Skip to main content
penn-state logo

Penn State wrestling: NCAA releases allocations for national tournament; what does it mean for the Lions, Big Ten?

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•about 13 hours•

GregPickel

Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson. (Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK)
Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK

The National Wrestling Coaches Association has released its third set of rankings ahead of the start of conference tournaments. The NCAA has also listed how many wrestlers from each conference will qualify for nationals at each weight class. How does it all impact Penn State?

Let’s start with the allocations. The Big Ten, which includes the Nittany Lions, of course, will send only so many grapplers to nationals between 125 pounds and 285 pounds. And who goes is based on where they finish at the conference tournament. Here’s the breakdown of Big Ten allocations per weight class:

125 pounds: 9

133 pounds: 10

141 pounds: 7

149 pounds: 8

157 pounds: 8

165 pounds: 9

174 pounds: 8

184 pounds: 8

197 pounds: 10

285 pounds: 10

The main takeaway is that Penn State, barring injuries, should have no issue qualifying all of its starters to the City of Brotherly Love. All each has to do is finish inside of the number listed by his weight class. So, for example, defending NCAA champ Greg Kerkvliet must simply be among the top 10 at the end of Big Tens to go to nationals. It is virtually impossible to see any member of head coach Cael Sanderson’s falling out of the mix unless he is hurt or otherwise disqualified. Big Tens are March 8-9 at Northwestern in Evanston, Ill. The seeds will come out early next week. Those will likely come out on Monday. Stay tuned to Blue-White Illustrated for the latest on those and also complete coverage of the tournament next weekend.

Here are the full NCAA allocations courtesy of the NWCA:

Where are Penn State wrestlers in third NWCA coaches rankings?

Here is the rundown. Note that these are national rankings. So, where a Penn State wrestler is here may not have much, if any, impact on where he is seed-wise for next weekend’s Big Ten tournament. The coaches rankings are one of the data points used to eventually seed the national tournament.

125 pounds: Luke Lilledahl, No. 8

133 pounds: Braeden Davis, No. 6

141 pounds: Beau Bartlett, No. 1

149 pounds: Shayne Van Ness, No. 2 (behind only Caleb Henson of Virginia Tech)

157 pounds: Tyler Kasak, No. 1

165 pounds: Mitchell Mesenbrink, No. 1

174 pounds: Levi Haines, No. 1

184 pounds: Carter Starocci, No. 1

197 pounds: Josh Barr, No. 2 (behind only Stephen Buchanan of Iowa)

285 pounds: Greg Kerkvliet, No. 2 (behind only Gable Steveson of Minnesota)

Haines being ahead of Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole is interesting considering the Tiger has a win over him this season but that will surely work itself out. Therea are no other surprised here. Both 125 and 133 are a toss up weight. And, the rest look by the book.

You may also like