Penn State Sports Magazine
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6 6 A P R I L 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 T he dynastic Penn State wrestling program has put another memora- ble season in the books. Head coach Cael Sanderson's Nittany Lions claimed their second consecutive NCAA Tour- nament (and 10th in 13 years) by handily outdistancing second-place Iowa in Tulsa, Okla. Two Lions also won individual titles, with junior Carter Starocci and fourth- year senior Aaron Brooks finishing on top at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively. Three Nittany Lions — super senior Ro- man Bravo-Young (133 pounds), fresh- man Levi Haines (157) and junior Greg Kerkvliet (285) — finished in second place. Those five wrestlers, plus junior Beau Bartlett (third place at 141 pounds), redshirt freshman Shayne Van Ness (third at 149) and senior Max Dean (seventh at 197) were All-Americans. By all accounts, it was a historic season. The program now has 11 all-time team championships, and its 55-point margin of victory over the Hawkeyes in this year's standings is a program record. With all of that said, there is one obvi- ous question left in the minds of Penn State wrestling fans. It's a simple ques- tion with complex answers: What's next? Sanderson, associate head coach Cody Sanderson and assistant coach Casey Cunningham will be enter- ing their 15th season in State College next winter. As of late March, no staff changes were expected, meaning the group that has propelled Penn State to new heights will most likely still be in place. The same cannot be said of Penn State's starting lineup. Bravo-Young ended his career with an unexpected loss in the 133-pound NCAA final to Vito Arujau of Cornell, but that doesn't detract from the spectacular career he enjoyed in a blue-and-white singlet as a two-time champion and five-time All- American. He will now move into the freestyle wrestling world. Dean, too, has exhausted his eligibility. He twice won All-America honors after transferring to Penn State from Cornell and was the 197-pound champ a year ago. He told the Penn State Sports Network that he doesn't know his future. But, if it's in wrestling, he said he wants it to be at PSU in some capacity. The rest of Penn State's 2022-23 lineup is expected to return, but after Starocci defeated Nebraska's Mikey Labriola to claim his third national championship, he raised some ques- tions about his plans during a mat-side interview with ESPN's Quint Kessenich. "It feels good being a three-timer," Starocci said. "That's not where this train stops. It keeps moving. Dreams don't work unless you do. An Olympic gold medal, that's my next stop. This is cool, but that's the peak of our sport. I don't look past this, but I want an Olympic gold and then an MMA title." Some have already begun speculating about whether that means the Nittany Lion star will leave eligibility on the table. Time will tell. Either way, Penn State has many decisions to make as it prepares for the 2023-24 season. The first centers on rising junior Robbie Howard. He has now lost two seasons to shoulder injuries. If he's healthy next season, he could finally solidify the 125-pound spot. Or perhaps he could bump up to the 133-pound level vacated by Bravo- Young. His status must be determined moving forward. Incoming recruits Cael Nasdeo and Branden Wentzel are candi- dates at 125. So is rising redshirt sopho- more Gary Steen. Rising senior Baylor Shunk is back at 133, but there is no cut-and-dry re- placement. Bartlett is locked in at 141 pounds. The same goes for Van Ness at 149. But what will happen at 157? NCAA runner- up Haines may make that weight again, but it's also possible he will grow out of it. He could move up to 165, with rising redshirt sophomore Alex Facundo at 174 and Starocci and Brooks both bumping up, to 184 and 197 respectively. That seems unlikely, though. If he ends up competing with Fac- undo for the 165-pound job, Haines would be a decisive favorite to win it. Still, Facundo was an NCAA qualifier this year at 165. If Haines mans that spot next season and Penn State is re- luctant to move up Starocci and Brooks, Facundo could be left without a weight class. That, too, seems unlikely. There is not a clear replacement for Dean at 197 pounds, either, but the Lions do bring back Kerkvliet at heavy- weight. He will be looking to build on his runner-up finish with hopes of fi- nally winning a national title. All told, Penn State will enter next season as the favorite to win yet an- other NCAA title. That doesn't mean the Lions are free of questions and concerns. In fact, they have many. The transfer portal could help solve them, but unlike this past season, the team will enter the fall with weight classes to fill as it aims to continue its historic run. ■ O P I N I O N GREG PICKEL GREG.PICKEL@ON3.COM The Goal Never Changes, But The Lineup Will THE LAST WORD Alex Facundo was an NCAA Tournament qualifier at 165 pounds as a redshirt freshman, but it is unclear whether he will compete at that same weight class again next season. PHOTO BY DANIEL ALTHOUSE