Penn State football doesnโt like Iowa, and neither does Penn State wrestling.
For the football program, that dislike has intensified over the past two years due to Iowa fans infamously booing Penn Stateโs injured players at Kinnick Stadium in October 2021.
But is Penn State-Iowa football seen as a true โrivalry game?โ Some say yes. Others would say no. But thereโs no such debate for Penn State and Iowa wrestling.
The schools are fierce rivals and placed No. 1 and 2 respectively at this yearโs NCAA national championships.
The team that finished first celebrated Saturday night while its schoolโs football squad played the team that finished second.
Did PSU purposely schedule honoring the wrestling team against Iowa, or was it more because the White Out game is Beaver Stadiumโs most celebrated tradition?
We might never find out, but what we do know is that Saturday was a great night for PSU football (31-0 win over Iowa), Penn State wrestling (national championship celebration) and the University in general.
Penn Stateโs expected to dominate again in 2023-24. The squad is ranked No. 1 again in the FloWrestling preseason poll.
Coach Cael Sandersonโs empire is loaded once again. As of now, the squad returns both of its individual national championsโ Carter Starocci (174-pound weight class) and Aaron Brooks (184), as well as a pair of national runner-ups in Levi Haines (157) and heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet. Penn State also added in the transfer portal, getting Aaron Nagao (Minnesota), Bernie Truax IV (Cal Poly) and Mitchell Mesenbrink (Cal Baptist).
Time will tell what becomes of the 2023-24 Penn State wrestling squad. But the 2022-23 squad has its place in PSU history secure, and it earned Saturdayโs celebration.
Nothin' but love for the National Champs! ๐@pennstateWREST led the ๐ช๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ chant at Beaver Stadium during the White Out. ๐ข pic.twitter.com/rmBLo3G4sr
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) September 24, 2023
The Penn State wrestling team is honored during halftime of the football
teamโs game against PSU wrestlingโs biggest rival, Iowa.A coincidence, Iโm sure. pic.twitter.com/CRRpfyqyDG
— Joe Smeltzer (@joesmeltzer775) September 24, 2023
