Penn State wrestling will be without a former All-American for a long time.
Coach Cael Sanderson told reporters Monday afternoon that, following major surgery, Aaron Nagao โwonโt be back anytime soon.โ
โHe got injured last spring and had surgery right awayโฆ,โ Sanderson said. โItโs an injury that you take as much time and even more than you need to ensure his long-term health. Heโs not trying to get back anytime soon.โ
Nagao transferred from Minnesotaโ where he took fifth at the 2023 NCAA Championships, earning All-America statusโ to Penn State ahead of the 2023-24 season. He experienced plenty of ups and downs throughout his first season in Happy Valley, placing third at Big Tenโs but not repeating as an All-American at nationals.
WHO STARTS FOR PENN STATE NOW?
Photo by Penn State Athletics: Braeden Davis
So who is Penn Stateโs guy at 133 with Nagao out?
His name is Braeden Davis.
Davis won Big Tenโs at 125 last season and entered the NCAA Championships seeded first at that weight class.
Unfortunately, the true freshman didnโt become an All-American in Year 1, falling one win shy like Nagao. But Davis has been solid so far at his new weight class. Heโs won his lone dual meet match at 133 thus far, beating Drexelโs Kyle Waterman 7-5. His next bout will be much-tougher. No. 10 Davis is set to take on Lehighโa Ryan Crookham Sunday, Dec. 8 at Lehigh. This is, if Davis goes. Heโs been battling injuries himself.
A SNAKEBITTEN CARRER?
Itโs too early to say that Nagaoโs career is for sure โsnake bittenโ but itโs not too early to start thinking about it. Nagao missed several weeks of action toward the end of Minnesotaโs regular season in the winter of 2022 due to injury. Last season, he got hurt before the year and although he didnโt miss any big chunk of time, people wondered how healthy he was through his first season at Penn State.
Penn State wrestling takes on Lehigh Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 in Bethlehem.
