Everything Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson said before the final match of the regular season

Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson met with reporters on Tuesday ahead of his team’s final match of the regular season. The No. 1 Nittany Lions close out the dual meet portion of their schedule when they host American at 7 p.m. ET on Friday night. Last weekend, they knocked off Ohio State and Illinois to both win the Big Ten regular season title and also earn the program’s 69th and 70th consecutive dual meet victories.

“I think two good teams on the road,” Sanderson said. “A fun weekend. Lot of great competition, lot of great individuals. We’re happy and moving on to the next one.

“”We love dual meets, and want to compete well as a team. That’s kind of really what it’s all about. And I think, yes, if we put the team first, individual success will come as well. So, we really value doing well in those big dual meets. Obviously, especially in the conference. Those are a big deal to us. So, we’re happy. We’re excited.”

Read everything else Sanderson had to say and see video of his news conference from BWI’s Thomas Frank Carr below.

On Joe Sealey and Cole Mirasola filling in for Tyler Kasak and Greg Kerkvliet last weekend, respectively

“I think those are tough matches to throw them out there in the first dual,” Sanderson said. “Two obviously really good teams and in tough environments. But I thought for both, the experience would be worth it for them. I mean, Sealey hasn’t really wrestled all year. He was out, had a small surgery, but something that kept him off the mat for most of his time here. So I thought that experience for him wasn’t easy for him, probably, but he didn’t hesitate. He wanted to wrestle, and we’re happy to give him that opportunity. And he’s going to just get better.

“And, yeah, Mirasola’s been able to wrestle, but he, I guess, blessed to wrestle two top guys, two top 10 guys maybe, and just great experience to kind of see where you’re at. So yeah, we were grateful they both got that opportunity to wrestle.”

On Sealey losing to Illinois’ Jason Kraisser after having a late takedown overturned by review, and whether or not reaction time may have been involved in the decision

“Yeah, I guess,” Sanderson said. “I mean, the rule’s kind of gone back and forth, where there was no reaction time, and now they’re like, maybe giving a little bit too much reaction time. Wrestling’s a hard sport to call. So try not to dwell on it. Got to figure it out. You know, even when you’re wrestling, you got to kind of wrestle through those positions, just in case they go back and change it, right?

“Which that’s good experience for Joe, just because it’s probably different had he not known he had the three, probably could have wrestled through the position a little bit more. But just good experience for him and, but, yeah, wrestling is a tough sport to call, so sometimes they go your way and sometimes they don’t.”

On deciding which Penn State backups will wrestle when a starter is out

“Yeah, it just depends on who’s ready and who’s kind of been preparing for it,” Sanderson said. “I think we had a handful of guys that could have jumped in there. But it was also just kind of, it’s been a tough week, justwith sickness and different things. Like, Greg [Kerkvliet] was sick last weekend, and so he didn’t make the trip. And today, we got so sickness going on. So I think it’s just like the general population, same thing going on with our with our team. But yeah, that didn’t really play in the decision in who we wrestled last week. I was really excited for Joe to wrestle, and I think he’s got a really bright future. And obviously Mirasola, same thing.”

On whether Sealey and Mirasola having high ceilings long-term at Penn State played a role in them being the pick

“We’re not going to put them out there if we don’t think they’re going to be able to represent themselves in a good way, right? But, you know, obviously we have a lot of confidence in both of them, or we wouldn’t have put them out there in that kind of environment,” Sanderson said.

On what the pending House vs. NCAA lawsuit, which would cap wrestling rosters at 30 members, could mean

“I think, you know, the top programs are going to just get stronger, right? You’re going to have more depth in those programs,” Sanderson said. “I don’t think very many programs are going to have 30 scholarships. I mean, we’re definitely not going to have 30 scholarships, not even close. But we are going to have more scholarships. So I think the team dynamic changes a little bit. I think there’s some sad aspects of that also, because then, I think this has probably been discussed, but you’re cutting down to 30, but we have 37-38 [wrestlers on the roster] usually.

“A lot of times, those seven or eight are the ones who are really grateful to be on your team. They’re the ones that are supporting the program 10-15, years later, right? Because it’s one thing to love the sport when you’re just doing really well and kicking butt. You got to really love the sport if you go to practice and you’re getting your butt kicked every day, and you keep coming back and you still love it. So, I think it takes a special individual.

“Now, I’m not saying the bottom seven of the roster are getting their butts kicked every day. But yeah, there’s a lot of different thoughts and viewpoints. But, college sports is changing drastically, and we got to change with it.”

How many scholarships could Penn State wrestling have if the NCAA vs. House litigation passes?

“Yeah, I mean, obviously, you’re thinking about the whole athletic department, but you know, your responsibility is to take care of your program, too, right? Because, we’re all in this together as a department,” Sanderson said. “And there’s only so much money to go around. So it’s not about a grab and kind of trying to just get everything you can. There’s a balance with 31 teams and 31 sports. And I think Pat [Kraft], we’re lucky to have him as our athletic director right now. He’s going to help us to get what we need to continue to be competitive.”

On how fast the season goes by

“They go fast, especially once we hit January, [but yeah], it’s all flying,” Sanderson said. “I mean, every day you’re in here scrapping, and you’re grinding, but yeah, as a whole, you look back, and you’re like, ‘wow, it went by like that.’ And it’s just the way it’s going to be.

“Spring’s going to go fast, summer; we’re going to be back here talking again, and starting the next season before we know it. So I think that just helps just keep things in perspective. It’s the same thing with winning and losing. Those are temporary things. What we’re really looking at is like, where are we trending as a program? Individually, where are we training? Because that’s really the only thing that’s going to last.”

On the impact this Penn State senior class has made

“It’s been a great group,” Sanderson said. “Obviously we want them to be able to finish where they want to finish. And I think I say this every year: I’m not sad when the guys leave. I think the point is like, get in here, take care of business, and you move on with your life, right? Yeah, of course, you’re going to miss them. Nobody’s gonna be replaced, you know? You’re just going to find kids that want to be here and they’re going to work hard and want to be the best in the world. But yeah, we’re really happy and grateful for this senior class that we had. They had an awesome set of years, right? And now we just want them to finish the way they want to finish.”

How is Tyler Kasak progressing?

“He’s doing really well,” Sanderson said. “Doing really well. He’s, a tough kid. Kind of a physical specimen. I think he’s bouncing back. Yeah, I mean, we’re trying to hold him back.”

Did Beau Bartlett do anything different to beat Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez back on Friday night?

“It’s a fine line,” Sanderson said. “I think there were some differences, obviously. But you know, within a match like that, we’re looking at like, ‘Hey, we’re going to meet again here in two weeks [at Big Tens], and again at the nationals, potentially. So, we got to just keep getting better and figure out what Beau can do. They’re going to be small adjustments, obviously. Aand they’re going to make adjustments. And, that’s what makes it fun.”

On Braeden Davis in his return to the Penn State lineup at 133 pounds

“His conditioning looked fine, right? And he battled two of the top guys, and kind of stepped [back] in [the starting line-up] maybe a little earlier than he maybe would prefer to,” Sanderson said. “But, I mean, that was him making that decision. I thought it was good for him. I think obviously a tough match, both matches, but I think they’ll both benefit him as you move into the conference meet and kind of get that feel and kind of experience. Sometimes experience hurts a little bit if things don’t go our way, but that’s what we can learn and grow.”

On Davis returning to face two ranked wrestlers

“I think it just depends on the mindset,” Sanderson said. “I think Braeden is a competitor and seeing top guys is something that he can build off of. And you know, as a program, we feel like the more we wrestle guys, the better we’re going to do. So we have a lot of confidence in that. And so, yeah, I think all those things factor into that decision. But ultimately, he’s got to be feeling good enough that he can represent himself in a positive way when he goes out there. I think he did that.”

What did Penn State freshman Luke Lilledahl learn from getting pinned Friday night at Ohio State?

“Well, we just got to play, obviously, in that bottom position,” Sanderson said. “And, his opponent, that’s where he wanted to be, right? He chose top, and I’m sure that’s going to be the case again. But Luke, he’s a competitor, and he’s got a great feel for the sport. He’s getting better and better on his feet and on the mat. Just, sometimes things like that happen, and you just learn and you get ready for the next one.”

On what Carter Starrocci has meant to the Penn State program

“Well, I think he’s just a competitor, right? You saw that last week, and that’s something you hope other people on the team, you’re looking at different people, and you’re saying, ‘What can I take away from this guy?’ When the whistle blows, he’s moving forward, and he’s obviously got a strong belief in himself,” Sanderson said.

“He works hard, and he goes out there and he does what he tends to do or what he plans to do. There’s no hesitation and he competes. So that’s the thing that really stands out for me with Carter, just the way he competes.”