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

Penn State Wrestling’s Max Dean

197
1. Max Dean (PSU) 18-1
2. Stephen Buchanan (WYO) 23-2
3. Eric Schultz (NEB) 16-2
4. Patrick Brucki (MICH) 20-6
5. Nino Bonaccorsi (PITT) 15-3
6. Jacob Warner (IOWA) 17-5
7. Rocky Elam (MIZZ) 19-5
8. Lou Deprez (BING) 26-3
9. Cameron Caffey (MSU) 26-7
10. Yonger Bastida (ISU) 19-5
11. Thomas Penola (PUR) 22-7
12. Tanner Sloan (SDSU) 20-5
13. Jake Woodley (OU) 23-8
14. Greg Bulsak (RUT) 22-6
15. Isaac Trumble (NCST) 17-4
16. Kordell Norfleet (ASU) 14-3

Opening Match: Winner between No. 32 Will Feldkamp (CLAR) 19-4 and No. 33 Matthew Waddell (CHAT) 17-10

Dean has never faced either of these guys in his vast wrestling experience. I don’t think this really matters much.

Key Match: Semifinals – possible match against No. 4 Patrick Brucki (MICH) 20-6

Dean and Brucki squared off earlier this season and it was a fantastic match. Max pulled out the 6-4 decision in sudden victory however it could have gone either way.

This match is clearly important individually as the winner would go to the finals, but it also may have a significant impact on the team portion. Brucki looked really good in the Big Tens and if these two go toe to toe again, it’s going to be a tough match for Max.

Greg Kerkvliet

285
1. Gable Steveson (MINN) 13-0
2. Cohlton Schultz (ASU) 18-0
3. Tony Cassioppi (IOWA) 15-2
4. Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) 18-2
5. Wyatt Hendrickson (AF) 24-0
6. Jordan Wood (LEH) 22-2
7. Mason Parris (MICH) 15-4
8. Matt Stencel (CMU) 18-4
9. Lucas Davison (NW) 22-6
10. Nathan Traxler (VT) 19-2
11. Gary Traub (ORST) 20-5
12. Christian Lance (NEB) 16-8
13. Tate Orndorff (OHST) 16-9
14. Luke Luffman (ILL) 15-10
15. Taye Ghadiali (CAMP) 19-2
16. Zach Elam (MIZZ) 15-5

Opening Match: No. 29 Brandon Metz (NDSU) 16-9

This will be the first ever matchup between Kerk and Brandon.

Key Match: Quarterfinals – possible matchup against No. 5 Wyatt Hendrickson (AF) 24-0

You thought I was going to put a possible semifinals matchup against No. 1 Gable Steveson as the key match, didn’t you?

Of course, it would be a key match, just as long as Kerkvliet can make it that far in the championship bracket. But he has to win the quarterfinals match first.

And as you can see, his opponent has put together a perfect 24-0 record on the year. Granted Hendrickson hasn’t faced the stiffest competition, but wow has he been an absolute beast.

Wyatt has faced six NCAA qualifiers at 285 this year (No. 18 Lewis Fernandez, No. 23 Quinn Miller, No. 25 Isaac Reid, No. 22 A.J Nevills, No. 19 Luke Surber, and No. 33 Tyrell Gordon) and all he’s done against them is pin four of them, decision one, and major decision the other one.

If Kerk wants another shot at one of the best wrestlers in the world in the semifinals, then he’s going to have to put everything together to take down Hendrickson in the quarterfinals.