Penn State wrestling sweeps InterMat's 2024 Big Ten awards: Newsstand
Penn State news, notes, and updates for April 4 include more recognition for the Lions wrestling team, headlines of the day, and more.
It’s time to dive into Thursday’s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.
Penn State tweets of the day
We start with another round of accolades for the 2024 national champion Penn State wrestling team. InterMat released its Big Ten awards now that the season is complete, and the Nittany Lions swept all three categories. The Hodge Trophy winner, NCAA’s most dominant wrestler, and its most outstanding competitor at nationals, 197-pound graduate senior Aaron Brooks, is the outlet’s Big Ten wrestler of the year. Teammate and four-time 174-pound champion Carter Starocci is the honorable mention pick. Head coach Cael Sanderson is InterMat’s Big Ten coach of the year after the Nittany Lions won yet another conference regular season and tournament title. And, first-year Penn State 165-pound standout Mitchell Mesenbrink is the freshman of the year selection.
“Mesenbrink came into the season with a ton of hype and expectation,” InterMat’s Ryan Holmes writes. “Many of us couldn’t wait to see him compete at the NCAA level after transferring to PSU from California Baptist where he took a redshirt year, and he lived up to every bit of it.
“In his first conference tournament, he recorded a technical fall, a second-period pin, and a wild 13-11 comeback win over Wisconsin’s Dean Hamiti in the finals. He followed that up with three bonus point wins and a pair of decisions on his way to the final where he came just a point short of being an undefeated redshirt freshman NCAA Champion. He completed the year with a 70% bonus rate and a 26-1 record as he finished second at the NCAA Championships in the 165-pound bracket.”
Headlines of the day
Penn State’s James Franklin on tackle Nolan Rucci’s spring progress: ‘So far, so good’: Flounders, PennLive
Drew Allar focusing on ‘free and confident’ in pursuit of best football: Bauer, BWI
James Franklin Says 3 Key Transfers Are Adapting Well at Penn State: Wogenrich, SI
Penn State adds recently offered offensive lineman to Thursday visit list: Snyder, BWI
After Ohio State Lost to Michigan, Julian Fleming’s Next Move was 50/50: Portal or the Pros?: Poorman, Statecollege.com
Penn State adds a familiar name to June official visit schedule: Bauer, BWI
James Franklin, Justin Lustig offer depth chart insight, info on new arrivals: Alenstein, Daily Collegian
Quote of the day
“I feel like I play at my best when I’m loose, free, and confident, and just having fun out there. And I think I’ve done a lot better job with that. I’ve kind of let the more competitive side of me come out this spring. Talking to the offense, being a more vocal leader. And then also talking to the defense.
“I think that’s when I play at my best when I’m just having a lot of fun and not thinking. Kind of just going out there and playing and being loose.”
–PSU QB Drew Allar on his focus in 2024.
