Penn State sits atop the wrestling world again, but latest NCAA Championships indicate why the work to stay there never stops

PHILADELPHIA — The final day of the 2024-2025 Penn State wrestling season started just after 6 a.m. on Sunday with a social media message celebrating the program’s latest NCAA title. It goes without saying that, despite not leaving the Wells Fargo Center until sometime around midnight following all of the post-tournament celebration and obligations, the Nittany Lions woke up early and were ready to get back to work. There will be time to rest, of course, in the days ahead. But the 2026 season starts Monday. And the team’s pursuit of perfection never ends.

The just-completed three-day national tournament here indicates why. The stunner of the event came in its final bout, as Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson scored a late takedown to shock two-time NCAA champ and Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson of Minnesota in the 285-pond finals. Hendrickson is out of eligibility, but he and his Cowboy teammates finished year one of the David Taylor era strong with a third place finish and will be a force to be reckoned with moving forward. Nebraska hadn’t won’t an NCAA individual title since 2014 but won two on Saturday night and finished second in the team race with 117 team points while having the most impressive tournament of the Mark Manning era.

This isn’t to minimize the success Penn State had, of course. The Lions broke their own team points record, which was set just one year ago, with 177. They are the second team ever to have 10 All-Americans. And, they are the first with 10 top-six finishers.

Graduate senior Carter Starocci made history by becoming the first five-time NCAA champ by taking the 184-pound crown thanks to having an extra year via the NCAA’s coronavirus pandemic protocol. Redshirt sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink won his first college championship at 165 pounds. Josh Barr finished second, and five Nittany Lions finished third, making it eight of 10 starters who did so. Some might call this year a disappointment. Penn State wasn’t the super team some thought it could be. But it’s still among the best the sport has ever produced. And Lions fans should remember that as they pair their disappointment from Friday’s semifinal round with the totality of the season.

See the full list of 2025 NCAA champions here

It’s why the Cornhuskers and Cowboys join Ohio State, Iowa, Minnesota, Cornell, and the rest of the college wrestling world in starting a new year aiming to again unseat Cael Sanderson’s dynasty. The Hawkeyes and Oklahoma State, in particular, will spare few, if any, expenses in their pursuit of the crown. The transfer portal has helped level the playing field, although it’s been good to Penn State, too. And, the same can be said for name, image, and likeness opportunities in addition to the upcoming settlement of the House vs. NCAA settlement that will pave the way for revenue sharing.

Asked Saturday night how his approach to moving on to the next season has changed since the last time his team won a title in the City of Brotherly Love back in 2011, Sanderson unsurprisingly shrugged. That’s his M.O., after all: Never get too high or too low, keep everything in perspective, and take everything in stride.

“It doesn’t really change for us,” Sanderson said. “Our coaching staff will be in the room on Monday and we’re working, the way everything’s set up. We love it. We just love what we do and we love the sport.

“Yeah, everything’s changed a lot. But our values haven’t changed. What we focus on as coaches and what we offer and bring to the table, that’s not going to change. As everything else changes, and maybe it’s hard. But it’s not hard for us because we know what’s most important to us and what is the most important thing at the end of the day for us. That’s just take care of our guys and help them be happy and reach their goals.”

Watch Penn State coach Cael Sanderson’s post-NCAAs news conference below

The chase to reach the next set of goals starts Monday. Freestyle season is right around the corner. Before long, fall will arrive, it will turn to winter, and the drive for a fifth straight NCAA title and new team points record after Penn State broke it in each of the last two seasons will begin anew.

The college wrestling landscape will change along the way. But, Penn State won’t. The work will continue. And so will the consistent approach. It might be as important now as ever, as Saturday’s results show that others are coming. But, they aren’t quite close to the nation’s long-running top team just yet. The work put in starting Monday will help keep it that way.

“We have a guy that’s a sophomore in the NCAA Finals and our other finalist is a freshman,” Starrocci said. “That pretty much tells you kind of where the program is going. We have some young guys making noise. I think our coaches are going to keep leaning in that direction.”