Alex Roux, BTN.com editor, March 19, 2017
Penn State wrestling locked up the NCAA team title before Saturday's evening session even began in St. Louis, but they still made some serious noise in the finals.
The Nittany Lions sent five wrestlers to the mat Saturday night, and all five took home individual national championships. The sweep happened in five consecutive matches, and the mark tied the NCAA record for most individual titles.
WE ARE! PENN STATE tallies 146.5 total team points for the 2017 NCAA title and ties the NCAA record for most individual titles with five! pic.twitter.com/wZQhvVNwxc
— NCAA Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 19, 2017
The Penn State winners were Zain Retherford (149), Jason Nolf (157), Vincenzo Joseph (165), Mark Hall (174) and Bo Nickal (184). Joseph's victory provided one of the night's most thrilling moments, when he pinned two-time NCAA champion Isaiah Martinez of Illinois.
A look back at the FALL that shook Scottrade Arena! Penn State's Vincenzo Joseph pins his way to the 165-pound NCAA title! #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/GDU55VuyM4
— NCAA Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 19, 2017
Ohio State's Kyle Snyder also added to his already-impressive resume with his second national title. The Buckeyes finished second as a team behind Penn State.
?? Olympic champ. World champ. #B1G champ. Now, a two-time NCAA champ. Congratulations, @Snyder_man45! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/HXBywrL62P
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 19, 2017
Iowa's Cory Clark also took home a title at 133, and celebrated in awesome fashion:
After winning the NCAA title at 133, Cory Clark's celebration continued with a THROW of Iowa coach Terry Brands! #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/cWxYdl22eY
— NCAA Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 19, 2017
And no one can deny the Big Ten is the best wrestling conference in the country once again.
CONGRATS to the 2017 NCAA individual champions! ?#NCAAwrestling pic.twitter.com/O1fyNYvqcq
— NCAA Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 19, 2017
