Penn State Wrestling: Sanderson, Assistants Set to Coach at Tokyo Olympics

Penn State wrestling head coach Cael Sanderson is heading to Tokyo this summer to help Team USA compete on the world’s largest stage.

Sanderson will travel to Japan alongside assistant coaches Cody Sanderson and Casey Cunningham to train Nittany Lion Wrestling Club wrestlers for the United States.

Sanderson, who was a 2004 Olympic champion himself, will lead training for Nittany Lion Wrestling Club wrestlers Thomas Gilman, Kyle Snyder, and David Taylor. Cunningham, meanwhile, will coach Gilman in addition to Helen Maroulis in the women’s freestyle event.

Cunningham will also coach Taylor – who previously won two Hodge Trophy awards and two national titles with Penn State. 

Snyder, Gilman, Taylor, and Maroulis each earned bids to the Olympic Games following impressive performances at the Olympic Trials back in April. Former Penn State standouts Nick Lee and Jason Nolf also landed spots on the U.S. National Team.

Sanderson is not the only Penn State coach packing for Tokyo this summer. Women’s soccer head coach Erica Dambach will join Team USA as an assistant coach as well.

Team USA will wrestle in the long-awaited Olympic games from August 1 to 7. At least 16 Nittany Lions will represent Penn State and their respective nations throughout the month-long event.