In recruiting news, Penn State wrestling has landed its second commitment from the Class of 2025.
Asher Cunningham, the son of head assistant coach Casey Cunningham, has committed to Penn State, he announced via Instagram Tuesday night.
The younger Cunningham is a local product from State College High School who’s competed at the 145, 152 and 160-pound weight classes, according to PAWrestling.com.
His record over his first two seasons is 63-16, and he won district championships in both. He won at 120 pounds his freshman season and at 145 as a sophomore. Cunningham placed fourth at the PIAA State Tournament this past March, competing at 145 and falling to Waynesburg’s Mac Church in the semifinals.
After states, Cunningham wrestled at the 2023 Ultimate Club Spring Duals in April, going 4-2.
Asher Cunningham’s father, Casey, has been on Penn State’s coaching staff with Cael Sanderson since day one and was with Sanderson even before he took over at Penn State, which happened in 2009. Cunningham worked with Sanderson when he was the head coach at Iowa State. Before that, Cunningham was an assistant at his alma mater, Central Michigan, from 1999-2008, becoming head assistant coach in 2001.
The elder Cunningham capped off his fantastic wrestling career at Central Michigan with a national championship win in 1999 that took place in, of all places, Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center. Cunningham’s win at 157 pounds marked the first time a Central Michigan wrestler won the national title and the second time any Central Michigan athlete won an individual title.
Now, assuming he signs, the younger Cunningham will look to build his own legacy at Penn State. Asher Cunningham and Dalton Perry are the only two ‘25 Class commits thus far in the Penn State wrestling recruiting class for that cycle thus far. Perry is another in-state product, winning a state title for Renvo’s Central Mountain High School at 126 pounds as a true freshman in 2022.
