This year's Penn State squad is projected to break their own scoring record and no other team will touch them, but could you put together a team pre-tournament that will outscore them?
Last year's PSU team set the record with 177.0 points. The highest non-PSU seeded wrestlers from last year scored 177.5.
Penn State
World
125
(1) Luke Lilledahl (PSU)
18.5
(2) Matt Ramos (PUR)
14.5
133
(8) Braeden Davis (PSU)
13
(1) Lucas Byrd (ILL)
22
141
(2) Beau Bartlett (PSU)
14.5
(1) Brock Hardy (NEB)
20.5
149
(3) Shayne Van Ness (PSU)
19.5
(1) Caleb Henson (VT)
16
157
(1) Tyler Kasak (PSU)
18.5
(2) Meyer Shapiro (COR)
12.5
165
(1) Mitch Mesenbrink (PSU)
24
(2) Peyton Hall (WVU)
17.5
174
(2) Levi Haines (PSU)
16.5
(1) Keegan O'Toole (MIZZ)
19
184
(1) Carter Starocci (PSU)
24
(2) Parker Keckeisen (UNI)
19.5
197
(4) Josh Barr (PSU)
18
(1) Jacob Cardenas (MICH)
13.5
285
(3) Greg Kerkvliet (PSU)
10.5
(1) Gable Steveson (MINN)
22.5
177.0
177.5
If you had picked the actual highest scoring non-PSU wrestlers, that total could go as high as 222.5. This year's PSU squad is projected to score 157 without bonus while the non-PSU highest seeds are projected to score 172, but if Blaze makes the finals or Davis/Mirasola can get on the podium the gap is basically closed. Who wins? And if not this team, post a team that will beat PSU this year.
Penn State
World
125
(1) Luke Lilledahl (PSU)
20
(2) Eddie Ventresca (VT)
16
133
(3) Marcus Blaze (PSU)
13.5
(1) Jax Forrest (OKST)
20
141
(14) Braeden Davis (PSU)
1.5
(1) Jesse Mendez (OHST)
20
149
(1) Shayne Van Ness (PSU)
20
(2) Jaxon Joy (COR)
16
157
(1) PJ Duke (PSU)
20
(2) Antrell Taylor (NEB)
16
165
(1) Mitch Mesenbrink (PSU)
20
(2) Joey Blaze (PUR)
16
174
(1) Levi Haines (PSU)
20
(2) Simon Ruiz (COR)
16
184
(1) Rocco Welsh (PSU)
20
(2) Aeoden Sinclair (MIZZ)
16
197
(1) Josh Barr (PSU)
20
(2) Rocky Elam (ISU)
16
285
(9) Cole Mirasola (PSU)
2
(1) Yonger Bastida (ISU)
20
157.0
172.0