What Penn State Wrestling Coach Cael Sanderson Said After the NCAA Championships…
Following Penn State’s dominant performance at the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships, Coach Cael Sanderson shared his thoughts on the team’s success and future aspirations. When asked about the achievements of sophomore Levi Haines and senior Greg Kerkvliet, both of whom improved from second place finishes the previous year to national champions, Sanderson expressed his satisfaction with their performances:
> “I think they both, they wrestled great. They had that experience and they were the aggressors and kind of went out there and got their takedowns against two really good opponents. I’m really happy for them. And the trick is just keep getting better and let’s get ready for another one.”
Reflecting on the broader impact of Penn State’s wrestling program, Sanderson acknowledged Pennsylvania’s rich wrestling heritage and emphasized the importance of continuous improvement:
> “We’re not saying that. We are just going to do what we do every day. And, keep trying to get better and improve as we move along. We have a lot of support, [and] we have the best athletic director in the country right now, and we’re very blessed with [Penn State athletic director] Pat Kraft. He loves the sport. He’s extremely competitive. It’s been a huge just refresh.
> “But Pennsylvania has always been known for wrestling. It’s been great. It’s just been a nice combination for us to be able to get in there. But there’s a lot of states that love wrestling. There’s a lot of great wrestlers around the world, around the country. But we’re just blessed to be surrounded by a lot of good people that love competing and love doing things the right way.”
Sanderson’s comments reflect his commitment to maintaining the program’s excellence and fostering a culture of relentless pursuit of improvement.
