Nittany Lions claim Big 10 title; Sanderson Coach of the Year, Haines Freshman of the Year
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Penn State Nittany Lions (16-0, 8-0 B1G) stormed the field on Sunday to claim the 2023 Big Ten Championship, winning the school’s seventh conference title. Four Penn State wrestlers earned individual titles as well. Penn State won the team race with 147.0 points, ahead of second place Iowa’s 134.5. Penn State also qualified nine individuals for the 2023 NCAA Championships in two weeks.
This is Penn State’s seventh conference championship, having also won in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2019. Penn State now has 59 Big Ten Champions, spread among 32 individuals. Penn State’s six finalists tied the school record for finalists in a season (2019). Cael Sanderson was named Big Ten Coach of the Year, earning the honor for the seventh time. Levi Haines was honored as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, becoming Penn State’s eighth honoree.
Roman Bravo-Young (133) and Aaron Brooks (184) both became three-time Big Ten Champions (Penn State’s 8th and 9th respectively). Carter Starocci (174) became a two-time Big Ten Champion and Levi Haines (157) become a true freshman Big Ten Champion.
Roman Bravo-Young, ranked No. 1 at 133, met No. 13 Aaron Nagao of Minnesota in Penn State’s first Big Ten final bout. Bravo-Young battled through an even first minute plus, setting a high tempo and chasing Nagao around the middle of the mat. Bravo-Young continued to connect on singles and forced a stall warning at :15. He then completed a low double as time expired to lead 2-0 after one. After a neutral start in the second, Bravo-Young continued to hold position in the center of the mat as Nagao worked towards the outside circle. Bravo-Young picked up a another takedown at :45. Bravo-Young gave up a locked hands point at :05 and finished the period no top to lead 4-1 with :54 riding time after two. Bravo-Young chose down to start the third period. Nagao controlled the action for over a minute before Bravo-Young picked up a stall point and rolled to the 5-2 win. Bravo-Young became Penn State’s eight three-time Big Ten Champion. The victory capped off a 3-0 run at Big Tens for Bravo-Young and sends him to the NCAA Championship in two weeks with a 16-0 record.
True freshman Levi Haines, ranked No. 7 at 157, met No. 1 Peyton Robb of Nebraska in the finals. Haines and Robb battled in the middle of the mat before Haines worked his way in on a high single. Robb was able to defend the shot to a reset with 1:44 on the clock. Haines continued to shoot, forcing Robb to step back as the clock hit 1:10. Haines fought off a late Robb shot, with action moving out of bounds with :01 on the clock. Robb escaped to a 1-0 lead to start the second period. The duo worked in neutral as the clock moved below 1:00. Haines trailed by one to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie at 1:38. Haines worked the center of the mat as the clock moved through the 1:00 mark. He nearly countered a Robb shot at :40 but the Husker stepped out of trouble and the clock moved to :30. The bout moved to sudden victory tied 1-1. Haines ended it quickly. He moved in on a high single, readjusted after a brief Robb counter, lifted the Husker off the mat and took him back down for two points and a 3-1 (sv) win. Haines earned his first Big Ten title in his first trip, going 3-0. He will head to his first NCAA tournament with a 22-1 record.
Carter Starocci, ranked No. 1 at 174, took on No. 2 Mike Labriola of Nebraska in the finals. Starocci came out with a fast pace early, working in the center of the mat against the second-ranked Husker. Starocci gained control of Labriola’s left leg and nearly notched a takedown before Labriola fled out of bounds, picking up a stall warning. Starocci took a handful of shots and nearly took Labriola down at the buzzer but the match moved to the second tied 0-0. Labriola chose down to start the second period and Starocci maintained control of the Husker until Labriola escaped to a 1-0 lead at :56. Starocci blew through a strong double leg for a takedown and a 2-1 lead with just :15 left in the period. Starocci chose down to start the final stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Starocci continued to shoot Labriola out of bounds with a high pace and worked the clock down below :50. Starocci turned a low single into a scramble at :40 and finished off another takedown with seconds left. Add the riding time point and Starocci rolled to the 6-1 win. Starocci’s 3-0 run in Ann Arbor made him a two-time Big Ten Champion and sends him to NCAAs with a 19-0 record.
Aaron Brooks, ranked No. 1 at 184, met No. 5 Kaleb Romero of Ohio State. Brooks chased Romero around the edge of the mat for the first minute, looking for a takedown or at least a stall warning. Brooks continued to shot Romero backwards, picked up a stall warning and finished off a low shot for a 2-0 lead at 1:36. After a Romero escape, Brooks continued to force Romero to the outside circle as the Buckeye struggled with his high pace. Brooks worked the clock down to 0:00 with more pressure and led 2-1 after one. Brooks chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Brooks offense was relentless as he worked his way around Romero for a second takedown and a 5-1 lead with 1:05 on the clock. Brooks finished the period on top and led 5-1 with 1:33 in time after two. Romero chose down to start the period. Brooks picked up a stall point at 1:22 and cut Romero loose. With riding time clinched, Brooks picked up another stall point and then quickly took Romero down again to open up a 9-2 lead at :45. He added two more points on another stall to lead 11-2 He finished the period on top and, with the riding time point, rolled to the 12-2 major decision. Brooks win gave him his third Big Ten title, making him Penn State’s ninth three-timer (and joining current teammate Bravo-Young on that list). Brooks went 3-0 with two majors and a tech fall in Ann Arbor and heads to Tulsa with a 12-1 record.
Max Dean, ranked No. 3 at 197, faced No. 10 Silas Allred of Nebraska. Dean worked the middle of the mat for the opening minute-plus until Allred took a low shot that led to a scramble at 1:30. Dean worked through the move and action was stopped at :54. Allred turned a low shot into a late takedown and Dean trailed 2-1 after one. Dean chose down to start the second period and steadily worked his way to an escape and a 2-2 tie. Dean took a slight shot that Allred countered for another takedown and a 4-3 lead with :40 on the clock. Dean trailed 4-3 after the second period. Allred chose neutral to start the third period. Dean looked for a go-ahead takedown as the clock hit 1:20 but Allred’s defense kept him at bay. Dean continued to shoot as the clock wound down and Allred countered a late effort for a 6-3 win. Dean went 2-1 in Ann Arbor and heads to Tulsa with a 20-3 record.
Greg Kerkvliet, ranked No. 2 at 285, met No. 1 Mason Parris of Michigan in the tournament’s final title bout. Parris took an early 2-0 lead with a takedown in the first minute and Kerkvliet escaped to a 2-1 score :48 seconds later. Kerkvliet worked in the center of the mat looking for an opening but the clock moved to 0:00, sending the bout to the second period with Parris up by one. Kerkvliet chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. He then worked in neutral as the clock hit 1:00, looking for an opening. Parris backed away from every shot the Lion big man took as Kerkvliet continued to prowl on the Michigan logo. Time moved below the :30 mark with both men on their feet and the bout moved into the third period tied 2-2. Parris chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 3-2 lead at the 1:50 mark. Kerkvliet continued to shoot and Parris continued to block as the clock hit 1:00. Kerkvliet took a single at the :45 mark but Parris was able to fight off the move and Kerkvliet finally picked up the stall point with :20 left, tying the bout at 3-3. The match moved into sudden victory. Kerkvliet took a low shot that Parris was able to turn into a scramble, finishing off the takedown. Kerkvliet dropped a 5-3 (sv) decision. Kerkvliet went 2-1 at Big Tens and took second. He will head to Tulsa with a 15-2 record.
Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 4 at 141, faced No. 13 Parker Filius of Purdue the consolation semifinals. The duo battled through a scoreless first period. Filius chose down to start the second period and Bartlett controlled action on top for over a minute before Filius escaped for a point. Bartlett quickly scrambled his way to a takedown and rode Filius out to carry that lead into the third period. He escaped to start the third, maintaining over 1:00 in riding time, and lead 3-1. Filius managed a late escape and cut Bartlett loose to a 4-3 score. Bartlett picked up the riding time point and moved into the third place bout with a 5-3 win. He took on No. 19 Dylan D’Emilio of Ohio State for third place. Bartlett set a fast tempo early in the match, taking a series of shots that forced his Buckeye opponent into defense. The duo finished the first period knotted in a 0-0 tie. D’Emilio chose down to start the second period. Bartlett was able to control action on top for a bit before the Buckeye escaped to a 1-0 lead. Bartlett returned the favor with an escape to start the third and action resumed in neutral, tied 1-1. Bartlett continued to pressure D’Emilio and connected on a low shot for a takedown and a 3-1 lead with 1:15 left in the bout. D’Emilio escaped to a 3-2 score but Bartlett continued to score, finishing off the bout with a final takedown to post the 5-2 win. Bartlett’s victory clinched the third-place spot for the Nittany Lion junior. He closes out his Big Ten run with a 3-1 mark and heads to Tulsa for NCAA’s with a 22-2 record.
Shayne Van Ness, ranked No. 13 at 149, took on No. 28 Graham Rooks of Indiana in the consolation semifinals. Van Ness battled Rooks evenly for the first couple minutes before working his way through a single leg for a takedown at the :47 mark to open up a 2-0 lead. Rooks escaped to cut the score to 2-1 after the opening period. Van Ness notched an escape to start the second period and quickly moved in for a takedown to open up a 5-1 lead. He added a third takedown as the second period wound down to lead 7-2 with over 1:00 in riding time after two. Rooks cut the lead to 7-3 win an early escape to start the third period but Van Ness dominated on offense. The Nittany Lion picked up two more takedowns and riding time to roll into the third-place bout with a 12-4 major decision. He faced No. 6 Max Murin of Iowa for third place. Van Ness worked the center of the mat for the first minute, trying to break through Murin’s defense from the opening whistle. Murin took a shot at 1:30 and connected on a takedown to open up a 2-1 lead after a quick Van Ness escape. Van Ness continued to scramble for openings, keeping Murin backing away as the clock moved below :30. Trailing 2-1 after one, Van Ness rolled to a quick escape to tie the bout at 2-2 to start the second period. Van Ness worked for points but Murin defended his way to a 2-2 tie after two. Murin escaped to a 3-2 lead to start the third period. Van Ness chased Murin for the remainder of the period, forcing one stall warning, but in the end dropped the hard-fought 3-2 decision. Van Ness went 4-2 at his first Big Ten tournament and heads to nationals with a 19-6 record.
Alex Facundo, ranked No. 9 at 165, faced No. 25 Dan Braunagel of Illinois in the 7th-place match. After battling through a scoreless first period, Facundo escaped to a 1-0 lead early in the second period. The duo worked in neutral as the clock moved below :30. Facundo continued to move in on offense and notched a key late takedown to lead 3-0 after two. Braunagel escaped to a 3-1 score to start the third. Facundo instigated a late scramble but a stalemate stopped the action. He fought off a late Braunagel flurry and took seventh place with the 3-1 win. Facundo went 3-2 at his first Big Ten tournament, placing seventh. He heads to NCAAs in two weeks with a 19-4 record.
Gary Steen, competing in placer bouts at 125 (that do not count towards team score), faced Michigan State’s Tristan Lujan to start the day for the Nittany Lions. The Nittany Lion freshman fell behind 2-0 early in the first but escaped quickly to a 2-1 score. He escaped to a 2-2 tie early in the second period but fell behind 4-2 on a subsequent Lujan takedown. Trailing 5-3 early in the third, Steen worked his way to a takedown to tie the bout 5-5 at the 1:10 mark. He cut Lujan loose to a 6-5 deficit and went to work for a go-ahead takedown. But Lujan defended his lead through a late scramble and Steen’s tournament ended with the close 6-5 loss.
Penn State has nine automatic qualifiers for the NCAA Championships: Bravo-Young (133), Bartlett (141), Van Ness (149), Haines (157), Facundo (165), Starocci (174), Brooks (184), Dean (197), Kerkvliet (285).
The 2023 NCAA Championships is set for March 16-18, 2023, in Tulsa’s BOK Center. The six-session title tournament features sessions at 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 16; 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Friday March 17; and 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 18 (all times Eastern). The NCAA tournament will be broadcast national on the ESPN family of networks. The tournament seeds and full bracket will be revealed on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. on NCAA.com (at-large selections for each weight will be rolled out a day prior on Tuesday).
Penn State at 2023 Big Ten Championship – Session 3/4
March 5, 2023 – Ann Arbor, Mich. – University of Michigan, Host
Team Standings (TOP THREE FINAL)
1: PENN STATE – 147.0
2: Iowa – 134.5
3: Nebraska – 104.5
