Penn State wrestling’s Brady Berge is done for the season, coach Cael Sanderson says
Sophomore 157-pounder Brady Berge will not be representing Penn State wrestling at the Big Ten championships in two weeks, head coach Cael Sanderson confirmed Sunday after his team’s 40-3 win over American.
Sanderson had previously been noncommittal when asked about the status of his wrestler, who sustained a head injury competing at the U23 World Championships on Oct. 30. But on Sunday, he signaled the decision was final.
“I would say he’s definitely done for the season,” Sanderson said.
Berge went 1-1 in his two appearances this season, beating Lehigh’s No. 8 Josh Humphreys 5-3 on Dec. 6, then not seeing the mat again until last week, when he lost 4-3 to Ohio State’s unranked Quinn Kinner. Last season, Berge was 20-5 overall at 149 pounds, finishing sixth at Big Tens and going 2-2 at NCAAs.
Sanderson said the coaches now have to decide whether it will be junior Bo Pipher or junior Luke Gardner who represents the Nittany Lions at 157 pounds in the postseason.
It was junior Luke Gardner (7-2) who took the mat Sunday, scoring three takedowns in the third period to come back from a 3-point deficit to beat American’s Ethan Karsten 7-5. Gardner had previously been wrestling at 149 pounds, where he was pushing sophomore Jarod Verkleeren for a spot in the starting lineup.
“Luke’s got some great stuff and some great attacks,” Sanderson said. “He did a nice job coming back in the third period. I thought that can be a confidence builder.”
Pipher (9-11) has held down 157 for most of the season for Penn State, until his 13-4 loss to Wisconsin’s Garrett Model on Feb. 7. Gardner took the mat in the next dual, a 5-4 loss to Minnesota’s Ryan Thomas, then Berge against Ohio State. Sanderson has not commented on Pipher’s health status.
Big Tens are set for March 7-8 in Piscataway, New Jersey.
This story was originally published February 23, 2020 at 4:49 PM.
