Any attempt at effectively describing Penn State’s wrestling season is certain to fall short. The Nittany Lions have overwhelmed superlatives, defied comparisons and posted stratospheric statistics.
But that is to be expected when a team has the nation’s best coach in Cael Sanderson, the best staff of assistant coaches in Cody Sanderson, Casey Cunningham and Nick Lee and a roster of unusually talented grapplers. What’s not to like?
And so, with Penn State currently sporting a historic streak of 86 consecutive dual meet victories…with the Lions now holding four straight Big Ten tournament championships…and with the boys in blue ready to pursue their 13th NCAA title out of their last 15 attempts, I appealed for help to Jeff Byers, the radio voice of the program. No doubt, Byers could lend perspective after broadcasting Penn State wrestling for the last 38 years.
The following are highlights of my recent conversation with the man they call “Ironhead.”
Jeff, I need some help. I’m looking for ways to define or describe the incredible greatness of the current Penn State wrestling team. Maybe you have a favorite statistic?
Byers: Man, that is a tough one because I mean the numbers are really overwhelming. Going into the Big Ten championships, Penn State was right at 80% for bonus point victories in all their bouts. For an entire starting lineup that is insane. Just to have one individual on your roster who’s winning 80% of his matches by bonus points, that would be very significant. And then I could mention the team’s dominance in takedowns. Heading into the NCAA tournament, Penn State’s 10 starters have amassed 651 takedowns while yielding just 49. So in 205 total bouts, the Nittany Lions have racked up 600 takedowns more than their opponents.
But, to me, the thing that probably tells the story best is the dominant wrestler rankings. Right now, I think Penn State has five of the top six in the nation and six of the top nine. And those lists don’t include Josh Barr because his season was delayed by injury and he needed one more bout to be eligible. With Josh, Penn State would have six of the top seven and seven of the 10 most dominant wrestlers in the country.
What’s your favorite adjective to describe this year’s team. “Fantastic” isn’t strong enough. “Awesome” is overused.
Byers: I’m borrowing this from somebody and I don’t know who, but I read it somewhere. This person said, “There are championship teams. There are dynasties. And then there’s whatever the hell Penn State wrestling is.” To be honest, you can’t fully describe how unreal this team is. What Penn State has done throughout Cael’s entire tenure has been impressive, but what they have done over the course of these last three seasons…I just don’t think we’ve seen anything quite like this.
What kinds of comments do you hear behind the scenes?
Byers: I remember talking with a sports information guy before a dual meet between Penn State and this other Big Ten school. His comment was simple, but it said a lot: “We are not looking forward to this match. We just want to get it over with. ”
Here’s another angle on Penn State’s current dominance. Some people say there’s a certain “Penn State fatigue” in collegiate wrestling. And perhaps that’s why Ohio State won three honors at the Big Ten championships—Wrestler of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year. The only Nittany Lion to get such a prestigious award was PJ Duke who was named Outstanding Wrestler of the Big Ten tournament. Not to take anything away from the Buckeyes…I would never do that…but was this about Penn State fatigue?
Byers: I think that’s part of it. Tom Ryan obviously is a great coach, and I was a bit surprised that Ohio State worked its way into clearly being the second-best program in the conference. And it’s all going to be personal preference stuff when it comes to wrestler of the year. But statistically it’s not close. I mean, Mitchell Mesenbrink has been by far the most dominant. That being said, Jesse Mendez is also a sensational talent, wonderful person, great competitor. And I mean, it’s not any hostility toward him and I’m fine with him getting accolades, but….
As for the freshman of the year, maybe I’m splitting hairs, but I’d have a tough time coming out of the Big Ten tournament with an argument against PJ Duke. Sure, Ben Davino is an amazing talent who didn’t give up a takedown all season. That’s a pretty remarkable statistic for a freshman in the Big Ten.
I’m sure there’s Penn State fatigue and that’s more than understandable if you’re not a Penn State fan. Same with any dynasty in any sport. If you’re not a fan of the dynastic team, yeah, you’re going to be tired of watching that team win. And there’s going to be, if not resentment, at least a feeling of, “Oh, come on, here we go again.” Yet part of the fun of sports is, “Hey, let’s try to be the team that knocks off this dynastic power.”
So now we’ve got to ask the obligatory question: What is Cael’s secret? I know your answers from the past, and I think they’re all valid. But I’m wondering if this year maybe he’s added something new to the mix.
Byers: I don’t think so. There’s a few things that Cael and his assistants do exceptionally well. And one of them is that I think they have a very good understanding of the kind of guys that they want to recruit, and I think they get the best of the best pretty consistently. Not just good athletes but good people and good teammates. And then once they get here, keeping them happy and at peace is a big part of the equation. I just think the staff does a better job than any staff out there in following a comprehensive approach.
The one thing that’s maybe underappreciated is how unbelievably sound the coaches are in wrestling technique. This is a staff that is second to none in understanding the little nuances that can make a difference in terms of a grip or a position. And then I think they go above and beyond in understanding the importance of the psyche and understanding the importance of proper training, proper rest, proper diet.
You mentioned the psyche, but you didn’t use the key word of gratitude. The G-word is big, isn’t it?
Byers: There’s no question. It starts there. And I think the program has reached the point where a high school wrestler is grateful if this staff is looking at him and makes an offer. Yeah, I think it’s part of the recruiting process to go after kids who understand gratitude and know their success is not just because of their ability or their work ethic. It’s because they’ve had coaches who have put time in and parents who gave them the opportunity to have fun and success in their sport.
Talk to me a little bit about Braeden Davis, because I know he was expecting to redshirt this year to get bigger and stronger in order to be a top contender at 141. But he got pressed into service because of Aaron Nagao’s injury. So he finishes seventh at Big Tens while seven of his teammates were champions and along the way he lost to the guy from Minnesota 20-5 in the quarterfinals. How’s he doing and does he know his teammates are behind him?
Byers: I think he’s OK. He’s such a conscientious kid and I think he has that competitive fire in him so it’s been a tough situation for him. I think he’s a team-first guy and so he’s been willing to step in there, but obviously he was planning for the redshirt this year. I think it has been an adjustment, especially moving up a weight class and then facing the caliber of competition that he has. And the match with VomBaur, I think it’s one of those things where if you get behind, especially in tournament wrestling, it’s easy to get caught a second or third time if you’re pressing to catch up.
But Braeden…I know he’s a tough kid. I think he is doing the right things to get himself as prepared as he can for nationals. And yeah, I think his teammates know what he’s about and what he’s putting into the sport and into the team.
There were some very strong statements from various Big Ten champs—including Mesenbrink, Barr and Rocco Welsh—that their success was somehow connected to their faith in God. Is there a spiritual revival happening on this team?
Byers: I think it’s always been an important component of the program under Cael to understand that there’s a bigger purpose and a bigger calling. And I think using the platform of wrestling to advance the greater cause is important for the wrestlers, and I think it goes back to the gratitude piece. I do think it’s special, but I don’t know that I’d necessarily call it a revival. I think it’s been one of the consistent themes of the program from the start.
It would certainly be ironic if the wrestlers were reverent and grateful and spiritually dedicated while their fans were demanding, entitled and whining. When somebody from Penn State dares to lose a match, how does it seem that the fans respond?
Byers: I think overall, fine. What gratified me the most for the program at Big Tens was the roar that went up in Bryce Jordan arena every time a Penn State wrestler took the mat. Obviously, there were roars after the wins as well, but at least my interpretation of that was, “Hey, we are supportive of you because you’re here. You chose Penn State and we support you win or lose.” And so I love the roars that went up when the kids were first introduced or would first come out on the mat. That to me is what you at least want the program to be about.
Please help me understand Shayne Van Ness, who I would describe as a “first period pacifist” and a “second and third period monster.” Why does he seem to struggle at the beginning of a bout and then finish by dominating his opponent?
Byers: I think part of it is just his way. I think he wears people down. The way he competes, it’s hard to hang with him for seven minutes. But obviously he’s not going out there thinking, “Hey, let’s give up a couple of takedowns and make this more dramatic.” He’s shown a proclivity throughout his career to be able to rally and not let an early deficit phase him.
Does he get any teasing from within the team?
Byers: I don’t know. But I think some of them are in awe. Like after that Maryland match when he came back from a deficit and got a technical fall. I think they’re more in awe of what he’s able to do after giving up an early takedown or two. (Van Ness trailed Maryland’s Carter Young 7-1 but then scored nine takedowns en route to a 31-15 technical fall.)
I know you’re finishing your 38th year of broadcasting Penn State wrestling, and I know you are able to remember certain thrilling performances. So what will be this season’s entries in your mental hall of fame?
Byers: The Van Ness match at Maryland really is one of them. I mean, it was just nuts, the way he just dialed in and kept pouring the points on and getting takedown after takedown. And to me, that embodies Penn State’s philosophy: Don’t get caught up in not making a mistake but be focused on the opportunities that you can create for yourself over the course of seven minutes. And if you do make a mistake or two, then you’ll be able to overcome that.
Another is Nate Desmond’s win over Dylan Ragusin at Michigan. Davis couldn’t go that day, so Desmond went up two weight classes and pulled out a win against Ragusin. (Tied at 5-5, the match went into sudden victory, and Desmond, a freshman, got a takedown to defeat the former All-American.) That match stands out to me because of the team-first mentality and the competitive fire that Desmond showed. Even if you’re not in the starting lineup, you’re ready to go. And I’m expecting Nate to have some very good moments as a starter throughout his career.
I think a couple of other bouts that would stand out for me would be, first, PJ Duke’s final match at the Big Tens, not only avenging his loss to Antrell Taylor from earlier in the season but doing it in a great way. The decisiveness with which he got the takedowns against Taylor was very special. And then Levi Haines, just seeing him get his hand raised at Rec Hall for the final time against Princeton and then interviewing him and hearing his appreciation for the opportunity that he had here.
All right. Let’s do the honorary Ironhead Awards that you select each year at this time. And then maybe we’ll close out with a prediction or two since you’ve lately seemed more comfortable in going out on limbs. So how about the Ironhead Award for Most Valiant Performance in a Single Bout?
Byers: Yeah, I think I’ll go with Marcus Blaze for his dual meet win over Ben Davino because they were in the second tie-breaker period, and Davino had quickly gotten an escape. So then it looked like Blaze had to get out in something like nine seconds and he didn’t. But when he was able to achieve a reversal and then maintain control for the win, that was pretty special.
Okay, and who gets your award for Most Valiant Performer Throughout the Year?
Byers: I’ll say Josh Barr for being able to come off an injury in international competition and being able to step right in, winning every match—at least going into NCAAs—by bonus points. And then Levi Haines and Mitchell Mesenbrink for not only winning all their matches but for the way they represent the program, the way they conduct themselves, the way they wrestle and the way they give time to youngsters.
Who gets the award as the Greatest Off-Mat Contributor?
Byers: I think Connor Pierce. He’s a guy who is willing to help out anybody in any way, kind of the same type of personality as Levi and Mitchell. At virtually any other program, he’d be a starter. He is a great wrestler, a great leader, and I think humble enough in understanding the big picture that it’s not a huge deal to him that he’s not yet a starter. I think he understands the significance of his role on this roster.
Who is the Most Overlooked Contributor?
Byers: If all these guys were at other schools, they would be “the guy,” no questions asked. But here, they’re each one of the many guys. So one of those guys who has gotten better week in and week out is Luke Lilledahl. He obviously came here with all kinds of expectations last year, and he had a terrific season. Third place in the nation is not insignificant for a true freshman. But I think he’s now coming into his own. Another person is Cole Mirasola, a guy who is very conscientious, listens to his coaches and works on getting better at his craft day in and day out. And the other guy is Rocco Welsh. For him, I don’t think people understand how good that weight class (184 pounds) is and how remarkable it is—regardless of what happens at the national tournament—that he heads to NCAAs with an unblemished record at that weight. To have Rocco go into this postseason with an unbeaten record is … I’m not sure he’s getting enough credit for that accomplishment.
Who should win the Hodge Trophy, given each year to America’s top collegiate wrestler, and who will actually get it?
Byers: We’ll need to see what happens at nationals, but assuming things go at least rather similar to what we’ve seen to this point, the numbers aren’t that close. Mitchell Mesenbrink has been the most dominant wrestler. He’s won all his matches and come away with bonus points in every match. And he brings so much excitement to the sport. That being said, Jesse Mendez (the current NCAA and Big Ten champ at 141 pounds) has been a sensational wrestler and clearly jumped another level or two this season. And he is an overwhelming favorite to win his weight class. So do I think it would be an outrage if Jesse Mendez won it? No. But if it is going to the best wrestler—and they’re both great people—it should be Mesenbrink. When you look at the numbers, Mitchell has just been untouchable this season.
If I placed a Hodge vote based on the numbers, I would have Mesenbrink one, Barr two, and third would be very close for me between Mendez and Haines, depending on what happens at NCAAs. But I suspect at the end of the day, it will be Mesenbrink.
Now, I believe when we talked in November, you did predict that Penn State would set a new team scoring record at the nationals. So do you still believe that the Nittany Lions will surpass 177 points which was the record they set last year?
Byers: There’s certainly no guarantee, but I really do think they will.
And how many individual champions will come from Penn State?
Byers: I’m going to say they’ll have at least six which would be a new record for NCAA champions from one school in a particular year. The current record of five has been done five times—twice by Iowa, twice by Penn State and once by Oklahoma State. I’m not naming the six champions, and I’m not ruling out the possibility of seven or eight, but I’ll say they get at least six.
Do you have any other predictions?
Byers: I will say that I think Penn State will pull off at least two upsets at the NCAA tournament. So you might say, “Well, that’s not a very bold prediction. Two upsets throughout an entire tournament?” But keep in mind that seven of Penn State’s wrestlers can’t pull an upset because they’re number one seeds. So they’ll start with only three wrestlers who have possibilities to win by upset, and I’m saying they’ll earn at least two upset wins.
