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Ranking Penn States’ potential breakout wrestlers for 2021

By Chris Snyder

PISCATAWAY, NJ - MARCH 7: Head coach Cael Sanderson of the Penn State Nittany Lions coaches a match during the Big Ten Championships at Rutgers Athletic Center on the campus of Rutgers University on March 7, 2020 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - MARCH 7: Head coach Cael Sanderson of the Penn State Nittany Lions coaches a match during the Big Ten Championships at Rutgers Athletic Center on the campus of Rutgers University on March 7, 2020 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /
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Penn State Wrestling has several breakout candidates ahead of the Big Ten Championships

With only three scheduled dual meets left in the season, now would be a good time to highlight a handful of Nittany Lions who have the potential for a top showing for Penn State Wrestling at the Big Ten Championship as well as finishing high in the NCAA’s.

These guys might not be household names like Nick Lee or Roman Bravo Young, as I touched on in a previous article listing Penn State’s top wrestlers.

Certainly anyone who follows Penn State Wrestling closely will know their names, background, high school state titles, and favorite color. But, for the passing wrestling fan, you may have not clue who they are, and that’s where I’d like to help.

The simple answer to “Who could be PSU’s breakout wrestler in [insert year]?” is “everyone”.

The entire roster of Penn State wrestlers committed to Cael Sanderson. If he wants you to come and wrestle at Penn State, then I’m guessing you’re pretty darn good at it.

Before I delve into this discussion, I would like to bring up something which is completely the opposite of “breakout”. I hate to do this, but that Forfeit guy at 125 has been terrible so far this season. Through the first three dual meets, Forfeit is a combined 0-3. Hopefully Cael and his staff can find someone else to suit up at 125 going forward.

Now onto Penn State’s possible breakout guys …

No. 3: Joe Lee – 165 – RSFr.

Joe Lee is a two time Indiana state champion in high school and was runner-up his freshman year. He was also a member of multiple Indiana national teams and more importantly, he’s the younger brother of Nick Lee. And as sports fans we know what that means, right? The younger brother who plays the exact same sport as the older brother always has more potential*. Either way, we know Joe has good wrestling genes.

* – 100% fact

While Joe did not appear in any Penn State Wrestling matches last season, he made numerous appearances in the Clarion Open, Wilkes Open, and Southern Scuffle tournaments. Joe put together a record of 14-2 in these open tournaments while going 2-2 versus top #20 opponents.

So far this season Joe has compiled a record of 3-0 against lower ranked Big Ten opponents and currently sits at #6 in the InterMat rankings. Now that the dual meet at Michigan has been rescheduled for this Sunday, Joe will have a potential matchup against #16 Cameron Amine.

Also, with the Big Ten Championships around the corner, I would love to see what he can do if he goes up against Iowa’s Alex Marinelli. We saw some epic matches between him and Vincenzo Joseph in the past and this guy is as good as they come at 165.

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