Potential date, opponent for Penn State wrestling season opener revealed

The Penn State wrestling season is quickly approaching, and we now know one more opponent on the 2024-25 schedule. Cael Sanderson and the Nittany Lions will host the Drexel Dragons at Rec Hall on November 17. The date could become the season opener for the three-time defending National Champions.

The dual was announced as part of the Dragons’ schedule release on Tuesday. Drexel will travel to Happy Valley two days after facing Northern Colorado in Philadelphia.

Still without the Nittany Lions’ full schedule, it’s hard to say where exactly the dual fits in on the calendar. However, the November 17 matchup will make Drexel one of, if not the first dual of the season. Penn State wrestling opened the dual season last year against Lehigh on December 3.

The bout will overlap with the Black Knight Invitational and NWCA All-Star Classic. Last season, multiple Penn State wrestlers participated in the All-Star Classic, which took place at Rec Hall, with the remaining heading to the Black Knight Invitational.

But with three events happening on the same weekend, this season could look a little different. Since multiple top Nittany Lions are likely to compete at the All-Star Classic, Cael Sanderson will have to split the rest of the Penn State wrestling program between the Black Knight Invitational and the Drexel dual.

Penn State wrestling has so much depth throughout its lineup that it shouldn’t really matter who they send out to face the Dragons. Since the redshirt rules allow true freshmen to compete in four events and still maintain their eligibility, it would make the most sense to send the youngest Nittany Lions to the Black Knight Invitational, where they can wrestle in multiple matches. 

Drexel finished last season with an 8-10 (5-4 EIWA) dual record. The Dragons finished 12th at the EIWA Championships and didn’t register a team point at Nationals. The only previous meeting between the two programs, in 2003, resulted in a 26-6 Penn State victory.

Penn State wrestling slate starting to come together

Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

While there hasn’t been an official release of the 2024-25 Penn State wrestling schedule, we are starting to have a better idea of what it may look like.

Most recently, Lehigh announced the renewal of its historic rivalry with Penn State. The two programs will face off at the PPL Center in Allentown on December 8.

Earlier this month, Wyoming announced it will make the trip to Happy Valley in mid-December. A week later, Cael Sanderson and the Nittany Lions participate in the Journeyman Collegiate Wrestling Duals for the first time since 2022, a competition that will feature many of the top teams in the nation.

American University released its schedule in August, which included a matchup with the Nittany Lions on February 21. The Big Ten released its conference dual opponents later that month, with dates to be determined. Penn State will host Iowa, Michigan State, and Maryland, travel to Nebraska, Illinois, and Rutgers, and share a home-and-home with Ohio State,

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