Cael Sanderson details what win No. 200 with Penn State means to program

Cael Sanderson treated Penn State’s 29-6 win over Iowa like any other win, despite some history on the line.

The long time Nittany Lions head coach earned his 200th career win in duals. What’s fascinating, Penn State is 119-2 in its last 121 matches, making this accomplishment surprising it didn’t happen sooner.

Sanderson brushed off the accomplishment post-match though, crediting Iowa for bringing toughness to push Penn State to be its best.

“Our staff has been together the whole time, that’s cool,” Sanderson said, via Centre Daily. “Obviously, we are happy about that, that stuff gets brought to my attention by fans. We are just trying to get better every match. Iowa does a great job of preparing for your guys. They always do a really good job of showing what you need to work on.”

Penn State now has 999 wins as a program, meaning No. 1,000 can happen Monday evening against Rutgers.

Iowa forced Penn State into a 2-2 split through the first four bouts, but the Nittany Lions won the last six to win the dual in emphatic fashion.

“We felt pretty good. You just never know. Anything can happen, there is a lot going on in these kids’ lives,” Sanderson said. “You’re in somebody else’s gym, which is one of the more successful athletic teams in all of college sports. You take it one at a time, and keep trying to wrestle well.”

Five of Penn State’s wrestlers are ranked No. 1 in the country. If that’s any indication, the Nittany Lions could have five national champions in March.

That’d be the third time Sanderson coached five individuals to titles in one season. At this rate, it’s hard to stop what’s coming.

Penn State vs. Iowa wrestling results

125: No. 7 Drake Ayala IA dec. No. 2 Braeden Davis PSU, 4-2
133: No. 6 Aaron Nagao PSU maj. dec. No. 20 Cullan Schreiver IA, 12-0
141: No. 1 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. No. 2 Real Woods IA, 7-1
149: No. 12 Caleb Rathjen IA dec. No. 10 Tyler Kasak PSU, 11-8 (sv)
157: No. 1 Levi Haines PSU maj. dec. No. 5 Jared Franek IA, 12-0
165: No. 7 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU dec. No. 6 Michael Caliendo IA, 12-6
174: No. 1 Carter Starocci PSU maj. dec. No. 7 Patrick Kennedy IA, 13-5
184: No. 6 Bernie Truax PSU maj. dec. Aidan Riggins IA, 8-0
197: No. 1 Aaron Brooks PSU dec. No. 11 Zach Glazier IA, 5-1
285: No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet PSU maj. dec. Ben Keuter IA, 9-1

Sanderson and Penn State are back in action Monday at home against Rutgers.