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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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David Carr, left, wrestles Ryan Deakin at 74 kg during the USA Wrestling Senior National Championships (Mandatory Credit: Joseph Cress-USA TODAY NETWORK)
David Carr, left, wrestles Ryan Deakin at 74 kg during the USA Wrestling Senior National Championships (Mandatory Credit: Joseph Cress-USA TODAY NETWORK) /

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(1) Ryan Deakin (NW) 6-0
(2) Hayden Hidlay (NCST) 9-0
(3) David Carr (ISU) 15-0
(4) Jesse Dellavecchia (RID) 7-0

Past Matchups

01/01/20 Hidlay maj. dec. Dellavecchia, 10-0
12/06/19 Deakin dec. Hidlay, 6-2
12/06/19 Deakin dec. Carr, 9-3
03/21/19 Hidlay dec. Deakin, 8-2

Apparently this group doesn’t like to lose. Well at least not this season as the top 4 grapplers have compiled a record of 37-0 in the 2021 season while taking home their respective conference’s individual title. Their combined records in the past two seasons? 134-4. Wow.

I think it’s safe to say one of these guys would have lifted the trophy had the 2020 NCAA Championships happened. If this bracket remains chalk all of the way to the semi-finals, can you imagine the Deakin/Dellavecchia and Hidlay/Carr matches? Talk about fireworks.

Sleeper: (12) Brady Berge (PSU) 8-2

Is this a homer pick? You’re darn right it is!

The way this group’s bracket shapes up, Berge could be matched up against Iowa’s No. 5 Kaleb Young in the Thursday night match. A win there could then pit Berge up against Dellavecchia in the quarter-finals. While Jesse has put together an impressive record, he has struggled against top 10 opponents (who hasn’t?) since 2019 going 3-8 in the matchups.

Berge isn’t a top 10 ranked wrestler but he certainly has top 10 talent. I know I keep saying this, but maybe this year’s NCAA tournament is the turning point for Brady.

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