U.S. Open Senior Freestyle Seeds Released, 8 Current/Former Penn State Wrestlers Seeded

Penn State and The Nittany Lion Wrestling Club will be well-represented in the senior division at the U.S. Open men’s freestyle tournament. The tournament is scheduled for this Thursday and Friday in Las Vegas. 

Nittany Lion Wrestling Club – US Open Seeds are Out
8 of 9 in the Senior Divison are Seeded
1 – Nolf, 74 kg
2 – Starocci, 79 kg
3 – N. Lee, 65 kg
3 – AB, 86 kg
5 – McIntosh, 92 kg
8 – Rodriguez, 61 kg
10 – Bartlett, 65 kg
10 – Francisco, 125 kg@pennstateWREST @NittanyLionWC pic.twitter.com/ovuZnanXff

— Penn State/NLWC Fan (@NlwcFan) April 24, 2023

Penn State wrestling legend Jason Nolf is the lone top seed from the NLWC at 74 kg. Carter Starocci is a No. 2 seed at 79 kg. Nick Lee and Aaron Brooks are No. 3 seeds at 65 and 86 kg, respectively.

After winning his third national championship earlier this month, Starocci indicated in his post-match interview that his Penn State career was over.

“This (college wrestling) is cool,” Starocci told ESPN, “but I want the peak of the sport. I don’t look past this because this is what I wake up to do every single day. It’s been fun smacking the head of the college team, but I want that Olympic gold.”

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Almost two weeks after Starocci’s national title win, he sent a series of tweets. These tweets that revealed that he’s undecided on whether he wants to return to Penn State and go for his fourth national championship or move on and focus on the Olympics. 

Also grabbing seeds from the NLWC are Morgan McIntosh (fifth, 92 kg), Joshua Rodriguez (eighth, 61 kg), Beau Bartlett (10th, 65 kg), and Ceron Francisco (10th, 125 kg).

The top seeds for the tournament went to Zane Richards (57 kg, Titan Mercury WC), Seth Gross (61 kg, Sunkist Kids WC), Joseph McKenna (65 kg, Titan Mercury WC), Alec Pantaleo (70 kg, Titan Mercury WC), Nolf, Chance Marsteller (79 kg, Titan Mercury WC), Zahid Valencia (86 kg, Sunkist Kids WC), Kollin Moore (92 kg, Titan Mercury WC), J’den Cox (97 kg, Titan Mercury WC), and Gable Steveson (125 kg, Gopher WC).