Today marks the anniversary of the most important day in Penn State wrestling history.
In March 2009, Penn State finished 17th at the NCAA Championships.
This was considered progress.
In fact, the headline on Penn Stateโs athletic website detailing the championships read: โPenn ย State is top 20 once more.โ Well, 16 years later, itโs safe to say a 17th-place finish wouldnโt fly in Happy Valley. A second-place finish would probably feel just as lousy.
It all started April 17, 2009.
This is the day Penn State hired Cael Sanderson to run its wrestling program.
Sanderson was already an iconic figure in wrestling thanks to his 159-0 college record at Iowa State and Olympic Gold Medal.
Now, heโs a Penn State icon.
THE UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE CENTURY
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Cael Sanderson
During Sandersonโs introductory presser, he gave what turned into perhaps the understatement of the decade
โMy goal is to compete for the national championship every year,โ he said. โItโs real simple. This is wrestling country. This is a school kids want to come to. And I think we can get them here.โ
Boy, did they get them here.
It took Sanderson and company just two seasons to win a national title.
Then came a second.
Then a third. Then a fourth. Then another four peat and still another one.
Penn State has won 12 of the last 14 national titles and doesnโt figure to be stopping anytime soon.
CHASING GABLE
Photo by Penn State Wrestling: Cael Sanderson and Carter Starocci
Sanderson has done it all, both in competing and coaching, and it seems that the only thing left for him to accomplish is to break Dan Gableโs record of 15 national titles. He only needs three to do it, and the way things are looking, it will happen in 2028, when Sanderson is still in his 40s.
It all started April 17, 2009. Thatโs why itโs the most important day in Penn State wrestling history.
