Penn State Wrestling: NCAA Wrestling Championships primer

Penn State Wrestling eyes team and individual titles at next weekend’s NCAA Wrestling Championships 

The NCAA Wrestling Championships are back once again, and the true March Madness is set to begin this Thursday, March 18th with Penn State Wrestling figuring to play a starring role. Television, streaming coverage, and general broadcast information has yet to be announced by the NCAA.

What: 2021 NCAA Wrestling Championships
When: March 18th-20th
Where: Enterprise Center St. Louis, Missouri
Defending Champion: Penn State Wrestling (2019)

Let’s take a closer look at some of the top teams and how things are stacked up for them heading into this week’s action. All team rankings are based on the Intermat ranking released March 9th.

Teams 6-10

No. 10 Iowa State
Conference: Big 12
Conf Finish: 3rd
Record: 9-3
NCAA Wrestlers: 8

Iowa State cracks the top 10 in the tournament rankings and they’re looking to do some damage in the 2021 NCAA tournament. The Cyclones trot out 8 NCAA representatives and 3 top-10 ranked grapplers.

125 – (33) Kysen Terukina (ISU) 8-5
133 – (13) Zach Redding (ISU) 10-5
141 – (7) Ian Parker (ISU) 13-2
149 – (18) Jarrett Degen (ISU) 6-3
157 – (3) David Carr (ISU) 15-0
184 – (29) Samuel Colbray (ISU) 6-3
197 – (21) Marcus Coleman (ISU) 7-4
285 – (6) Gannon Gremmel (ISU) 15-1

No. 9 Nebraska
Conference: B1G
Conf Finish: 3rd
Record: 7-1
NCAA Wrestlers: 9

The Nebraska Cornhuskers had a strong showing in the 2021 B1G Wrestling Championships as they took home 3rd place. As with Minnesota, they also have 9 wrestlers set to take to the mat this Thursday with 5 ranked inside of the top-10.

125 – (13) Liam Cronin (NEB) 9-3
141 – (8) Chad Red (NEB) 11-3
149 – (5) Ridge Lovett (NEB) 8-1
157 – (28) Caleb Licking (NEB) 5-6
165 – (14) Peyton Robb (NEB) 9-5
174 – (4) Mikey Labriola (NEB) 11-1
184 – (8) Taylor Venz (NEB) 7-3
197 – (2) Eric Schultz (NEB) 10-1
285 – (12) Christian Lance (NEB) 9-5

No. 8 Michigan
Conference: B1G
Conf Finish: 4th
Record: 5-1
NCAA Wrestlers: 8

Michigan didn’t have the showing they wanted in the 2021 B1G Championships as they finished in a disappointing 4th place. Of the 8 NCAA wrestlers the Wolverines have in this year’s NCAA tournament, 3 are ranked inside of the top-10 and 2 of which are ranked No. 1 and No. 2.

125 – (11) Dylan Ragusin (MICH) 7-3
141 – (25) Drew Mattin (MICH) 4-6
149 – (11) Kanen Storr (MICH) 7-4
157 – (14) Will Lewan (MICH) 7-2
165 – (11) Cameron Amine (MICH) 9-2
174 – (5) Logan Massa (MICH) 8-3
197 – (1) Myles Amine (MICH) 6-0
285 – (2) Mason Parris (MICH) 8-1

No. 7 Virginia Tech
Conference: ACC
Conf Finish: 2nd
Record: 9-0
NCAA Wrestlers: 8

The Virginia Tech Hokies finished 2nd in this year’s ACC tournament and they’re sending 8 wrestlers to the NCAA’s. Can they make any noise? Well having 5 top-6 wrestlers won’t hurt.

125 – (2) Sam Latona (VT) 10-0
133 – (3) Korbin Myers (VT) 8-0
149 – (6) Bryce Andonian (VT) 8-2
157 – (27) Connor Brady (VT) 7-5
165 – (4) Mekhi Lewis (VT) 8-2
174 – (27) Cody Howard (VT) 5-5
184 – (5) Hunter Bolen (VT) 9-1
285 – (18) Hunter Catka (VT) 9-2

No. 6 Arizona State
Conference: Pac-12
Conf Finish: 1st
Record: 6-0
NCAA Wrestlers: 8

The Arizona State Sun Devils claimed the 2021 Pac-12 Wrestling Championship belt and have now won 4 out of the last 5 conference tournaments. They are very well represented in this year’s NCAA tournament as ASU has 8 representatives in the field, 5 top-10 ranked, with 4 of them being ranked inside the top-4 of their respective weight classes.

125 – (3) Brandon Courtney (ASU) 11-0
133 – (9) Michael McGee (ASU) 8-1
149 – (31) Cory Crooks (ASU) 8-5
157 – (11) Jacori Teemer (ASU) 7-1
165 – (2) Anthony Valencia (ASU) 10-0
174 – (20) Trenton Munoz (ASU) 5-2
197 – (3) Kordell Norfleet (ASU) 9-0
285 – (4) Cohlton Schultz (ASU) 12-0