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 “won’t be back anytime soon.”
“He got injured last spring and had surgery right away…,” Sanderson said. “It’s an injury that you take as much time and even more than you need to ensure his long-term health. He’s not trying to get back anytime soon.”
Nagao transferred from Minnesota— where he took fifth at the 2023 NCAA Championships, earning All-America status— 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 Ten’s 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 State’s guy at 133 with Nagao out?
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.His name is Braeden Davis.
Davis won Big Ten’s at 125 last season and entered the NCAA Championships seeded first at that weight class.
Unfortunately, the true freshman didn’t 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. He’s won his lone dual meet match at 133 thus far, beating Drexel’s Kyle Waterman 7-5. His next bout will be much-tougher. No. 10 Davis is set to take on Lehigh’a Ryan Crookham Sunday, Dec. 8 at Lehigh. This is, if Davis goes. He’s been battling injuries himself.
A SNAKEBITTEN CARRER?
It’s too early to say that Nagao’s career is for sure “snake bitten” but it’s not too early to start thinking about it. Nagao missed several weeks of action toward the end of Minnesota’s regular season in the winter of 2022 due to injury. Last season, he got hurt before the year and although he didn’t 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.
