Penn State wrestling opens season as top-ranked team in the country
Penn State wrestling will begin its season where it finished last after winning the national title — as the No. 1 ranked team in the country.
The first NWCA Division I Coaches Poll of the season was released Tuesday and the Nittany Lions were unanimously ranked as the top team in the country.
They’re one of 10 Big Ten teams ranked in the poll, with the Iowa Hawkeyes as the only other top-5 team at No. 2.
Those two are joined by Michigan (No. 6), Ohio State (No. 8) and Nebraska (No. 9) in the top 10. Minnesota (No. 14) and Rutgers (No. 15) join them as top-15 programs and Wisconsin (No. 18), Illinois (No. 23) and Northwestern (No. 24) round out the group of Big Ten schools in the rankings.
Penn State is expected to return two individual national champions from last year’s team in Carter Starocci (174 pounds) and Aaron Brooks (184 pounds). Those two are joined by several returning wrestlers who finished in the top three of their respective weight classes, including Beau Bartlett (141 pounds), Shayne Van Ness (149 pounds), Levi Haines (157 pounds) and Greg Kerkvliet (285 pounds). The Nittany Lions have also added transfers in Aaron Nagao and Bernie Truax who finished 5th and 4th at 133 pounds and 184 pounds, respectively.
The addition of Truax should allow Brooks to bump up to 197 pounds, filling a vacancy left by Max Dean, who exhausted his eligibility. Nagao will be replacing Roman Bravo-Young who also ran out his college clock last season.
Penn State’s first dual of the season will be Dec. 3 against Lehigh at Rec Hall.
