Nittany Lions roar to record-setting three-peat at NCAA wrestling championships

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Success in collegiate wrestling was once measured against a pair of dynasties — Oklahoma State and, more recently, Iowa.

But ever since coach Cael Sanderson arrived in Happy Valley in the spring of 2009, the measuring stick in college wrestling has been Penn State.

The Nittany Lions rewrote a couple of records previously thought to be unassailable in winning their third consecutive championship at the 2024 NCAA Division I championships Saturday, March 23, at the T-Mobile Center.

Penn State erased the record of 170 team points set by Iowa in 1997. The Nittany Lions piled up 172.5 points, a full 100 more than second-place Cornell’s 72.5. Michigan was right behind in third with 71. PSU’s 100-point margin of victory broke another record, 73.75, which was also held by Iowa.

Carter Starocci (174) and Aaron Brooks (197) joined the pantheon of NCAA greats as four-time NCAA champions.

“Obviously in situations like Carter and Aaron, the pressure mounts. But they both are competitors and that’s what they live for and were born for. And I’m just happy for them,” Sanderson said.

“There’s pressure and expectations right away that they have for themselves. It’s something they’ve been working on for four years. So, this is more about them being able to be themselves and focusing on the things that work, the eternal principles; it’s just gratitude.”

Levi Haines (157) and Greg Kerkvliet (285) also won championships, a year after losing in the finals. Beau Bartlett (141) and Mitchell Mesenbrink (165) each lost matches in the finals but were oh so close to winning them. Tyler Kasak (149) wrestled back for a third-place finish and Bernie Truax (184) finished fifth. The eight All-Americans tied a school record.

“I’m just proud of our guys. Great effort by 10 kids and then the whole crew of 37 or whatever our roster is. Super grateful to be a part of this and our coaching staff are the best and it’s great to be a part of things,” Sanderson said.

To underscore Sanderson’s point, his 10 wrestlers compiled a 45-9 record at the NCAA tournament.

Starocci won his title with a tense, taut 2-0 win over Ohio State’s Rocco Welsh. Clearly hampered by a bulky brace on his injured right knee, Starocci still delivered.

When the final buzzer sounded, he ran to the corner into the waiting arms of assistant coach Casey Cunningham. He hugged assistant Cody Sanderson and coach Cael Sanderson and, very telling, raised the hand of trainer Dan Monthley.

After getting his hand raised, Starocci stripped off the protective covering on his right knee and unstrapped the brace beneath before leaving the raised platform.

“Carter had some adversity, which is pretty amazing,” Sanderson said. “He wasn’t able to wrestle the way he wanted to. Wrestling with the knee injury he had was really, really impressive. There are not a lot of human beings on the planet that would be able to do what he just did.”

Starocci related a story that served as a foundation for his winning four titles and his 78-4 career mark.

“After my freshman year, after I won, I went into the office of Coach Cael, and he was like ‘This first one’s going to be your easiest one.’ I kind of looked at him like ‘I don’t know about that. I plan on getting better and making this thing easier.’ But sure enough, looking back on it, every one had its own challenges,” he said.

The NCAA, perhaps fittingly, moved Brooks’ match against North Carolina State’s Trent Hidlay in the 197-pound final to the end of the night. The Nittany Lion was pursuing his fourth championship, and the win from Brooks would be a great way to end the tournament and the ESPN broadcast.

The Nittany Lion had met Hidlay in the previous three tournaments. Brooks won 6-3 in the 2023 semifinals, 6-4 in sudden victory in the 2022 semifinals and 3-2 in the 2021 final.

This time, Brooks was the aggressor from the start and won 6-1. Brooks ended the season 22-0 and with a 35-match winning streak. He ends his sterling career as a five-time All-American and an 89-3 record.

“Being able to be present tonight is a gift,” Brooks said. “Our team, a special night with my family being here and friends. So, I’m just very blessed that tonight played out as it did.”

Brooks seemed appreciative to have Starocci along for the ride.

“It’s pretty cool. Looking back, when we first came in, just seeing the growth of both of us. Having someone else be along for that journey and do it with was a lot of fun,” he said.

Haines, in the 157-pound finals for a second straight year, cashed in this year. He was the aggressor throughout in his 5-0 win over Jacori Teemer of Arizona State, capping a 23-0 season.

After the final buzzer, Haines sprinted to the corner and leaped into Cody Sanderson’s arms for a bear hug.

Kerkvliet capped a four-year journey at the NCAAs by ascending to the top of the 285-pound podium. He exploited a superiority on his feet against Michigan’s Lucas Davison for four takedowns and a 13-4 major decision. After seventh-, fourth- and second-place finishes the last three years, he is finally a champion, finishing the season 20-0.

Kerkvliet said he loved wrestling first, instead of last.

“Oh, it was awesome. I couldn’t have planned that any better. Having to wait until the end kind of blows a little bit. So, get in and get at it,” he said, and then talked about being able to fully cheer on his teammates.

“Usually, I have to control my emotions and hold it in. Now I just got to be free, be happy and cheer those guys on.”

Mesenbrink never stopped fighting in dropping a 9-8 decision in the 165-pound final to now two-time champion David Carr of Iowa State. Sanderson revealed in his post-championship news conference that Mesenbrink thought the match was going to overtime, so he shut down his offense prematurely. Sanderson took the blame for that.

Bartlett faced off with Ohio State No. 1 seed Jesse Mendez in a rubber match at 141, each having won a 4-1 decision this season. Mendez countered a late Bartlett takedown attempt for one of his own for yet another 4-1 decision in the rivalry.

Kasak, a true freshman, completed a remarkable run to a third-place finish, achieving something only one other Nittany Lion and seven other wrestlers have accomplished since 1998 — lose their first match and win seven in a row to place third.

“I don’t even think about it. I haven’t even really comprehended or processed what really happened,” Kasak said.

But, he continued, it does validate the progress he’s made since being thrown into the lineup, up a weight, to take the place of Shane Van Ness, who was injured and had surgery.

“I think it’s always been there in bits and pieces. It’s just kind of putting it all together. It’s kind of like a play. You know, I do some parts good. Some parts need some work and then kind of putting it all together as best I can. And it feels good,” Kasak said.

Graduate transfer Bernie Truax closed out his career by earning his fourth All-American honor. He placed fifth after dominating Minnesota’s Isaiah Salazar 12-0. He had been pinned in 2:30 in the consolation semifinals by Oregon State’s Trey Munoz.

Braeden Davis (125) went 2-2 after being seeded No. 1, losing one win short of earning All-American status. Aaron Nagao (133) was unable to repeat as an All-American. He was upset in his first match, won three in a row in the wrestlebacks and then finished one win short of earning All-American status.

Looking ahead, fans are wondering what Penn State could possibly do for an encore, and who will next rise to the top of the college wrestling world.

Haines had an answer for that.

“I guess there could always be an end to everything,” he said, “but I like to believe as long as Coach Cael is there, it’s probably going to keep going on.”