PSU – Michigan mat make-up set for Sunday
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA — The Penn State Nittany Lions (3-0, 3-0 B1G), ranked No. 3 in the latest InterMat Tournament Power Index, will take on No. 2 Michigan (3-0, 3-0 B1G) in a battle of two of the nation’s top squads on Sunday, Feb. 14. The dual was rescheduled from its original date two weeks ago and begins at 11 a.m.
The dual will stream live on B1G Network+ and word on coverage by the Big Ten Network will be announced when/if it can occur. Michigan hosts Ohio State on Friday, Feb. 12.
Penn State will enter the weekend with a 3-0 mark and has not wrestled since Feb. 2. The Lions went 3-0 on a five-day swing through the Midwest that saw them down Indiana, Northwestern and Wisconsin by a combined score of 87-34. Head coach Cael Sanderson’s crew is being led by a trio of returning All-Americans. Two-time All-American Roman Bravo-Young is 3-0 at 133 witih a pin; three-time All-American Nick Lee is 3-0 at 141 with two technical falls and a major; and All-American Aaron Brooks is 3-0 at 184 with a technical fall and two majors. Junior Brady Berge is 3-0 at 157 with a major; freshman Joe Lee is 3-0 at 165 with a major; freshman Carter Starocci is 3-1 at 174; freshman Michael Beard is 1-0 with a tech at 197; and sophomore Seth Nevills is 3-0 at 285 with a technical fall and a pin.
Penn State has nine ranked wrestlers in the latest InterMat rankings: Bravo-Young, #3 at 133; Nick Lee, #2 at 141; Jarod Verkleeren, #19 at 149; Brady Berge, #9 at 157; Joe Lee, #6 at 165; Carter Starocci, #8 at 174; Aaron Brooks, #3 at 184; Michael Beard, #14 at 197; and Seth Nevills, #7 at 285.
Michigan will enter this weekend with an identical 3-0 mark, coming off a two-week pause. The Wolverines host Ohio State on Friday, Feb. 12. Michigan opened its season with wins over Rutgers (26-10), Maryland (38-3) and Indiana (32-6). Michigan has nine ranked wrestlers: Dylan Ragusin, #8 at 125; Stevan Micic, #2 at 133; Drew Mattin, #20 at 141; Kanen Storr, #6 at 149; Will Lewan, #8 at 157; Cameron Amine, #16 at 165; Logan Massa, #2 at 174; Myles Amine, #1 at 184; and Mason Parris, #2 at 285.
Penn State owns a 32-24 lead in the all-time series between the two schools. The Nittany Lions have won nine straight, including the last meeting, a 25-11 victory in the Bryce Jordan Center on Feb. 1, 2019. Penn State also won the last match-up in Ann Arbor, a 25-12 win on Jan. 12, 2018.
The Nittany Lions will visit Ohio State on Friday, Feb. 19 and host Maryland on Monday, Feb. 22, next weekend.
The Big Ten released its schedule on New Year’s Eve day. Every Big Ten team will host three dual meets and each team will compete only against conference opponents, totalling nine duals. Penn State will host the 2021 Big Ten Championships on Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7. The 2021 NCAA Championships will take place on March 18-20 in the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
