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Penn State has big questions to answer in 2021 W R E S T L I N G | I t was just four days a8er 6nishing a dis- tant fourth at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships at Rutgers that Penn State learned it was not going to be per- mitted to compete for its 68h consecutive NCAA title. Basically, there are no words to describe the disappointment of the coaching sta7 and the seven NCAA quali6ers whose trip to the national championships in Min- neapolis was unceremoniously canceled because of the global shutdown caused by the rapid spread of coronavirus. Everyone knows that shelter-in-place orders na- tionwide put an abrupt end to winter sports championships and the entire col- legiate spring sports season, as well as all professional leagues in progress and those that were about to begin. There were no words because Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson chose not to speak publicly about it, de- spite many other winter and spring sports coaches at Penn State doing so. Fans might be able to latch onto this little nugget: Since there was no tournament, Penn State still can lay claim to a 68h consecutive championship if it prevails in St. Louis in March 2021. There's little doubt, however, that the Nittany Lions will not be favored to cap- ture that title. Iowa, with nine starters most likely returning and the 10th spot going to All-America Missouri transfer Jaydin Eierman, will undoubtedly be the preseason favorite with a powerhouse dual meet squad. The climb to No. 1 could be fairly steep for a Penn State team that was good but uncharacteristically not great this past season, losing two dual meets by three total points and 6nishing with a lacklus- ter performance at the Big Ten meet. Brandon Meredith (125), Bo Pipher (157) and Seth Nevills (285) did not place at Big Tens; Pipher broke his hand in his 6rst match, while Nevills injured a knee in his opening bout. And the troubles started long before that. Last November, Penn State appeared poised to extend its dual meet winning streak into the 70s and next year possibly eclipse Oklahoma State's all-time record of 76 consecutive victories. Reality painted a di7erent story. Sophomore Brady Berge (157) su7ered head and neck injuries at the U-23 World Championships in October and wrestled just two matches all season. Shakur Rasheed (184/197) was only eight months into rehabilitation from knee sur- gery when the season began, and those knees gave out again at Big Tens. Defend- ing NCAA champion heavyweight An- WT CONTENDERS COMMENT 125 Brandon Meredith/ Howard, an incoming freshman from Bergen Catholic in New Jersey, would need to Robbie Howard make the weight. What could help the lightweights is the addition of former Iowa star and world silver medalist Thomas Gilman to the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. 133 Roman Bravo-Young Certainly a rising star. 141 Nick Lee Already a star. 149 Jarod Verkleeren/Beau Bartlett/ Pretty loaded, but expect a couple of redshirts in there. Adam Busiello/Austin Boone 157 Mason Manville/Bo Pipher/ It will be interesting to see whether Manville will attempt to make the cut; it's not out Brady Berge of the realm of possibility that Berge won't make it back. 165 Mason Manville/Joe Lee Big shoes to fill here. 174 Carter Starocci The Nittany Lions' next rising star. 184 Aaron Brooks The Big Ten champ was robbed of a possible NCAA title as a freshman. 197 Michael Beard National prep champ must live up to the hype. 285 Daniel Kerkvliet/Seth Nevills World Cadet champ Kerkvliet could be a game-changer. There's good depth here, as the Nittany Lions need a closing hammer. P R O J E C T E D 2 0 2 0 - 2 1 L I N E U P B Y J I M C A R L S O N

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