How many Big Ten champs will Penn State have? 3 takeaways as the tournament rolls on

Penn State wrestling put together a 19-4 first day at the Big Ten Wrestling championships. And yet, many Nittany Lions fans seemed less than impressed by the fact that the No. 1 Nittany Lions only have finalists in six of 10 weight classes. Head coach Cael Sanderson’s team is tracking to win its third straight conference crown after taking the regular season title during an undefeated dual meet portion of the schedule. The program has also already qualified all 10 starters for the NCAA Tournament, which takes place roughly two weeks from today at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Here are our top three takeaways from the day that was in addition to a look at Sunday’s action.

1. Lions losses all followed a similar path

Penn State will have four wrestlers in action during Sunday’s first session. It’s one none of them want to be in. Consolation bracket semifinals take place starting at 1 p.m. ET. The Lions will be represented in those by sophomore Braeden Davis at 133 pounds, senior Beau Bartlett at 141, junior Shayne Van Ness at 149, and redshirt freshman Josh Barr at 197. All find themselves competing for a third place finish, at best, for the same reason: A lack of offense in the championship bracket.

Davis found himself out of contention for first place first after losing a quarterfinal bout to Dylan Shawver of Rutgers, 4-1. He turned his offense on during his time on the backside, as he clinched his ticket to nationals with a technical fall before winning his second consolation bout by major decision. Bartlett, Van Ness, and Barr, meanwhile, all lost in the semifinals and scored a combined six points between them. Bartlett was upset by Northwestern’s Vance Vombaur 5-3. Van Ness was upset by Illinois’ Kannon Webster 4-2. And, in a reversal of their dual meet match, Michigan’s Jacob Cardenas beat Barr beyond regulation 4-1.

The four championship bracket losses all have the same thing in common. That, of course, is no takedowns for the Penn State wrestler. It goes without saying that their opponents are good and can work defensively, too. But, a lack of offense was the common theme in the setbacks.

2. Seeding is now the name of the game

Sunday’s results will have a massive impact on NCAA Tournament seeding. Bartlett could face Jesse Mendez of Ohio State in the third place match. The winner will get a better draw at nationals if that bout materializes. Bartlett, Van Ness, and Barr can all secure the most favorable seeding possible by finishing third at Big Tens. And, it goes without saying that any Nittany Lions who takes gold today will get a better draw, as well.

3. How many finals could Penn State win?

Penn State will have six finalists. Their matchups are as follows:

125 pounds: No. 4 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State vs. No. 2 Caleb Smith, Nebraska

157 pounds: No. 2 Tyler Kasak, Penn State vs. No. 8 Brandon Cannon, Ohio State

165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU vs. No. 2 Mikey Caliendo, Iowa

174 pounds: No. 1 Levi Haines, Penn State vs. No. 3 Lenny Pinto, Nebraska

184 pounds: No. 1 Carter Starocci, PSU vs. No. 2 Max McEnelly, Minnesota

285 pounds: No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet, PSU vs. No. 1 Gable Steveson, Minnesota 

Matching last year’s total of five champs will require at least one seeding upset. We’ll say that the Lions will accomplish that. It feels fair to say the Lions are heavy favorites at 157, 165, 174, and 184. Lilledahl look to be on a different level and should get by Smith. That leaves Kerkvliet, who is winless against Steveson in his career, to pull the upset to make six.

We’ll set the over/under at 4.5 and take the over.

First Penn State bouts on Sunday

125 pounds: No. 4 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State vs. No. 2 Caleb Smith, Nebraska

133 pounds: No. 4 Braeden Davis, PSU vs. No. 3 Braxton Brown, Maryland (consolation semifinals) 

141 pounds: No. 1 Beau Bartlett, Penn State vs. No. 6 Joseph Oliveri, Rutgers (consolation semifinals) 

149 pounds: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness, PSU vs. No. 6 Andrew Clark, Rutgers (consolation semifinals) 

157 pounds: No. 2 Tyler Kasak, Penn State vs. No. 8 Brandon Cannon, Ohio State

165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU vs. No. 2 Mikey Caliendo, Iowa

174 pounds: No. 1 Levi Haines, Penn State vs. No. 3 Lenny Pinto, Nebraska

184 pounds: No. 1 Carter Starocci, PSU vs. No. 2 Max McEnelly, Minnesota

197 pounds: No. 2 Josh Barr, Penn State vs. No. 4 Isaiah Salazar, Minnesota (consolation semifinals) 

285 pounds: No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet, PSU vs. No. 1 Gable Steveson, Minnesota