Penn State Wrestling: NCAA Wrestling Championships primer

Teams 1-5

No. 5 Missouri
Conference: MAC
Conf Finish: 1st
Record: 10-0
NCAA Wrestlers: 10

Mizzou cruised to an easy 2021 MAC Wrestling Championship going undefeated in the dual season and besting 2nd place Central Michigan by almost 60 points in the team battle. The Tigers are the first of the teams we’ve looked at which have representatives in each of the 10 weight classes. They also have a staggering 8 grapplers slotted inside of the top-10.

125 – (18) Noah Surtin (MIZZ) 8-4
133 – (6) Matt Schmitt (MIZZ) 10-1
141 – (6) Allan Hart (MIZZ) 13-1
149 – (3) Brock Mauller (MIZZ) 17-0
157 – (7) Jarrett Jacques (MIZZ) 10-2
165 – (6) Keegan O`Toole (MIZZ) 13-0
174 – (10) Peyton Mocco (MIZZ) 11-1
184 – (9) Jeremiah Kent (MIZZ) 9-1
197 – (7) Rocky Elam (MIZZ) 11-0
285 – (11) Zach Elam (MIZZ) 10-4

No. 4 Oklahoma State
Conference: Big 12
Conf Finish: t-1st
Record: 10-0
NCAA Wrestlers: 9

Okie State and Oklahoma battled it out in the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma a week ago as they shared the team title in the Big 12 tournament. Wrestling powerhouse Oklahoma State is sending 9 wrestlers to the NCAA tournament with 4 of them slotted inside the top-10.

125 – (21) Trevor Mastrogiovanni (OKST) 13-4
133 – (1) Daton Fix (OKST) 9-0
149 – (4) Boo Lewallen (OKST) 16-1
157 – (33) Wyatt Sheets (OKST) 6-6
165 – (10) Travis Wittlake (OKST) 16-1
174 – (18) Dustin Plott (OKST) 14-4
184 – (11) Dakota Geer (OKST) 15-3
197 – (4) AJ Ferrari (OKST) 15-1
285 – (30) Austin Harris (OKST) 9-6

No. 3 North Carolina State
Conference: ACC
Conf Finish: 1st
Record: 6-1
NCAA Wrestlers: 9

The fighting Wolfpack from NC State claimed their third straight ACC Wrestling Championship this past February as they continue to assert their wrestling-will against other Atlantic Coast foes. The dangerous Wolfpack have 9 qualified wrestlers, of which 6 are top-10 ranked.

125 – (6) Jakob Camacho (NCST) 8-2
133 – (12) Jarrett Trombley (NCST) 7-4
141 – (4) Tariq Wilson (NCST) 9-0
157 – (2) Hayden Hidlay (NCST) 9-0
165 – (17) Thomas Bullard (NCST) 5-5
174 – (8) Daniel Bullard (NCST) 8-1
184 – (2) Trent Hidlay (NCST) 6-1
197 – (28) Nick Reenan (NCST) 7-3
285 – (10) Deonte Wilson (NCST) 9-0

No. 2 Penn State
Conference: B1G
Conf Finish: 2nd
Record: 6-0
NCAA Wrestlers: 9

The young 2021 Nittany Lion squad gave it their all in the B1G Championships a week ago, however they fell a considerable distance short of behemoth Iowa in the team race. Penn State sends 9 grapplers to this year’s NCAA’s tournament with 5 of them top-10 ranked. This also includes a No. 1 seed, two No. 2 seeds, and a No. 3 seed.

125 – (23) Robert Howard (PSU) 5-4
133 – (2) Roman Bravo-Young (PSU) 9-0
141 – (2) Nick Lee (PSU) 8-1
157 – (12) Brady Berge (PSU) 8-2
165 – (23) Joe Lee (PSU) 6-5
174 – (3) Carter Starocci (PSU) 8-2
184 – (1) Aaron Brooks (PSU) 9-0
197 – (15) Michael Beard (PSU) 6-4
285 – (9) Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) 6-2

No. 1 Iowa
Conference: B1G
Conf Finish: 1st
Record: 5-0
NCAA Wrestlers: 10

The Iowa Hawkeyes are the second team in this article to have representatives in all 10 weight classes. This includes 8 wrestlers ranked inside of the top-5 and 4 No. 1 seeds. The uphill climb for everyone else begins late this week.

125 – (1) Spencer Lee (IOWA) 7-0
133 – (4) Austin DeSanto (IOWA) 7-1
141 – (1) Jaydin Eierman (IOWA) 8-0
149 – (12) Max Murin (IOWA) 4-3
157 – (5) Kaleb Young (IOWA) 5-1
165 – (1) Alex Marinelli (IOWA) 5-0
174 – (1) Michael Kemerer (IOWA) 7-0
184 – (12) Nelson Brands (IOWA) 7-4
197 – (5) Jacob Warner (IOWA) 8-2
285 – (5) Tony Cassioppi (IOWA) 8-2

The uphill climb for everyone else begins later this week.