Penn State Wrestling Wins Eighth National Title in Nine Years

The Rec Hall rafters are starting to get a bit crowded.

Penn State wrestling clinched its eighth NCAA title in nine years on Saturday morning during the consolation rounds in Pittsburgh.

The Nittany Lions’ total of 123.5 points puts them on top of the team standings, ahead of second-place Ohio State, which has 96.5 and has been mathematically eliminated from catching up to Penn State.

Penn State’s program record for most points scored in a tournament is 146.5, a mark set two year ago when the Nittany Lions also clinched the title on Saturday morning. Penn State could be well on its way to challenging that record depending on its outcomes tonight when five wrestlers compete in the finals.

During the medal round on Saturday morning and afternoon, Nick Lee claimed fifth place at 141 pounds and Roman Bravo Young finished eighth at 133.

From the start of the tournament when all nine qualifiers won their matches, Penn State has dominated the field and sat comfortably atop the standings. The team is 31-8 in the tournament, and seven Nittany Lions are All-Americans.

This title marks the second time since Cael Sanderson arrived in Happy Valley that the Nittany Lions have won four consecutive titles.