Nick Suriano’s Olympic wrestling possibilities flexed after getting under the tutelage of Cael Sanderson, at the Penn State. In the freshman debut season in 2017, the New Jersey native wrestler rose through with a record 16 victories in the season, only to be hindered by an ankle injury succumbing to a twist. That injury flouted most of Suriano’s earned glory in the NLWC as later he shifted to Rutgers University, yearning for success. That untimely shift for the wrestling prodigy shook coach Cael Sanderson in some ways. 

Moreover, that plantar guard almost kept Sanderson and Suriano in a similar line, which made the NLWC coach an Olympic champion several times ago. A prized video of that occasion recently landed on IG. 

The Olympic champion coach with grappling ankle prowess 

Years before accepting the HC role at Penn State, wrestler Cael Sanderson tasted almost every major title in the sporting discipline. Among those insignias, the 2004 Olympic medal shone brighter. Recently, an IG account of wrestling engagement, wrestling. stars posted the clip where a young Sanderson had faced Moon Eui-Jae in that Athens event. The occasion was the 84 kg final. However, the situation wasn’t in the parley of the American wrestler as the caption developed, “With the same ankle, Kyle Sanderson could get three points and become Olympic champion”. In the clip, the NLWC coach never let his own ankles come in Eui-Jae’s grab or landed abruptly on the plantar area. In contrast, he had continued his poise to see himself victorious. The unavailability of those techniques made Nick Suriano out of NLWC in 2017. 

The aplomb reflected in Sanderson’s teaching lessons to the NLWC wrestlers as well. On the eve of the 2020 Olympics, Pat Higgins, one of Sanderson’s famed students, conceded the same. In his wrestlingmindset. com piece, Higgins added, “In coach Cael’s notes on it he says this: ‘Be able to relax and be confident that your goal is to simply to do the best that you can. Live the lifestyle of a champion. Follow the game plan’.” However, that felt like a success mantra when a series of issues loomed over the NLWC camp in recent times. 

The issues lingering 

From the NLWC camp, wrestler Greg Kerkvliet seemed to be a beacon in the upcoming Olympic weight categories. But Kerkvliet warmed the bench most of the time, because of his injury in the match against Lehigh. However, the hopeful coach could add only, “He’s doing well, and ready to rock ‘n’ roll this weekend.“

Read more: Will 4x State Champion, Penn State Commit, Bypass Redshirt Season to Rep NLWC Colors in Debut Season?

The situation went down on the nadir more when Shayne Van Ness registered himself on the list of injured NLWC wrestlers. That kept Cael Sanderson worried about filling the places when Olympic trials are on the calendar. However, hearty efforts were already there by positioning Evans and Kasak in 149-category. Among all these tribulations, Sanderson’s Olympic clips played the never-dying attitude of the coach. 

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