UNIVERSITY PARK –– The first 15 years of Cael Sanderson’s tenure as coach of the Penn State wrestling team has featured an unprecedented run of success.
The numbers are staggering: 11 NCAA team championships, eight Big Ten titles, 91 All-Americans, 38 national champions, including a record-tying five each in 2017 and 2022, six NCAA tournament outstanding wrestlers and six Hodge Trophy winners.
Even with all of that success, Sanderson wasn’t shy in assessing future expectations for the program during the team’s preseason media day.
“We still, as coaches, believe our best years are ahead of us and the best years are still ahead for Penn State wrestling,” he said. “That’s our job. That’s what we’re excited about.”
And while Nittany Lion fans are thrilled about those prospects, the rest of the NCAA landscape is probably terrified at the thought of better versions of Penn State.
As the banner (the 2024 NCAA championship banner, to be specific) raised on Sanderson’s 16th season over the weekend, fans fortunate enough to be in Rec Hall on both Saturday, Nov. 16, and Sunday, Nov. 17, got to witness some of the awesome potential of this year’s squad.
The 2024-25 lineup could feature as many as eight former All-Americans, five NCAA finalists and three defending champions.
Five Nittany Lions –– Beau Bartlett (141), Shayne Van Ness (149), Tyler Kasak (157), Levi Haines (174) and Carter Starocci (184) –– competed on Saturday, Nov. 16, in the NWCA All-Star Classic.
The five Nittany Lions were paired with elite talent from across the country in the NWCA All-Star Classic. Shayne Van Ness (149), Tyler Kasak (157), Haines and Starocci all won. Beau Bartlett, in a rematch of the 2024 NCAA 141-pound final, lost to Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez, 4-1.
Van Ness, returning to the mat from a knee injury for the first time since last year’s all-star meet, looked dominant in a 16-4 major decision win over West Virginia’s Ty Watters. He jumped out to a 6-1 lead after the first, expanded it to 10-3 in the second and then tacked on six more in the third.
“I couldn’t stop smiling when I was walking out there. It’s so fun to be out there and see the people that I love out there supporting me. I would do it with no fans, but just seeing everyone there cheering for me makes it really special,” Van Ness said.
Kasak faced off with Ohio’s Peyton Kellar in a battle of 2024 All-Americans. Kasak wrestled back for a third-place finish after dropping his first bout. Kellar placed fifth. Kasak used a first-period takedown and riding time point to forge a 4-2 win.
“I’m pumped. Honestly, this is kind of surreal. I feel like I’ve waited an eternity to get back on the mat,” Kasak said. “I’m excited to be here and compete.”
Haines, the two-time NCAA finalist and 2024 champion at 157, moved up to 174 and looked like his same dominant self. After a scoreless first, he scored seven points over the final two periods to blank South Dakota State’s Cade DeVos, 7-0.
Haines escaped and coaxed a stalling point to lead 2-0 at the end of two. In the third, he turned DeVos for a four-point nearfall and tacked on a riding time point for the final score.
“It was an awesome atmosphere. It was fun to wrestle at a pretty cool event. Obviously, being in our own gym makes it really special. This area loves wrestling,” Haines said.
“I didn’t recognize much of a difference (wrestling at 174). If anything, I just have more energy. I can really go put that pace on guys and really get after it.”
Starocci, the four-time NCAA champion, was paired with Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen, the reigning 184-pound champion, himself a four-time All-American.
Their match, which was the final of 16 bouts, kept the crowd in its seats and delivered on its promise as the Nittany Lion scored a takedown in the sudden victory period for a 4-1 win.
“Obviously, you don’t want matches to go to overtime, but he’s a tough, strong kid,” Starocci said. “He’s a guy who’s probably looking forward to that matchup again, if it happens. My job is to make sure I’m also ready.”
