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Penn State Wrestling: Did we learn anything from the Big Ten Championships?

By Chris Snyder

Penn State's Brady Berge, center, has his hand raised after winning in sudden victory against Iowa's Kaleb Young at 157 pounds during the third session of the Big Ten Wrestling Championships, Sunday, March 6, 2022, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.220306 Big Ten Wr 033 Jpg
Penn State's Brady Berge, center, has his hand raised after winning in sudden victory against Iowa's Kaleb Young at 157 pounds during the third session of the Big Ten Wrestling Championships, Sunday, March 6, 2022, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.220306 Big Ten Wr 033 Jpg /
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Penn State’s Roman Bravo-Young is introduced before wrestling at 133 pounds in the finals during the third session of the Big Ten Wrestling Championships, Sunday, March 6, 2022, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.220306 Big Ten Wr 008 Jpg /

Can the returning NCAA champions from the prior year handle the pressure?

Looking back on the results from the regular season this is a downright silly question. However, it was a concern for some Penn State fans as all four NCAA Champions from the prior year were first-time winners.

It’s one thing when you are the one doing the chasing but how would each of them handle the pressure with the bullseye on their back?

Well, Roman Bravo-Young, Nick Lee, Carter Starocci, and Aaron Brooks appeared to laugh in the face of pressure during the regular season by compiling a perfect record of 57-0. I think it’s safe to say they handled any lingering pressure quite well.

But what about when the bright lights of the Big Ten Championships get turned on and they become the focus of everyone’s attention in each of their brackets. With the condensed scheduling and potentially top 15 ranked matches throughout, you can make an argument it’s just as difficult to win a Big Ten title than it is to win an NCAA title.

Wrestling in the Big Ten is a meat grinder.

Well that is for most of the Big Ten because what the four returning NCAA champions did this past weekend was impressive. And yes, I am even including Brooks’ loss to Amine. In the end it was a heck of a match and Aaron had to beat two top 12 ranked guys just to get to the finals.

And the gigantic spotlight of the NCAA Championships won’t be any different for these guys. They’ll be ready and they can most certainly handle any of the pressure that surrounds it.

Can the returning NCAA champions from the prior year handle the pressure?
Answer: Yes

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