Cael Sanderson is set to join a room full of reporters, at least 35 in attendance, here in Rec Hall. I'll do my best to provide live updates and paraphrased comments as we go along here. You can also follow along at the link
Live updates from Cael Sanderson's media day press conference
- Thread starter Tim Owen/BWI staff
- Start date
If NJ.com shows up and you check into the water fountain, ill help your legal defense fund.
Lineup 125/133/141...
No weights have been set as of yet. One round of intrasquad matches last week. Another round soon. The process continues until the end to determine the lineup. Things are looking good. Team is looking good
No weights have been set as of yet. One round of intrasquad matches last week. Another round soon. The process continues until the end to determine the lineup. Things are looking good. Team is looking good
141...
Needs to be a clearcut choice. Cortez is tough, healthy and has experience. It's just going to depend on who gives the best chance to score.
Play it out through the year for Lee's RS. Never in a hurry. Situation with a veteran like Cortez, it needs to be a clear idea about Lee. Lee is looking good in practice. Good kid, fits the mold. Conditioning is a factor for him. Improved a great deal/fearless. Getting excited talking about Lee. Still a true freshman also.
Needs to be a clearcut choice. Cortez is tough, healthy and has experience. It's just going to depend on who gives the best chance to score.
Play it out through the year for Lee's RS. Never in a hurry. Situation with a veteran like Cortez, it needs to be a clear idea about Lee. Lee is looking good in practice. Good kid, fits the mold. Conditioning is a factor for him. Improved a great deal/fearless. Getting excited talking about Lee. Still a true freshman also.
Keener...
Looking good. Had a lot of success. Good solid kid. Tough in the room.
Cortez...
Health is 100 percent. Up at 141, he'll have less risk of injury. That's the nature of the beast. Fast/strong/tough
Looking good. Had a lot of success. Good solid kid. Tough in the room.
Cortez...
Health is 100 percent. Up at 141, he'll have less risk of injury. That's the nature of the beast. Fast/strong/tough
125...
Three freshmen who are scrappy kids, kids who wanted to come to PSU. Will find out how the dust settles. Exciting for fans to see who runs out there
Three freshmen who are scrappy kids, kids who wanted to come to PSU. Will find out how the dust settles. Exciting for fans to see who runs out there
Scuffle..
Misses that tourney. A great tourney. Get a chance for team to see format close to NCAAs. National duals are canceled. Had a great experience. Fortunate enough to be in the title match, so that helped
Misses that tourney. A great tourney. Get a chance for team to see format close to NCAAs. National duals are canceled. Had a great experience. Fortunate enough to be in the title match, so that helped
125....
Stick with what they've always done. Roster of 10. Way to compete at nationals is start at beginning and work their way up. Drawing weights for a dual, maybe a coach is trying to do something to find an advantage. Don't want to go there or play that game. Easier to just roll with the way the national tournament is
Stick with what they've always done. Roster of 10. Way to compete at nationals is start at beginning and work their way up. Drawing weights for a dual, maybe a coach is trying to do something to find an advantage. Don't want to go there or play that game. Easier to just roll with the way the national tournament is
Hall/Nevills All-Star match...
Early, but doesn't count on record. Something he has to be passionate about. Both are great matches. That being your first match, you need to be ready. Weight needs to be in position to be at your best, 1 hour after weigh in. Passionate, cool event with history. Cael doesn't push them. Will be exciting. A lot of great matches. See Hall and Zahid wrestle on Nov 5, two of the best in the sport and AAs.
Early, but doesn't count on record. Something he has to be passionate about. Both are great matches. That being your first match, you need to be ready. Weight needs to be in position to be at your best, 1 hour after weigh in. Passionate, cool event with history. Cael doesn't push them. Will be exciting. A lot of great matches. See Hall and Zahid wrestle on Nov 5, two of the best in the sport and AAs.
Off-seasons...
Off-seaosns are always busy. That's why when the season is nice. People don't understand that, what do you do for 6 months? The off-season is busier because of international comp/recruiting/training. Will be busy, if you want to be competitive, you have to outhustle everyone. Excited to get started
Off-seaosns are always busy. That's why when the season is nice. People don't understand that, what do you do for 6 months? The off-season is busier because of international comp/recruiting/training. Will be busy, if you want to be competitive, you have to outhustle everyone. Excited to get started
Joseph...
You win a national title, you believe in yourself a little bit more. Then you can have more success. Stepped his game up a level. Something he needs to show in a great weight class, really competitive wrestlers. Vincenzo came on strong last year late. Watch them all training together and it's impressive
You win a national title, you believe in yourself a little bit more. Then you can have more success. Stepped his game up a level. Something he needs to show in a great weight class, really competitive wrestlers. Vincenzo came on strong last year late. Watch them all training together and it's impressive
understatement of the year....if you want to be successful you have to outwork people
Surprises?
Close eye on them throughout the summer. Wrestling has diff rules/exemptions so Cael sees the majority of the team. No one has really stood out/surprising. He's looking forward to seeing them in the season
Close eye on them throughout the summer. Wrestling has diff rules/exemptions so Cael sees the majority of the team. No one has really stood out/surprising. He's looking forward to seeing them in the season
Surprises?
Close eye on them throughout the summer. Wrestling has diff rules/exemptions so Cael sees the majority of the team. No one has really stood out/surprising. He's looking forward to seeing them in the season
Close eye on them throughout the summer. Wrestling has diff rules/exemptions so Cael sees the majority of the team. No one has really stood out/surprising. He's looking forward to seeing them in the season
Zain..
Wants to be an Olympic champ. Experience on world team is valuable/beneficial moving forward. Training with the team/experience is all valuable. Needs to let it motivate him.
Freestyle can help the other. A lot of FS is on feet, controlling tie ups. You get your reward. Looking to take risks on their feet. Scramble is a little bit different since you can't expose back. Just need to do it differently. Rules have changed. That won't certainly won't help
Wants to be an Olympic champ. Experience on world team is valuable/beneficial moving forward. Training with the team/experience is all valuable. Needs to let it motivate him.
Freestyle can help the other. A lot of FS is on feet, controlling tie ups. You get your reward. Looking to take risks on their feet. Scramble is a little bit different since you can't expose back. Just need to do it differently. Rules have changed. That won't certainly won't help
Scramble rule...
Interesting to see how it plays out. Cael likes the idea of not being able to defend something on your back. Confusing to someone without a bkgnd in wrestling. tough call for officials. Cael isn't upset by them changing the rule. Might need to be tweaked a little bit. Generally speaking, his team doesn't scramble on back unless it's out of desperation. Will be exciting to see how it goes. Should change things a little bit. Wrestlers will always adapt to the rules, wrestlers will always find a way to stretch things as much as they can and make it work
Interesting to see how it plays out. Cael likes the idea of not being able to defend something on your back. Confusing to someone without a bkgnd in wrestling. tough call for officials. Cael isn't upset by them changing the rule. Might need to be tweaked a little bit. Generally speaking, his team doesn't scramble on back unless it's out of desperation. Will be exciting to see how it goes. Should change things a little bit. Wrestlers will always adapt to the rules, wrestlers will always find a way to stretch things as much as they can and make it work
Suriano...
It just took a lot of time. Time was lost more than anything. Those things happen. Excited about moving forward. Who will step up in that.
Just a unique situation. Always trying to do a better job. Not anyhting personal with Cael or them. Things changed and some adversity there with an injury, it's a tough deal. Confident in staff/support staff. If the same thing happened again, he'd treat it the same way again. Happy with those who want to be here. Moved forward a long time ago.
National duals...
You can get hurt walking class. Injury isn't enough of reason to end national duals. Teams are upset bc other teams are choosing who they wrestle in duals. It's coming back up. Cael is outspoken about how duals shook out.
It just took a lot of time. Time was lost more than anything. Those things happen. Excited about moving forward. Who will step up in that.
Just a unique situation. Always trying to do a better job. Not anyhting personal with Cael or them. Things changed and some adversity there with an injury, it's a tough deal. Confident in staff/support staff. If the same thing happened again, he'd treat it the same way again. Happy with those who want to be here. Moved forward a long time ago.
National duals...
You can get hurt walking class. Injury isn't enough of reason to end national duals. Teams are upset bc other teams are choosing who they wrestle in duals. It's coming back up. Cael is outspoken about how duals shook out.
National duals proposal...
A few thoughts. National tournament is greatest thing in sport of wrestling in the world. Nothing comes close. When you take the team factor out of that event it changes drastically. ESPN continues to expand coverage. To take that and change it, it won't have same interest.
Another piece Cael doesn't buy into, kids do better in class during season. More free time they have, the poorer they do. Reluctant to say giving more time for class, that's not going to be what they'll figure out. They'll find college social life. You get what you're focused on. Not going to help APR
A few thoughts. National tournament is greatest thing in sport of wrestling in the world. Nothing comes close. When you take the team factor out of that event it changes drastically. ESPN continues to expand coverage. To take that and change it, it won't have same interest.
Another piece Cael doesn't buy into, kids do better in class during season. More free time they have, the poorer they do. Reluctant to say giving more time for class, that's not going to be what they'll figure out. They'll find college social life. You get what you're focused on. Not going to help APR
Ed Ruth...
Saw him this morning. Great to see him. One of all-time favorite kids, so much fun to coach. Just the way he worked, ethic was phenomenal. Still have a punching bag that still stands bc Ed put it up. MMA has always been a passion. Great to see him doing well. He's incredibly fast with unlimited gas tank. Competitive, even though he's cool. Excited for him. Always wanted him to win a gold medal first. He still has the ability. Thought Ed had that, not a lot of people do. Fun to follow him as he pursues his goals
Saw him this morning. Great to see him. One of all-time favorite kids, so much fun to coach. Just the way he worked, ethic was phenomenal. Still have a punching bag that still stands bc Ed put it up. MMA has always been a passion. Great to see him doing well. He's incredibly fast with unlimited gas tank. Competitive, even though he's cool. Excited for him. Always wanted him to win a gold medal first. He still has the ability. Thought Ed had that, not a lot of people do. Fun to follow him as he pursues his goals
Ed/MMA...
It has to be his goal. One of the things CS loves about Ed was it was an open/honest relationship. Would love to see him gold medals. If your heart isn't set, it's probably not going to happen. Ed was making great strides in FS. Incredible talent/great kid. Didn't recruit him, already signed to PSU. Cael wanted to test them. How long will they wrestle/fight back in good fun? Ed wrestled him for an hour. Cael had to get home. Great stamina/fearless. He'll do well
Phil Davis...
Two of the best and well-liked wrestlers in PSU. Great personality. Both PA boys, local boys. National champs. Excited to see their homecoming
It has to be his goal. One of the things CS loves about Ed was it was an open/honest relationship. Would love to see him gold medals. If your heart isn't set, it's probably not going to happen. Ed was making great strides in FS. Incredible talent/great kid. Didn't recruit him, already signed to PSU. Cael wanted to test them. How long will they wrestle/fight back in good fun? Ed wrestled him for an hour. Cael had to get home. Great stamina/fearless. He'll do well
Phil Davis...
Two of the best and well-liked wrestlers in PSU. Great personality. Both PA boys, local boys. National champs. Excited to see their homecoming
Future recruiting classes/progression...
Only time will tell. Job is to do the best they can and recruit the correct kids who fit. Also getting kids who can win. Will find out. Excited about who is in the program. Verkleeren is doing really well. Tough kid. Will have another great group coming in again.
Only time will tell. Job is to do the best they can and recruit the correct kids who fit. Also getting kids who can win. Will find out. Excited about who is in the program. Verkleeren is doing really well. Tough kid. Will have another great group coming in again.
Tournaments vs. duals...
It's an individual sport. You compete as individuals, but it has that team aspect that makes it that more fun, to go get bonus points. It's one thing to win a national title as an individual, that adds a huge piece of excitement. To say dual meets aren't important, that doesn't make sense. Sold out crowds pretty much where PSU goes. OK St had its largest crowd. Ohio State had its largest crowd. TO say what they're doing now isn't working, CS is a little skeptical. There are a lot of details that go into but the NCAA tourney has found a window that works where ESPN
It's risky to move to April. Fighting the wrong battles. Wrestling can be boring because you're winning 3-2 and people aren't going to watch that. If you want people to come ot matches you have to have a great product. Constantly looking for magic bean
It's an individual sport. You compete as individuals, but it has that team aspect that makes it that more fun, to go get bonus points. It's one thing to win a national title as an individual, that adds a huge piece of excitement. To say dual meets aren't important, that doesn't make sense. Sold out crowds pretty much where PSU goes. OK St had its largest crowd. Ohio State had its largest crowd. TO say what they're doing now isn't working, CS is a little skeptical. There are a lot of details that go into but the NCAA tourney has found a window that works where ESPN
It's risky to move to April. Fighting the wrong battles. Wrestling can be boring because you're winning 3-2 and people aren't going to watch that. If you want people to come ot matches you have to have a great product. Constantly looking for magic bean
Ranked No. 1...
Better than No. 2, but want to finish great. Everyone wants to be an underdog. PSU doesn't want that. They want the expectation, more difficult position to be in. Underdogs mean based on history expectations are low. Based on history PSU expectations are high.
Better than No. 2, but want to finish great. Everyone wants to be an underdog. PSU doesn't want that. They want the expectation, more difficult position to be in. Underdogs mean based on history expectations are low. Based on history PSU expectations are high.
Last year's NCAAs...
Doesn't look back not a whole lot. Will remember forever. As a coach when he's done he wants to be better than that. Wrestled great with backs against the wall. Said in the presser that the team will win is the team that wrestles great. It was a special team but now a new year/diff team with diff challenges. That's what's exciting
Doesn't look back not a whole lot. Will remember forever. As a coach when he's done he wants to be better than that. Wrestled great with backs against the wall. Said in the presser that the team will win is the team that wrestles great. It was a special team but now a new year/diff team with diff challenges. That's what's exciting
Returning 5 NCAA champs...
Good thing. Happy about it and the kids. Love for competition and they wanted to win for each other and got more out of individual efforts bc they were thinking less about themselves. Happy to have them back
Good thing. Happy about it and the kids. Love for competition and they wanted to win for each other and got more out of individual efforts bc they were thinking less about themselves. Happy to have them back
FUN...
Doesn't understand why others don't enjoy wrestling. CS loves what it takes to be successful. You get what you focus on. It's that mentality. World is not against you; the world doesn't care. It determines how you feel/think. Wants guys to be happy and be grateful for chance. Tough sport and demanding, but CS says that's a great thing. Not something to be miserable about. It's a tough sport but that's what makes it so great
Doesn't understand why others don't enjoy wrestling. CS loves what it takes to be successful. You get what you focus on. It's that mentality. World is not against you; the world doesn't care. It determines how you feel/think. Wants guys to be happy and be grateful for chance. Tough sport and demanding, but CS says that's a great thing. Not something to be miserable about. It's a tough sport but that's what makes it so great
This makes it sound like the job will go to Schnupp, Lopez, or Clabaugh. Is that what Cael meant?
Yanovich is the only non FR on the roster at 125.
Building upon last year...
Goal every year is to be the best they can be. Same with individuals. Not trying to be better than they were last year, just best they can be right now. Exciting with great competition. It won't take much to be motivated. Motivated by challenges/not an easy path. Designed by nature to have adversity. That's why we're here. It's fun to look back on adversity. Want to tell the story about how to overcome adversity. No reason why they wouldn't be thrilled to see where they're at. New faces. Wrestlers don't repeat always. Freshmen/sophomore can look like they don't get touched, and then it's a diff mindset the next year. It's a new set of challenges for each guy and maintaing the same mindset. Be hungry/aggressive/clear on what you want and then live it. Easy to say it, challenge to live it
Goal every year is to be the best they can be. Same with individuals. Not trying to be better than they were last year, just best they can be right now. Exciting with great competition. It won't take much to be motivated. Motivated by challenges/not an easy path. Designed by nature to have adversity. That's why we're here. It's fun to look back on adversity. Want to tell the story about how to overcome adversity. No reason why they wouldn't be thrilled to see where they're at. New faces. Wrestlers don't repeat always. Freshmen/sophomore can look like they don't get touched, and then it's a diff mindset the next year. It's a new set of challenges for each guy and maintaing the same mindset. Be hungry/aggressive/clear on what you want and then live it. Easy to say it, challenge to live it
BJC matches...
Haven't considered doing two. Maybe they should. He'll check. Loves Rec Hall. BJC gives people a chance to come to a match. Don't wait the week before the Iowa dual, get a ticket now. But it's sold out. You got to be on the ball. They wrestle in Rec Hall. That's home
Haven't considered doing two. Maybe they should. He'll check. Loves Rec Hall. BJC gives people a chance to come to a match. Don't wait the week before the Iowa dual, get a ticket now. But it's sold out. You got to be on the ball. They wrestle in Rec Hall. That's home
Ohio State dual...
The better the competition, if you're a real competitor, the more excited you are. That's just the first of several great meetings, Iowa, Minny, Lehigh, etc. It's about competing against themselves and being the best they can be as a team. Excited about doing that
The better the competition, if you're a real competitor, the more excited you are. That's just the first of several great meetings, Iowa, Minny, Lehigh, etc. It's about competing against themselves and being the best they can be as a team. Excited about doing that
Venues across college wrestling...
Numbers don't lie. CS refers to that all the time. Numbers/dual attendance is increasing. It's not about one big match a year. When he was at ISU, goal was to increase attendance for all duals, not leverage one big event. Needs consistency across the board, fans coming to all of the matches. That's got to be the goal of the sport. Football game deal is an awesome thing. More importantly need consistent crowds/fans across the nation
Numbers don't lie. CS refers to that all the time. Numbers/dual attendance is increasing. It's not about one big match a year. When he was at ISU, goal was to increase attendance for all duals, not leverage one big event. Needs consistency across the board, fans coming to all of the matches. That's got to be the goal of the sport. Football game deal is an awesome thing. More importantly need consistent crowds/fans across the nation
Mark Hall...
Bigger than he looks. People carry weight differently. He's bigger/stronger than last year. He's not a guy who will ever look like the biggest/largest kid in the weight class. Not his body type, but he is strong/powerful. Pulled him out of RS and won nationals. That's remarkable. To continue improving he has to stay hungry. Lofty goals at the senior level. To do that he has to keep improving, he knows that
Bigger than he looks. People carry weight differently. He's bigger/stronger than last year. He's not a guy who will ever look like the biggest/largest kid in the weight class. Not his body type, but he is strong/powerful. Pulled him out of RS and won nationals. That's remarkable. To continue improving he has to stay hungry. Lofty goals at the senior level. To do that he has to keep improving, he knows that
Casey Cunningham...
Loves Casey like a brother, like Cody, obviously. Close and they've both had chances to go coach elsewhere and make more money. Grateful they stick with PSU. The kids are too. That separates PSU over some competition, how great/consistent the coaching staff is. Don't get better than Coach Cody, Casey and Jake Varner. They're the best of the best. Work very closely together. Cael sits here and talks. Casey doesn't want to do the press conferences
Loves Casey like a brother, like Cody, obviously. Close and they've both had chances to go coach elsewhere and make more money. Grateful they stick with PSU. The kids are too. That separates PSU over some competition, how great/consistent the coaching staff is. Don't get better than Coach Cody, Casey and Jake Varner. They're the best of the best. Work very closely together. Cael sits here and talks. Casey doesn't want to do the press conferences
**Press conference has ended**
I'll post more from media day today after talking to some of the wrestlers
I'll post more from media day today after talking to some of the wrestlers
