Penn State Wrestling: NCAA Wrestling Championships Thursday results
By Chris Snyder
Recapping Penn State Wrestling’s performance during the early Thursday session of the NCAA Wrestling Championships
It’s been now two years in the making, but the NCAA Wrestling Championships. Are. Back!!
Just listen to the crowd go nuts in the Enterprise Center in St. Louis! *crickets*
At least there’s wrestling, right?
The Nittany Lions jumped out to a fast start to the tournament on Thursday, which could set the stage for a big weekend.
Let’s dive into how the NCAA Wrestling Championship’s Thursday morning matches came out for Penn State Wrestling:
125
No. 23 Robbie Howard (PSU) vs. No. 10 Malik Heiselman (OSU)
Will the third time be the charm?
The action started out with both guys feeling each other out for the first minute. Howard got in deep with a headlock however Heiselman squeezed out. Howard then took a shot and snagged a single leg but he couldn’t turn it into any points.
Continuing to be the aggressor, Howard again landed a single leg but their momentum took both wrestlers out of bounds.
Howard started the 2nd period on bottom and Robbie worked hard and was finally able to gain position and snag the reversal a minute into the 2nd (2-0). Howard then wasted no time in turning Heiselman’s back to the mat in earning 4 near fall points (6-0). With a second left in the 2nd, Malik wiggled out for the end of period escape (6-1).
Howard was on top position to start the 3rd and Heiselman immediately broke free for the escape (6-2). Malik got in deep with a shot but Howard was able to fight control as best he could, however Heiselman was able to turn the corner and get the takedown (6-4).
Robbie fought to prevent Heiselman from turning him and he grinded out the 6-4 victory in the opening round. BOOM!!
133
No. 2 Roman Bravo-Young (PSU) vs. No. 31 Sean Carter (APP)
Roman got the action started early with a takedown 20 seconds into the 1st (2-0). In control on top, RBY worked Carter in trying to get position to turn him to the mat. But Carter was having none of it and earned the escape after an out of bounds restart (2-1).
Bravo-Young displayed his incredible quickness in utilizing a takedown/escape/takedown sequence to increase his lead in the 1st (6-2)
Bravo-Young started the 2nd on bottom position and promptly earned the escape (7-2). Carter attempted a shot halfway through the 2nd but RBY feigned a move and snuck around the other side to grab yet another takedown (9-2). This time Bravo-Young was able to turn Carter to the mat and earn 4 near fall points (13-2).
Roman began the 3rd period on top and he chose to let Carter to his feet (13-3). Another single leg and another takedown for RBY followed by an escape (15-4). If it worked once for Roman, why not try it again (17-5)?
RBY continued the onslaught with an additional takedown late in the 3rd and with his riding time bonus he earned the dominant tech fall over Carter 20-5 in regulation.
I’d say a strong, to quite strong start for PSU so far.
141
No. 2 Nick Lee (PSU) vs. No. 31 Julian Flores (DREX)
I had to check a two sentence email and then blink once. Did I miss anything at the beginning of this match?
Oops.
Lee pounced all over Flores from the onset in earning the takedown and rolling his back to the mat twice to take a commanding lead in the 1st (10-0).
Nick continued to pour it on by rolling Flores over twice more in earning 8 total near fall points and take PSU’s second consecutive tech fall 18-0 late in the 1st period.
157
No. 12 Brady Berge (PSU) vs. No. 21 Andrew Cerniglia (NAVY)
Cerniglia somehow grabbed a single leg on Berge roughly .00003 seconds into the 1st but Berge fought and worked himself out of any danger. Berge was next to make a move and he got in deep on a single leg on Cerniglia which ended in a stalemate.
Both wrestlers were on their feet squared up for the remaining of the period.
Brady started the 2nd on bottom position and quickly earned the escape and nearly the reversal before both guys went out of bounds (1-0). Cerniglia attempted a shot on Berge but a nifty move ended up giving Brady the takedown instead as he worked around his opponent (3-0). An escape and another takedown built Berge’s lead going into the 3rd period (5-1).
Brady started on top in the 3rd and let Cerniglia earn the escape where he promptly took him down to the mat again (7-2). Then Berge did it again to expand the his lead halfway through the 3rd (9-3).
Berge continued to work hard on top position on his way to winning a major decision against Cerniglia 12-4.
So Far So Good
An upset victory by Robbie Howard, technical falls for Roman Bravo-Young and Nick Lee, and a workman like major decision by Brady Berge.
Penn State is off to a fantastic start!