Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1359487
UNFINISHED BUSINESS P enn State's wrestling program has occupied rare air during the Cael Sanderson era, and it maintained that lofty status during this recently com- pleted season – just not how you think. That four Nittany Lions won individual gold medals but not an NCAA team title to accompany them was the talk of the tournament in St. Louis, and it had the Penn State coach talking afterward. Hav- ing just completed his 12th season in charge of the program, Sanderson has put together teams that have won eight titles in those dozen years, and it's at that level that he sets the bar each season. Anything less than meeting the goal of team title No. 9 – despite being incredibly happy for champions Roman Bravo- Young (133), Nick Lee (141), Carter Starocci (174) and Aaron Brooks (184) – and Sanderson figures he has work to do for 2022. "Obviously, we need a little bit more of a team effort," Sanderson said. "If you have four na- tional champions and you're not winning the tourna- ment, you've got to have more point-scorers. But it also just speaks to how good Iowa is. They've got a really good team this year." He added, "The goal is always just to be the best you can be, and we're just grate- ful to be here. A year like this, especially for me as a coach, I need to do a better job in a lot of ways, and nothing really rein- forces that more than losing." With four returning champions, every- one else coming back and a couple of new stars set to ar- rive, college wrestling ex- perts and afficionados already are talking about Penn State winning next year in Detroit. That won't be easy, given the NCAA's universal gift of | PSU was thrilled to crown four champions in St. Louis, but it wants a team title in 2022 W R E S T L I N G LOOKING AHEAD Bravo-Young is one of four na- tional champions who are set to re- turn to the Nittany Lions for the 2021- 22 season. Photo courtesy of Penn State Athletics