Good morning.
This starts in five minutes with Aaron Brooks and RBY. Then, Cael follows. Updates to come.
This starts in five minutes with Aaron Brooks and RBY. Then, Cael follows. Updates to come.
Updates from Penn State's pre-Big Ten Tournament media availability
- Thread starter GregPickel
- Start date
RBY says his eyes are focused on nationals, and Big Tens are a stepping stone to nationals, of course.
RBY on the plan: "Obviously, focus on peaking at the right time and just enjoying it." Says he's not worried about or focusing on the idea of seeing guys at Big Ten's and then again at nationals.
On his routine, RBY says: "It's not easy, but it's one match at a time, and I just step out there and believe in my training. You can't control too much but I'm doing everything that I can."
On his routine, RBY says: "It's not easy, but it's one match at a time, and I just step out there and believe in my training. You can't control too much but I'm doing everything that I can."
On what Hildebrandt and Dean have added, RBY says: Max is tough and came through, and same with Hildebrandt. He's been one of the more consistent 25 pounders we've had. We're happy to have them on the team. You guys see what we see.
On looking back at the last Big Ten title: It's cool to win the Big Ten, but I don't think anyone cares too much about the Big Tens. It's going to mean a lot more if we find a way to win Big Tens and nationals. I'm more of a leader, so it would mean a lot more this year than it did my freshman year.
On looking back at the last Big Ten title: It's cool to win the Big Ten, but I don't think anyone cares too much about the Big Tens. It's going to mean a lot more if we find a way to win Big Tens and nationals. I'm more of a leader, so it would mean a lot more this year than it did my freshman year.
On whether this is it for RBY: We'll play it by ear. I'm not really too worried about that. If I make a decision it would come next August or September. I don't owe anyone anything. I did my four years here. So, we'll play it by ear.
On being hard to score on, RBY says: "I was talking to someone about this not too long ago. I'm harder to score on cause I understand what I'm doing and getting guys tired. Over time you pick up the little things. I'm figuring out my style and what works for me. Just growing up over time, that's all it is.
What will it take to win a national title? RBY: "Controlling what we can control and just being ourselves out there and wrestle like we have these last couple of months. Going into these two weeks, you have to know something crazy will happen. You need to be ready for it. Focus on that, and just being ready."
We're on to Aaron Brooks:
"They've been amazing for this team," AB on Hildebrandt and Dean. They've added great personalities, and they're great young man who came here and wanted to get better. It made all of us strive for that, as well."
Brooks also says he's good to go after missing the Rider match.
On Big Ten's as a measuring stick: "Just going in, continuing to wrestle how I've been wrestling, and putting faith in my coaches. It's a good measuring stick, the Big Ten conference."
"They've been amazing for this team," AB on Hildebrandt and Dean. They've added great personalities, and they're great young man who came here and wanted to get better. It made all of us strive for that, as well."
Brooks also says he's good to go after missing the Rider match.
On Big Ten's as a measuring stick: "Just going in, continuing to wrestle how I've been wrestling, and putting faith in my coaches. It's a good measuring stick, the Big Ten conference."
Cael on where the team is: They've had more opportunities to compete together. We've been on the road a lot in some fun matches. Those things bring you closer together. I think we're ready to wrestle, but we'll find out this weekend. It's a new day. Everything up to this point has been preparation.
Sanderson on team mindset: I think you get your best individual performance and minset if you're thinking less about yourself and more about the team and your performance and the things you can control. That's what brings about the bonus points for the team. Those things go hand in hand. We can compete as a team and your responsibility is do the best you can with the time you're allotted. It's not about winning and losing but competing with some enthusiasm, and we'll be fine as a team.
Is it good for guys to see wrestlers back to back week?
Cael: You can get lost in thought if you're trying to figure out what matters more. You do the best you can in your best match and we'll make adjustments and keep improving. It's just that mindset that we're trying to get better every match. If we want to take care of business at nationals the best we can do at the Big Ten.
Cael: You can get lost in thought if you're trying to figure out what matters more. You do the best you can in your best match and we'll make adjustments and keep improving. It's just that mindset that we're trying to get better every match. If we want to take care of business at nationals the best we can do at the Big Ten.
On the Big Ten: Winning the Big Ten takes a team effort. The makeup of our team has been kind of more aimed at the nationals than than the conference. You need 10 guys scoring points. The last time we won, we had a pretty stinking good team. But, we have a pretty good team right now. We have to go wrestle with a smile on our face. Enjoy being out there, be the best we can be, and be excited about the opportunity that we have. Winning a Big Ten championship is a big deal and definitely something worth fighting for.
On how much stronger the roster is with Hildebrandt and Dean: THey're both just really consistent. Great kids. Do everything right. They're early to practice every day. They're coachable and very grateful to be on the team and competing. From that standpoint, it's a big deal, and they've done a great job. Berge came back midseason, too. We have a really solid lineup. Michigan and Iowa and down the line, every team has some really great wrestlers, and a lot of them. The Big Ten tournament is always going to be a lot of fun, a practice run for nationals.
Is it harder to win a Big Ten team title then a national team title?
"It's just the makeup of your team and program and how you organize things. It's a little different too because ultimately you don't dream about being a Big Ten champion. You dream about being an NCAA champion. You're not going to win a national tournament if you can't wrestle well to get there. The national tournament is our focus, and that's how we devise our training, but you still need to be able to wrestle well at the conference meet.
"It's just the makeup of your team and program and how you organize things. It's a little different too because ultimately you don't dream about being a Big Ten champion. You dream about being an NCAA champion. You're not going to win a national tournament if you can't wrestle well to get there. The national tournament is our focus, and that's how we devise our training, but you still need to be able to wrestle well at the conference meet.
On Big Ten's at Nebraska and his memory of Nebraska-ISU in Big 12 tournament there.
I remember it well. We didn't wrestle great as a team. We tied with Nebraska for the Big 12 championship. It was a great atmosphere. The fans at Nebraska are passionate, and they show up, and are very supportive. Nebraska's always a great place to compete.
I remember it well. We didn't wrestle great as a team. We tied with Nebraska for the Big 12 championship. It was a great atmosphere. The fans at Nebraska are passionate, and they show up, and are very supportive. Nebraska's always a great place to compete.
Brooks on the 12 Big Ten allocations at 184: This is something that I was aware of, just wrestling the Big Ten. I had a tough match every match or every weekend. The Big Ten is stacked up at 184. Just continue to do the same thing.
On what it will take to win a national title: "The way I can help is be myself, continue to be a good leader, and it's less talking and more just the actions of doing. Competing free, putting our trust in our training, and letting it fly."
On what it will take to win a national title: "The way I can help is be myself, continue to be a good leader, and it's less talking and more just the actions of doing. Competing free, putting our trust in our training, and letting it fly."
Cael on Big Ten's as a measuring stick:
"At that point, you can make some adjustments, maybe step things up a little bit, but for the most part, the nationals are here. I won't get into any details, but I don't think there's a lot you can do but make minor adjustments at that point."
"At that point, you can make some adjustments, maybe step things up a little bit, but for the most part, the nationals are here. I won't get into any details, but I don't think there's a lot you can do but make minor adjustments at that point."
On Berge's extra match against Rider:
We were trying to get him two matches, and if we couldn't have got them, we probably would have sent him on the road to a tournament.
We were trying to get him two matches, and if we couldn't have got them, we probably would have sent him on the road to a tournament.
Will road win at Iowa help at Big Tens?
"I think there will be a lot of Nebraska fans, lot of Iowa fans, but the Big Ten tournament has always been an incredibly talented and competitive event, but it's even more of a fan-attracting event now. The last one we had, pre-COVID, was Minneapolis. Big crowds and big matches and you have to be ready to go right away. Our guys wrestle in front of big crowds all the time. It's something we enjoy."
"I think there will be a lot of Nebraska fans, lot of Iowa fans, but the Big Ten tournament has always been an incredibly talented and competitive event, but it's even more of a fan-attracting event now. The last one we had, pre-COVID, was Minneapolis. Big crowds and big matches and you have to be ready to go right away. Our guys wrestle in front of big crowds all the time. It's something we enjoy."
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That’s it and that’s all post. Can post the videos later for those interested and of course we’ll have plenty of stories this week as the postseason is here!
Greg, did Cael comment on whether he wants his team to have fun, score points, and be grateful? If not, could you ask him that question next time.
Also, to save you time for future Big Tens or Nationals, you can just copy and paste his comments from prior years. I think he’s so repetitive because he really does believe it, but he also doesn’t give opponents even an ounce of bulletin board material.
Also, to save you time for future Big Tens or Nationals, you can just copy and paste his comments from prior years. I think he’s so repetitive because he really does believe it, but he also doesn’t give opponents even an ounce of bulletin board material.
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