Penn State wrestling sends six to Big Ten finals, leads team race after day one

Penn State wrestling has completed day one of the Big Ten championships. It was a good day for the Nittany Lions.

Six of head coach Cael Sanderson’s 10 starters are into Sunday’s finals at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. And, all 10 still have a chance to place.

Only 125-pound redshirt freshman Gary Steen is out of the running for an automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament. He will, however, still wrestle for ninth place at 1 p.m. ET Sunday. Otherwise, the other nine Nittany Lions who started the day will compete at the national tournament in Tulsa, Okla., approximately two weeks from now.

Penn State leads Iowa in the team race by a large margin. The Lions have a 120 points to the Hawkeyes’ 105.5. Sanderson’s side enters Sunday as a commanding favorite to win the team crown and have the maximum number of points to gain available. But, Iowa, Nebraska, and Ohio State all remain in contention. All others have been eliminated.

Six Lions have perfect day to reach the finals

Roman Bravo-Young will go first in Sunday’s final round. His two wins to get there at 133 pounds came by major decision and decision to set up a finals bout opposite sixth-seed Aaron Nagao from Minnesota.

At 157 pounds, freshmen phenom Levi Haines won two matches by decision to reach the finals. The two seed, he will face top-seeded Peyton Robb from Nebraska in the championship match.

As expected, Penn State has finalists at 174 pounds through 285. Carter Starocci won by major decision and decision to get there at 174. At 184, Aaron Brooks scored back-to-back bonus point wins, by technical fall and major decision, to get there. Max Dean had two decision triumphs to reach the finals at 197. And, Greg Kerkvliet dominated Iowa’s Tony Cassioppi in the semifinals after winning by major decision in the quarters to reach the first-place bout.

Four Penn State wrestlers have a chance to place

Gary Steen can still place. However, his chance of making nationals is likely over. Three of his teammates, though, also have consolation bracket bouts on Sunday. But, they are already onto Tulsa, even if they are in the wrestleback semifinals.

Beau Bartlett dropped his semifinal bout to Brock Hardy of Nebraska, 7-3, at 141 pounds. At 149, Shayne Van Ness lost in the quarterfinals but won a pair of consolation matches Satuday night. Alex Facundo did the same at 165 pounds.

Who will each Penn State wrestler have first on Sunday?

Consolation bracket action begins at 1 p.m on BTN+. It will conclude with seventh-place matches. First-, third-, and fifth-place bouts then take place at 4 p.m. on Big Ten Network.

125 pounds: No. 10 Gary Steen, Penn State vs. TBD (consolation bracket)

133 pounds: No. 1 Roman Bravo-Young, Penn State vs. No. 6 Aaron Nagao, Minnesota

141 pounds: No. 2 Beau Bartlett, PSU vs. No. 8 Parker Fillus, Purdue (consolation)

149 pounds: No. 5 Shayne Van Ness, Penn State vs. No. 7 Graham Rooks, Indiana (consolation)

157 pounds: No. 2 Levi Haines, PSU vs. No. 1 Peyton Robb, Indiana

165 pounds: No. 4 Alex Facundo, Penn State vs. No. 8 Dan Braunagel, Illinois

174 pounds: No. 1 Carter Starocci, PSU vs. No. 2 Mikey Labriola, Nebraska

184 pounds: No. 1 Aaron Brooks, Penn State vs. No. 2 Kaleb Romero, OSU

197 pounds: No. 1 Max Dean, PSU vs. No. 2 Silas Allred, Nebraska

285 pounds: No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet, Penn State vs. No. 1 Mason Parris, Michigan