I'll also post paraphrased comments from Cael Sanderson in this thread as his press conference begins around 1:30 p.m. You can also watch/listen live at this link
Live updates from Cael Sanderson's media day press conference
- Thread starter Tim Owen/BWI staff
- Start date
For those of us that can't listen at the moment..can someone please point some important tidbits..thanks in advance
Redshirt decisions at 125...
Planning on wrestling Schnupp this weekend. He's wrestled hard. Have 5 months until the end of the season, so for now Schnupp at 125 to see what he can do
Planning on wrestling Schnupp this weekend. He's wrestled hard. Have 5 months until the end of the season, so for now Schnupp at 125 to see what he can do
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Heavyweight...
Nevills had surgery right after nationals when he got hurt. He did a great job of coming back and winning a match the the third day after getting hurt. He's wrestling hard now. Two very good HWTs. Cassar is big and strong and very much committed, always has been. Two HWTs who are two of the best in the country, so we'll see how that plays out as we go along. They haven't wrestled off at this point. First might come at Keystone Classic
Nevills had surgery right after nationals when he got hurt. He did a great job of coming back and winning a match the the third day after getting hurt. He's wrestling hard now. Two very good HWTs. Cassar is big and strong and very much committed, always has been. Two HWTs who are two of the best in the country, so we'll see how that plays out as we go along. They haven't wrestled off at this point. First might come at Keystone Classic
Cassar...
Tough situation at 197 with the success he had. Then Shakur did really well. Tried to make right decision and Shak and earned that spot, they thought. Says a lot about Anthony's character. You hear how a lot of coaches were trying to contact him but he stayed strong. Comes from a strong family and is an exceptional individual. He stayed. He was def disappointed and would've done really well at 197. He just kept work. You'll see him. He's a bigger/stronger version of an already big/strong dude
Tough situation at 197 with the success he had. Then Shakur did really well. Tried to make right decision and Shak and earned that spot, they thought. Says a lot about Anthony's character. You hear how a lot of coaches were trying to contact him but he stayed strong. Comes from a strong family and is an exceptional individual. He stayed. He was def disappointed and would've done really well at 197. He just kept work. You'll see him. He's a bigger/stronger version of an already big/strong dude
Lineup rundown for this weekend...
Hates giving lineups out. Schnupp, Bravo-Young, Nick Lee at this point. Verkleeren at 49. Nolf, Joseph, Hall, Shak, Bo and Cassar for this weekend
Hates giving lineups out. Schnupp, Bravo-Young, Nick Lee at this point. Verkleeren at 49. Nolf, Joseph, Hall, Shak, Bo and Cassar for this weekend
Competition for young wrestlers....
There's a lot of great competition in the room so you get a good idea where they're at. Plug them in and let them get to work. When training in competitive room, to continue to be successful you have to do things successfully. Just get them in here and go to work. No secrets. Nothing magical. Excited about new kids in the program. Going to be a fun year. New adventure. Will see how they compete Sunday vs. Kent State
There's a lot of great competition in the room so you get a good idea where they're at. Plug them in and let them get to work. When training in competitive room, to continue to be successful you have to do things successfully. Just get them in here and go to work. No secrets. Nothing magical. Excited about new kids in the program. Going to be a fun year. New adventure. Will see how they compete Sunday vs. Kent State
Upperclassmen...
Leadership in the older veterans and then a great opportunity for some of the young guys to compete on the same team to see how they respond when the lights are on or in training or the discipline it takes to be successful. Nice strong balance of that. Some incredible individuals in this program and grateful for the staff. Some positive things in the program and a lot of fun to be a part of. Got to love to compete and we'll see what they can do
Leadership in the older veterans and then a great opportunity for some of the young guys to compete on the same team to see how they respond when the lights are on or in training or the discipline it takes to be successful. Nice strong balance of that. Some incredible individuals in this program and grateful for the staff. Some positive things in the program and a lot of fun to be a part of. Got to love to compete and we'll see what they can do
Goals...
Everybody wants to win. That's a given. Focused on being the best individual team they can be. Do that and there's a good chance of winning. A lot of great competition this year like every year. That keeps everyone on their toes to keep upping their game. If it wasn't like that, it wouldn't be as fun as it is. Competitive year and CS likes the leaders on the team to take them through this season
Everybody wants to win. That's a given. Focused on being the best individual team they can be. Do that and there's a good chance of winning. A lot of great competition this year like every year. That keeps everyone on their toes to keep upping their game. If it wasn't like that, it wouldn't be as fun as it is. Competitive year and CS likes the leaders on the team to take them through this season
Bravo-Young...
Roman came in for summer school, been home a few times but done well. Incredible athlete with great speed. Has the tools and the mindset. Will be a lot of fun to watch. Would like to have 10 of him. No one will leave their seat bc he's fun to have out there
Roman came in for summer school, been home a few times but done well. Incredible athlete with great speed. Has the tools and the mindset. Will be a lot of fun to watch. Would like to have 10 of him. No one will leave their seat bc he's fun to have out there
Iowa...
If you don't wrestle Iowa, the season isn't quite the same. Hopefully in the future can work something out to wrestle every year
If you don't wrestle Iowa, the season isn't quite the same. Hopefully in the future can work something out to wrestle every year
College wrestling...
Maybe it's social media, wrestling is on TV more now. Things have grown and gotten more competitive. PSU is pretty much sold out for the year. About 1,000 left for BJC and some standing room only, so if you want a ticket jump on it. A team you want to watch wrestle. More exciting and more competitive which is great for the sport. Record dual attendance each year and numbers keep growing. TV reports increase, saying everything is moving forward. Just need to make sure that keeps happening
Maybe it's social media, wrestling is on TV more now. Things have grown and gotten more competitive. PSU is pretty much sold out for the year. About 1,000 left for BJC and some standing room only, so if you want a ticket jump on it. A team you want to watch wrestle. More exciting and more competitive which is great for the sport. Record dual attendance each year and numbers keep growing. TV reports increase, saying everything is moving forward. Just need to make sure that keeps happening
Goal 10 years ago...
Do well, as well in the classroom. Go out and make a difference in the world in whatever field you choose to be in. Goal moving forward, too, depending on the next 10 years. Want to help kids be the best they can be. Wrestling is no different than anything in life. Confident that they can do well in life. Need to do well in wrestle and in school and then make a positive difference in the world. Want to be in a position to compete with a similar on their face and gratitude in their hearts and then take what they can get from there
Do well, as well in the classroom. Go out and make a difference in the world in whatever field you choose to be in. Goal moving forward, too, depending on the next 10 years. Want to help kids be the best they can be. Wrestling is no different than anything in life. Confident that they can do well in life. Need to do well in wrestle and in school and then make a positive difference in the world. Want to be in a position to compete with a similar on their face and gratitude in their hearts and then take what they can get from there
Nolf...
Nolf is one of a kind. Returning to win a NCAA title under the conditions he did last year is nothing short of a miracle in CS's mind. Trainer Dan Monthley did a great job. But Nolf had to believe and be patient. He's not a patient wrestler and that's what they love about him. Tremendous leader/exceptional student. Like a David Taylor/Ed Ruth/Quentin Wright, just happy they came to Penn State and have the opportunity to watch him wrestle here
In the long run, that injury might be helpful to him. Had to dial it back a little bit, be more cautious/strategic to protect his knee. Has not had to do that typically. As he jumps to next level and faces great competition, that's important. Need good solid fundamentals in addition to being a scoring machine, so that helped him take a step back and look at those things. Not sure what percent he was at NCAAs. A lot of people compete when they're injured but a special accomplishment. Just like Cassar and sticking it through with a positive attitude, Nolf had to just go win a NCAA title through mental toughness. No doubt about it. Very mentally tough kid
Nolf is one of a kind. Returning to win a NCAA title under the conditions he did last year is nothing short of a miracle in CS's mind. Trainer Dan Monthley did a great job. But Nolf had to believe and be patient. He's not a patient wrestler and that's what they love about him. Tremendous leader/exceptional student. Like a David Taylor/Ed Ruth/Quentin Wright, just happy they came to Penn State and have the opportunity to watch him wrestle here
In the long run, that injury might be helpful to him. Had to dial it back a little bit, be more cautious/strategic to protect his knee. Has not had to do that typically. As he jumps to next level and faces great competition, that's important. Need good solid fundamentals in addition to being a scoring machine, so that helped him take a step back and look at those things. Not sure what percent he was at NCAAs. A lot of people compete when they're injured but a special accomplishment. Just like Cassar and sticking it through with a positive attitude, Nolf had to just go win a NCAA title through mental toughness. No doubt about it. Very mentally tough kid
149...
Hasn't wrestled off yet. Bergey is probably not quite ready yet to wrestle off. See him for the first time at the Keystone Classic also. Verkleeren is very good and gotten better. He's a fun wrestler to watch, will continue to improve.
Berge has a descent plan and been making weight. He's got to be very disciplined. Great kid and he knew that was going to be the case. Body is in great shape so he'll be wrestling at 149. Great options with a couple other competitive guys in there as well
Hasn't wrestled off yet. Bergey is probably not quite ready yet to wrestle off. See him for the first time at the Keystone Classic also. Verkleeren is very good and gotten better. He's a fun wrestler to watch, will continue to improve.
Berge has a descent plan and been making weight. He's got to be very disciplined. Great kid and he knew that was going to be the case. Body is in great shape so he'll be wrestling at 149. Great options with a couple other competitive guys in there as well
Ready for big moments...
Guys are in great shape right now. Attitudes are very good. This team loves to compete. You've watched these guys in great atmospheres, away duals at all the top schools in the country the last three years. They enjoy it and live for it. That's what matters. He's had some good teams. This has the potential to be a great team
Guys are in great shape right now. Attitudes are very good. This team loves to compete. You've watched these guys in great atmospheres, away duals at all the top schools in the country the last three years. They enjoy it and live for it. That's what matters. He's had some good teams. This has the potential to be a great team
125....
Not really sure. Will let things play it out. Let the RS guys hit open tournaments and see where they're at. Have 5 months to make the decision
Not really sure. Will let things play it out. Let the RS guys hit open tournaments and see where they're at. Have 5 months to make the decision
Cody/Casey...
Just left a staff meeting where they were making fun of each other. Then Cael had to come down to the media room and he's not worried about practice. He'll just show up and be a participant. All the confidence in the world in Cody, Casey and Varner. Like family really. No other way to explain it. They're pretty special to him and he's grateful. Their loyalty to the program and to the kids, it's such an awesome thing to go down and train with Nickal, Hall, Joseph and Nolf. Amazing kids in the past and hopefully will have amazing kids in the future. Cody and Casey have been very loyal to the program who could be HCs at other big time schools so it means a lot that they've chosen to stick around
Just left a staff meeting where they were making fun of each other. Then Cael had to come down to the media room and he's not worried about practice. He'll just show up and be a participant. All the confidence in the world in Cody, Casey and Varner. Like family really. No other way to explain it. They're pretty special to him and he's grateful. Their loyalty to the program and to the kids, it's such an awesome thing to go down and train with Nickal, Hall, Joseph and Nolf. Amazing kids in the past and hopefully will have amazing kids in the future. Cody and Casey have been very loyal to the program who could be HCs at other big time schools so it means a lot that they've chosen to stick around
Maybe we can just agree to travel to Iowa City every third year.
Redshirt management last year for Berge/Verkleeren...
Tries to take them on the road if they can. Not a lot of extra spots. Can travel 13 to Big Ten matches. Want to take Berge/Verkleeren on the road when they RS so they could get a feel for atmosphere so they can be prepared for this season. They've both wrestled at world championships for their age group. Want to get them in the atmosphere as much as possible
Tries to take them on the road if they can. Not a lot of extra spots. Can travel 13 to Big Ten matches. Want to take Berge/Verkleeren on the road when they RS so they could get a feel for atmosphere so they can be prepared for this season. They've both wrestled at world championships for their age group. Want to get them in the atmosphere as much as possible
Nickal...
Confident kid who has had some success at senior level. Knows he can compete at that level. Training with DT, watching him storm through Worlds and beat some really good wrestlers, training with him is a confidence booster for Bo. He was also training with Snyder and Cox over there in Budapest so being around those guys is helpful and worth the time. He was grateful for that chance to spend time there. Definitely worthwhile
Confident kid who has had some success at senior level. Knows he can compete at that level. Training with DT, watching him storm through Worlds and beat some really good wrestlers, training with him is a confidence booster for Bo. He was also training with Snyder and Cox over there in Budapest so being around those guys is helpful and worth the time. He was grateful for that chance to spend time there. Definitely worthwhile
Micah Parsons joining wrestling?
Heard he was a good wrestler. Phenomenal athlete, but thinks he just likes to joke around and play games. This summer, texted with him a few times. Met him on his recruiting trip. Saw his name on his phone this summer and they talked on the phone and said he wanted to come out for the team. Had Coach Franklin sitting next to him on speaker phone. That was the last of it. Had some free time there. He's a competitor and a great wrestler. Grew up with some of the kids that are coming into the program. Was at the Ohio State dual last year and saw the atmosphere. Have that over in Beaver Stadium 10x so he's probably just playing around a little bit
Heard he was a good wrestler. Phenomenal athlete, but thinks he just likes to joke around and play games. This summer, texted with him a few times. Met him on his recruiting trip. Saw his name on his phone this summer and they talked on the phone and said he wanted to come out for the team. Had Coach Franklin sitting next to him on speaker phone. That was the last of it. Had some free time there. He's a competitor and a great wrestler. Grew up with some of the kids that are coming into the program. Was at the Ohio State dual last year and saw the atmosphere. Have that over in Beaver Stadium 10x so he's probably just playing around a little bit
Joseph...
Competitor who continues to improve. Two-timer going into junior year is amazing with two wins over great wrestlers. Been working really hard and spending a lot of time with Cunningham. When you do that you're going to get really good. All they're trying to do is improve/compete hard and as long as he does that he'll be OK
Competitor who continues to improve. Two-timer going into junior year is amazing with two wins over great wrestlers. Been working really hard and spending a lot of time with Cunningham. When you do that you're going to get really good. All they're trying to do is improve/compete hard and as long as he does that he'll be OK
Nickal to 197...
Will find out. Competitor who has the frame to move up. He's well over 200lbs and it's what he wanted to do and CS thinks he will do just fine there
Will find out. Competitor who has the frame to move up. He's well over 200lbs and it's what he wanted to do and CS thinks he will do just fine there
Appeal of David Taylor's world title for PSU...
The way he wrestles. If you want to wrestle like that come to Penn State. That's the way they wrestle, scoring points and making conditioning a factor. Combining that with the technique so the persistence and perseverance he showed to go do what he did was impressive. Not really saying to recruits hey come do that. Doesn't hurt though. NLWC is having a lot of success. Varner winning a gold medal and now DT winning a world championship. CS thinks there's going to be a lot of medals coming out of NLWC the next couple cycles
The way he wrestles. If you want to wrestle like that come to Penn State. That's the way they wrestle, scoring points and making conditioning a factor. Combining that with the technique so the persistence and perseverance he showed to go do what he did was impressive. Not really saying to recruits hey come do that. Doesn't hurt though. NLWC is having a lot of success. Varner winning a gold medal and now DT winning a world championship. CS thinks there's going to be a lot of medals coming out of NLWC the next couple cycles
Hands to the face...
Def a problem the last few years. Zain saw that a lot. Kids got fired up trying to match his pace and they match his pace by jabbing him in the face. There's a clear difference between a block and jab and that's the tricky part. The intent is good. How they implement that, we'll see. You see points flying out. In a wrestleoff in the first match, each got a point for hands to the face. Wrestlers will adjust
Def a problem the last few years. Zain saw that a lot. Kids got fired up trying to match his pace and they match his pace by jabbing him in the face. There's a clear difference between a block and jab and that's the tricky part. The intent is good. How they implement that, we'll see. You see points flying out. In a wrestleoff in the first match, each got a point for hands to the face. Wrestlers will adjust
Rich Lorenzo to hall of fame...
Happy to see. Very much deserved. CS says it every chance he gets. Penn State wrestling is what it is today bc of Coach Lorenzo and the relationships he's built with wrestlers when he coached. The high standards that PSU wrestling has, there are other great coaches also but he's really special. Super humble, remarkable individual. Would've loved to watch him in his prime. No nonsense. Completely straightforward and honest. He's the kind of guy you want to coach your kids. Had a tremendous impact on PSU but also wrestling in the area and northeast as a whole
Happy to see. Very much deserved. CS says it every chance he gets. Penn State wrestling is what it is today bc of Coach Lorenzo and the relationships he's built with wrestlers when he coached. The high standards that PSU wrestling has, there are other great coaches also but he's really special. Super humble, remarkable individual. Would've loved to watch him in his prime. No nonsense. Completely straightforward and honest. He's the kind of guy you want to coach your kids. Had a tremendous impact on PSU but also wrestling in the area and northeast as a whole
Program/season outlook...
Every year is a new challenge with different individuals/teams with strengths and weaknesses, so you have to continue to evolve. Program based on same principles. They stay the same but you adapt to help the individuals along the way. Don't want to change a whole lot. Stay hungry and fiercely competitive. Don't try to protect anything. Everything is in the past. What are they doing today? Stay grateful, most important principle. Is there a better way? They want to find out. It's not about doing something the way they did 2, 3 years ago. It's about finding the best way.
Every year is a new challenge with different individuals/teams with strengths and weaknesses, so you have to continue to evolve. Program based on same principles. They stay the same but you adapt to help the individuals along the way. Don't want to change a whole lot. Stay hungry and fiercely competitive. Don't try to protect anything. Everything is in the past. What are they doing today? Stay grateful, most important principle. Is there a better way? They want to find out. It's not about doing something the way they did 2, 3 years ago. It's about finding the best way.
Sport evolving...
Things have changed. Used to have to be the tough guy. You do have to be tough in all sports and anything to be successful. Now it's more technical and recognizing that it's a fun sport. It's tough but that's what makes it special. Some of that recognition has changed in the sport but that's for media to figure out. He's just going to practice everyday
Things have changed. Used to have to be the tough guy. You do have to be tough in all sports and anything to be successful. Now it's more technical and recognizing that it's a fun sport. It's tough but that's what makes it special. Some of that recognition has changed in the sport but that's for media to figure out. He's just going to practice everyday
so happy cenzo was able to get down to 165
Then also as a personal note, I just wanted to share quickly here that I'm voluntarily taking a step back from BWI's weekly wrestling coverage this season. Of course I'll still be following closely, keeping an eye on things and I'll chime in here and there. I just have some fun and exciting things happening back home that limit how much time I can commit
No worries though. We're bringing on a special contributor who will continue our coverage, someone many of you are familiar with. Should be seeing his work around here later today or tomorrow
No worries though. We're bringing on a special contributor who will continue our coverage, someone many of you are familiar with. Should be seeing his work around here later today or tomorrow
#MakingSpykerRingsGreatAgain
