Cael Sanderson speaks after Penn State wins 2025 national championship

Penn State wrestling captured its 13th national title in school history Saturday in Philadelphia. The Nittany Lions dominated the field in the City of Brotherly Love, breaking the NCAA team points record for the second consecutive season. The Blue and White finished with two individual national champions as Carter Starocci and Mitchell Mesenbrink brought home titles back to State College.

Every Penn State wrestler finished as an All-American, a feat that previously only happened once in NCAA history. No individual Nittany Lion wrestler finished lower than sixth in the final standings of each weight class.

Cael Sanderson reflects on “great year” for Penn State wrestling

Penn State wrestling 184-pounder Carter Starocci. © Chris Eutsler / Basic Blues Nation, 2025.

Saturday’s title was the 12th in the past 14 tournaments for Penn State wrestling under Cael Sanderson. He now is second all-time for NCAA team titles, only behind the legendary Iowa head coach Dan Gable. It was fitting for Sanderson to move into sole possession of second place in Philadelphia, where he won his first title with the Nittany Lions in 2011.

“It’s been a great year. Just a lot of fun people to work with,” Sanderson said after the tournament. “Obviously the team, our staff, just from top to bottom. I mean, we’re just constantly kind of thinking ahead and just everything’s preparation for the next thing. So we don’t really kind of stop and reflect a whole lot. Obviously we’re learning as we go and we’ll continue to do that. That’s the name of the game.

“But, yeah, this was a really fun year with some new faces, like a Luke Lilledahl and a freshman, Barr. And then you’ve got a guy like Carter, who wins his fifth national title. All the way up and down the lineup everyone gave a great effort. And it was a lot of fun.

“Obviously our coaching staff, Coach Cody and Coach Casey, and Nick Lee was a great addition this year. With Cody and Casey, I just try to stay out of their way and let them do their thing. They’re the best coaches in the world. It’s been a lot of fun to work with them.”

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Penn State wrestling came into the NCAA Championships with about as high of expectations as any team in recent memory. Despite some difficult losses, the Nittany Lions still found a way to meet the program’s high bar.

“It was just a lot of fun,” Sanderson said. “It was a great team. Just 10 quality tough, 10 All-Americans is super hard to do.

“You have guys coming in here with injuries. And obviously if everybody’s talking about the expectations and this is the point record or whatever it is, we don’t talk about that stuff. But kids live on their phones. So they’re seeing it and hearing it all the time.

“It’s hard. Being expected to do something and do it is probably the toughest thing in sports, right? But that also makes it a fun challenge.

“Just a great team. All of our teams, we feel they’re special. And we’re excited for next year, too. We just keep getting better.”

Team Results

1. Penn State – 177

2. Nebraska – 117

3. Oklahoma State – 102.5

4. Iowa – 81

5. Minnesota – 51.5

Individual Results

125: Luke Lilledahl (FR) – 3rd

133: Braeden Davis (SO) – 5th

141: Beau Bartlett (GR) – 3rd

149: Shayne Van Ness (SO) – 3rd

157: Tyler Kasak (SO) – 3rd

165: Mitchell Mesenbrink (SO) – 1st

174: Levi Haines (JR) – 3rd

184: Carter Starocci (GR)- 1st

197: Josh Barr (FR) – 2nd

285: Greg Kerkvliet (GR) – 6th

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