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NCAA Wrestling Championships: Penn State Wrestling’s title Contenders

By Chris Snyder

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 18: Vincenzo Joseph of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs to the mat as he is introduced during the championship finals of the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 18, 2017 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Hunter Martin/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 18: Vincenzo Joseph of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs to the mat as he is introduced during the championship finals of the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 18, 2017 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Hunter Martin/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /
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Penn State Wrestling could face an uphill battle to a team National Championship, but several Nittany Lions could take home individual crowns at the NCAA Wrestling Championships

We’re inching ever closer to the 2021 NCAA Wrestling Championships, which are set to begin this Thursday, March 18th, and Penn State Wrestling figures to make some noise.

Let’s take a look at the title contenders for each weight class, and see how things might play out. Will Penn State wrestlers be in the discussion at every weight class? Unfortunately not this year.

I’ll take a look at the top 4 seeds at every weight and how they stack up, as well as throw in a sleeper to be on the lookout for.

285

(1) Gable Steveson (MINN) 12-0
(2) Mason Parris (MICH) 8-1
(3) Matt Stencel (CMU) 10-0
(4) Cohlton Schultz (ASU) 12-0

Past Matchups

03/06/21 Steveson maj. dec. Parris, 12-4
03/07/20 Steveson dec. Parris, 8-6
11/24/19 Parris dec. Stencel, 4-1
11/17/19 Parris dec. Stencel, 4-0
11/02/19 Parris dec. Stencel, 9-2
03/21/19 Stencel fall Parris, 2:30
12/29/18 Stencel fall Parris, 0:30
11/03/18 Parris fall Stencel, 0:14

You thought I was going to start at 125, didn’t you? Nope.

We’re going with the big boys to start out this article.

As you can see, Matt Stencel and Mason Parris have quite an extensive wrestling history. And outside of the early fall-fest between the two, Parris has seemed to figure out Stencel in winning each of the last three matches a combined 17-3.

Parris also knows Steveson all too well. The anticipation for their finals match in this year’s B1G Championship was off the charts due to the epic matchup in last year’s finals. Clearly Parris hasn’t closed the gap as Steveson was literally toying with Mason at various points in the bout en route to a 12-4 major decision.

The wildcard in this group? Cohlton Schultz. The redshirt freshman hasn’t faced any of the top seeded grapplers at 285. His highest ranked opponent is Iowa State’s Gannon Gremmel at the No. 6 seed (do you think his parents ever played Zelda?). Schultz faced him back on February 14th and won 3-2 in TB1.

Until anyone can prove they belong on the same planet as Gable Steveson, the 285 division is his for the taking until he either decides to quit and take up professional golf, or he graduates.

Sleeper: (9) Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) 6-2

Of course I’m picking Kerk Kong. If Kerkvliet can get past his first opponent, No. 24 Michael McAleavey (CIT), and the next match most likely against No. 8 Jordan Wood (LEH), Greg will have a long awaited rematch against Steveson on Friday morning. Cue the Chris Pratt Parks and Recs gif.

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