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

By Chris Snyder

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
Beau Bartlett of the Penn State Nittany Lions (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

Penn State Wrestling’s Beau Bartlett

149
1. Yianni Diakomihalis (COR) 23-0
2. Tariq Wilson (NCST) 15-0
3. Austin Gomez (WIS) 18-2
4. Sammy Sasso (OHST) 21-2
5. Kyle Parco (ASU) 21-1
6. Jonathan Millner (APP) 19-1
7. Joshua Heil (CAMP) 11-2
8. Max Murin (IOWA) 12-3
9. Kaden Gfeller (OKST) 18-2
10. Ridge Lovett (NEB) 20-3
11. Bryce Andonian (VT) 8-3
12. Mike Van Brill (RUT) 20-4
13. Beau Bartlett (PSU) 14-8
14. Josh Finesilver (DUKE) 26-5
15. Legend Lamer (CP) 14-5
16. Willie McDougald (OU) 12-5

Opening Match: No. 20 Colin Realbuto (UNI) 16-10

Bartlett and Realbuto have never toed the line opposite each other, however, I’m going to guess it’s going to be a close match. Just a hunch.

Key Match: 2nd Round – a possible matchup against No. 4 Sammy Sasso (OHST) 21-2

Assuming Bartlett gets past Realbuto and Sasso also downs his foe, these two would square off in the 2nd round. And the reason this match is a key one for Bartlett is a simple fact he has been oh so close to getting the better of Sasso.

These two have squared off two times in the past and Sasso won the first match last year 5-3 (Bartlett had the early lead) and the second match this year 4-2. For whatever reason Sasso has struggled against Beau.

This could be a prime opportunity for Beau to finally knock off the talented Buckeye grappler.

Penn State Wrestling’s Brady Berge

157
1. David Carr (ISU) 21-0
2. Ryan Deakin (NW) 13-0
3. Jacori Teemer (ASU) 19-0
4. Ed Scott (NCST) 22-1
5. Quincy Monday (PRIN) 20-3
6. Jared Franek (NDSU) 23-3
7. Josh Humphreys (LEH) 18-3
8. Will Lewan (MICH) 17-5
9. Kaleb Young (IOWA) 17-7
10. Peyton Robb (NEB) 13-8
11. Austin O`Connor (UNC) 17-2
12. Jacob Wright (WYO) 19-6
13. Justin Thomas (OU) 19-7
14. Jake Keating (UVA) 15-5
15. Johnny Lovett (CMU) 21-6
16. Brady Berge (PSU) 9-2

Opening Match: No. 17 Hunter Willits (ORST) 13-6

Penn State and Oregon State did lock horns earlier this season however the “Who’s going to go at 157 today for the Nittany Lions?” wheel fell on Joey Blumer’s name that day. Also Berge was still coaching at South Dakota State at the time of this dual.

Key Match: 2nd Round – possible matchup against No. 1 David Carr (ISU) 21-0

Brady finished 3rd in the Big Ten Championships and his prize is a potential matchup against the reigning NCAA champion at 157 in his second round match. I know the NCAA selection committee is very transparent about their seeding criteria but based on what Berge did this year I would vote for a change.

Because there’s no way you can possibly get me to understand how Brady twice beat the No. 9 seed at 157 (Kaleb Young) and beat the No. 6 seed at 165 (Cameron Amine) yet is a No. 16 seed.

Hey NCAA, I’m glad your selection criteria is open source but I think a tweak in the logic needs to happen.

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