Kasak on 2025 Penn State wrestling: There’ll never be a team as good as us

Penn State wrestling continued its dominance over the college wrestling world last weekend, capturing its third straight conference title at Sunday’s Big Ten Championships. The Nittany Lions now set their gaze to Philadelphia, where next week, the program will look to win a fourth consecutive national championship for the third time under Cael Sanderson.

The first half of the 2020s has been perhaps the most successful of the Cael Sanderson era. The program has not lost a regular season dual in over five years and has seen seven different Nittany Lions bring home 15 individual national titles in that span.

But it’s widely accepted that 2025 could be the most talented roster that Penn State wrestling has ever fielded. With all 10 wrestlers ranked inside the top eight of their weight class, the Nittany Lions have a chance to make history at next week’s NCAA Championships.

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Despite their laser-focused mentality, the magnitude of the moment isn’t lost on those inside the Penn State wrestling room.

“It’s special, just everything I’m doing right now is special,” said Tyler Kasak on Sunday after winning his first Big Ten title at 157 pounds. “And I’m part of history. There’s never going to be a team, in any sport, in the NCAA, that’s going to be as good as this team’s been. So, it’s just an honor and a blessing to be a part of something like this.”

Tyler Kasak explains what it’s like to be part of this legendary PSU team.

Presented by @CKAwrestling pic.twitter.com/wTx7YT8eZq

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) March 9, 2025

Is history still on the table for Penn State wrestling in 2025?

Penn State ran away with the 2025 conference crown, winning five individual titles and finishing 44.5 points ahead of second-place Nebraska. And in reality, with top seeds Beau Bartlett and Shayne Van Ness falling in Saturday’s semifinals, the Nittany Lions didn’t even inflict maximum damage on the rest of the Big Ten.

Several notable milestones are on the table as the Blue and White prepare for the NCAAs. The Nittany Lions have the national points record of 172.5, set by last year’s squad, well within their sights. Penn State could also become the second program in NCAA history to finish with 10 All-Americans.

However, reaching both markers could be in jeopardy in light of the recent injury to Josh Barr. The 197-pounder was forced to injury default out of his consolation match on Sunday afternoon after an apparent leg injury. Barr, the No. 2 wrestler in the country at 197, has nine days to rest and recover before the competition begins in Philadelphia.

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