Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1430714
W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 4 6 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 Selecting the top two teams in the Big Ten this season is easy; choosing the order of those two is not. Put projected early-season lineups for Penn State and Iowa on paper and one (subjectively) could give three wins to each team and list four other weight classes as toss-ups. But somebody has to be No. 1 in the preseason rankings, so here is a list of what could unfold this season in the country's strongest college wrestling conference: 1. Iowa (FloWrestling national ranking on Nov. 15, No. 1) If the Hawkeyes were wrestling Penn State in November instead of on Jan. 28, when they will face the Nittany Lions in Iowa City, coach Tom Brands' team would be favored because of its experience. Senior Spencer Lee, a three-time NCAA champion, is a bonus-point machine who, despite two gimpy knees, will turn a lot of close matches in Iowa's favor. The Hawkeyes likely will have five former Pennsylvania high school wrestlers in the lineup for the third consecutive season. Junior heavyweight Tony Cas- sioppi captured a U-23 world title in early November. 2. Penn State (2) While Penn State's dual meet at Iowa is highly anticipated, so, too, is the Nittany Lions' visit to Michigan on Jan. 21. PSU matches up better against the Wolverines and merits the No. 2 slot. The Lions might juggle early-season lineups at 125, 157 and 165 but more than likely will figure it out by the time things really count. Four returning NCAA champions and a 2019 national run- ner-up in Cornell transfer Max Dean make this a formidable lineup, but getting production from the three aforementioned weights will be the difference. 3. Michigan (4) The Wolverines rate at this spot because of a slight edge among their start- ers over Nebraska's and Ohio State's. Emphasis on slight. Michigan's lineup is star-studded but suffered a blow when All-American 174-pounder Logan Massa opted not to return. The arrival of All-American Princeton transfer Patrick Brucki (197) makes the Wolverines' final three weights as strong as anyone's — including Penn State's — with super senior and Olympic bronze medalist Myles Amine at 184, and senior Mason Parris at 285. Amine and Parris finished third and second, respectively, at last year's NCAA Tournament, while Brucki placed fourth in 2019. In the "did you know" department, 141-pound All-American Stevan Micic has been competing at the collegiate level since 2014-15, when he was a freshman at Northwestern. 4. Nebraska (T15) Everyone is high on the Cornhuskers, and a lineup full of experienced veter- ans is the reason. Nebraska will host the Big Ten Championships this season and wants to make its mark with guys like Chad Red (141), Mikey Labriola (174), Taylor Venz (184) and Eric Schultz (197). All but Schultz has previously earned All-America honors. 5. Ohio State (11) The Buckeyes keep on hauling in recruits (they have commitments from FloWrestling's top three seniors in the country) … and underperforming in the postseason. Star wrestler Sammy Sasso (national runner-up at 149 last season) and rising star Carson Kharchla (165) want to change that, along with pluggers Malik Heinselman (125), Rocky Jordan (184) and Gavin Hoffman (197). 6. Minnesota (T9) That the Gophers rank sixth here is a telltale sign of how deep the Big Ten is. But Minnesota is here for a reason: Depth is lacking behind Olympic and NCAA champion Gable Steveson (285), and fellow All-Americans Brayton Lee (157) and Patrick McKee (125). 7. Rutgers (T15) Any upsets the Scarlet Knights record this year might not be that big of a surprise. A handful of experienced vets, a transfer from Clarion (Greg Bulsak, 197), and returning All-Americans Sebastian Rivera (141) and John Poznanski (184) will keep Rutgers in a lot of duals. 8. Illinois (18) The Illini slip ahead of Purdue for this spot because of few more household names, such as Mikey Carr (149), Dylan Duncan (141), Zac Braunagel (184) and Danny Braunagel (165). Illinois withdrew from its first tournament this season because of a COVID outbreak. 9. Purdue (T29) The Boilermakers might make more noise in the postseason than the regular season because of Max Lyon (184), Kendall Coleman (157), Parker Filius (141) and Devin Schroder (125). 10. Wisconsin (T21) The Badgers aspire to climb back among the conference elite, and although All-American Evan Wick transferred to Cal Poly (instead of Penn State), Wis- consin boasts freshman Braxton Amos (197), Iowa State transfer Austin Gomez (149), and stars Eric Barnett (125) and Trent Hillger (285). 11. Northwestern (8) The Wildcats might open some dual-meet leads throughout the season but extending them could be a problem. The Wildcats' top point-scorers are Michael DeAugustino (125), Chris Cannon (133), Yahya Thomas (149) and Ryan Deakin (157). 12. Michigan State (33) The Spartans' top point-getters are Rayvon Foley (125), Jake Tucker (165) and Cam Caffey (197). It'll be a long road back to the top for Michigan State. 13. Indiana (40) There's not a lot of point-scoring potential in the Hoosiers' lineup, other than Donnell Washington, who's bumping up to 184, and the Rooks brothers (Cayden, 141, and Graham, 149). 14. Maryland (UR) Expect a strong effort from coach Alex Clemsen, but the word "struggle" doesn't explain what the Terrapins have been experiencing. Clemsen is excited about his recruiting class and will need patience. John Martin Best (165) might step up sooner than others. — Jim Carlson Big Ten Power Rankings Senior 133-pounder Roman Bravo-Young is one of four returning national champions who are hoping to lead the Nittany Lions to Big Ten and NCAA titles this season. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS