Cael's coaching... how did we get here???

[katsujinken]

I’m curious to hear people’s thoughts on a number of topics that I’ve been pondering in regard to Cael’s coaching approach.

I clearly remember a story about a visitor to the ISU wrestling room, during Cael’s tenure, being shocked at the limited amount of weight training being done by the wrestling team. There is also the famous story of Bo Jordan commenting about the PSU room not being hard core enough for him…. It also seems to be a bit of a running joke about the PSU wrestlers looking small compared to their opponents, something that I would tend to agree with. Do we put less importance on weight training? Or at least power lifting? My physical therapist, who wrestled into his late 40s or early 50s, has always kind of panned power lifting. His workouts are heavy on functional strength, core building, building strength through a range of motion, flexibility, recovery, nutrition…. Along the lines of Steve Maxwell or Paul Chek. Any thoughts would be appreciated..

Next question is related… recovery and nutrition! Is Penn State doing something drastically different than other schools? I would think that most serious programs would be up to speed on the importance of nutrition and recovery, but then you hear stories of wrestlers just being completely worn out mid-season. This just shouldn’t happen in this day and age. We know so much more now about food and recovery cycles. My PT was big on rest, clean diet, hot/cold plunges, linking your sleep to dusk/dawn cycles…. Thoughts..? Also, do our guys use compression boots? I use them as a part of recovery, and my legs feel much more fresh after their use. If they don’t use them, we should talk Normatec in to donating a set to the NLWC…. Or buy a pair out of the slush fund…

Weight cutting…. It really seems to me that PSU wrestlers are doing a lot less cutting than other schools, and I would be more than happy if that was the case. It seems to me that athletes are just more explosive when not constantly trying to stay within striking range of a weigh in weight that might sapping their energy level.

Technique… I watched Varner’s gold medal match last night, and that ankle pick he hit was just text book Cael. The interesting thing is, our guys aren’t clones by any stretch… Yeah, Taylor and Nolf have similarities with Cael, but out of 5 champs this year they all seem to wrestle within their own strengths. Joseph did a better I-Mar impersonation than I-Mar, ZPain is just an absolute hammer on top, Bo and his upper body stuff, Hall and his funk… Is our staff so well rounded that they can develop all of these different types of wrestlers? Or are they working foundation stuff and just allowing the individuals to develop through heavy doses of play wrestling?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated by an enthusiastic fan! We are…

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

Hit the link:

A Wrestling Great Calculates His Next Big Move: Dynasty
By JOE DRAPE NOV. 28, 2009​

 

[diggerpup]

Should have posted this in the "Carl can only recruit" thread.

<sarcasm>

 

[Pennstate1985]

To your last question, a hearty YES. I wouldn't use 'play' though, I'd use 'situational' according to their strengths and needs. For example, Joseph says he spent the 2 weeks between B1Gs and nationals on hand fighting to counter Imar. That paid clear dividends.

 

[21Guns]

Interesting on the strength thing: Suriano is one of the strongest 125 pounders in the nation. Retherford is probably pound for pound, the strongest wrestler in the nation. Nolf is never outmuscled, and never fades or gasses, and is impossible to throw. Joseph ran inside trips on three straight opponents and out muscled every one of them including Imar. Mark Hall just won an entire division being outweighed by everyone in the field. Nickal took on a stud with the hands of an ox, and won. Cutch is smaller than his entire weight class and went R12, and Nevills is a solid, strong guy.

Looks ain't everything.

 

[CSauertiegPSU]

"And you may ask yourself 'how did I get here?' Letting the days go by..."

 

[RoarLions1]

You can get some of those answers by listening to the coaches. I would go back and listen to as many radio show broadcasts (archived), press conferences, etc. as you can. Read some articles, even catch Casey's and Cody's comments, where possible. There's clues to "the process" in much of what they say. And the way they say it makes it sound so simple.

 

[Dogwelder]

"And you may ask yourself 'how did I get here?' Letting the days go by..."

I was at practice, and I overheard Spyker consider the enormity of what he has helped the boys and Cael achieve:

"Am I right?...Am I wrong?
MY GOD!...WHAT HAVE I DONE?"

 

[El-Jefe]

"And you may ask yourself 'how did I get here?' Letting the days go by..."

Same as it ever was.

 

[Dogwelder]

You can get some of those answers by listening to the coaches. I would go back and listen to as many radio show broadcasts (archived), press conferences, etc. as you can. Read some articles, even catch Casey's and Cody's comments, where possible. There's clues to "the process" in much of what they say. And the way they say it makes it sound so simple.

Somewhat surprisingly, the most helpful information on Cael's methods for me have come from his wrestlers. Two that I remember are an interview with Nick Nevills ("Nick at Night!" ) during this year's NCAAs and Matt Brown's book.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Somewhat surprisingly, the most helpful information on Cael's methods for me have come from his wrestlers. Two that I remember are an interview with Nick Nevills ("Nick at Night!" ) during this year's NCAAs and Matt Brown's book.

Cael has taken his program and refined it over and over to achieve the most good for the least time involved with each wrestler. Time is the limitation, only so many hours to practice so you must maximize it. Other than that he recruits specifically for the HIS program. I'm sure some great wrestlers are not seriously considered due to not meeting the spec. Cael has for his winning formula. It requires a certain mentality, not everyone has it but he seems to find the ones who do most of the time. Conditioning is a must, our men seem to have an extra few gallons in the tank where many opponents appear running on empty in the third period. Similarity to J Franklin who noted that other coaches may be better but he would not be out worked or out conditioned. One of the similarities between the two coaches.

And, they have fun. If you have to work as hard as a wrestler does and you can have fun too what a bonus that is. It takes some of the pressure off. Watching our wrestlers prior to their finals bouts in St. Louis the attitude was relaxed, something I did not suspect. Some opponents appeared deep in thought, focusing but our men were dancing for the camera and smiling.

We are unlikely to ever see something like this again, savor it for as long as it lasts.

 

[21Guns]

This is what everyone knew would happen, if we could find the right coach. With that said, it is not ONLY what we knew would happen, but it's even multiplied by several times, because of the greatness of Cael and the staff, and the NLWC, and everyone involved with the program.

From top to bottom, it's the greatest program in college wrestling history. Yes, I said history.

 

[PSUisawesome]

I’m curious to hear people’s thoughts on a number of topics that I’ve been pondering in regard to Cael’s coaching approach.

I clearly remember a story about a visitor to the ISU wrestling room, during Cael’s tenure, being shocked at the limited amount of weight training being done by the wrestling team. There is also the famous story of Bo Jordan commenting about the PSU room not being hard core enough for him…. It also seems to be a bit of a running joke about the PSU wrestlers looking small compared to their opponents, something that I would tend to agree with. Do we put less importance on weight training? Or at least power lifting? My physical therapist, who wrestled into his late 40s or early 50s, has always kind of panned power lifting. His workouts are heavy on functional strength, core building, building strength through a range of motion, flexibility, recovery, nutrition…. Along the lines of Steve Maxwell or Paul Chek. Any thoughts would be appreciated..

Next question is related… recovery and nutrition! Is Penn State doing something drastically different than other schools? I would think that most serious programs would be up to speed on the importance of nutrition and recovery, but then you hear stories of wrestlers just being completely worn out mid-season. This just shouldn’t happen in this day and age. We know so much more now about food and recovery cycles. My PT was big on rest, clean diet, hot/cold plunges, linking your sleep to dusk/dawn cycles…. Thoughts..? Also, do our guys use compression boots? I use them as a part of recovery, and my legs feel much more fresh after their use. If they don’t use them, we should talk Normatec in to donating a set to the NLWC…. Or buy a pair out of the slush fund…

Weight cutting…. It really seems to me that PSU wrestlers are doing a lot less cutting than other schools, and I would be more than happy if that was the case. It seems to me that athletes are just more explosive when not constantly trying to stay within striking range of a weigh in weight that might sapping their energy level.

Technique… I watched Varner’s gold medal match last night, and that ankle pick he hit was just text book Cael. The interesting thing is, our guys aren’t clones by any stretch… Yeah, Taylor and Nolf have similarities with Cael, but out of 5 champs this year they all seem to wrestle within their own strengths. Joseph did a better I-Mar impersonation than I-Mar, ZPain is just an absolute hammer on top, Bo and his upper body stuff, Hall and his funk… Is our staff so well rounded that they can develop all of these different types of wrestlers? Or are they working foundation stuff and just allowing the individuals to develop through heavy doses of play wrestling?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated by an enthusiastic fan! We are…

Excellent post

 

[PSUisawesome]

I think Cael starts with attitude. The kids that are going to succeed with him aren't trying to win matches their motivation appears to be spiritual. They see the sport as a way to express something that can't be spoken only demonstrated. This season they demonstrated something larger than life about life. The kids who work well with Cael chose PSU because they found like minded athletes the rest takes care of itself.

 

[katsujinken]

Interesting on the strength thing: Suriano is one of the strongest 125 pounders in the nation. Retherford is probably pound for pound, the strongest wrestler in the nation. Nolf is never outmuscled, and never fades or gasses, and is impossible to throw. Joseph ran inside trips on three straight opponents and out muscled every one of them including Imar. Mark Hall just won an entire division being outweighed by everyone in the field. Nickal took on a stud with the hands of an ox, and won. Cutch is smaller than his entire weight class and went R12, and Nevills is a solid, strong guy.

Looks ain't everything.

Correct, I agree 2100%... My question was more about the type of weight training being done.... for instance, there are plenty of people that can deadlift 600 pounds but there are few people that can do an inverted iron cross. Working in one plane instead of 3 dimensions, or functional strength... Watching Zain just suffocate the top wrestlers in the country, it's very clear that he is one of the strongest pfp guys around. How are we developing that strength? Another thought, are we doing any internal strength work? That would go a long way in explaining why our 'smaller looking' guys can consistently hang with or outmuscle 'greek gods' like Jordan...

Another another thought.... there is a martial arts concept, used in Judo / Jujutsu / Aikido, of not meeting an attack or getting stuck at the point of attack but moving tangentially to the line of attack. This often messes with the opponent's proprioception, because they are expecting a certain feedback that never happens....

Anyway, my whole purpose for this thread was to try to grasp how our guys have seemed to blaze a trail that hasn't been tread before... It's more than exciting!

 

[katsujinken]

I think Cael starts with attitude. The kids that are going to succeed with him aren't trying to win matches their motivation appears to be spiritual. They see the sport as a way to express something that can't be spoken only demonstrated. This season they demonstrated something larger than life about life. The kids who work well with Cael chose PSU because they found like minded athletes the rest takes care of itself.

Great answer! This is another topic I was hesitant to touch on... but attitude, or spirit, has no substitution. It can be cultivated, usually through intense struggle, but it sure helps a lot if you are starting with a good foundation. Often times it is somewhat lacking in people that are physically gifted.... for instance, someone who picks up a new technique after seeing it 2 times. They can often times become bored with the process of iron sharpening iron, if that makes sense...
Cael seems to have a knack for finding guys that are both physically gifted and willing to go through the process.... It's been awesome to watch.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

Great answer! This is another topic I was hesitant to touch on... but attitude, or spirit, has no substitution. It can be cultivated, usually through intense struggle, but it sure helps a lot if you are starting with a good foundation. Often times it is somewhat lacking in people that are physically gifted.... for instance, someone who picks up a new technique after seeing it 2 times. They can often times become bored with the process of iron sharpening iron, if that makes sense...
Cael seems to have a knack for finding guys that are both physically gifted and willing to go through the process.... It's been awesome to watch.

Well here is what Cael has had to say on the topic from his own lips - these excerpts from THIS ARTICLE:

The majority of the rest of the state thrives in wrestling, making Pennsylvania the top state in the country for wrestling when it comes to producing NCAA All-Americans. Sanderson is able to take advantage of that by being the coach at the top wrestling program in the nation, and being located in the center of the state as 24 of the 32 rostered spots on Penn State’s squad this past season were from the Keystone State.

“Pennsylvania is usually a few steps ahead of the second-best state,” he said. “And it’s not because there’s that many more wrestlers in Pennsylvania, it’s just high quality for whatever reason. The kids have proven that there’s quality, there’s depth. There’s a lot of talent around in the country but Pennsylvania has great depth. You place in the state tournament, you’re good and probably going to wrestle in college.”

Part of the reason for the drastic difference between the top two states in the country, Sanderson says, is coaching.

“The coaching’s great, the kids are great technically and they’re very confident. They believe that they’re from Pennsylvania, they believe Pennsylvania’s the best state and they wrestle according to that.”

Sanderson was on his second of his three days on the bus tour, which made a stop in Philadelphia prior to arriving in Lackawanna County Wednesday night. Football coach James Franklin and women’s soccer coach Erica Walsh were also part of the tour, which lasts three weeks. Sanderson praised Franklin’s work at the crowded establishment in Peckville and said that he’s on the tour to support the football program.

“Football is the engine of the athletic department and the reason Penn State has as many teams as it does,” Sanderson said. “We’re in good hands wrestling-wise, close to taking care of ourselves with our ticket sales and donations and our alumni. They really do a fantastic job. They’re really terrific but, for the most part, you have to see football do well.”​

It is about "attitude" - according to Sanderson, Pennsylvania wrestlers are great technical wrestlers and get great high school coaching, but they also firmly believe they are part of the best wrestling the nation has to offer - second to none - and they bring this attitude to the mat. It is not cockiness, but rather confidence -- but not just confidence....confidence coupled with hardwork and achievement along with the ethic and desire for the ultimate prize, Olympic Gold and proving they are the best in the world, not just Pennsylvania.

 

[dieselmilk]

Hit the link:

A Wrestling Great Calculates His Next Big Move: Dynasty
By JOE DRAPE NOV. 28, 2009​

Fun read

 

[katsujinken]

To your last question, a hearty YES. I wouldn't use 'play' though, I'd use 'situational' according to their strengths and needs. For example, Joseph says he spent the 2 weeks between B1Gs and nationals on hand fighting to counter Imar. That paid clear dividends.

Another great answer! Yeah, situational is probably a better word, I used 'play' because David Taylor used the term play wrestle during the championship broadcast. Watching Joseph / IMar (which I've done probably 40 times now) it was clear that Joseph had a plan and was well prepared... his hand fighting was outstanding in that match. Another thing I noticed.... Joseph said later that IMar likes to bully people, and that he was surprised by that the first time they met. In the championship match he matched IMar in that department. In the first period IMar gives Joseph a really strong head tap, Joseph fires right back. At the very end of the first Joseph gives IMar a strong head tap.... sending a message? At the end of the second, by which point Joseph established that he wouldn't back down, IMar tries to push Joseph out of bounds, Joseph turns him and gives him a nice little shove as the period ends... another message?

It was almost like Joseph was coached to put this message in IMar's head.... 'you're not going to bully me! If you try I will come back with more than you can handle.'

 

[jammenz]

Same as it ever was.

Can't wait until "Burning down the house" arrives.

 

[katsujinken]

Can't wait until "Burning down the house" arrives.

They only play that tune in Minnesota...

 

[El-Jefe]

Can't wait until "Burning down the house" arrives.

At least you didn't wish for a Psycho Killer.

Though that would also be too late. Quentin Wright beat him.

 

[PSUisawesome]

Well here is what Cael has had to say on the topic from his own lips - these excerpts from THIS ARTICLE:

The majority of the rest of the state thrives in wrestling, making Pennsylvania the top state in the country for wrestling when it comes to producing NCAA All-Americans. Sanderson is able to take advantage of that by being the coach at the top wrestling program in the nation, and being located in the center of the state as 24 of the 32 rostered spots on Penn State’s squad this past season were from the Keystone State.

“Pennsylvania is usually a few steps ahead of the second-best state,” he said. “And it’s not because there’s that many more wrestlers in Pennsylvania, it’s just high quality for whatever reason. The kids have proven that there’s quality, there’s depth. There’s a lot of talent around in the country but Pennsylvania has great depth. You place in the state tournament, you’re good and probably going to wrestle in college.”

Part of the reason for the drastic difference between the top two states in the country, Sanderson says, is coaching.

“The coaching’s great, the kids are great technically and they’re very confident. They believe that they’re from Pennsylvania, they believe Pennsylvania’s the best state and they wrestle according to that.”

Sanderson was on his second of his three days on the bus tour, which made a stop in Philadelphia prior to arriving in Lackawanna County Wednesday night. Football coach James Franklin and women’s soccer coach Erica Walsh were also part of the tour, which lasts three weeks. Sanderson praised Franklin’s work at the crowded establishment in Peckville and said that he’s on the tour to support the football program.

“Football is the engine of the athletic department and the reason Penn State has as many teams as it does,” Sanderson said. “We’re in good hands wrestling-wise, close to taking care of ourselves with our ticket sales and donations and our alumni. They really do a fantastic job. They’re really terrific but, for the most part, you have to see football do well.”​

It is about "attitude" - according to Sanderson, Pennsylvania wrestlers are great technical wrestlers and get great high school coaching, but they also firmly believe they are part of the best wrestling the nation has to offer - second to none - and they bring this attitude to the mat. It is not cockiness, but rather confidence -- but not just confidence....confidence coupled with hardwork and achievement along with the ethic and desire for the ultimate prize, Olympic Gold and proving they are the best in the world, not just Pennsylvania.[/
Bo-Suriano and Hall did not come up through the Pennsylvania wrestling scene but are perfect fits for Cael's program. I agree that Pennsylvania is

Well here is what Cael has had to say on the topic from his own lips - these excerpts from THIS ARTICLE:

The majority of the rest of the state thrives in wrestling, making Pennsylvania the top state in the country for wrestling when it comes to producing NCAA All-Americans. Sanderson is able to take advantage of that by being the coach at the top wrestling program in the nation, and being located in the center of the state as 24 of the 32 rostered spots on Penn State’s squad this past season were from the Keystone State.

“Pennsylvania is usually a few steps ahead of the second-best state,” he said. “And it’s not because there’s that many more wrestlers in Pennsylvania, it’s just high quality for whatever reason. The kids have proven that there’s quality, there’s depth. There’s a lot of talent around in the country but Pennsylvania has great depth. You place in the state tournament, you’re good and probably going to wrestle in college.”

Part of the reason for the drastic difference between the top two states in the country, Sanderson says, is coaching.

“The coaching’s great, the kids are great technically and they’re very confident. They believe that they’re from Pennsylvania, they believe Pennsylvania’s the best state and they wrestle according to that.”

Sanderson was on his second of his three days on the bus tour, which made a stop in Philadelphia prior to arriving in Lackawanna County Wednesday night. Football coach James Franklin and women’s soccer coach Erica Walsh were also part of the tour, which lasts three weeks. Sanderson praised Franklin’s work at the crowded establishment in Peckville and said that he’s on the tour to support the football program.

“Football is the engine of the athletic department and the reason Penn State has as many teams as it does,” Sanderson said. “We’re in good hands wrestling-wise, close to taking care of ourselves with our ticket sales and donations and our alumni. They really do a fantastic job. They’re really terrific but, for the most part, you have to see football do well.”​

It is about "attitude" - according to Sanderson, Pennsylvania wrestlers are great technical wrestlers and get great high school coaching, but they also firmly believe they are part of the best wrestling the nation has to offer - second to none - and they bring this attitude to the mat. It is not cockiness, but rather confidence -- but not just confidence....confidence coupled with hardwork and achievement along with the ethic and desire for the ultimate prize, Olympic Gold and proving they are the best in the world, not just Pennsylvania.

no flys on PA and DT-Bo-Suriano-and Hall are all examples of kids thriving under Cael's guidance who did not grow up wrestling in Pennsylvania. Cael represents a level of excellence that inspires everyone connected to the sport but only certain kids can work to achieve. What's amazing is that right kids know in their heart where they need to be. I've watched Hall for years and knew he would wrestle for Cael the big wow this year was learning why CJ chose Cael. His finals match was all the explanation I needed.
As far as strength and conditioning goes I believe systems like crossfit have found ways to approximate the intensity of seven minutes of D1 wrestling using mostly body weight. These types of workouts combine strength and cardio in ways that we never imagined in the 80's. My son will do 20 minutes of interval training that runs the gamut from sprints to pull ups to burpees all the while maintaining a "seven minutes of wrestling" output. These types of workouts allow a wrestler to know they can go hard for the entire match which no amount of power lifting can give you.

 

[Dogwelder]

Can't wait until "Burning down the house" arrives.

Fire is nothing to joke about. Here is a news story about fire, from a news report:

NEW YORK—Tragedy struck at a popular Manhattan nightclub Saturday, when the roof, the roof, the roof of The Tunnel caught fire, collapsing and killing 43 party people.

According to fire-department officials, the death toll was exacerbated by the clubgoers' unwillingness to evacuate the burning building.

"I tried shouting to the people on the dance floor that the roof was on fire and that they should exit the premises immediately, but they seemed unfazed by the danger," firefighter Michael Pitti said. "I just kept shouting, 'The roof! The roof! The roof is on fire!' and so forth, but they just went right on dancing, insisting that they didn't need any of our water and that we should let the mother****er burn."

The party people's refusal to exit the flame-engulfed nightclub is widely believed to have been the result of DJ Phreek Malik's unstoppable mix of the hottest house, funk, hip-hop, disco, jungle and techno beats.

"DJ Phreek Malik was spinning in a manner so hot, these party people were willing to give up their lives for a few extra minutes on the dance floor," New York City fire commissioner Thomas Von Essen said. "Even as a 50-foot-high wall of flames surged toward them, they continued to dance, throwing their hands in the air and waving them as if they just didn't care."

As flames continued to fill the nightclub, firefighters frantically urged the revelers to keep low to the ground to avoid smoke inhalation, but the warnings were universally ignored.

"I was screaming at the top of my lungs, 'Get down! Get down, party people!'" said Garry Hodges of Ladder Company 42, "but the more I shouted out, the harder they danced."

Though an FDNY investigation is still pending, the deadly blaze is believed to have begun at 11:40 p.m., when a roof-mounted ventilation system short-circuited, igniting the mother****er. The fire is New York's deadliest since 1978, when 117 party people burned, baby, burned to death in a South Bronx disco inferno.

(From
http://www.theonion.com/article/roof-on-fire-claims-lives-of-43-party-people-1584 )

 

[Dogwelder]

... How are we developing that strength? Another thought, are we doing any internal strength work? That would go a long way in explaining why our 'smaller looking' guys can consistently hang with or outmuscle 'greek gods' like Jordan...

I had that same question after watching Aaron Pico's ridiculous snapdowns. I thought to myself, if I want my boy to develop snapdowns like that, I should hire a Tai Chi or Wing Chun teacher to cross-train him.

 

[El-Jefe]

I had that same question after watching Aaron Pico's ridiculous snapdowns. I thought to myself, if I want my boy to develop snapdowns like that, I should hire a Tai Chi or Wing Chun teacher to cross-train him.

Everybody Wing Chun tonight!