Cael Sanderson and David Taylor will forever be linked as two of the most important figures in Penn State wrestling history.
Sanderson has coached Penn State to 11 national titles in his 14 seasons, and Taylor was an integral part of the first four.
Along with helping Penn State reach then-unprecedented heights collectively, individually, he won two national titles, made two more national title matches and is one of six men in history to win two Dan Hodge Trophies (wrestling’s Heisman.)
After college, Taylor stayed in Happy Valley as a member of the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club and built a decorated freestyle career, winning three world titles and an Olympic Gold Medal at the 2020 games in Tokyo.
The similarities between Sanderson and Taylor would be striking even if the former never coached the latter and the latter didn’t idolize the former to the point where he de-committed from Sanderson’s previous employer, Iowa State, to wrestle for the legend at Penn State.
Both were four-time state champs in high school.
Both were multi-time Hodge winners in college, and both won Olympic Gold.
Now, both are in the head-coaching ranks, with Taylor succeeding the great John Smith at Oklahoma State earlier this month.
Yes, the similarities are obvious. But how is Cael Sanderson different from David Taylor?
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“He’s a lot better of a fisherman than I am,” Taylor joked in an exclusive interview with NSN.
For Taylor, the biggest difference lies in their personalities and demeanors.
“I think, from a competitor’s standpoint, obviously, we’re both fiercely competitive,” Taylor said. “I think the way that we think is similar. But I just think… you know, I’ve always been a little bit more bold probably in my personality. Coach Cael is obviously very reserved. I’d say that’s probably the biggest difference.
“But your personality doesn’t always match the way you compete. I think I had a bold personality and competed very bold. He had a little bit more of a reserved personality but competed very bold.”
Taylor credited Sanderson for shaping him as a wrestler.
Sanderson has successfully passed that on to his wrestlers at Penn State, and Taylor is hoping to do the same at Oklahoma State.
“I took the way that he competed, and that’s the way I wanted to compete, and he took that and passed it on to his team. Obviously, I want to be able to pass on that similar mentality.
