Roman Bravo-Young took a break from his intense training schedule Saturday night to watch the much-anticipated Penn State-Ohio State wrestling match, which featured the top two teams in the NCAA Division I rankings.
“I wouldn’t have missed it,” said Bravo-Young, a three-time Arizona state champion from Sunnyside High School. “I made sure I was watching the Big 10 channel at 8 p.m.”
Bravo-Young was treated to one of the most memorable matches in NCAA history, as the Nittany Lions pulled out a 19-18 victory, despite having one of their five NCAA champions out of the lineup with an injury.
“It was a great match,” said Bravo-Young, a Penn State recruit. “I was really pumped up.
Bravo-Young also was pumped up to hear that he had been chosen to wrestle for the United States All-Star team at the 44th Annual Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic March 25 at Fitzgerald Field House.
“I’m so excited,” Bravo-Young said. “The long list of NCAA champs who have wrestled in the wrestling classic is incredible. I’m so honored and blessed to be chosen.”
Bravo-Young enters this weekend’s Arizona state wrestling championships with a perfect 177-0 career record and a chance to win his fourth state title. He is entered at 132, but will compete at 138 at the Classic.
Bravo-Young is one of two undefeated entries on the United States team. The other is Gable Steveson, a three-time Minnesota champion from Apple Valley High School. Steveson, a University of Minnesota recruit, entered the season with a 132-0 record at 285 pounds.
Montini Catholic, a private school in Lombard, Ill., is the only school with two entries on the U.S. team. Joey Melendez (101-10), a three-time Illinois champion and North Carolina recruit, is one of two entries at 120 pounds. His teammate Real Woods (115-6), a three-time Illinois champion and Stanford recruit, was chosen at 132 pounds.
Melendez is one of two North Carolina recruits. Brandon Whitman (156-3), a three-time Michigan state champion who competes at 195, is the other.
Woods is one of two Stanford recruits. The other is Shane Griffith (88-12), a two-time New Jersey champion from Bergen Catholic who will compete at 160.
Steveson is one of two Minnesota recruits. The other is Patrick McKee (131-14), a two-time Minnesota state champion from St. Michael-Albertville, who is the other U.S. entry at 120.
The United States All-Stars will face Pennsylvania’s All-Stars at 6 p.m. in the feature match. A team of WPIAL All-Stars will face a team of Iowa All-Stars at 4 p.m. in the preliminary match.
Members of the United States All-Star Team
(weight class, name, high school, state, record, state titles)
120 - Joey Melendez, Montini Catholic, Ill. (101-10, 2 times)
120 - Patrick McKee, St. Michael-Albertville, Minn. (131-14, 2)
126 - Patrick Glory, Delbarton, N.J. (117-7, 1)
132 - Real Woods, Montini Catholic, Ill. (115-6, 2)
138 - Roman Bravo-Young, Sunnyside, Ariz. (130-0, 3)
145 - Brock Hardy, Box Elder, Utah (138-4, 3)
152 - David Carr, Perry, Ohio (145-5, 3)
160 - Shane Griffith, Bergen Catholic, N.J. (88-12, 2)
170 - Travis Whittlake Jr., Marshfield, Ore. (143-2, 3)
182 - Jack Jessen*, Willowbrook, Ill. (100-6, 0)
195 - Brandon Whitman, Dundee, Mich. (156-3, 3)
220 - Zach Elam, Staley, Mo. (152-17, 2)
285 - Gable Steveson, Apple Valley, Minn. (132-0, 3)
NOTE: Career records do not include this season. *-Jessen is ranked No. 3 in the country.
First Published: February 4, 2018, 11:46 p.m.