Penn State Wrestling: 2022 NCAA Championships – Session I Recap
By Chris Snyder
The first leg of the 2022 NCAA Wrestling Championships has concluded so let’s dive into what happened and how it unfolded, and what it all means for No. 1 Penn State Wrestling
The day has finally arrived that everyone has been waiting for.
It’s the opening round matches of the 2022 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Detroit, Michigan. The Motor City has been invaded with guys who have a high motor and the wrestling action is just getting started.
So let’s take a look at how the No. 1 ranked Nittany Lions faired in the opening round as they try to capture their ninth team championship in the last 11 years.
Recapping Penn State Wrestling’s showing at Session 1 of the NCAA Wrestling Championships:
Opening Round Matches
125
No. 16 Drew Hildebrandt (PSU) vs. No. 17 Anthony Noto (LHU)
Result: Anthony Noto dec over Drew Hildebrandt 4-2 SV
Following a scoreless first period, Noto was first on the board with a takedown late in the second period. Hildebrandt wrestled free and he was down 2-1 heading into the final period.
Drew took bottom position to start the third and he once again pulled loose to tie the score at 2-2. However neither guy could secure the winning takedown in regulation so the match went into sudden victory.
And roughly 30 seconds into sudden victory Noto was able to snag a single leg from Drew. He then waited patiently to gain position and he turn it into a takedown at the top of the mat and win the match.
One match in and it’s not looking very good.
His next match will be against Stanford’s No. 33 Logan Ashton.
133
No. 1 Roman Bravo-Young (PSU) vs. No. 32 Dominic LaJoie (COR)
Result: Roman Bravo-Young maj dec over Dominic LaJoie 16-4
This is more like it.
RBY was his typical takedown-self in earning the major decision victory against LaJoie.
Next up for RBY is a round of 16 match against Navy’s No. 16 Josh Koderhandt.