Everything Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson said after beating Iowa 30-8

The No. 1 Penn State wrestling team won its 66th consecutive dual meet on Friday night when it blasted No. 2 Iowa 30-8 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Head coach Cael Sanderson’s team won eight of 10 matches and pushed the action throughout the 10-bout meet in State College. Afterward, the legendary leader of the Nittany Lions spoke with reporters, and the first question focused on whether or not he takes time to reflect on all that his program has accomplished during his time at the helm.

“We don’t think about that stuff,” Sanderson said. “I mean, we’re just trying to; we think about our next match and getting better and just doing what we do. I mean, maybe at some point you do. But that’s not something; we don’t really worry about that stuff. This team’s not worried about anything that happened in previous years, right? They’re just doing what they do and just competing hard, and they wrestle pretty dang good. That’s a really good team we saw tonight. So, proud of them.”

Sanderson went on to confirm that the effort from his wrestlers was more or less exactly what he had hoped for, while also noting there were things to improve on.

More: Takeaways from a 30-8 Penn State wrestling win over Iowa

“I think you got to go back and kind of think through the matches, but yeah, I think for the most part, that’s just our style in,” he said. “We’re going to move forward, and we’re looking to score points, right? And, and I think yeah, very few exceptions, that’s just of the case. We have a lot of little things we can work on. And, I think I say it every year, but I mean, Iowa does a really good job of kind of figuring your guys out and scouting them.

“So, you can always go back and kind of see what you can do better. Because they’re usually very prepared for the matches. So, they do a really good job with that stuff. So we can kind of go back and watch these matches and pick up some things we can do better.”

We recap everything else Sanderson said below.

Why was starter Braeden Davis out of the lineup at 133 pounds?

“Just a little banged up from a week ago,” Sanderson said. “[Kurt McHenry, who bumped up from 125 to fill in for Davis], he’s a little undersized, obviously, but he’s got a huge heart, and he’s a great wrestler. And, you know, he wanted that shot. So, we gave it to him.

“Obviously, that was a tall order with [competing against No. 2 Iowa Hawkeye Drake] Ayala, he’s obviously really good. But, yeah, Davis was just a little banged up from last week. So, we figured it would be in his best interest to kind of let him rest a little.”

On the fight the Penn State wrestlers showed

“I think our guys wrestled well,” Sanderson said. “I mean, I think we have a couple situations that we can really learn from and make some improvements. But overall, you know, our guys are consistent. I mean, they like to compete. That’s just kind of how we wrestle. We’re going to move forward and try to create angles and score points. And, people know that’s what we’re going to do. And so, that makes it kind of more fun and a challenge to continue to be able to do that.”

On No. 4 Shayne Van Ness beating No. 2 Kyle Parco

“I thought Shayne wrestled great,” Sanderson said. “He went out and got that first takedown and gave up a takedown back and like, ‘Hey, this is a great match.’ You got two of the best guys in the country scrapping, and then Shayne just kept kind of pushing forward, as has been described, and just kind of fought through it and looked great. So, yeah, I was really happy with Shayne. I mean, he’s wrestling really well.”

Where did Penn State coach Cael Sanderson develop his mindset of focusing on constant improvement more than wins and losses?

“I think all of my coaches, my father was my coach growing up, and my high school coach, and it was never about winning or losing,” Sanderson said. “It was about fighting, right? I mean, you don’t have to tell somebody you want to win. I mean, everybody wants to win. And my coach [at Iowa State], Bobby Douglas, same thing. Never talked about winning. It was just getting better at wrestling and doing what you do. So, yeah, I was fortunate to come up with some great coaches and some great men. And it always worked for me.

“And, you know, different things, little different tweaks and spins on the approach, but, yeah, I mean, there’s a higher standard than winning and losing, right? And that’s a pretty low standard, you know? It’s more about performance. And, you know, our effort and our attitude is always going to be a higher standard than if we win or lose.”

Can a team make a statement with a win like the one Penn State had?

“We’re just trying to be at our best in the big moments, right? I mean, that’s a statement that is just of consistency,” Sanderson said. “I mean, consistency is kind of the name of the game. But as coaches, I’m sure, as wrestlers, you’re always thinking about the next one and the next one and the next one, right? I mean, and not even just the next match; you’re thinking about next year and the next year, and we’re going to see the same team a couple more times.

“So, yeah, you enjoy it. You have fun with what you’re doing. But it’s more fun to kind of just be challenging yourself to try to get better all the time.”

On Iowa choosing to wrestle Angelo Ferrari instead of Gabe Arnold against Carter Starocci

“I don’t think that was really a surprise,” Sanderson said. “We kind of figured that might be the case just based on stuff that had happened and things that were said, right? But, yeah, I think Carter, he would have been ready for either opponent. Obviously, they have two great options there. They’re both really good wrestlers.”