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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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Iowa’s Spencer Lee, right, wrestles Illinois’ Justin Cardani at 125 pounds during a NCAA Big Ten Conference wrestling dual, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.210131 Illinois Iowa Wr 002 Jpg
Iowa’s Spencer Lee, right, wrestles Illinois’ Justin Cardani at 125 pounds during a NCAA Big Ten Conference wrestling dual, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.210131 Illinois Iowa Wr 002 Jpg /

125

(1) Spencer Lee (IOWA) 7-0 – 2x Time NCAA Champion (2018 & 2019)
(2) Sam Latona (VT) 10-0
(3) Brandon Courtney (ASU) 11-0
(4) Drew Hildebrandt (CMU) 10-0

Past Matchups

12/29/18 Lee tech. fall Hildebrandt, 18-0

There could have been a hundred “Past Matchups” and none of the information would have mattered. This is all you need to know, Lee is a 2x NCAA Champion and the other three wrestlers have won a combined 1 match in their NCAA careers.

It won’t be a fall-fest like we saw in the B1G Championships in early March, as I believe Lee will be pushed in a match or two due to the stiffer competition in the NCAA bracket compared to the competition in the B1G tournament.

I know it sounds like I’m completely discrediting the combined 31-0 record Latona, Courtney, and Hildebrandt have put together. It’s because I am. It doesn’t matter. Lee is going to win his 3rd NCAA Championship this year and if he decides to run things back with Iowa next year, he could look to be a 4 time champion.

Sleeper: N/A

As I stated above, it doesn’t matter. No one is beating Spencer Lee this year.

And with this said, watch the winner of the No. 32 Patrick McCormick/No. 33 Kysen Terukina match beat Lee in the opening round.

Yeah, doubtful.

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