PSU’s Starocci and Brooks win individual titles for NCAA champions
TULSA, Okla. – The Penn State Nittany wrestling team added two more individual national champions to its 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championship team title, clinched early in Saturday morning’s first session. Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks both brought home individual gold to cap off the three-day event in Tulsa’s BOK Center.
Starocci won the 174-pound title, followed immediately by Brooks claiming the 184-pound crown. Nittany Lion true freshman Levi Haines dropped the title bout at 157, Greg Kerkvliet lost in the finals at 285 and Roman Bravo-Young dropped his finals match at 133. All three leave Tulsa as 2023 National Runners-Up.
Penn State clinched yet another team title early in the medal rounds, with nearly two full sessions remaining at the three-day event. Penn State won the team title with 137.5 points, 55.0 ahead of second-place Iowa’s 82.5. That margin of victory between first and second is the largest in Penn State history (breaking the old record of 41.0 set in 2019) and the fifth-largest in NCAA history for any title winner.
The title is Penn State’s 11th overall and the tenth since Sanderson’s arrival in Happy Valley prior to the 2009-10 season. The Nittany Lions have won ten of the last 12 contested NCAA Championship tournaments (2020 was cancelled by the NCAA). Since 2011, Penn State has 34-16 record in the national finals (a .680-win percentage).
With the finals starting at 157, true freshman Levi Haines, the No. 2 seed, battled No. 1 Austin O’Connor of North Carolina in his first NCAA title bout and Penn State’s first of five. The duo worked the center circle for the first minute-plus, hand fighting on the NCAA logo. Haines briefly got in on a slight shot but O’Connor quickly defended it with 1:00 left in the period. Haines nearly connected on another shot as the period ended and the bout moved to the second tied 0-0. Haines chose down to start the second period and O’Connor controlled the action and 1:00 into the period was awarded two near fall points. Penn State challenged the call and it was reversed. Haines was unable to break free of O’Connor’s control for the period and the bout moved to the third tied 0-0, but O’Connor held 2:00 in time. O’Connor chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Haines escaped to a 3-1 score but O’Connor quickly scored again to take a 5-2 lead after a Haines escape. O’Connor tacked on a riding time point and posted the 6-2 win.
Haines became a true-freshman All-American earlier in the tournament, Penn State’s first since 2020 (Aaron Brooks, 1st-Team at 184) and 2018 (Nick Lee, 5th at 141). Haines ended his freshman year as the 2023 National Runner-Up at 157 and a Big Ten Champion. He closed out his first NCAA tournament with a 4-1 mark and his first season with a 25-2 overall record.
Carter Starocci, the No. 1 seed at 174, battled No. 2 Mikey Labriola of Nebraska in his third-straight title bout. Starocci and Labriola worked on the Lion logo for the opening minute before Starocci forced action to the mat. But Labriola worked the scramble out of bounds and the bout continued scoreless. Starocci worked his way in on a fast high single and took a 2-0 lead with 1:15 on the clock. Starocci then controlled the action on top until the final seconds and then rolled the Husker to his back, getting the first period pin at the 2:46 mark to earn yet another NCAA title.
Starocci is now a three-time All-American, two-time Big Ten Champion and became Penn State’s fifth three-time NCAA Champion. He went 5-0 at this year’s tournament and ends his season with a 24-0 record. Starocci will head into next season with a 61-2 career record.
Aaron Brooks, the No. 3 seed at 184, battled No. 1 Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa in third straight title bout. Brooks set a fast tempo from the onset and controlled position in the center circle. He shot Keckeisen to the outside circle as the clock moved below 1:00. Brooks gained control of Keckeisen’s leg and worked his way through for a takedown and a 2-0 lead at the :32 mark. He finished the period on top and led 2-0 after one. Keckeisen chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 2-1 score. But Brooks’ relentless offense paid off, turning another low shot into leg control and an eventual takedown to up his lead to 4-1 early in the second. Keckeisen escaped to a 4-2 score but not before Brooks had 1:21 in riding time. Brooks chose down to start the third period and picked up a point on a third Keckeisen caution. Brooks escaped to a 6-2 lead with riding time in hand and went on to roll to the 7-2 win and another NCAA title.
Brooks became Penn State’s 17th four-time All-American earlier in the tournament and the sixth three-time NCAA Champion in school history. Brooks, a three-time Big Ten Champion, went 5-0 in Tulsa and concludes the season with a 17-1 overall record. Brooks will head into next season with a 67-3 overall record.
Greg Kerkvliet, the No. 3 seed at 285, took on No. 1 Mason Parris of Michigan in his first trip to the NCAA Championship match. Kerkvliet got in on a single early in the bout but Parris was able to work his way out of trouble. The Wolverines then countered and took Kerkvliet down for a 2-0 lead at the 2:29 mark. Parris was able to control Kerkvliet for over 2:00 and finished the period on top. Kerkvliet trailed 2-0 after one and Parris chose down to start the second stanza. The Wolverine escaped to a 3-0 lead and action resumed in neutral. After a Parris stall at 1:15, the bout was reset in the center circle and action moved to the third period with Parris up 3-0. Kerkvliet chose down to start the third stanza but called for injury time during control, allowing Parris to choose down on the reset. Kerkvliet worked top control, looking for a chance to turn Parris as the clock moved below :30. Parris escaped as the clock wound down and, with riding time, posted the 5-1 win over Kerkvliet.
Kerkvliet leaves Tulsa as the 2023 National Runner-Up. He became a three-time All-American earlier in the tournament as well. Kerkvliet posted a 4-1 mark at this year’s tournament and ends the season with a 19-3 record. Kerkvliet will enter next season with a 51-10 record.
Roman Bravo-Young, the No. 1 seed at 133, met No. 3 Vito Arujau of Cornell in the last of Penn State’s five NCAA title bouts. Bravo-Young worked the center circle for the opening minute-plus, hand-fighting for control on the NCAA logo. Arujau drew first blood with a fast takedown to lead 2-1 after a quick Bravo-Young escape at 1:02. Arujau notched a second takedown and led 4-1 after the opening period. Arujau chose down to start the second period and Arujau reversed him, added two near fall points and opened up an 8-1 lead at the 1:20 mark. Bravo-Young, trailing 8-2, chose down to start the third period. He was able to reverse Arujau to cut the lead to 9-4 after an Arujau escape. Arujau was able to wind down the clock with solid defense and, with riding time, posted the 10-4 win.
Bravo-Young, a three-time Big Ten Champion, leaves Tulsa as the 2023 National Runner-Up and became Penn State’s second five-time All-American earlier in the tournament. He went 4-1 at his final NCAA tournament, went 20-1 on the year, and leaves Penn State with a 100-10 career record.
Beau Bartlett, the No. 6 seed at 141, closed out the season with a third-place finish at 141. Bartlett posted a 5-1 record with one major and earned his first All-America honor. He ended his junior year with a 27-3 record.
Redshirt freshman Shayne Van Ness, the No. 13 seed at 149, wrapped up a superb first trip to the NCAA tournament with a third-place finish at 149. Van Ness went 5-1 with a pin and became a freshman All-American. He ended the season with a 24-7 record.
Max Dean, the No. 9 seed at 197, closed out a stellar collegiate wrestling career with a seventh-place finish and a 5-2 mark this weekend. Dean ended his career as a four-time All-American and National Champion. He finishes this season with a 25-5 record and his career with a 105-18 mark. Dean collected 17 falls, 17 tech falls and 19 majors during his career. His two years at Penn State were outstanding. Dean won the 2022 NCAA title and has helped lead Penn State to two NCAA team crowns. He went 48-6 as a Nittany Lion, won a Big Ten title, an NCAA title and was a two-time All-American as a Penn Stater (in addition to his two at Cornell).
Redshirt freshman Alex Facundo, the No. 13 seed at 165, ended his tournament Thursday with two tough losses. Facundo finished his first season in the Nittany Lion line-up with a 19-6 overall record.
The Nittany Lions went 2-3 in the national finals to end the tournament with a 37-9 overall record. Penn State tallied 16.0 bonus points off six pins and four majors. The Nittany Lions have won 11 NCAA titles overall with ten coming under Sanderson (third most in history). Penn State won four-straight titles in 2011, ’12, ’13 and ’14 and again in 2006, ’17, ’18 and ’19. The Nittany Lions won last year (2022) in Detroit, making 2023’s title their second straight. Penn State also owns a championship from 1953.
With this year’s championships in the books, Penn State now has 55 NCAA individual titles spread among 35 individuals. Since 2011, Penn State has the most individual titles in the nation (Penn State 34, Cornell 13, Oklahoma State 10, Ohio State 9, Iowa 7). The Nittany Lions have had 50 NCAA finalists and own a 32-13 record in the national finals. Since 2011, Penn State’s winning percentage in the NCAA finals is .680. Since 2011, Penn State has won then of 12 NCAA team championships, 83 percent (no tournament in 2020).
Sanderson’s 14-year head coaching ledger for team finishes at NCAAs since arriving at Penn State is as follows: 2010 (9th), 2011 (1st), 2012 (1st), 2013 (1st), 2014 (1st), 2015 (6th), 2016 (1st), 2017 (1st), 2018 (1st), 2019 (1st), 2020 (no tourn.), 2021 (2nd), 2022 (1st), 2023 (1st).
Penn State at 2023 NCAA Championships– Session 6
March 18, 2023 – BOK Center – Tulsa, Okla.
Team Standings (TOP 3 FINAL)
1: PENN STATE – 137.5
2: Iowa – 82.5
3: Cornell – 76.5
