Penn State wrestling will have one of its best back in the fold for its quest for a fourth straight national championship.
The Centre Daily Times first reported late Monday afternoon that Beau Bartlett, who was the national runner-up at 141 this past season, would be coming back to Penn State and thus using his final season of eligibility.
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Bartlett has since confirmed the news per wrestling insider Justin Basch, who hosts the “Baschamania Podcast.”
“His official statement to me,” Basch wrote. “In the words of Mitchell Mesenbrink “LETS WRESTLE” heavy Russian accent.”
https://x.com/justinjbasch/status/1777444113727500451?s=46&t=WlFZGfPS7D6jEGd6aRZnCQ
Bartlett’s return isn’t necessarily a surprise. Unlike teammates Carter Starocci and Greg Kerkvliet— who each have one more season of eligibility and have yet to announce their decisions— he didn’t partake in Penn State’s Senior Day festivities in late February. The next month, Bartlett finished second to Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez in both the Big Ten and National Championships. So it’s safe to say Bartlett has some unfinished business.
As for the other two stars who have an extra year due to COVID-19, each was asked about the topic after winning their individual national championships.
“We’ll see,” Kerkvliet told reporters in his post-match presser after beating Michigan’s Lucas Davison to win his first title.
When Starocci was directly asked if he was coming back next season, he said “I’m not even thinking about that right now.”
But something he said while answering an earlier question indicated otherwise.
“I think it’s bittersweet,” Starocci said. “Just realizing like ‘dang, I’m already a senior, and that was kind of like my last folkstyle match.”
