United Group Insurance

Dake, Penn State headline NCAA championships

Sports

March 20th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Cornell’s Kyle Dake is seeking to take his place among the greatest college wrestlers of all time. Penn State will attempt to solidify its status as the nation’s pre-eminent program — in the backyard of its biggest rival, Iowa — when the NCAA championships start Thursday. Dake, a three-time NCAA champion, is just three days away from possibly becoming the first wrestler to win four national titles in four different weight classes.

The team race figures to be a competition between the Big Ten’s best, led by the two-time defending champion Nittany Lions, Hawkeyes and Ohio State and Minnesota. Oklahoma State will also be in the mix.