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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 Alex Marinelli celebrates his win against Oklahoma State’s Travis Wittlake at 165 pounds during the Hawkeye’s last home dual of the season, on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, in Carver Hawkeye Arena.0223 Iowawr 015 Cr2
Iowa’s Alex Marinelli celebrates his win against Oklahoma State’s Travis Wittlake at 165 pounds during the Hawkeye’s last home dual of the season, on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, in Carver Hawkeye Arena.0223 Iowawr 015 Cr2 /

165

(1) Alex Marinelli (IOWA) 5-0
(2) Anthony Valencia (ASU) 10-0
(3) Jake Wentzel (PITT) 9-1
(4) Mekhi Lewis (VT) 8-2 – 1x NCAA Champion (2019)

Past Matchups

02/12/21 Wentzel inj. Lewis
03/21/19 Lewis dec. Marinelli, 3-1
01/25/19 Lewis dec. Wentzel, 6-3
11/19/17 Valencia maj. dec. Wentzel, 15-3
12/29/16 Valencia fall Marinelli, 2:41

It’s taken us 5 weight classes but we finally have our first NCAA Champion of the group. As an 8 seed, Mekhi Lewis absolutely rolled through the 165 group in the 2019 NCAA Championships. This includes a 7-1 beat down of Penn State legend Vincenzo Joseph in the finals.

Hopefully Lewis is back to 100% as he had to forfeit his remaining three matches this season due to a shoulder injury suffered in a dual against Pittsburgh back on February 12th.

Anyone catch some of the dates in the list of prior matchups in this group? 2016? 2017?

Marinelli, Valencia, and Wentzel are certainly the “senior members” of this group as all three started their careers on the mat back in 2016. Alex Marinelli has had the better run in prior NCAA Championships in racking up a 6th place finish (2018) and 7th place finish (2019) at 165. The Bull is a combined 25-1 in his last two seasons and I’m sure he has his sights set on this year’s NCAA Championship.

Sleeper: (10) Travis Wittlake (OKST) 16-1

Speaking of impressive records the past two seasons, Wittlake has compiled an impressive record of 44-3 in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He took home the 2020 Big 12 crown at 165 however he stumbled against No. 9 Luke Weber this year and finished 3rd.

Here’s a list of Wittlake’s past matchups against this group:
02/23/20 Marinelli dec. Wittlake, 3-2
01/18/20 Wittlake dec. Wentzel, 9-2
01/01/20 Wittlake dec. Wentzel, 7-3

If Wittlake truly is a sleeper who can make a deep run, it won’t be good news for Penn State fans as his opening round opponent is the Nittany Lions’ No. 23 seeded Joe Lee. Lee has taken down several top tier grapplers this season but unfortunately he’s also lost to several mid-level guys. So who knows?

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