Penn State Wrestling: 5 burning questions for 2021-2022 season

Mar 20, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wrestler Carter Starocci celebrates after defeating Iowa Hawkeyes wrestler Michael Kemerer in the championship match of the 174 weight class during the finals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

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Penn State Robert Howard at Bryce Jordan Center. Mandatory Credit: Heather Weikel-USA TODAY Sports /

Important Question No. 3

How healthy is Robert Howard going to be?

Howard had to deal with his first significant injury before his senior season in high school kicked off as he tore ligaments in his shoulder.

To his credit, Robbie powered through it, finished out the season, and had his hand raised once again to claim his 2nd New Jersey state title.

But the shoulder can be a tricky joint to treat with physical therapy alone. Unfortunately for Howard, he had to undergo shoulder surgery to repair the damage.

Following surgery, Robbie was finally cleared by the Penn State Wrestling training staff to wrestle in January 2021. And the rest for Penn State fans and myself is history as we watched Howard battle through numerous matches this season on his way to qualifying for the NCAA Championships.

But the big question is this. How did Robbie’s shoulder hold up during the season? And how will it hold up during the offseason as he works on his agility, mobility, and strength?

The Nittany Lion faithful will know the answers to these questions once the beginning tournaments and duals of the 2021-2022 season start.

But until they do, it’s an important question to ask.

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