Skip to main content
penn-state logo

For Penn State wrestling, Big Ten success is a stepping stone to ultimate goal: Winning at nationals

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•about 17 hours•

GregPickel

penn-state-wrestling-big-ten-champs-photo-2025
(Photo courtesy of Mark Selders/Penn State Athletics)

Penn State wrestling had nine semifinalists, six finalists, and five title winners at the 2025 Big Ten wrestling championships. The No. 1 Nittany Lions set a new school points record with 181.5, which is 11 more than the previous mark set a season ago. Head coach Cael Sanderson’s side qualified all 10 starters for nationals. It’s true that redshirt freshman and 197-pound starter Josh Barr left the tournament early after medically defaulting to sixth place and may or may not be at 100 percent for the NCAA Tournament. Regardless, Penn State will roll into Philadelphia in two weeks as the heavy favorite to win yet another national title.

It’s why you didn’t see globs of gloating or celebrating from the Lions after their success at Northwestern. Instead, if you watched the Big Ten Network coverage, you heard the same refrain time and time again.

“Really good,” 125-pound Nittany Lion freshman Luke Lilledahl said when asked how it felt to win a belt at his first Big Ten Championships. “You know, I’ve been watching this on TV since I pretty much started wrestling. To be able to finally compete in it and win it is just a dream come true. But also it’s just a stepping stone, you know, to that title. So just take what I can on my matches and prepare for the next two weeks.”

Added 157-pound champ sophomore Tyler Kasak:

“It’s a stepping stone. It’s just all fun, really. We’re not really a goal-oriented team. Just go have fun.”

You can watch this week’s Penn State wrestling show in the video player below and also on YouTube. Or, you can listen at your favorite destinations for audio like SPOTIFY and APPLE.

Junior Levi Haines was asked to compare the feeling after winning his first conference crown at 174 pounds compared to the two he already won at 157.

“It’s just like the other ones,” the Pennsylvania native said. “It’s another step in the right direction of the national tournament. I believe in my ability and went out and executed well.”

So many often ask what the secret sauce is that powers Penn State wrestling. It’s more than those three quotes. But, they are the essence of it. Winning Big Tens is nice. But the goal is doing what is necessary to take the right steps to peak at the national tournament. The Lions who won in Evanston feel like they are on the right trajectory. The ones who did not likely feel that they are close to being on it. Even Barr, whose status is uncertain, was on an upward path before hurting his left leg.

Penn State may not set any new records at nationals in two weeks. It probably will. And it will surely win the team title. And, when it comes time to review the season that was, an ever-present attitude emulating what was said after the Big Ten Championships will be a big part of the reason why.

You may also like