Penn State wrestling recap from NCAA Championships Session 3

Penn State wrestling is ready for moving morning at the NCAA Championships.

Six Nittany Lion wrestlers are in the quarterfinals. Three start with elimination matches in the double elimination tournament.

“I think guys are wrestling well,” head coach Cael Sanderson said Thursday, according to CNHI. “(Friday is) a new day. It’s up to these kids.

“We try to prepare them, but ultimately, they’re the ones who have to get out there and do it and make that decision, and hopefully they will. I think they will.”

Drew Hildebrandt will be the first member Cael Sanderson’s team on the mat inside of Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich. The 125-pound two-time All-American must win his second consolation bracket match to keep the dream alive of medaling for a third time.

Consolation bracket action and quarterfinal matches will take place at the same time. Roman Bravo-Young will be up shortly after Hildebrandt finishes in a 133-pound match. Nick Lee will then follow him on the same mat at 141.

Penn State leads the team race as session three begins

Penn State ended Day 1 on top of the team race. The top five breaks down as follows:

1. Penn State 27.5
2. Arizona State 22
3. Michigan 21
4.  Iowa 24
5. North Carolina State 17.5

Sanderson should be pleased with where his team sits. At the same time, it is very much a five-team race as the action gets underway.

First third session matches for each PSU wrestler

125: No. 16 Drew Hildebrandt, PSU vs. No. 15 Brody Teske, Northern Iowa (consolation)

133: No. 1 Roman Bravo-Young, Penn State vs. No. 25 Brian Courtney (Virginia)

141: No. 1 Nick Lee, PSU vs. No. 8 Grant Willits (Oregon State)

149: No. 13 Beau Bartlett, Penn State vs. No. 19 Yahya Thomas, Northwestern (consolation)

157: No. 16 Brady Berge, PSU vs. No. 15 Johnny Lovett, Central Michigan (consolation)

174: No. 1 Carter Starocci, Penn State vs. No. 9 Mikey Labriola, Nebraska

184: No. 1 Aaron Brooks, PSU vs. No. 7 Kaleb Romero, Ohio State

197: No. 1 Max Dean, Penn State vs. No. 8 Lou Deprez, Binghamton

285: No. 4 Greg Kerkvliet vs. No. 12 Christian Lance, Nebraska

Rolling session three updates, part two

2:55 p.m.: Brady Berge is out of the NCAA Tournament. He loses to Nebraska’s Peyton Robb by decision, 8-3. That’s it for Penn State in this session. Six wrestlers remain, all in the semifinals.

1:53 p.m.: Penn State is a perfect 6-0 in the quarterfinals as Greg Kerkvliet beats Christian Lance 7-1. Next up for the Nittany Lion? All-world wrestler Gable Steveson from Minnesota in the semifinals.

1:40 p.m.: Max Dean is an All-American. A Penn State challenge went his way, as a takedown was awarded in the third period to lead to a 4-3 win over Lou Deprez of Binghamton. The lions are now five-for-five in the quarters with Greg Kerkvliet up next.

1:13 p.m.: Aaron Brooks is again off to the semifinals. He wins by major decision, 13-2, over Kaleb Romero of Ohio State with 2:28 in riding time.

12:57 p.m.: Carter Starocci is off to the semifinals. He beats Mikey Labriola of Nebraska 6-1 with 2:13 in riding time. He is the third Penn State wrestler to earn All-American honors.

Rolling session three Penn State updates, part one

This page will not automatically update. Thus, you will need to refresh your browser to see the latest news.

12:36 p.m.: Brady Berge beats Johnny Lovett of Central Michigan 4-3 in a 157-pound consolation bracket match, which keeps the Penn State wrestler alive for All-American status. He’ll wrestle again this afternoon.

12:25 p.m.: Beau Bartlett’s sophomore season is over. He loses to Northwestern’s Yahya Thomas, 5-3., and is eliminated The Penn State wrestler was 15-10 this season and a career mark of 23-13.

11:45 am.: Nick Lee is an All-American. He picked up big team points for the Lions by pinning Oregon State’s Hunter Willits in 3:45. It’s his 20th straight victory and he’s now onto the semifinals.

11:32 a.m.: Roman Bravo-Young is Penn State’s first All-American and semifinalist. He wins 13-7 over Brian Courtney of Virginia. The 133-pounder had a late shot that looked to be good for a takedown and major decision to help the team race. But, it was overturned upon review.

11:15 a.m.: Brody Teske wins 8-4 over Drew Hildebrandt at 125. He is the first Penn State wrestler eliminated from this year’s NCAA Tournament. That also ends his NCAA career. He was 10-5 as a Nittany Lion and 93-38 overall and a two-time All-American.