This Penn State wrestling team may be the deepest that Cael Sanderson’s had. The difference this year has been the emergence of Braeden Davis at 125 pounds, a weight where Penn State’s have been struggling for the better part of Sanderson’s tenure.
It brings up the question: Could this Penn State team match the 2001 Minnesota team as the only team that has ever went 10 for 10 on All-Americans? The 2001 Golden Gophers, under coach Jay Robinson, didn’t have any champions. They had three get third place and three more get fourth place. Minnesota also had one in fifth, one in sixth, and two more get eighth place.
Here is a look at the chances Penn State wrestling has in a few weeks in Kansas City:
125 – Braeden Davis: Davis currently sits ranked eighth at the weight. Davis stormed out to an amazing start to the season, but has dropped a couple bouts recently. He will have his work cut out for him in March. All-American chances: Possible.
133 – Aaron Nagao: Kind of like Davis, Nagao has dropped a couple recently and it has dropped him down to 11th in the InterMat rankings. Nagao was an All-American last year at Minnesota with a fifth place finish. If he turns it around in March, he could do it again. All-American chances: Decent
141 – Beau Bartlett: Bartlett has been outstanding all season. He’s now 17-0 and No. 1 at the weight. The question shouldn’t be if Bartlett will be an All-American, but how high will he be on the podium? All-American chances: Very high.
149 – Tyler Kasak: Kasak is now ranked ninth at the weight after coming close to knocking off No. 1 Ridge Lovett of Nebraska last weekend. Kasak has been excellent ever since taking over the starting job from Shayne Van Ness. Like Davis, Kasak will have his work cut out for him in March. All-American chances: Possible
157 – Levi Haines: What would make anyone think that Haines won’t be an All-American in a few weeks? He narrowly missed a national championship in his true freshman season last year. He could do it this season. All-American chances: Very high.
165 – Mitchell Mesenbrink: Mesenbrink has been fantastic all season and he’s only ranked sixth. The problem is the rest of the weight class is also stacked, especially at the top between Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole and Iowa State’s David Carr. A championship might be tough for Mesenbrink, but a spot in the top eight should happen. All-American chances: Reasonably high.
174 – Carter Starocci: I don’t think there’s any doubt with this one. The question is will Starocci make it 4 for 4 on championships? I wouldn’t bet against it. All-American chances: Very high.
184 – Bernie Truax: Truax is currently ranked sixth at the weight. He’s dropped a couple this season, but he’s been an All-American before at Cal Poly. All-American chances: Reasonably high.
197 – Aaron Brooks: See above on Starocci and ditto for Brooks. All-American chances: Very high.
285 – Greg Kerkvliet: There probably isn’t anyone in the country happier to see Gable Steveson not wrestling this year more than Kerkvliet. Kerkvliet probably wrestled Steveson tougher than anyone, but couldn’t get through the buzzsaw. He’ll have a chance to finally get to the top this season. All-American chances: Very high.
