AKRON, Ohio – NCAA champion Andrew Howe of Wisconsin is starting to get healthy again.

And he’s now ready to make a run at making his first U.S. World Team in freestyle wrestling.

Howe made a triumphant return this weekend, outlasting two-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake of Cornell to win the University Nationals freestyle championship at 74 kg/163 lbs. on Saturday afternoon at the University of Akron.

The match was deadlocked at one period apiece before the match came down a coin flip after a scoreless third period.

The coin spun on its edge for a few seconds before it landed on Howe’s singlet color of blue. That gave Howe the leg in the clinch and he finished by taking Dake to the mat to prevail.

Howe won the match 3-1, 1-2, 1-0. He was named Outstanding Wrestler in the event.

"I was trying to create a lot of offense, but he was able to slow me down," Howe said. "Freestyle is a little bit of a chess match. There is a lot more strategy involved, and you have to really pick and choose when you are going to fire off a shot. It's got to be as close to perfect as possible."

Howe suffered a hamstring injury midway through this past college season and was sidelined until the Big Ten Championships. The 2010 NCAA champion, Howe fought his way to a third-place finish at last month’s NCAA tournament in Philadelphia despite not being 100 percent physically.

Howe will compete at June's U.S. World Team Trials in Oklahoma City.

"I took a little time off after NCAAs to recover, and I feel a lot better now," Howe said. "The last month has made a big difference for me. I'm really excited about the Trials and I'm excited about trying to make that team."

Howe won the 2010 U.S. Open before falling to Travis Paulson in the finals of the World Team Trials.

Penn State, fresh off its NCAA team title last month, turned in a strong performance by crowning four champions.

Winning titles for the Nittany Lions were Andrew Long (63 kg/138.75 lbs.), Andrew Alton (66 kg/145.5 lbs.), James English (70 kg/154 lbs.) and Quentin Wright (84 kg/185 lbs.).

Wright, the reigning NCAA champion at 184, beat past NCAA runner-up Mack Lewnes of Cornell in the finals. Wright repeated as champion.

Wright beat Lewnes in the finals of the 2010 University World Team Trials.

Ohio State’s Colt Sponseller (79 kg/174 lbs.) also repeated as champion.

Past Junior World champion Dom Bradley captured the title at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

The top two finishers in each weight class qualify for June’s U.S. World Team Trials in Oklahoma City.

UNIVERSITY NATIONALS FREESTYLE – FINALS RESULTS

55 kg/121 lbs.
Brandon Precin (Wildcat WC) dec. Frank Perrelli (Cornell), 1-0, 2-1

60 kg/132 lbs.
Steve Mytych (NYAC-Excel) dec. Tyler Clark (Iowa), 1-0, 1-0

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Andrew Long (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Nick Dardanes (Minnesota Storm), 2-1, 5-2

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Andrew Alton (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Kevin LeValley (Bison WC), 1-0, 3-0

70 kg/154.25 lbs.
James English (Nittany Lion WC) won by decision over Bryce Busler (Husky WC), 1-1, 9-4

74 kg/163 lbs.
 Andrew Howe (Badger WC) dec. Kyle Dake (Cornell), 3-1, 1-2, 1-0

79 kg/174 lbs.
Colt Sponseller (Ohio Regional Training Center) dec. Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (Citadel), 4-0, 1-1

84 kg/185 lbs.
Quentin Wright (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Mack Lewnes (Cornell), 6-0, 5-1

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Chad Hanke (NWRTC) dec. Sonny Yohn (Minnesota Storm), 2-0, 0-1, 1-0

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Dom Bradley (Sunkist Kids) won by injury default over Jeremy Johnson (Bobcat Wrestling Club)

TRUE SECOND-PLACE MATCHES

55 kg/121 lbs.
Zach Sanders (Minnesota Storm) won by injury default over Frank Perrelli (Cornell)

60 kg/132 lbs.
Tyler Clark (Iowa) dec. Colin Johnston (Mylan-Sunkist WC), 3-1, 8-0

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Nick Dardanes (Minnesota Storm) dec. David Marble (Bison Wrestling Club), 1-1, 4-3

70 kg/154.25 lbs.
Eric Terrazas (Illini Wrestling Club) dec. Bryce Busler (Husky WC), 1-2, 2-0, 4-1

74 kg/163 lbs.
Zach Toal (Missouri Wrestling Foundation) won by injury default over Kyle Dake (Cornell)

84 kg/185 lbs.
Mack Lewnes (Cornell) dec. Max Thomusseit (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club), 1-0, 1-0

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Sonny Yohn (Minnesota Storm) dec. Dustin Kilgore (Golden Pride Wrestling Club), 0-1, 6-5, 8-5

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Tyrell Fortune (Cougar WC) won by injury default over Jeremy Johnson (Bobcat Wrestling Club)