Ranking Penn States’ potential breakout wrestlers for 2021
By Chris Snyder
No. 2: Brady Berge – 157 – Jr.
To say Berge did it all in high school is a huge understatement.
In the wrestling-rich state of Minnesota, he won 3 state titles going 148-0 along the way. Berge’s sole loss in high school came in the state semi-final match in which he had to default due to injury. Wow.
Berge got his Penn State career started off in the 2018-2019 season in which he put together a 10-6 record in dual matches, Big Ten Championship, and NCAA’s at 149. He also participated in numerous open tournaments, going 10-2 in the process. The two losses (one a forfeit and the other 3-2) coming at the hands of Duke’s #3 ranked Mitch Finesilver.
Unfortunately for Berge, his 2019-2020 season never got going as he suffered a head injury at the U23 World Championships in October 2019. He ultimately suited up for two matches and gutted out a 1-1 record. But he didn’t look at all like the same guy we saw in the past. And for good reason. Everyone recovers from head injuries differently.
Is this his year?
Similar to many other Penn State wrestlers, Brady is 3-0 on the season. He’s potentially slotted to take on Michigan’s #8 Will Lewan this Sunday and I would be thrilled to see a good performance from Berge.
157 in the Big Ten is a gauntlet, as they currently have six of the top nine wrestlers according to InterMat. Northwestern’s Ryan Deakin sits at the top. I think it’s fair to say how Brady fairs in the Big Ten Championships will be a good indicator of how the NCAA’s go.