Penn State wrestling head coach Cael Sanderson is impressed following an “overall good day” to begin the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships.
The Nittany Lions went 20-0 last year, and this year they have started the championships on a positive note, with eight of 10 wrestlers advancing to Friday morning’s quarterfinal round. Luke Lilledahl (125 pounds), Marcus Blaze (133), Shayne Van Ness (149), PJ Duke (157), Mitchell Mesenbrink (165), Levi Haines (174), Rocco Welsh (184), and Josh Barr (197) all went 2-0 on the first day.
Meanwhile, 141-pound junior Braeden Davis and 285-pound redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola still have a chance to earn All-American status if they win every game from here on.
The Lions also gathered bonus points in 15 of their 18 wins, taking the team’s total points to 40.5.
“Guys are wrestling hard, tough; a lot of just good enthusiasm,” Sanderson said. “Obviously, [Friday’s] the big day, big point day. And then obviously it gets bigger on Saturday, I guess. Guys are doing fine. Just got to keep rolling.”
“Battling and just keep fighting,” Sanderson added. “That’s obviously, more important than winning and losing, right? And then our guys, just give your best effort, just go compete hard and do the best you can, and everything will work out.”
After losing his second-round match to Nebraska’s No. 3 Brock Hardy, Davis will now face No. 29 Jordan Titus of West Virginia for the second round consolation bracket. Moreover, Mirasola lost his second match to Iowa’s Ben Keuter and his next opponent is yet to be determined.
Cael Sanderson’s Penn State Chasing Fifth Straight National Title
Penn State is close to winning its fifth straight men’s wrestling national title this weekend. The last three NCAA titles have come under head coach Cael Sanderson, who is not feeling the pressure to land the program’s 13th overall title.
“There hasn’t been a year that these guys, our teams haven’t wrestled great at the national tournament,” Sanderson said. “Should give them a lot of confidence. And they can just be confident and and comfortable and just go do what they do.”
The Nittany Lions also have a chance to eclipse the record score of 177 points set last year in the ongoing tournament. But this isn’t on Sanderson’s mind who is focused on things on he can control.
“I mean, that’s just the furthest thing from our mind, really,” he said. “I mean, it’s — those are the things you look back later at, maybe. But when you’re looking ahead, you’re keeping things really simple. You’re focusing on exactly what you can control and the way you’re thinking and what you can do with your hands and your feet.”
If Sanderson’s Penn State wins their 13th overall title, they’ll be short of two titles to Iowa’s Dan Gable for the all-time lead.
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