5 thoughts on Penn State wrestling’s NCAA brackets: Toughest draw, potential matches of note, and more

Penn State will have four number one seeds and nine competitors inside of the top four seeds of their respective weight classes when the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships start next Thursday at the Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia.

Get caught up on where each Nittany Lions is in his bracket in addition to every first round opponent by clicking here. And, find our five thoughts on the list below.

Davis’ draw is brutal

Penn State 133-pound starter Braeden Davis missed some time during the dual meet portion of the season. Then, at Big Tens, he fell in the quarterfinals and was pinned in the third place match. His starting spot at nationals reflects the difficult season he has had. The sophomore is the No. 8 seed, which means if the chalk holds, he will face the top seed in the bracket, Illinois’ Lucas Byrd, in the quarterfinals. His time in the championship bracket figures to end there, as he’s already lost to Byrd 7-1 this season. Of course, just getting to that bout will be no easy feat, as, again, if the seeds hold, the Nittany Lion will face No. 9 Braxton Brown of Maryland in the second round. Davis nipped the Terrapin at Big Tens, 9-7, by building an early lead before holding on late. 

It’s easily one of the toughest draws of the tournament for Penn State. 

One Penn State wrestler could meet his finals opponent from a year ago in this year’s semis

Penn State senior Beau Bartlett drew the No. 2 seed. He is behind No. 1 Brock Hardy of Nebraska but ahead of No. 3 Jesse Mendez of Ohio State. That means, if the seeds hold at 141 pounds, a rematch of last year’s NCAA finals would take place in the semifinals. The Nittany Lion has had recent success against the Buckeye, including two straight wins. But, he’s never an easy out. Then again, either is Bartlett. It would be a tremendous semifinal. 

From a seeding perspective, Bartlett (and Mendez) lucked out, in a sense. With Andrew Alirez of Northern Colorado at No. 8, Hardy will have one of the tournament’s toughest quarterfinals if the seeds hold just to get to the semifinals.

Lilledahl ends up at No. 1

Going into the night, it was possible, but hardly a guarantee, that Penn State freshman Luke Lilledahl would follow in Davis’ footsteps and parlay a Big Ten title into the top 125-pound seed at nationals. But, that’s how it played out. The Nittany Lion could face the wrestler he beat in the conference finals, Nebraska’s No. 9 Caleb Smith, in the quarters. He also beat the Cornhusker during the dual meet season. Both bouts were decided by less than two points. Smith would have to beat Lehigh’s No. 8 Sheldon Seymour in Round 2 if the seeds hold to get there. Lilledahl beat the Mountain Hawk by decision earlier this year, as well.

The latest on Josh Barr

Penn State 197-pound redshirt freshman Josh Barr drew the No. 4 seed coming off his medical default to sixth at Big Tens. If he’s healthy enough to compete, it’s a fine draw. He could face former Nittany Lion Michael Beard of Lehigh, who is the No. 5 seed, in the quarters. Barr beat him by major decision earlier this year. He would then have to beat Michigan’s Jacob Cardenas in the semifinals. He beat the Wolverine in tiebreaker two during the regular season but lost to him in sudden victory at Big Tens. 

Stray thoughts on other Penn State draws

–Shayne Van Ness as the three seed will need to beat a familiar foe, No. 2 Ridge Lovett of Nebraska, in the semifinals if the chalk holds to make the finals at 149 pounds. The Nittany Lion lost to the Cornhusker by a major decision, 10-2, in the regular season.

–Greg Kerkvliet is the No. 3 seed at heavyweight. He will have to beat No. 2 Wyatt Hendrickson of Oklahoma State in the semis, if the seeds hold, to get an expected rematch with No. 1 Gable Steveson of Minnesota in the finals. The Penn State senior beat the now Cowboy in the 2023 semifinals when he was still at Air Force.