NCAA Wrestling: Penn State Clinches 11th Natty Under Olympic Champion Coach Cael Sanderson

Penn State wrestling team continues to showcase its dominance during the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships season. Through it, the Nittany Lions left the crowd in awe of their splendid performance. They once again emerged as the strongest team, winning its 11th NCAA team championship in program history on 22 March in Kansas City, with one more day still to go.

Even though the Nittany Lions have a roster full of exciting players, head coach Cael Sanderson’s significance cannot be understated. Penn State earned its 11th title in 13 seasons all under coach Cael Sanderson, and the Nittany Lions’ third in a row.

Penn State claimed this marvelous victory when Carter Starocci destroyed his opponent, Shane Griffith of Michigan, earning a spot in the 174-pound weight category in the final. Taking to its official Twitter handle Baschamania podcast host, Justin Basch wrote, “Penn State has locked up the team title; that’s #11 in just 13 years”

The Penn State wrestling team had an almost flawless Friday night. After going six for six in the semifinal round and four for six in their four consolation bracket games, the Nittany Lions displayed its splendid wrestling skills. With clinching the team title for the third year in a row, the Nittany Lions have 148 team points. Michigan is in second with 64.5. Iowa is in third with 60. Let us now take a look at how the road ahead looks for Penn State from here.

More glory awaits Cael Sanderson’s Penn State?

Under Penn State NLWC mentor Cael Sanderson’s perfect guidance, 6 Penn State wrestlers will compete in Saturday night’s finals. This will include senior Beau Bartlett in the 141-pound, senior Carter Starocci in the 174-pound weight category, sophomore Levi Haines in the 157-pound, graduate senior Aaron Brooks in the 197-pound, redshirt freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink in the 165-pound and Greg Kerkvliet in heavyweight. Notably with all these wrestlers, Penn State may trample over another record.

Read More: US Olympian Recalls How Penn State’s Cael Sanderson Helped Him Make History

The NCAA record for team points is currently in the kitty of Iowa with 170 points. This appears very much within the reach of Penn State at this point. Understandably, this will add another record for the Cael Sanderson era. Cael Sanderson has received several honors because of his amazing wrestling-related ideas. Cael Sanderson, who joined Penn State in 2009, broke unanticipated records. Quentin Wright, a former Penn State member earlier stated  “Cael is very smart…he’s very thoughtful and purposeful with everything that he does.” Ex-HC of Penn State Rich Lorenzo retained the same viewpoint toward Cael.

Also Read: Penn State Wrestling HC Sanderson Drops Big Update on Carter Starocci’s Recent Home Game Incident