Roman Bravo-Young
Roman Guillermo Bravo-Young (born January 28, 1999) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes internationally at 61 kilograms and collegiately at 133 pounds. In freestyle, he was the 2019 Junior Pan American champion and the 2018 U23 US National runner–up. As a folkstyle wrestler, Bravo-Young is the 2021 and 2022 NCAA Division I National champion and 2021 Big Ten Conference champion (two–time finalist) and a two–time All-American out of the Pennsylvania State University. Folkstyle career. High school. Bravo-Young attended Sunnyside High School in Tucson, Arizona. He started wrestling  in the varsity team as a freshman and did not lose a single match through his four years of high school. At the DI state championships (AIA), he accumulated a combined record of 16–0 with eight falls, five majors, two technical falls and one decision and also received the outstanding wrestler award all four years he competed at the tournament. He graduated with a legendary record of 182–0 and was ranked #3 by InterMat and #5 by FloWrestling when he graduated. In late October 2016, it was announced that Bravo-Young had committed to PSU's Cael Sanderson to wrestle  as a Nittany Lion. College. 2018-19. Bravo-Young did not redshirt and started wrestling as a true freshman at 133 pounds. During regular season, he won the Keystone Classic and placed third at the Southern Scuffle. He went 4–2 at the Big Ten Conference championships and placed fifth. He entered the NCAA championships as the tenth seeded wrestler and went 4–3 to place eight and claim All-America honors. He finished the season with a 25–7 record. 2019-20. As a sophomore, Bravo-Young won the Black Knight Invitational and the Wilkes Open and only lost one match to  the top-ranked Seth Gross in a close 5–6 in regular season. He went 2–1 at the Big Ten's, losing in the finals to #3 ranked Sebastian Rivera. Bravo-Young was scheduled to compete at the 2020 NCAA Championships, however, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was expected to place higher than last year, as major improvements were seen comparing to last season. After the season, Bravo-Young earned All-American honors due to his performance through the year. 2020-21. In October 2020, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to winter athletes  due to the last season being cut short. During regular season, Bravo-Young compiled a 6–0 record to enter the post-season undefeated. Bravo-Young made his second straight final of the Big Ten Conference Championships, by defeating Jacob Rundell and Chris Cannon, before defeating rival and undefeated-in-the-season Austin DeSanto from Iowa to claim the title. At the NCAA championships, Bravo-Young comfortably made his way to the semis, where he notably defeated fourth-seeded Hokie Korbin Myers to make the finale, where he faced the heavily accomplished Daton Fix from Oklahoma State. In the bout, Bravo -Young accumulated a riding time point and an escape to secure a 2–0 lead in the first and second periods, before controversially getting called for stalling twice late in the third period and surrendering two points of his own to tie the match and go to overtime. In the first period of OT, Bravo-Young was able to secure a takedown late to defeat Fix and claim the NCAA title for Penn State. On June 29, Bravo-Young was named the Penn State Athlete of the Year along with Ally Schlegel of women's soccer. Freestyle career. Age–group level . Bravo-Young was a standout age-group level wrestler and his eligibility to compete at this level expired in early 2020. He competed as a cadet since 2014 until 2016 and compiled a record of 36–3, represented the United States at the World Championships and won a UWW National championship and two USAW National championships on his way. As a junior, he posted an 11–2 record and won a Pan American Championship, became runner-up at the US Nationals and placed third at the US World Team Trials. Senior level. 2017. Even though he was still a junior in high  school, Bravo-Young competed at the US Open as a senior in his first freestyle competition as such. He lost his first match and then he also lost his first match in the consolation bracket, being quickly eliminated from the tournament. 2018. After being unable to compete at the US Junior Nationals due to an injury, the 19 year old Bravo–Young competed at the US U23 National Championships. He won by technical fall in all of his matches on his way to the semifinals, where he defeated one more opponent by points to make it to the finals. At  the finals, which were also the U23 World Team Trials, he was defeated twice by Vitali Arujau, becoming the runner-up of the tournament. 2020. After being unable to compete in any style due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bravo-Young came back to freestyle and wrestled '19 NCAA runner-up Jack Mueller on July 25, at FloWrestling: Dake vs. Chamizo. He dominantly defeated Mueller after scoring eight points to one. Bravo-Young then competed against Shelton Mack on October 20, at the NLWC II. He won the match by technical fall after scoring eleven points no none. Bravo-Young then  wrestled and grappled UFC title contender and two–time NCAA DIII All–American Aljamain Sterling on December 22, at the NLWC IV. He won the first match on points, and lost the second one by rear-naked choke. 2021. After his NCAA championship performance in March, Bravo–Young was qualified to compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in April 2–3, but chose not to compete due to the impossibility of competing at a non–olympic weight class. Wrestling style. Bravo-Young is known for his fancy footwork, speed and ability to explode from a relaxed and elusive stance into  a takedown. Defensively, he is known for employing explosive acrobatic flips in order to get out of dangerous situations. Bravo-Young trains with former UFC Champion Dominick Cruz from time to time, who displayed one of the most versatile footwork games in mixed martial arts. Freestyle record. !| Senior Freestyle Matches ! Res. ! Record ! Opponent ! Score ! Date ! Event ! Location ! style=background:white | ! style=background:white | NCAA record. !| NCAA Division I Record ! Res. ! Record ! Opponent ! Score ! Date ! Event ! style=background:lighgrey |Start of 2021–2022 Season (senior year) ! style=background:lighgrey |End of 2020–2021 Season (junior  year) ! style=background:white |2021 NCAA Championships at 133 lbs ! style=background:white |2021 Big Ten Conference at 133 lbs ! style=background:lighgrey |Start of 2020-2021 Season (junior year) ! style=background:lighgrey |End of 2019-2020 Season (sophomore year) ! style=background:white |2020 Big Ten Conference at 133 lbs ! style=background:white |2019 Wilken Open at 133 lbs ! style=background:white |2019 Black Knight Invite at 133 lbs ! style=background:lighgrey |Start of 2019-2020 Season (sophomore year) ! style=background:lighgrey |End of 2018-2019 Season (freshman year) ! style= background:white |2019 NCAA Championships 8th at 133 lbs ! style=background:white |2019 Big Ten Conference 5th at 133 lbs ! style=background:white |2019 Southern Scuffle at 133 lbs ! style=background:white |2018 Keystone Classic at 133 lbs ! style=background:lighgrey |Start of 2018-2019 Season (freshman year) Stats. ! Season ! Year ! School ! Rank ! Weigh Class ! Record ! Win ! Bonus