Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1495456
A P R I L 2 0 2 3 41 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M THREE BEST WRESTLERS Carter Starocci | Jr. | 174 Starocci may not end up winning the Hodge Trophy, but he can make a very strong case as the nation's best collegiate wrestler in 2022-23. The Penn State junior capped off a 24-0 season by pinning Mikey Labriola of Nebraska at the 2:46 mark of the first period to win the national title. It was the only pin recorded in the championship round this year, and Starocci's 2 pins in five matches in Tulsa, Okla., doubled his previous sea- son total. He surrendered just 2 points at nationals after winning a Big Ten title prior to running through his NCAA bracket with ease. Aaron Brooks | Sr. | 184 Many felt that Brooks had been slighted when he was seeded third prior to the NCAA Championships. Regardless, he proved any and all doubters wrong over the course of his three days in Tulsa. He won his first match by major decision, earned a fall in the second round, and then won decisions in the quar- terfinals and semifinals. In the championship match, he beat top-seeded Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa in dominating fashion, 7-2, to become a three-time champ. Brooks has never been one to let pressure get to him, on or off the mat, and it shows in competition. No matter what the stakes, he routinely finds ways to beat his opponents in impressive fashion. Levi Haines | Fr. | 157 It is extremely difficult not to give 149-pound redshirt freshman Shayne Van Ness this spot, but it's also impossible to leave Haines off the list. The first-year Nittany Lion looked like a seasoned pro en route to a Big Ten title. Then, at NCAAs, he won his first two bouts by decision, scored a fall and then beat No. 3-seeded Peyton Robb of Nebraska in the semifinals. He didn't win his championship bout against top-seeded Austin O'Connor of North Carolina, but he showed plenty of promise, just as he has all season, in the 6-2 setback. KEY MOMENT There were many memorable moments for PSU during its run to the Big Ten and NCAA titles. But it's hard to pick any other than the clinching one at nationals. Entering the penultimate session of the tournament, the Lions needed just one win in a consolation semifinal to wrap up the title. Junior Beau Bartlett recorded it. Trailing 1-0 at the start of the third period, he earned an escape, takedown and riding time point to beat North Carolina's Lachlan McNeil 4-1 and secure the 11th team title in program history. BEST HIGHLIGHT Haines found himself on the wrong end of a 6-0 score early in his quar- terfinal match against seventh-seeded Bryce Andonian of Virginia Tech. At that point, Haines' hopes of reaching the final looked bleak. However, his steady demeanor and relentless drive allowed him to pull within 8-6 in the third period. After a takedown and turn, he pinned his Hokie opponent at the 6:11 mark to become an All-American for the first time. BOLD PREDICTION Van Ness will win an NCAA championship next season at 149 pounds. The redshirt freshman showed poise far beyond his age en route to a third-place finish in his first appearance at nationals. He has a motor that will not stop, as he showed in winning five of his six bouts. The weight figures to be a ma- jor challenge next season, but even so, there's ample reason to believe that "SVN" will be standing atop the podium a year from now. — Greg Pickel PENN STATE WRESTLING SUPERLATIVES MARCH 4-18 NCAA Tournament Team Results Place Team Points 1. Penn State 137.5 2. Iowa 82.5 3. Cornell 76.5 4. Ohio State 70.5 5. Missouri 64.5 6. Michigan 58.5 7. Arizona State 55 8. Nebraska 54 9. Virginia Tech 49 10. NC State 48 Levi Haines reached the 157-pound final in his NCAA Tournament debut, becoming Penn State's first true freshman All-American since Aaron Brooks in 2020. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS