This afternoon, Head Coach Cael Sanderson spoke to media ahead of Friday’s 8pm EST dual vs. Nebraska in the Bryce Jordan Center.
Cael Sanderson – Head Coach, Penn State Wrestling
Thoughts on the excitement for the Nebraska dual and younger wrestlers facing top competition?
I think it is just the same as every week. These dual meets are a lot of fun and every match counts, so those are more exciting, but from a just getting ready to go individual perspective, I think it’s pretty similar. The guys are just trying to be the best they can be on Friday regardless of the opponent. But yeah, I think it’s exciting. It’s a BJC dual against a very strong
opponent, one where with 10 good guys makes it fun. (00:00 – 00:44)
Thoughts on the rivalry with Nebraska?
Yeah, for sure. They are a great team. When we’re out there, they have a great crowd and obviously really well-coached and just tough in all positions. They are tricky and very scrambly—hard to finish on. They are obviously a very good team and a lot of experienced wrestlers. So, we got to be ready to roll. (00:44 – 1:16)
Thoughts on Shane Van Ness scoring nine takedowns in four minutes?
I think that’s just a good lesson, especially with scoring the way it is now, that you can make mistakes and you can come back so it’s really not that big of a deal. In his case, he gave up back points also and still there’s so much time. I think more than anything, it’s just a great lesson for our guys, obviously for Shane [Van Ness] himself, that if we give up a takedown or give up a few points, it’s not a big deal. It’s just part of competing, and with three-point takedowns, you can get back in there real fast. (1:16 – 1:59)
Is a medical redshirt a possibility for Aaron Nagao?
Maybe, but he’s already decided. He would have one already based on previous years, so I think that would be an option for him if that’s something he wanted to take. (1:59 – 2:18)
Has Aaron Nagao decided on his future following his recovery?
I don’t know the answer for that. I think he probably doesn’t know the answer to that right now just because he’s got a long road to recovery again—that one that he just came back from. So, he’ll have to figure that out. Obviously, we’d love to have him continue to wrestle, but he’s also a guy who has some exciting plans and he just got married this past summer and just has a lot going on. A lot of good positive things. So, I think that’s something he’ll have to explore and not something that it’s not really my place to answer for him on that. (2:18 – 3:02)
How has Aaron Nagao impacted wrestlers like Braeden Davis and Marcus Blaze?
Aaron [Nagao] is just a great human being, but you watch him wrestle, he’s freaky good, scrambly, tough on top. So, he’s been a blessing to everyone around him and everyone in the program. He’s a guy you kind of go to when you’re trying to figure out how to get out of legs and wrestle in those positions. But just his positive attitude of gratitude—it’s just been a very all-around great thing for our program. (3:02 – 3:42)
Thoughts on coaching against Mark Manning over the years?
Just a great competitor. Obviously, very passionate. He has had one of the top programs every year, very consistent, and before we came to Penn State, we wrestled them in the Big 12. That was one of our more competitive rivalries there. So yeah, a lot of experience and just every year they’re really good and they always have a really good dual meet team. (3:42 – 4:18)
Observations on Nebraska overcoming adversity this season?
They’ve lost some matches, but they’re to the top teams in the country. Coming off a really outstanding national tournament, there’s always going to be really high expectations. I don’t know why maybe they started off a little slow, but they’re right back where they want to be. So, we need to be ready to wrestle here in the Big 10 and then in the nationals. (4:18 – 5:01)
How does focusing on a single opponent impact the team mentally?
Really, maybe I’m not doing my job, but we don’t really focus on our opponents a whole lot, so it really doesn’t make much difference to us. We really are focusing on ourselves. Most of the people we wrestle are competing in the same tactics against our guys. So we just have to continue to work on what we’re doing to score points. I like competing and our guys like competing, but whatever’s on our schedule, we’re just happy to do that and not too worried about it. It’s not much different just because we don’t put a lot of focus into one opponent. (5:01 – 6:05)
What can be learned from this consecutive stretch of top-tier opponents?
We love it. It’s part of what you look forward to. Obviously, our staff’s been coaching for a long time, so these matches and obviously the conference and the nationals really make what we do a lot of fun. Just being prepared and excited to go compete when the lights are on against great competition. It’s the same every year. We enjoy it and look forward to the big matches. (6:05 – 6:51)
How do you maintain a relentless focus on process over outcome?
Well, I think when saying focus on the process too, I think that means different things to different people. And even if you ask the kids on your team, what does this mean, you’re going to get a different answer from each kid. And I think it means different things to each individual and the way they compete. But for us as a staff, we are just focused on something we feel is more exciting than just trying to win our next match. And that’s the process for us—obviously the details that make that possible. The little things like moving your feet or whatever it is. But I think we don’t change because we continue to focus on what we value, and that’s just being a part of a program that stands for something maybe a little different. And that’s what’s important to us. Obviously, if you do that and you focus on those things, results will come or they won’t. And if they don’t, then you make adjustments. But yeah, I just think we’re competitive people, and there’s certain patterns that it’s not hard to see in any part of history, teams, anything—there are cycles that take place. And we’re just competitive enough that we want to make sure we’re being the best we can possibly be, and that’s how we feel like you do it. So we’re disciplined to stay in that lane. (6:51 – 8:41)
What is the most common obstacle to maintaining that process?
Probably our vain imaginations. You start worrying about what other people are doing or what other people think. Obviously, kids today are going to have challenges with social media and all of those challenges—it’s probably harder for them than for somebody who grew up a little differently. So I think probably that would be the first thing that pops in my head. And that’s just a biblical principle; it’s been a distraction for mankind from the beginning—just our own vanity and imaginations. (8:41 – 9:29)
Is the story true that Cael Sanderson once challenged the whole team to escape from him?
I can’t confirm that. We just feel like the older you get and when you jump into coaching, you really see the value and the importance of mat wrestling. A lot of times, kids grow up and it’s not as cool to ride somebody or control them on the mat. They’re cutting them and trying to take them down, and those are the things you see in highlight reels. So for us, it’s just that we see the importance of that and the value of being willing to fight hard to retain a point or gain a point. I think that goes right in line with doing the little things that it takes to be the best you could possibly be. We really value mat wrestling and we know obviously if you are confident and comfortable knowing you can get away from anybody in a short amount of time, then you’re going to be a little more fearless on your feet. It all goes hand in hand. So we try to get the freshman and the young guys in and make sure they’re confident and comfortable getting out the bottom. (9:29 – 11:00)
How often does Cael Sanderson still get on the mat and wrestle with the guys?
They start asking me more towards the end of the week when they’re looking for somebody light that they can just throw around. So that’s kind of the role that I take and have accepted. But yeah, I wrestle pretty much every day. I’m not throwing a fit if I’m not wrestling that day like I probably would a few years ago just because the body’s not designed to get beat up on this far in your life, probably. But I love it. I love that part of it. I feel like that’s how I can teach kids, just like with the mat wrestling. A lot of times if you tell them something, anyone can tell somebody what they’re doing wrong, but getting somebody to make a change or an adjustment—obviously that’s the challenge. So, as coaches, if you can get on the mat with them and you just kind of keep putting them in that position over and over again, whether they know it or not, they’re going to get better there. So I really enjoy that part of my job. We wrestle every day, multiple times a day still. It’s more of a dummy man today than maybe 20 years ago. (11:00 – 12:33)
Thoughts on the PJ Duke and Antrell Taylor matchup?
We’ll see. Obviously, PJ [Duke] is an incredible competitor and has an opportunity to wrestle a defending NCAA champion at his weight. I just think it’s a great opportunity for PJ [Duke] to really kind of see where he is. Obviously, he’s wrestled some great wrestlers this year, but now he gets a chance to wrestle a defending national champ. (12:33 – 13:42)
How does having freestyle experience help in the collegiate scene?
Well, I think even just wrestling at that level is a big confidence booster. Obviously, knowing you can compete. His freestyle is more—obviously there’s a push-out rule—but takedowns are emphasized more now that they’re two points as opposed to one many years ago. So, if you’re good on your feet, you’re good on your feet—freestyle, folkstyle, whatever. (13:11 – 13:42)
Thoughts on the Cole Mirasola vs AJ Ferrari matchup?
Yeah, just another great opportunity. Cole [Mirasola] is continuing to get better as he competes and his confidence grows. Ferrari is a returning NCAA champion from a few years ago at another weight, but wrestles very tactical in the way he wrestles. Very tricky. So, it’ll be a fun challenge for Cole [Mirasola] just to wrestle wisely and do what you do to give yourself a chance of success there. (13:42 – 14:31)
How do you help wrestlers avoid the vanity of social media when facing highly ranked opponents?
Well, I think that’s just a challenge, right? They’re challenged and people tend to respond to being challenged. That’s human nature, I think. So I don’t think our guys are going to have a hard time being motivated when they’re wrestling a national champion. That’s just a great opportunity. And then our guys that have been national champions, that’s where you don’t inhale, right? You don’t change. You don’t try to protect anything or it doesn’t become about winning or not losing. It’s still about getting better every match and using every second to do what you do. So yeah, it just depends on where you’re at and whether you’re winning or losing or are a freshman or a senior, just staying keeping that same mentality and mindset and discipline to do the right things. (14:31 – 15:32)
