Penn State wrestling was a force before the Name, Image and Likeness era of college sports, and now in the NIL era, it’s more of a force than ever.
Before NIL was legal, Penn State won eight national titles in 10 seasons, not counting the 2019-20 campaign, where there was no NCAA champion due to COVID-19.
Since NIL became a thing in the summer of 2021, Penn State has entered its greatest era, going four for four in national titles.
But for coach Cael Sanderson, the guys coming to Penn State aren’t doing so because of money.
WHAT CAEL SAID
“We have a special thing going here, right?” Sanderson told reporters Tuesday afternoon. “Kids know that, they see that. I think I have a pretty good idea of what we’re doing and what we’re not doing. I think in this era, in the NIL era, all the motivations to go to different programs, I think our kids know that they’re coming here because they want to be the best wrestlers that they can possibly be. I think when we look back, we’ll see that this era has been good to us, because we do our best to follow the rules and we’re going to get the kids that are coming here for the right reasons, right?”
Sanderson said that the athletes Penn State recruits, along with their parents, know what the situation is regarding modern college sports.
But Penn State’s wrestlers are coming mainly so they can reach their full potential.
“The kids know, recruits know, parents know,” he said. “So, although it seems like an advantage, I think it will be an advantage to us because kids are coming here with very high character, wanting to be the best wrestlers in the world.”
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.THE BEST IS YET TO COME
Penn State wrestling had two dual meets over the weekend and won them a combined 83-3.
Eighty-three to three.
Keep in mind, one of those bouts was against No. 4 Iowa in Carver Hawkeye Arena, which is the worst loss ever in that venue.
But there’s no time for a victory lap yet.
“I don’t know if anyone’s patting themselves on the back or anything as much as just seeing, hey, what can we do better?” Sanderson said. “And just continue to approach things with enthusiasm and gratitude is kind of the key.”
No. 1 Penn State will go for its NCAA-record extending 81st consecutive dual meet win Friday night against Indiana in Rec Hall. The dual meet is scheduled to begin at 7 on the Big Ten Network.
