"These guys dream about winning NCAA championships when they're five years old." Lastly, modern weights were used for the lineup. "He’s already there as one of the all-time greats just being a three-time finalist, but for him to win a third title and really cement [himself] in that upper epsilon of wrestling in general, not just Penn State people...it’s a pretty good opportunity," McCoy told NCAA.com. He is the only wrestler in NCAA Division I history to go undefeated in official matches with more than 100 wins. Just two athletes have won national titles at 184 pounds or a comparable weight in Penn State history: Quentin Wright and Bo Nickal. Sign up today! By Mike Willis, USA Wrestling | March 20, 2021, 10:48 p.m. (ET) Penn State graduated one of the program greats in 2019 when three-time NCAA champion and Hodge Trophy winner Bo Nickal finished his career, but Nickal's legacy will live on in the record books. Penn State's Roman Bravo-Young won the 133-pound NCAA wrestling title Saturday night with an overtime victory over Daton Fix of Oklahoma State. If Hall earns a second title, he'll be the second-best athlete ever at State College in this weight, behind three-time champion Ruth. Low 56F. Success! In the century-plus that Penn State has fielded a wrestling team, the Nittany Lions have crowned 48 national champions and 227 All-Americans. Andy Matter, who wrestled for Penn State from 1969-1972, became the first two-time national champion in program history and lost just two matches his entire college career. Retherford finished fifth in the NCAA championships his freshman year but earned the top spot on the podium in his last three years. Matter is just one four Penn State athletes to end his career without a single dual meet loss, but this is where things become complicated in the all-time lineup choice. Johnston took home gold in the conference tournament one more time that Lynch, but Lynch picked up a extra All-American honor, and it's all about wrestling at NCAAs, and Lynch has the extra All-American honor. Penn State wrapped up a successful wrestling season at the NCAA Championships, winning four individual titles, crowning six All-Americans and placing second to … Wright came to Penn State in 2009 from Wingate, Pennsylvania and made an immediate impact on the program as a true freshman. It was not widely believed Penn State would eventually have four wrestlers crowned national champions at the conclusion of Saturday’s NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. “It was a pretty humbling experience knowing that of all of the people that were wrestling that year and all of the successful accolades that people had that I was able to come away with that award," McCoy told NCAA.com when asked about winning the Hodge Trophy in 1997. But before you argue, these are the criteria I used to select the all-time lineup. After suffering multiple injuries throughout his tenure at Penn State, Brady Berge announced Wednesday he would no longer be wrestling at the collegiate level. 1: #31 Julian … The latter's title at 197 allows him to bump up in the all-time lineup, creating a space for four-time All-American and two-time national champion Wright at 184 pounds. "It wasn’t just about the best wrestlers record-wise, there were other characteristics that played into it.”, Kerry McCoy. While Penn State may have exceeded expectations in what was considered by some to be a rebuilding year, its already extremely young and talented wrestling room is about to get even more crowded come next season. He is also a three-time All-American, which puts him ahead of Matter and narrows the choice to Taylor vs. Joseph. Davis and Samson had great careers in the Blue and White, but for the all-time athlete at this weight, Nickal has that one pinned down. The Nittany Lions are coming off a second-place performance at the Big Ten Championships two weekends ago at the Bryce Jordan Center. PENN STATE WRESTLING: Nittany Lions win 2019 NCAA Title. These rules certainly put some limitations on who qualifies for the all-time lineup, but these qualifications are the only way to justify each decision. Affectionately dubbed "The Zain Train," Zain Retherford was a … Davis was a four-time All-American who has since gone on to compete in MMA, which Nickal also mentioned as an interest after his wrestling career concludes. Here's a close look at the collegiate careers of the men's freestyle, women's freestyle and men's Greco-Roman 2021 Olympic team members. It will be Penn State’s job to regroup after junior Brady Berge (157) injured his right knee in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Wrestling Championships Thursday … Fantasy College Wrestling; … Taylor has an edge over Joseph with his four conference titles, considering Joseph has yet to pick up his first, but as we established in the beginning, this all-time lineup is first and foremost based on NCAA tournament finishes. Penn State won the 2019 crown by over 40 points. It seems as though most things affiliated with Penn State wrestling have come in fours recently. Only two other Penn State heavyweights have won an NCAA title in Penn State history: Bill Oberly, who took the top spot in 1955, and Anthony Cassar, who captured the title in 2019. Five freshmen and a sophomore are among the qualifiers. David Taylor wishes, at least in part, that things played out differently. While Penn State may have come up just short in its quest for a 10th national championship, it was still the talk of the sport by the end of the tournament. Penn State's Aaron Brooks, right, takes on North Carolina State's Trent Hidlay during their 184-pound match in the finals of the NCAA wrestling championships Saturday, March 20, 2021, in St. Louis. Kerry McCoy (top) takes down Stephen Neal of Cal-Bakersfield in the 1997 NCAA tournament to win the second national championship of his Penn State career. He also picked up his first Big Ten title and won Outstanding Wrestling honors at the tournament as a result of his dominant performance. After a storied collegiate career at Iowa, one of the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club's newest members will be representing the United States on the Olympic stage. He's the clear choice at 157 pounds and will compete for a spot on the 2020 U.S. Olympic team in April in a stacked weight class. Rd. Current Penn State wrestler Vincenzo Joseph deserves a place in this conversation too after winning NCAA titles during his freshman and sophomore years with the Nittany Lions. Penn State wrestling continued its uphill climb to defend its 2019 NCAA title at the 2021 NCAA Wrestling Championships Friday. After injury defaulting out of the NCAA Tournament, one of Penn State's most experienced wrestlers is stepping away from the sport. The Nittany Lion wrestling program is full of talent dating back to the first national champ in 1935, and if you put Penn State's best ten athletes on the mat together in their prime, could any team in history top this all-star squad? Fornicola's only All-American honor came the year he won his title, so while his championship win is impressive and deserves recognition, 141 belongs to John Hughes. Since Penn State entered the Big Ten in 1993, the program has seen a great deal of success from its individual wrestlers and its team. Matt Brown - 174 Pounds - 2015: Nico Megaludis - 125 Pounds - 2016: Zain Retherford - 149 Pounds - 2016, 2017, 2018: Jason Nolf - 157 Pounds - 2017, 2018, 2019: Vincenzo Joseph - 165 Pounds - 2017, 2018: Mark Hall - 174 Pounds - 2017: ... Penn State Wrestling Club PO Box 1103 In an interview with NCAA.com last year, Retherford reflected on his experience as a Nittany Lion and emphasized that the culture of scoring points and being dominant at Penn State enabled him to achieve his highest potential as a wrestler. So does Taylor or Matter earn the starting spot? 157 pounds: Jason Nolf. Joseph also made the NCAA finals last year before dropping to freshman Mekhi Lewis of Virginia Tech. At 149 pounds, only one Penn State athlete has won more than one title, and he accomplished that feat in style, picking up two Hodge Trophies along the way and becoming one of the most decorated collegiate athletes in program history. Lynch has a similar resume that includes two conference titles and three All-American honors. Penn State wrestling couldn’t pull out its ninth team national championship of the Cael Sanderson era Saturday night, but boy did they impress on a big stage. Second, only one athlete could be assigned to each weight. One key area figures to be head-to-head matches with Penn State wrestler, since Iowa and Penn State figure to have top contenders again at 133, 141, and 174; if they square off in the NCAA Tournament, Iowa needs to figure out how to win at least some of those bouts (Iowa went 0-3 against Penn State wrestlers at the 2021 NCAA Tournament). 69th NCAA Wrestling Tournament 1999 3/18/1999 to 3/20/1999 at Penn State Champions and Place Winners Top Ten Team Scores Outstanding Wrestler: Cael Sanderson - Iowa State Team Champion Iowa - 100.5 Points Number of Individual Champs in parentheses. He set a winning standard for the Nittany Lions with a .917 winning percentage at the NCAA championships and a .967 overall winning percentage. Four new individual national champions and a second-place team finish proved once again that Penn State wrestling is among the best in the nation.. Head coach Cael Sanderson added four national champions to his list of accomplishments at Penn State. And the bigger the match, the better he wrestles.". Jeff Prescott stands alone in the Nittany Lion record books as the only lightweight athlete to win the national tournament twice, and he did so as a 118-pounder in 1991 and 1992; Prescott was also the first Penn State athlete to earn Most Outstanding Wrestler honors at the NCAA championships when he received the accolade in 1991. Get weekend previews and weekend recaps from The Daily Collegian Sports staff sent to your inbox. As a wrestler, he won an Olympic Gold medal and was undefeated in four years of college wrestling at Iowa State University (ISU) (159–0), becoming a four-time NCAA Division I champion (1999–2002). Nolf, next topic. A 165-pound standout for the Nittany Lions from 2009-2014, Taylor picked up national titles during his sophomore and senior campaigns and won the Hodge Trophy in both years. Wrestle for Penn State and it's likely there'll be a greater good involved. In addition to his championship trophies, Prescott also earned All-American honors in 1990 and is now an inducted member of the EWL Hall of Fame. After an up-and-down freshman year where he posted a 19-17 record, McCoy went on a run, winning the 1994 conference and national title as a sophomore with an undefeated record. Though he has not yet won the Hodge Trophy, which puts him at a disadvantage against Taylor, Joseph does have the possibility to win a third title. Shannon Scovel | NCAA.com | November 19, 2019 College wrestling rankings: Penn State is still No. John Johnston and Scott Lynch both earned a national title at a weight class equivalent to the modern 133-pound division with Johnston winning his title in 1957 at 130 pounds and Lynch finishing on top at 134 pounds in 1984. "I think Jason is special," Sanderson said. Wrestlers; NCAA Quick Compare; Dual; Perma; Fantasy. The Penn State Nittany Lions, under the guidance of head coach Cael Sanderson, entered the final session of the 2019 NCAA Championships having already clinched their eighth team title in the last nine years. Max Dean, who finished second at the 2019 national tournament while at … In addition to his three All-American honors and two NCAA titles, McCoy also earned a spot on the 2000 and 2004 Olympic teams, finishing fifth and seventh. He's very confident. Penn State wrestlers Roman Bravo-Young, Nick Lee, Carter Starocci, and Aaron Brooks each won their individual championship matches at this weekend’s NCAA Wrestling Championships in … Though Retherford has yet to make an Olympic team and will vie for his spot on the 2020 team in April, his future is bright and his accomplishments as a student-athlete earned him the right to make this all-time lineup for the Nittany Lions. 149 pounds: Zain Retherford. Here's what else you need to know from this weekend's wrestling results. The 141-pound weight class creates another problem for Penn State's all-time lineup, as two wrestlers have each one a title, similar resumes and would be great choices as the best Penn State wrestler at this weight. Penn State coach Cael Sanderson after his wrestlers win four NCAA individual titles and place second We decided to look at what would happen if Penn State could build a dream lineup today with any ten athletes from history. He may not readily admit it, but Roman Bravo-Young's hand is sure to be tired by now. Would Vincenzo Joseph beat out David Taylor for the starting spot at 165 pounds? THE BEST OF THE BEST: 10 all-time dream college wrestling matchups at every weight. The 2020-21 wrestling season was a successful one for Penn State, as they came away with a second-place finish at NCAAs and crowned four national champions. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. © 2021 NCAA | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Relive the dream coming true for 10 wrestlers in Pittsburgh, The Zain Train wins it a third consecutive year, Relive Jason Nolf's second consecutive title at 157 for Penn State wrestling, Mekhi Lewis shocks Vincenzo Joseph to win first title for Virginia Tech. Other lightweight national champions for the Nittany Lions include John Fritz at 126 pounds in 1975, Carl DeStefanis at 118 pounds in 1984, Jim Martin at 126 pounds in 1988, Sanshiro Abe at 126 pounds in 1996, Jeremey Hunter at 125 pounds in 2000 and Nico Megaludis at 125 pounds in 2016. We also can't forget about Mark Hall, a three-time finalist who will be chasing his second title this year at 174 pounds after winning the weight his freshman year in 2017. The 165-pound weight class might be the most difficult weight to choose an all-time lineup athlete, with three wrestlers owning two NCAA titles each and one of those athletes chasing his third championship this year. Johnston ended his career at as a three-time EIWA champion and a two-time NCAA All-American, finishing third and first in his two trips to the podium. Penn State is the proud home to four NCAA champions this weekend. Two of Ruth's titles came at 184, but we'll keep him down at 174 to make room from Quentin Wright at 184 and Bo Nickal at 197. Ruth also won four Big Ten titles and stayed undefeated against conference foes for the entirety of his Penn State wrestling tenure. Let us know what's going on! The 2021 NCAA Wrestling Tournament is upon us after 2020 canceled the wildest three days in college wrestling. Molinaro is certainly qualified to be part of the all-time lineup, but he can't compete with Retherford's three titles. Penn State had a strong showing at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in St. Louis. 141: #2 Nick Lee, Sr., Evansville, Ind. Retherford also took down Molinaro in the 2019 World Team Trials at 65kg, further solidifying himself as one of the best wrestlers in Penn State history to compete at this weight. But the reality is that if you can't crack the podium (i.e., finish in the top-8 at your weight), there is a very low ceiling on the number of points you can realistically score for your team. The Penn State Nittany Lions returned to the mat and looked as close to championship form as this team has looked all season, Michigan pulled out a narrow rivalry win against the Buckeyes and Navy topped Army 20-13 in another historic dual. Penn State's Roman Bravo-Young, Nick Lee, Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks win NCAA wrestling titles. "You can tell just by the look in his eye. There was an error processing your request. May 10—Penn State wrestling has made an addition to its upper weights for the 2021-22 season. After the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis, Penn State’s Roman Bravo-Young and Aaron Brooks have been named as finalists for the Dan Hodge Trophy. One of Penn State's key starters each of the last two seasons will take his talents elsewhere. Following a successful redshirt season during the 2009-2010 season, Wright came back to the mat under the guidance of new head coach Cael Sanderson and raced to his first national title at 184. The Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling program is an NCAA Division I Wrestling team competing as members of the Big Ten Conference.. Taylor was also a 2018 World Team member and World Champion and will be competing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team this April. Breaking down every upcoming dual in the 2019-2020 season, Here's how last year's battle for the Most Dominant Wrestler award shaped out, Here's how two of Penn State's best wrestlers left their legacy on the Nittany Lion program, 10 all-time dream college wrestling matchups at every weight, These college wrestling head coaches had the best NCAA wrestling careers. Wright's success on the mat no doubt makes him a great option to lead Penn State at 184 pounds in the all-time lineup. While some athletes would need to cut weight or put on a few pounds to fit the modern lineup, we took some creative liberties and put these athletes at the weight class the most closely aligned with the modern division. In this debate, we'll have to give the top spot in Lynch. Penn State wrestling gained a commitment from a wrestler with valuable collegiate experience Monday. With nine wrestlers qualified for the NCAA Championships this weekend in St. Louis, Penn State will attempt to win its ninth national title under Cael Sanderson’s leadership. The list of things Penn State wrestling has become known for in the 12 years of Cael Sanderson's tenure runs the gamut. The Nittany Lions will enter the 2021-22 season as the favorites, despite national champion Iowa potentially returning their entire lineup. Cael Norman Sanderson is an American former folkstyle and freestyle wrestler who is the current head coach of Penn State University's wrestling team. The reigning World champion at 86 kilograms, Penn State legend David Taylor can now add Olympian to his resume. Lynch finished sixth, fourth and first in his three NCAA appearances as a Nittany Lion after transferring from Navy his freshman year, and even though he would have to drop one pound to make weight at 133, Lynch is the NCAA.com's choice for Penn State's all-time starter at this weight. Penn State's other five qualified wrestlers (they did not qualify a wrestler at 149 lbs) are not going to score zero points for them at the NCAA Tournament. Alum and fellow all-time Penn State great Kerry Mccoy thinks yes, but the road won't be easy. For now, though, McCoy's two titles and Olympic experience make him the easy choice at heavyweight. The Nittany Lion champ was a bonus points machine, and head coach Cael Sanderson noted at the 2019 NCAA tournament, that Nolf's confidence and passion for competing have helped him separate himself as one of the greats in the sport. Larry Fornicola won his NCAA title in 1955, wrestling at 137 pounds, so he'd have to jump four pounds, while John Hughes, who won his title at 142 pounds 40 years later, would need to cut one pound. // All-American // National Champion. The only fair way to finalize this list in October of 2019 is to give Taylor the edge, for now. Nolf put on a show in his final season as a Nittany Lion with an undefeated recored and a highlight reel full of wild moves. In the latest episode of the Collegian Football Podcast, our Ben Ferree is joined by Justin Morganstein to break down Penn State football’s defense heading into the 2021 season. The 2019 Penn State graduate is in a tier by himself at 157 pounds with three NCAA titles, four All-American honors and more career pins than anyone else in the program. Samson, for his part, was part of Penn State's first national championship team. 125: NO. First, this is an NCAA list, so NCAA titles are the first criteria considered in all-time lineup. In the age of social media, many teams at both the collegiate and professional levels have seen a boost in creative designs. PINNING WARS: Here's how last year's battle for the Most Dominant Wrestler award shaped out. None other than the Magic Man, David Taylor. Winds light and variable.. Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. -- The Penn State Nittany Lions, under the guidance of head coach Cael Sanderson, will be sending nine wrestlers to the 2021 NCAA Wresting Championships on March 18-20 in St. Louis, Mo. Seven different lightweight national champions have come through the Penn State program, but only one of those champions captured two NCAA titles, and as we mentioned earlier, this list is all about those NCAA tournament wins. BACK TO THE HISTORY BOOKS: These college wrestling head coaches had the best NCAA wrestling careers, Enter your information to receive emails about offers, promotions from NCAA.com and our partners. 174: #3 Carter Starocci, Fr., Erie, Pa. Rd. One of the other three athletes to accomplish this feat and also claim two national titles? Maybe, maybe not, but these are the ten guys who we would chose to be in the lineup for that ultimate showdown. Wrestling well under the bright lights of the big stage in March puts names in history books, and thus, championship performances were weighted the heaviest in creating this list. PENN STATE SCHEDULE: Breaking down every upcoming dual in the 2019-2020 season. Running back Devyn Ford (28) runs the ball down the field, making a touchdown during Penn State football's spring practice on Saturday, April 17, 2021, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Conference championship are great, and there is certainly a long list of athletes with impressive conference accomplishments, but this list is focused on success at the national tournament. For the second time in his career, Kyle Snyder will represent the United States at the Olympic games. The two guys left on the bench at 197 are Phil Davis and Hud Samson, who won titles at 197 in 2008 and 91 pounds in 1953, respectively.