That’s what we do: Cael Sanderson has epic response to another Penn State wrestling national title

Penn State wrestling is coming off what was, by many metrics, the most dominant NCAA Championships performance in college wrestling history. The Nittany Lions broke record after record en route to a third consecutive National Championship and the program’s 11th under Cael Sanderson. But for Sanderson, it was just another day at the office. The Penn State wrestling coach’s quintessential laser-focused remarks after Saturday’s trophy ceremony are just another example of why he has remained at the pinnacle of the sport for the better part of two decades.

Historic NCAA Championships for Penn State wrestling

Penn State’s three-day blitz at the NCAA Championships in Kansas City is one that the college wrestling world won’t soon forget. Locking up the National Championship with a day to spare, the Nittany Lions spent the final round record hunting.

As a team, the Nittany Lions had arguably the most dominant performance in NCAA wrestling history. Penn State wrestling set a new NCAA Championships record with 172.5 total team points. The Lions also broke the record for margin of victory, winning by an astonishing 100 points.

While Penn State wrestling came up short of the record for individual National Champions, it was still a historic night for the Nittany Lions separately, going 4-2 in the final round. Carter Starocci became the first four-time National Champion in Penn State wrestling history, only to be followed moments later by Aaron Brooks as the second. Greg Kerkvliet and Levi Haines also captured their first career titles.

Cael Sanderson: We’ll be back training on Monday

It was undoubtedly a weekend worth celebrating for Penn State wrestling. But as we’ve come to know by now, Cael Sanderson isn’t one to celebrate. Moments after accepting the trophy and stepping off the podium, the Nittany Lions head coach was already thinking about next year.

“Just going to be ready for next year. That’s what we do,” Sanderson said to reporters when asked to reflect on the history of the weekend. “We always think ahead, preparing for the future. We’ll be back in the room on Monday. We love what we do; we love to train. We love the sport of wrestling.”

While Saturday night was filled with many wins, it had its setbacks, as well. Mitchell Mesenbrink and Beau Bartlett fell in their finals matchups, both in last-second, heart-breaking fashion. These are the matches that keep Sanderson motivated in his perpetual chase for the next one.

“[I’m] happy for the guys,” he said. “Obviously, I say this every time, but your heart and your mind, you just kind of expect to win, and you believe and expect that your guys are going to win. So it’s the ones that don’t quite reach their goal that occupy your mind and your heart.”

Not worried about legacy

This weekend’s National Championship was significant beyond Penn State wrestling and its pursuit to the top in 2024. It was also a milestone for Cael Sanderson and his push to be the best of all time.

Sanderson’s 11th National Championship now puts him in a tie with former Oklahoma State coach E.C. Gallagher for the second most in NCAA wrestling history. He now sits just four behind legendary Iowa coach Dan Gable and his 15 national titles. Of course, it was Gable’s 1997 Hawkeyes’ 170-point team total that Sanderson and the Nittany Lions surpassed on Saturday evening.

Obviously, Gable’s dynasty in Iowa City is the only one that can match Sanderson’s in Happy Valley. But for Sanderson, it’s not about comparison. There’s no time for that. The only things he has time for are the challenges that lie ahead.

“We’re doing our thing,” Sanderson said of Gable’s legacy. “We don’t worry about and try to compare ourselves to others. And we’re just going to be the best we can be.

“As a staff, we’re here trying to figure out what we can do better and how we can have our guys better prepared because things continue to change. The game continues to change. And that’s what makes it fun. That’s how you stay motivated, and you don’t start thinking about next year tomorrow. We’re thinking about next year three, four years ago. That’s just the way it is.”

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