NCAA Championships: Penn State Wrestling’s road map to another national title

ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 20: Cater Starocci of Penn State celebrates after beating Michael Kemerer of Iowa in the 174lb weight class in the first-place match during the NCAA Division I Men's Wrestling Championship at the Enterprise Center on March 20, 2021 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 20: Cater Starocci of Penn State celebrates after beating Michael Kemerer of Iowa in the 174lb weight class in the first-place match during the NCAA Division I Men's Wrestling Championship at the Enterprise Center on March 20, 2021 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /
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Penn State Wrestling
Roman Bravo-Young of Penn State celebrates (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Penn State Wrestling’s Roman Bravo-Young

133
1. Roman Bravo-Young (PSU) 17-0
2. Daton Fix (OKST) 21-0
3. Michael McGee (ASU) 21-2
4. Korbin Myers (VT) 18-1
5. Austin DeSanto (IOWA) 15-3
6. Dylan Ragusin (MICH) 21-6
7. Lucas Byrd (ILL) 21-3
8. RayVon Foley (MSU) 28-4
9. Michael Colaiocco (PENN) 21-2
10. Chris Cannon (NW) 16-5
11. Devan Turner (ORST) 20-6
12. Micky Phillippi (PITT) 15-6
13. Brock Hudkins (IND) 13-5
14. Kyle Biscoglia (UNI) 19-7
15. Kai Orine (NCST) 15-5
16. Josh Koderhandt (NAVY) 25-8

Opening Match: Winner between No. 32 Dominic LaJoie (COR) 17-13 and No. 33 Domenick Zaccone (CAMP) 13-10

Bravo-Young gets the winner of the “Battle For Name Spelling Rights” between Dominic and Domenick.

Key Match: Finals – possible finals rematch from last year with No. 2 Daton Fix (OKST)

I do realize I’m putting the cart about a football field in front of the horse with assuming RBY will make the finals. I also know any matchup from the quarterfinals on is going to be tough, but there’s no reason to doubt Bravo-Young’s talent and ability.

And a possible rematch from last year’s finals at 133 will certainly end with an epic result.

Penn State Wrestling’s Nick Lee

141
1. Nick Lee (PSU) 17-0
2. Jaydin Eierman (IOWA) 16-1
3. Sebastian Rivera (RUT) 24-0
4. Real Woods (STAN) 14-1
5. Andrew Alirez (UNCO) 22-3
6. Cole Matthews (PITT) 17-2
7. Clay Carlson (SDSU) 30-4
8. Grant Willits (ORST) 24-5
9. Allan Hart (MIZZ) 15-5
10. Jakob Bergeland (MINN) 17-7
11. Matt Kazimir (COL) 22-4
12. CJ Composto (PENN) 19-4
13. Ian Parker (ISU) 12-3
14. Dresden Simon (CMU) 18-5
15. Kizhan Clarke (UNC) 17-3
16. Quinn Kinner (RID) 18-6

Opening Match: Winner between No. 32 Josh Mason (BLO) 19-9 and No. 33 Dylan Cedeno (UVA) 5-6

Same as with RBY, Nick Lee will get the winner of the wrestle-in match between the lowest seeds at 141.

Key Match: Semifinals – a possible matchup against No. 4 Real Woods (STAN) 14-1

With both No. 2 Jaydin Eierman and No. 3 Sebastian Rivera on the bottom half of the bracket, Nick wouldn’t face either of them until the finals. And of course, a finals match against either Eierman or Rivera would very much fall in the “Key Match” department.

But that’s why I have a possible matchup against Real Woods in the semifinals as Lee’s key match. Because Real is the real deal on the mat*. Nick and Real have never faced each other before so there’s always some guesswork involved in matches like this.

* – I’m sure this is the first time someone said Woods was the real deal

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