Cael Sanderson praises team trainer who will play vital role in Penn State wrestling starter’s recovery

Cael Sanderson has led Penn State wrestling to one of the most dominant runs, not just in NCAA wrestling but in all college sports. The Nittany Lions have won three consecutive National Championships and 11 titles in the 14 completed seasons since Sanderson began his head coaching tenure in 2009-10.

Sanderson’s success can be attributed to a multitude of factors. Regarded as the greatest college wrestler in the sport’s history, Sanderson can use his lauded 159-0 record and four individual National Championships to help recruit the highest level of talent to Happy Valley. With that talent, the Nittany Lions can foster a fun and competitive training environment unique from the typical “grind-it-out in a dark wrestling room” mentality that many associate with the sport.

However, one of the key abilities for any wrestling team is availability, especially for the postseason. As Sanderson highlighted following the Nittany Lions’ season-opening win on Sunday, behind the scenes, head athletic trainer Dan Monthley has been an integral part of the Penn State wrestling dynasty.

Status of Braeden Davis uncertain after Penn State wrestling opener

Penn State wrestling’s starting 133-pounder Braeden Davis suffered an injury during the first period of his match with Drexel’s Kyle Watterman on Sunday. Davis went up in the match quickly, scoring a takedown before injuring himself on a scramble just a few moments later.

As a result, Davis wrestled more cautiously for the rest of the bout, and it nearly cost him. Watterman appeared to score a takedown with about 15 seconds remaining in the third period, but the referees didn’t give him the points.

Despite a Drexel challenge, the call was upheld, and Davis survived with a win. But nevertheless, the long-term impacts of the injury on the sophomore Nittany Lion remain to be seen.

“I don’t have the answer to that,” Cael Sanderson said after the dual when asked about the severity of Davis’ injury. “I think he’ll be fine. If you’re able to finish the match and he just had to, you know, kind of wrestle through that.

“We’ll take care of it and make sure he has the time he needs to get back to full speed if he’s not full speed soon. But it’s early November. So, I don’t think they’ve given him a full look yet. So, we’ll figure it out.”

What Monthley says is Gospel

While Cael Sanderson seemed optimistic that there was no reason to be concerned about Braeden Davis’ injury, ultimately, Dan Monthley will have the final say. Sanderson had high praise for Monthley, speaking of the program’s head athletic trainer several times on Sunday.

“Dan Monthley is a really, really good trainer, and pretty much what he says is Gospel,” Sanderson told reporters. “He’s not really been off ever, that I remember, calling a knee, or a shoulder, or something on the mat.

“So, if he says you’re good to go, if he gives me the look, then we know at this time of the year, you’re throwing the brick in and just kind of moving on.”

As Sanderson explained the situation, Nittany Lion wrestlers Levi Haines and Carter Starocci looked at each other and nodded, nonverbally confirming their coach’s statement. Starocci, of course, famously suffered a leg injury during the regular season finale against Edinboro last February and needed to be carried off the mat. Many feared that the Penn State wrestling star had torn his ACL, or worse, and questioned if he would compete in the postseason.

© Nick Tre. Smith-Imagn Images

After having to injury default out of the Big Ten Championships, Starocci took a heavily wrapped-up knee into the NCAA Championships and battled to his fourth NCAA Championship. He held up Monthley’s arm after winning the title, acknowledging that he could not have done it without him.

While the severity of the injury to Braeden Davis is still in question, one thing that is not up in the air is that Dan Monthley will be making the final decision. Cael Sanderson wouldn’t want it any other way.

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