Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1492675
6 4 M A R C H 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M South Tucson. Bravo-Young, who said he enjoyed watching Penn State's Ed Ruth while he was winning three NCAA titles, wrestled as a true freshman, won 25 of 32 bouts and placed eighth in the NCAA Championships. He questioned whether he wanted to keep doing it because "this is hard," he said. But after a 19-2 sophomore season in which he was Big Ten runner-up and COVID-19 stripped him and 329 other college wrestlers of a chance to compete at nationals, Bravo-Young said, "I need to get one of these [titles]. I need to make it happen." That he did. He hasn't lost since early March 2020. He became an NCAA champion in 2021, re- peated in 2022 and opted to come back this season for a shot at a third. Barring injury or a surpris- ing defeat, he could win his 100th career bout in the NCAA finals. He works out in the Penn State wrestling room with Thomas Gil- man, an Olympic bronze medalist and World champion, and he has impressed Gilman. "Obviously, his wrestling speaks for itself," Gilman said last fall. "He's get- ting better each and every day. But I think the biggest growth with him is becoming more of a well-rounded indi- vidual and a man, realizing that wres- tling is important but a lot of things outside the sport are important, too. He's just a great individual and person." 'It's Just A Blessing' Anyone involved in the sport would be hard-pressed to cite any wrestler of any era who has more quickness and agility than Bravo-Young. He has also greatly improved his mat wrestling, but his speed from the neutral position is unmatched and enables him to hurl and contort his body in ways that entertain Penn State's large and passionate fan base. And his coach, too. "Seeing him compete in some of the Bravo-Young pinned Iowa's 17th-ranked Brody Teske in a January dual meet. Heading into Penn State's final dual meet of the season against Clarion, the Nittany Lion 133-pounder hadn't lost since March 2020. PHOTO BY DANIEL ALTHOUSE 2022-23 WRESTLING SCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT TIME/RESULT Nov. 11 LOCK HAVEN W, 44-3 Nov. 20 Black Knight Open* Individ. only Dec. 2 at Rider W, 37-3 Dec. 4 at Lehigh W, 24-12 Dec. 11 OREGON STATE W, 31-3 Dec. 19 Central Michigan** W, 50-3 Dec. 19 North Carolina** W, 37-3 Dec. 20 Iowa State** W, 22-12 Jan. 6 at Wisconsin W, 28-12 Jan. 20 MICHIGAN W, 30-8 Jan. 23 MICHIGAN STATE W, 34-6 Jan. 27 IOWA W, 23-14 Feb. 3 at Ohio State W, 29-9 Feb. 5 at Indiana W, 35-8 Feb. 10 at Rutgers W, 33-8 Feb. 12 MARYLAND W, 44-3 Feb. 19 CLARION 1 p.m. Mar. 4-5 Big Ten Tournament^ TBA Mar. 16-18 NCAA Tournament # TBA * at West Point, N.Y.; ** Collegiate Wrestling Duals at New Orleans; ^ at Ann Arbor, Mich.; # at Tulsa, Okla.