Penn State favored again; Diakomihalis, Lee chase history

nine national championships in the past 11 years, and things look good for coach Cael Sanderson's Nittany Lions again. Roman Bravo-Young, Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks all are seeking their third straight national titles and Greg Kerkvliet and Levi Haines are top-three seeds. They lead a Penn State squad that takes a business-like approach.

"I think it's the same thing as how you approach every single day," Starocci said. "You don't want to look at the postseason as like, a special time, as, 'now, it's time to get ready.' You get ready every single day of your life. I think that kind of makes these moments the same."

Starocci beat the No. 2 seed at 174 pounds, Nebraska's Mikey Labriola, 6-1 in the Big Ten final. Virginia Tech's Mekhi Lewis, the outstanding wrestler at the 2019 championships and 165-pound national champ that year, is the No. 3 seed at 174 this year.

Bravo-Young has some tough competition ahead at 133. Oklahoma State's Daton Fix was a world silver medalist in 2021, but he has yet to win a national title. He's a three-time runner-up who Bravo-Young defeated in the finals last year. Bravo-Young and the second-seeded Fix enter the weekend unbeaten. Cornell's Vito Arujau, runner-up in the 2021 Olympic trials, is the No. 3 seed.

Brooks is the No. 3 seed at 184. Northern Iowa's Parker Keckeisen is the top seed and the Big 12 champion. North Carolina State's Trent Hilday, seeded second, was a 2021 finalist in this class. Oregon State's Trey Munoz, the No. 4 seed, lost once all season. Iowa State's Marcus Coleman, who has a win over Brooks this season, is seeded fifth.