Penn State wrestling: The key to winning Big Tens might be the Lions' youngsters

Penn State wrestling aims to win the NCAA title. That’s the goal this year and every year. However, before it gets there, the Big Ten tournament, which serves as a qualifier, must take place. And, it’s now just a day away from kicking off.

Head coach Cael Sanderson’s team heads to Ann Arbor, Mich., to start the postseason with a Saturday-Sunday event at the Crisler Center. The Lions are considered the favorite with four No. 1 wrestlers in the preseeds and a pair of No. 2 seeds out of 10 starters heading to the event. However, that doesn’t guarantee the blue and white will return to State College on Sunday night with a trophy.

If they do, though, there is no question that defending NCAA champions Roman Bravo-Young (133 pounds), Carter Starocci (174), Aaron Brooks (184), and Max Dean (197) will have played a major role. However, the team race comes down to two things: Advancement and bonus points. Those four, plus veterans Greg Kerkvliet (heavyweight) and Beau Bartlett (141), can only score so many themselves. Thus, the Penn State wrestlers making their first conference tournament appearance could propel the program over the top.

“We want to compete well,” Sanderson said. “Our eyes are always on the nationals; that’s the biggest goal. But the conference is part of the nationals because you have to quality to get there and it determines your placing and your seed there. That’s just the way I’ve always looked at it because that’s what my coach used to say is that this is like the first two rounds of the nationals. So, your question is ‘do we want to win the Big Ten Conference?’ Heck yeah, let’s go.”

Four Penn State wrestlers will compete at Big Tens for the first time

Second-year Lions Gary Steen (125 pounds), Shayne Van Ness (149), and Alex Facundo (165) redshirted a year ago. Levi Haines, the 157-pound freshman phenom, is in just his first year at Penn State. Thus, they will all get their first taste of this grueling tournament this year. But, their head coach doesn’t see that as an obstacle they can’t overcome.

“It’s a test for sure,” Sanderson said this week. “But, like any test, they come and go, and pretty dang fast. We just want them to be happy with the effort and the mindset, and that’s the choice they’re going to have to make. But, I’m not concerned about them being consistent and going and competing.”

Steen is No. 11 in the pre-seeds. He will have to outperform his initial slot to be one of nine Big Ten wrestlers to qualify for NCAAs in his weight class. Van Ness, the five seed, must topple some foes who bested him earlier in the year if he wants to win it all. But, he should have no problem advancing to nationals. Haines, who had his redshirt by Penn State pulled only two months ago, is the two seed and the darkhorse pick of many to take the top spot at 157 pounds. And, as the four seed, Facundo’s bracket draw should allow him to reach the semifinals, if not the finals.

All told, then, the more this quartet can win, even if in the consolation bracket, the more they’ll help their veteran teammates rack up points in the team race. And, when the dust settles, they may be the reason why Penn State can say for the first time since 2020 that it is Big Ten tournament champions.