Penn State football doesn’t 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 State’s injured players at Kinnick Stadium in October 2021.
But is Penn State-Iowa football seen as a true “rivalry game?” Some say yes. Others would say no. But there’s no such debate for Penn State and Iowa wrestling.
The schools are fierce rivals and placed No. 1 and 2 respectively at this year’s NCAA national championships.
The team that finished first celebrated Saturday night while its school’s 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 Stadium’s 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 State’s expected to dominate again in 2023-24. The squad is ranked No. 1 again in the FloWrestling preseason poll.
Coach Cael Sanderson’s empire is loaded once again. As of now, the squad returns both of its individual national champions— 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 Saturday’s celebration.
Nothin' but love for the National Champs! 🏆@pennstateWREST led the 𝗪𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗘 chant at Beaver Stadium during the White Out. 📢 pic.twitter.com/rmBLo3G4sr
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) September 24, 2023
The Penn State wrestling team is honored during halftime of the football
team’s game against PSU wrestling’s biggest rival, Iowa.A coincidence, I’m sure. pic.twitter.com/CRRpfyqyDG
— Joe Smeltzer (@joesmeltzer775) September 24, 2023
