NCAA Championships: Penn State wrestling looks to become second program ever with 10 All-Americans

Penn State wrestling is looking to win its third consecutive National Championship this weekend in Kansas City. The Nittany Lions have all ten wrestlers ranked in the top 10 of their respective weight classes, many of whom earned top seeds. While most expect another title from Cael Sanderson and the Nittany Lions at this point, there’s an even more historic accomplishment up for grabs this week. Will Penn State become only the second program in NCAA wrestling history to have 10 All-Americans?

Penn State wrestling can join rarefied air at NCAA Championships

Only the 2001 Minnesota Golden Gophers wrestling team has ever finished the NCAA Championships with an All-American in all 10 weight classes. The Gophers won the national title that year despite not having a single finalist. This achievement is one that not even blue-bloods like Oklahoma State or Iowa have managed to accomplish in their programs’ historic pasts.

The 2024 Penn State wrestling team has a real shot to join that 2001 Minnesota squad with all 10 wrestlers becoming All-Americans. It is hard to believe that, in all of Cael Sandreson’s success, he hasn’t had this happen yet. However, as most remember, the 125-pound weight class has been a thorn in the side of the Nittany Lions recently.

Often Penn State typically wouldn’t even have a wrestler qualify at 125 pounds, so the fact that Braeden Davis won the Big Ten title and is a No. 1 seed is promising. The key is for as many Nittany Lions to reach the NCAA Quarterfinals and Semifinals as possible. That will limit the number of matches needed to win in wrestlebacks to reach the podium.

Nittany Lions to watch in Kansas City

This season, Penn State wrestling has qualified a wrestler at all ten weight classes. The lowest-ranked Nittany Lion is Aaron Nagao, who is seeded No. 10 at 133 pounds. Six of the ten wrestlers are seeded either No. 1 or No. 2 in their brackets. That most likely means that, for Penn State to accomplish this feat, it will come down to four wrestlers.

The first is Carter Starocci, who had to injury default out of the Big Ten Championships and, as a result, received a No. 9-seed in the NCAA Championships. The three-time National Champion is still a heavy favorite despite his seed. If he is a full go, Starocci should be a lock to be an All-American and most likely a fourth title.

Others to consider are No. 6 Bernie Truax (184), No. 7 Tyler Kasak (149), and No. 10 Aaron Nagao (133). Only Nagao is outside of the All-American projections heading into the tournament. But he did finish fifth last season, so certainly the capability is there.

Bernie Truax finished fourth the past three seasons at Cal Poly, so he should be a solid choice to finish top eight once again. That leaves true freshman Tyler Kasak, who is wrestling in his first NCAA Championships. While he doesn’t have experience in the setting, his solid third-place performance at the Big Tens should provide confidence that he can make it to the top eight and navigate wrestlebacks.

The NCAA Championships will begin on Thursday, March 21, at 12:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPNU/ESPN+.

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