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Penn State Wrestling: Nittany Lions’ path to Big Ten Championship crown

By Chris Snyder

Penn State's Drew Hildebrandt gets ready before wrestling at 125 pounds during a NCAA Big Ten Conference wrestling dual against Iowa, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.220127 Penn St Iowa Wr 029 Jpg
Penn State's Drew Hildebrandt gets ready before wrestling at 125 pounds during a NCAA Big Ten Conference wrestling dual against Iowa, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.220127 Penn St Iowa Wr 029 Jpg /
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Penn State’s Nick Lee reacts after scoring a decision at 141 pounds during a NCAA Big Ten Conference wrestling dual against Iowa, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.220127 Penn St Iowa Wr 043 Jpg /

Nick Lee

141 lbs.
1. Nick Lee (PSU)
2. Jaydin Eierman (IOWA)
3. Sebastian Rivera (RU)
4. Chad Red (NEB)
5. Jakob Bergeland (MINN)
6. Stevan Micic (MICH)
7. Dylan D’Emilio (OSU)
8. Joseph Zargo (WIS)
9. Dylan Duncan (ILL)
10. Frankie Tel Shahar (NU)
11. Parker Filius (PUR)
12. Matt Santos (MSU)
13. Cayden Rooks (IND)
14. Danny Bertoni (MD)

Opening Match: 1st Round Bye

I like to picture Nick Lee in a tuxedo t-shirt during his first-round bye. Because it says he wants to be formal but that he’s here to party too.

Key Match: Finals – a possible matchup against Jaydin Eierman or Sebastian Rivera

As I highlighted in my 5 Bold Predictions for Penn State in the Big Ten Championships, it would not surprise me if one of the returning NCAA champs from the prior season fails to secure a Big Ten title this year.

And if Nick Lee doesn’t want to be in that group, then he’s going to most likely have to beat Jaydin Eierman or the human roadblock which is Sebastian Rivera. Both guys are dangerous and will push Lee to the limits.

Beau Bartlett

149 lbs.
1. Sammy Sasso (OSU)
2. Austin Gomez (WIS)
3. Ridge Lovett (NEB)
4. Max Murin (IOWA)
5. Yahya Thomas (NU)
6. Mike Van Brill (RU)
7. Beau Bartlett (PSU)
8. Christian Kanzler (ILL)
9. Graham Rooks (IND)
10. Michael Blockhus (MINN)
11. Kanen Storr (MICH)
12. Michael North (MD)
13. Payton Omania (MSU)
14. Alec White (PUR)

Opening Match: Michael Blockhus

Beau last faced Blockhus last year in the 2021 Big Ten Championships where he fell in a decision 5-3.

Key Match: All of them

If one of my boldest statements to date comes true, then every single match in Bartlett’s bracket will be important for him.

The Big Ten has seven automatic qualifiers for the NCAA Tournament at 149 and Bartlett is going to have to be at his very best if he wants to win the auto-bid.

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