his lead to 3-0. In the third period, Dean added another takedown and riding time to secure a 6-0 victory and advance to the next round of consolation.
Third Round Consolation: Dean vs. Harvey
Dean faced No. 18 Tanner Harvey of Oregon State in his next consolation bout. Harvey scored first, taking a 2-1 lead in the first minute, but Dean answered with a takedown to take a 3-2 lead. However, Harvey reversed Dean to lead 4-3 with 40 seconds left in the first period. Dean escaped to tie the match 4-4 going into the second period.
Dean chose down to start the second and escaped quickly to take a 5-4 lead. Later in the period, he turned a low shot into a takedown, extending his lead to 7-4 with 45 seconds left. With a riding time advantage, Dean secured a 10-5 decision victory, moving him closer to All-America status.
Consolation Quarterfinals: Dean vs. Truax
Dean’s next bout was against No. 2 seed Bernie Truax of Cal Poly in the Consolation Quarterfinals. Dean fought hard but ultimately fell short, losing 8-6 in sudden victory.
Seventh Place Match: Dean vs. Cardenas
In the seventh place match, Dean took on No. 10 Jacob Cardenas of Cornell. Dean took control early with a takedown in the first period and led 2-1 going into the second period. In the second, Cardenas escaped to tie the match 2-2. In the third, Dean scored an escape and takedown to take a 5-2 lead. With riding time, Dean secured a 4-2 decision victory, earning him All-America status and seventh place in the tournament.
Penn State’s Max Dean Finishes Career as a Four-Time All-American and National Champion
Penn State wrestler Max Dean had an impressive career, finishing as a four-time All-American and a National Champion. He ended this season with a 25-5 record and a career record of 105-18. He also had 17 falls, 17 tech falls, and 19 majors during his career.
Session Recap
In the second round, Dean battled No. 8 Silas Allred of Nebraska. Allred scored first with a takedown midway through the first period. Dean escaped and trailed 2-1 after the first. In the second period, Dean escaped to tie the score 2-2, but Allred managed a late takedown to lead 4-2 after two periods. Allred added another takedown and a last-second counter takedown to win the bout 7-2.
In his first consolation bout of the session, Dean faced No. 26 Gavin Hoffman of Ohio State. After a scoreless first period, Dean escaped to take a 1-0 lead. He then turned a single leg into a takedown and a 3-0 lead. In the third period, Dean added another takedown and rode out Hoffman to win the match 6-0.
Dean’s next opponent was No. 18 Tanner Harvey of Oregon State. Harvey scored first, but Dean answered with a takedown to lead 3-2. Harvey reversed the Lion to lead 4-3 with 40 seconds on the clock. Dean escaped to tie the score 4-4 and then added a takedown to lead 7-4 with 45 seconds left in the second period. He rode out Harvey and won the match 10-5.
In the ‘blood round,’ Dean faced No. 11 Jaxon Smith of Maryland. Dean set the tempo early, forcing Smith to the outside circle. The duo moved to the second period tied 0-0. Dean escaped to take a 1-0 lead to start the second period. He then added a takedown to up his lead to 3-0. Smith managed a late escape, but Dean held on to win the match 3-2 and become a four-time All-American.
Dean’s next opponent was No. 2 Bernie Truax of Cal Poly. Truax took an early 2-1 lead with a takedown. Dean worked his way back and took a 5-4 lead into the third period with a late takedown. Dean controlled the action from the top position and had Truax locked down when the officials stopped action for blood time. Truax reversed Dean in the last seconds, sending the match to sudden victory. Truax notched a takedown early in extra time to win 8-6 (sv) and send Dean into the seventh-place bout.
In the seventh-place bout, Dean faced No. 10 Jacob Cardenas of Cornell. Cardenas scored quickly to take an early 2-1 lead, but Dean answered with a takedown to up his lead to 3-2. He maintained position in the center of the mat and controlled the action for the last two minutes, winning the match 4-2 and claiming seventh place.
Conclusion
Max Dean had an outstanding career as a wrestler and finishes it with a National Championship and four All-American honors. He also helped lead Penn State to two NCAA team crowns. With his impressive record and skill, Dean has cemented his place in Penn State wrestling history.
Greg Kerkvliet, a junior from Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley, earned the National Runner-Up title and All-American status at 285 lbs. in the NCAA Wrestling Championship. He had an impressive run, winning his first three matches and finishing with a 4-1 record overall.
In round one, Kerkvliet faced No. 30 Hayden Copass of Purdue and pinned him in just 34 seconds with a quick low single to work his way into a cradle. In round two, he took on No. 14 A.J. Nevills of South Dakota State and dominated with a 14-2 major decision. Kerkvliet took Nevills down quickly and added four back points off the initial move to open up a 6-1 lead early. In the quarterfinals, Kerkvliet faced No. 11 Trent Hillger of Wisconsin and won 4-0 after dominating the action on top and riding the Badger for the full two minutes.
Kerkvliet then moved on to the semifinals, where he faced No. 2 Wyatt Hendrickson of Air Force. Kerkvliet controlled the pace throughout the match, taking a 2-0 lead in the second period and holding on for a 4-2 decision. He earned his third All-American honor with the win and advanced to the finals to face No. 1 Mason Parris of Michigan.
Despite a strong effort, Kerkvliet fell to Parris in the finals with a score of 5-1. Nonetheless, Kerkvliet ended the season with an impressive 24-3 record and established himself as a top contender in his weight class.
Greg Kerkvliet faced No. 2 Wyatt Hendrickson of Air Force in the semifinal round. Kerkvliet started strong with a low shot, but Hendrickson countered and took an early 2-0 lead. Kerkvliet was able to cut the lead to 2-1 with an escape and trailed by one after the first period. He reversed Hendrickson to take a 3-2 lead in the second period and controlled the action on top, forcing a stall warning. Kerkvliet finished the period on top and carried the lead into the third. He continued to control the action on top, and although he was called for stalling at :56, he finished the period on top and moved into his first NCAA final with a 4-2 victory over the second-seed.
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