Breaking down the 2023-2024 Penn State wrestling schedule
The 11-time national champion Nittany Lions will officially make their return to the mat on Sunday Nov. 12 for competition as they begin their quest for yet another NCAA title. With a stacked lineup that includes two three-time returning NCAA champions, two returning NCAA finalists and four additional All-Americans, this is a team that will be expected to roll through their competition this year and dominate the national scene once again.
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Let’s break down some of the teams and athletes the Blue and White will have to conquer if they want to stay undefeated on their way to the national tournament in Kansas City in 2024.
Nov. 12 Journeymen Collegiate Classic (Bethlehem, Pa.) + Nov. 19 Black Knight Invite (West Point, N.Y.)
Much like years past, Penn State will start its competition schedule with two open tournaments, and this year those tournaments include the Journeymen Collegiate Classic and the Black Knight Invite. The Nittany Lions put five athletes on the top of the podium at the Black Knight Invite in 2022 including Beau Bartlett, Shayne Van Ness, Levi Haines, Alex Facundo and Max Dean. All of those athletes, with the exception of Max Dean, return for the 2023-2024 campaign, and Bartlett, Van Ness and Haines will each come into this season looking for their second career All-American honors after finishing third, third and second respectively at last year’s national tournament.
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These open tournaments are a good chance for athletes, particularly young athletes, to gain experience and shake off the rust. Every once in a while, an open tournament will produce a wild result, but, more traditionally, these tournaments are just an opportunity for wrestlers to ease back into the season and find their rhythm.
Nov. 21 NWCA All-Star Classic (Exhibition)
Given that the All-Star Classic is slated for two days after the Black Knight Invite, don’t expect most Penn State’s biggest names to participate in the open tournaments. The lineup for the 2023 All-Star dual has not been released yet, but, last year, Penn State had three of its athletes — Carter Starocci, Aaron Brooks and Greg Kerkvliet — compete in this exhibition showcase, and all three notched impressive wins. The All-Star Classic results don’t count on a wrestler’s official record, but these wins matter for pride, confidence and reputation. A win here gives an athlete an edge. … rest of story at … NCAA.com/news/wrestling/article/2023-10-03/breaking-down-2023-2024-penn-state-wrestling-schedule
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After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
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