Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson gives his take on controversial ending at 125 vs. Ohio State

Penn State wrestling moved to 8-0 on the season after a dominant 28-9 win over Ohio State at Rec Hall on Friday night. However, it wasn’t a drama-free evening for the Nittany Lions. The dual started out with a thriller at 125 pounds, with Braeden Davis escaping with a 4-3 win following a controversial call from the officials. After the win, Cael Sanderson gave his take on the call that had so many up in arms.

Braeden Davis survives on controversial call

Braeden Davis was in a bad spot on Friday night. Davis held a narrow 4-3 lead with under 30 seconds left in the third period when Ohio State’s Vinny Kilkeary got him backpedaling and eventually on the mat. Kilkeary then put Davis on his back for what, at minimum, looked to be a takedown but possibly even near fall points.

The official thought that Kilkeary never had control, and the points weren’t awarded. The play went to review, but the call on the mat was upheld. Braeden Davis survived for the 4-3 victory and kept his undefeated record intact.

While it likely would not have had an impact on the end result of the dual, which Penn State wrestling won handily, the call did cause much controversy. It seemed the majority of social media, both Penn State faithful and unbiased observers, thought that Kilkeary should have been awarded the takedown in that sequence. Many complained about, not necessarily the call in particular, but the inconsistency of the NCAA rules.

This is elementary level reffing. I’m embarrassed the college level has come to this. I’ve always spoke highly of college refereeing. Whoever is instructing these guys needs to be fired immediately. https://t.co/ZM6nvMiG8b

— Adam Tirapelle, CIMA® (@adamtirapelle) February 3, 2024

Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson gives his perspective on 125 decision

After the match, Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson was asked his thoughts on the controversial call. “We always see things from our own perspective; the rules are a bit different now,” Sanderson said. “There’s reaction time. There was one takedown for them and one for us where they let things play out a little bit, and that’s what they’re supposed to do.”

The new rule for reaction time has already caused a bit of a stir in the wrestling community. According to the rule change, in all takedown situations, a wrestler must demonstrate control of his opponent beyond reaction time. The reaction time standard was previously not required when a wrestler had rear-standing neutral control of their opponent. The change essentially makes the offensive wrestler work harder for a takedown and allows the wrestler in the defensive position to have a better chance of fighting it off.

Cael Sanderson also provided his perspective on the recent rule change on Friday evening.

“They’re supposed to be patient with reaction time,” he said. “Last year, the skin of your finger drags along the mat, and it’s a takedown. I think it’s been a fine rule. You just know you have to really secure that takedown and have control for a little bit of time there.”

The rule is designed to eliminate the rear-standing hand-touch takedown, and wrestlers will have to gain “control” on the mat versus standing in a rear-standing position before any points are awarded. The new rule and the official’s judgment benefited Braeden Davis in this match, but it will certainly be something to keep an eye on moving forward in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments.

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