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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
Aaron Brooks of Penn State celebrates (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Penn State Wrestling Carter Starocci

174
1. Carter Starocci (PSU) 18-0
2. Mekhi Lewis (VT) 20-1
3. Logan Massa (MICH) 16-2
4. Hayden Hidlay (NCST) 14-2
5. Michael Kemerer (IOWA) 9-2
6. Dustin Plott (OKST) 17-3
7. Ethan Smith (OHST) 20-5
8. Michael O`Malley (DREX) 22-2
9. Mikey Labriola (NEB) 20-4
10. Clay Lautt (UNC) 15-5
11. Peyton Mocco (MIZZ) 15-5
12. Cade DeVos (SDSU) 29-7
13. Matt Finesilver (DUKE) 27-7
14. Chris Foca (COR) 23-6
15. Anthony Mantanona (OU) 19-7
16. Adam Kemp (CP) 13-4

Opening Match: Winner between No. 32 Dominic Solis (MD) 15-15 and No. 33 Connor O’Neill (RUT) 13-15

Carter has actually faced both of these guys before, and the results haven’t been pretty for Solis and O’Neill.

Key Match: Semifinals – possible matchups against No. 4 Hayden Hidlay (NCST) 14-2 or No. 5 Michael Kemerer (IOWA) 9-2

Penn State fans already know what to expect when Starocci and Kemerer hit the mat, and it’s nothing short of fireworks.

However, no one knows what to expect if Starocci and Hidlay square off because they have never faced each other. Also, Hidlay spent the first five years of his college career wrestling at 157 before making a major leap this year to 174. And he hasn’t skipped a beat.

If Starocci can navigate his way to the semifinals then there’s a really good chance one of these guys will be there. And both of them can fully test Carter.

Penn State Wrestling’s Aaron Brooks

184
1. Myles Amine (MICH) 16-1
2. Aaron Brooks (PSU) 16-1
3. Trent Hidlay (NCST) 17-0
4. Parker Keckeisen (UNI) 24-1
5. Bernie Truax (CP) 15-1
6. Trey Munoz (ORST) 20-3
7. Kaleb Romero (OHST) 13-3
8. Marcus Coleman (ISU) 17-4
9. Zach Braunagel (ILL) 15-7
10. Taylor Venz (NEB) 16-8
11. Jonathan Loew (COR) 26-5
12. Brit Wilson (NIU) 25-4
13. Kyle Cochran (MD) 25-9
14. Gavin Kane (UNC) 15-4
15. Hunter Bolen (VT) 22-5
16. Dakota Geer (OKST) 15-6

Opening Match: No. 31 A.J. Burkhart (LEH) 14-13

Brooks was absent from the Penn State lineup when the Nittany Lions took on Lehigh earlier this year. Donovan Ball got the call at 184 and he beat Burkhart in a decision 5-3.

Key Match: Semifinals – possible finals rematch from last year against No. 3 Trent Hidlay (NCST) 17-0

Due to the selection committee knocking Brooks down a peg from his normal perch at No. 1, wrestling fans may get a chance to see a rematch from last year’s finals at 184. Only this time it will be in the semifinals and not the finals.

Thanks again NCAA.

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