Cael Sanderson: Penn State wrestling lives for the big matches

Penn State wrestling is days away from taking the mats at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships in Evanston, Illinois. This weekend marks the first of two postseason tournaments this month where the Nittany Lions are expected to run roughshod over their competition.

Penn State wasn’t thrown into many pressure-packed situations during the dual season, outscoring their opponents by a combined 599-62. But while speaking to the media on Monday, Cael Sanderson explained why his wrestlers are made for the bright lights of March.

“The bigger the match, the more fun it is,” Sanderson said. “I mean, we spend every day pretty much preparing and thinking about the big matches and what are the big matches. So when you actually have an opportunity to go participate and do something about those big matches, I think that’s what it’s all about. And that’s kind of what you do this for. We don’t live to prepare for the big matches, we live for the big matches. And that’s the energy and the mentality.

Looking for a way to stay up-to-date with all the most important news surrounding Penn State wrestling and Nittany Lion athletics? Follow us on social media and subscribe to our free newsletter for live news and insights sent directly to your feed!

“But we always keep things in perspective, too. This is just a game, it’s going to come and go. And this tournament’s going to come and go really fast, and this season [will be over], and it’ll be about next year and on and on and on. So, you just kind of keep that true but healthy perspective.”

Nittany Lion wrestlers are a combined 255-65 this year, including a lopsided 133-17 in duals. As deep as the program has ever been, all 10 starters are ranked inside the top eight of their respective weight class.

However, several key contributors have battled injuries down the stretch, most notably Braeden Davis and Tyler Kasak. With a full 15 days between the regular-season finale and the conference tournament, the Penn State wrestling room has been preparing and recovering, both physically and mentally.

“I think we’re good,” Sanderson said. “We’ve got a great team. They’re excited to wrestle. They love to compete. We’re happy. We’re healthy. We’re grateful. So, we’ll just go see what we can do.”

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, one of the fastest-growing outlets covering Penn State athletics. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned and operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!

Please follow us on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for breaking news and notifications. For feedback, questions, or concerns, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on social media.