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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’s Aaron Brooks reacts after winning a match at 184 pounds during a NCAA Big Ten Conference wrestling dual, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.200131 Penn St Iowa Wr 048 Jpg
Penn State’s Aaron Brooks reacts after winning a match at 184 pounds during a NCAA Big Ten Conference wrestling dual, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.200131 Penn St Iowa Wr 048 Jpg /

184

(1) Aaron Brooks (PSU) 9-0
(2) Trent Hidlay (NCST) 6-1
(3) Lou DePrez (BING) 7-0
(4) Parker Keckeisen (UNI) 15-0

Past Matchups

01/01/20 DePrez dec. Hidlay, 3-2
11/23/19 Hidlay TB1 DePrez, 2-1

The 184 group has a similar feel to 197 in that it could be really anyone’s for the taking. Hidlay and DePrez have a bit of a history but none of the other top wrestlers have seen each other before.

The top four at 197 is a younger group as well. Brooks and Hidlay are both sophomores, DePrez is the elder statesman as a junior, and Kickeisen is only a redshirt freshman. DePrez also has the most NCAA experience in finishing in the round of 12 back in 2019.

If Covid didn’t reek havoc on the world last year, certainly Brooks, Hidlay, and DePrez would have made some deep runs at 184. Now they have the opportunity this week.

Sleeper: (5) Hunter Bolen (VT) 9-1

I’m really going out on a limb with my sleeper here as Bolen is *checks notes* the No. 5 seed in the 184 group. Yep. Crazy pick, huh?

The reason I have Bolen listed as the sleeper is two fold. First, like DePrez, Bolen has experience as this is his junior year wrestling at 184.

Second, and more importantly, he has an extensive history against both Hidlay and DePrez. Here are the past matchups:

02/28/21 Hidlay SV1 Bolen, 3-1
02/05/21 Bolen dec. Hidlay, 2-1
03/08/20 Bolen dec. Hidlay, 2-1
02/14/20 Bolen dec. Hidlay, 3-1
12/06/19 Bolen dec. DePrez, 8-3
01/01/19 Bolen dec. DePrez, 3-1

Experience matters for a lot of things in the sports world and wrestling is no exception. Bolen has only lost one time against Hidlay and DePrez and it wouldn’t shock me if he takes home the 184 crown in 2021. However, No. 1 seed Aaron Brooks will most likely have a say in whether this transpires or not.

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