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NCAA Wrestling: Penn State favorite at 197 lbs
16 Mar
Summary
- Penn State's Josh Barr is the undefeated No. 1 seed at 197 lbs.
- Ohio State's Luke Geog seeded No. 12 after strong Big Ten finish.
- Sonny Sasso and Joey Novak are considered sleepers in the bracket.
The 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships at 197 lbs are set to feature a dominant No. 1 seed in Penn State's Josh Barr. Barr enters the tournament undefeated at 19-0, with every win securing bonus points, showcasing a remarkable level of offensive prowess.
Ohio State's Luke Geog is the No. 12 seed, having improved his positioning with a third-place finish at the Big Ten Championships. Geog faces a challenging path, potentially needing an upset against Wyoming's Joey Novak in the early rounds.
Potential surprises include No. 4 seed Sonny Sasso and No. 5 seed Joey Novak. Sasso has been on an impressive run since January, and Novak is noted for his technical wrestling style. These wrestlers could pose significant threats to the top seeds.
Other notable contenders include No. 3 seed Stephen Little and the underseeded No. 10 seed Mac Stout. Stout, in particular, has shown recent impressive performances and could be a dark horse for an All-American spot.
