Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1467458
J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 2 4 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M T wo-time national champion Ro- man Bravo-Young will be back with Penn State for the 2022-23 wres- tling season. Bravo-Young announced on May 2 that he will spend one more year in head coach Cael Sanderson's program. The 133-pounder will use the free year of eligibility given to all NCAA athletes be- cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The history of wrestling at Penn State is long and storied, and the last decade- plus has been unmatched," Bravo-Young wrote in a statement he released via social media. "To have played a part in what we have accomplished as a team over the years is humbling, and I am forever grate- ful for the opportunity. "After talking at length with my coaches and my family, it is time for me to do what is best for myself and my future, and I will return to Penn State for my final year of eligibility. "How could I pass up an opportunity to compete for another individual crown and bring back another team title to Penn State? Let's roll this back and get to work." Bravo-Young came to Penn State from Tucson, Ariz., in 2018. In addition to be- coming a two-time national champ, with victories in the past two NCAA finals, he is a four-time All-American, and a PSU graduate. After the 2021-22 season, Bravo-Young was weighing whether to start his Olym- pic wrestling career and/or move on to mixed martial arts or some other profes- sional endeavor, but he opted to return to chase another individual and team crown. The news of his return ends a process that started before last season. Bravo- Young said before ever taking the mat last year that it would most likely be his final campaign of collegiate wrestling. However, he appeared less certain of that decision as the season continued. When he came off the mat after defeat- ing Oklahoma State's Daton Fix for the NCAA championship in March, he told ESPN's Quint Kessenich that he might be interested in competing for another title after all. "Three does sound good," he said. "You never know." WRESTLING ROMAN BRAVO-YOUNG WILL RETURN TO DEFEND TITLE G R E G P I C K E L | GPIC92@GMAIL.COM Bravo-Young has gone undefeated the past two seasons, compiling a 36-0 record en route to back-to-back Big Ten and NCAA championships at 133 pounds. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL Roman Bravo-Young By The Numbers SEASON RECORD DUALS BIG TEN NCAA 2018-19 25-7 9-1 5th 8th (All-American) 2019-20 19-2 12-1 2nd Canceled 2020-21 14-0 6-0 1st 1st 2021-22 22-0 14-0 1st 1st Total 80-9 41-2 2 titles 2 titles