"Every journey worth taking begins with one small step…"
It's simple to say it but putting the words into action can be daunting…unless everything comes together. On April 17, 2009, Penn State officially announced that a young legend from the Midwest was taking over the reins of a wrestling program steeped in history and tradition.
Three days later, over 500 fans poured into Rec Hall to welcome then-29-year-old Cael Sanderson to Penn State as the new head coach of the Nittany Lion wrestling team. Sanderson stood offstage, just off the main venue floor peering out at the mass of Lion faithful who had come to a simple press conference, humbled by the show of support for a man these fans had never met. After a brief introduction, the best wrestler in the history of collegiate wrestling took one small step on to Rec Hall's hallowed wooden floor and the landscape of collegiate wrestling changed forever.
Sanderson, who had served as head coach at his alma mater for three years after winning four NCAA titles and never losing a match as a collegian (going 159-0), made an immediate impact at Penn State. Bringing in his older brother Cody as associate head coach and bringing Casey Cunningham along as head assistant coach, Sanderson spent 2009-10 beginning work on the foundation of one of college athletics' great dynasties.
That first season was a year of growth and transition. Wrapping his arms around a talented group of wrestlers who returned from the prior season. Penn State had gone 8-12-2 the year before. Two All-Americans were set to return (Frank Molinaro and Quentin Wright). Sanderson and his staff made a decision that would have monumental ramifications in the years to come, redshirted a talented group of wrestlers who would go on to win seven NCAA titles and garner 11 more All-America laurels. One of those grapplers included Wright, who was a sixth-place finisher as a true freshman, earning All-America honors the year prior and on his way to legendary status at Penn State. Two other notable redshirts that year were soon-to-be legends Ed Ruth and David Taylor.
Penn State lost its first dual that year, falling 23-14 at Lehigh. The Nittany Lions haven't lost to Lehigh since. Sanderson's squad went on to win eight of its next nine duals (with a tie at Pitt tossed in among eight victories), including a 23-15 home win over Bloomsburg on Nov. 15, 2009. That win was Sanderson's first as Penn State's head coach and the first of many for the Lion mentor in Rec Hall.
The Nittany Lions hosted Illinois on Jan. 22, 2010, in Sanderson's first Big Ten dual meet in Rec Hall. Penn State downed the Illini 24-11 and went on to go 5-3 in Sanderson's first full Big Ten dual season. The Lions also picked up wins over Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan and Michigan State that year.
Wins and losses were tallied while an energized group of wrestlers began the formative process off creating a culture at Penn State that thrives today. The names and accolades of those individuals are the founding bricks for all the success that has come since.
The Penn State fanbase, one of the nation's most knowledgeable, fervent, well-travelled and loyal, responded. Penn State's average attendance more than doubled from the prior year, with 4,343 fans packing Rec Hall that season.
Sanderson's younger brother, Cyler Sanderson, transferred to Penn State for his final collegiate season, wrestling at 157, Sanderson amassed a 32-7 record and went 6-2 in Big Ten duals. On March 7, Cyler became Cael's first-ever Big Ten Champion, winning the Big Ten title at 157 before going on to earn All-America honors by placing sixth at the NCAA Championship.
Molinaro made it back-to-back All-America years as a sophomore. In his first season wrestling for Sanderson, Molinaro led Penn State in wins going 33-7. He went on to finish fifth at the NCAA Championships. Dan Vallimont was Penn State's third of four wrestlers who won 30 or more matches in 2009-10. Vallimont went 30-8 at 165 and became Sanderson's first NCAA finalist, closing out his career as NCAA runner-up. David Erwin went 31-10 at 174 and 184 and Cameron Wade had a 22-11 mark at 285. Brad Pataky posted a 28-10 mark at 125.
Penn State placed ninth at the NCAA Championships with three of six Penn State qualifiers earning All-America laurels. Since then, Penn State has won eight of nine contested NCAA titles and never had a year without a national champion or fewer than five All-Americans.
The 2009-10 season started with small steps, featured challenges and obstacles, and ended with some successes that paved the way for the ensuing years. There was a plan put in place and it started that year. A roster of excited wrestlers bought in to a new culture, helped put it into place through action and deed, and are forever remembered for writing the first page in a story that continues to be written today.
The standards that Penn State Wrestling has set for itself have always been high. It's the work that the coaches, staff and student-athletes put in both on and off the mat, both in life and in the classroom, that matters. Sanderson often says that if you do the right things, the results take care of themselves. Live the life, to the work, wrestle hard for seven minutes. Those are the things you can control. The 2009-10 season was a window into where the culture began, and you could see the small steps being taken that started one of college athletics' most dominant runs.
Retrospectacle…
Signature Wins
-- Sanderson's first win as Penn State head coach came in the Nittany Lions' home opener with a 23-15 win over Bloomsburg on Nov. 15, 2009.
-- Early signs that Penn State was back came with a 22-9 win over then No. 15 Edinboro during a 3-0 run at the Sprawl and Brawl Duals on Nov. 22.
-- Sanderson made a fine Big Ten debut with a 24-11 win over No. 19 Illinois on Jan. 22, 2010.
-- His first Big Ten road win came at No. 12 Wisconsin as Penn State earned a 22-15 win in Madison on Jan. 31.
Highlights
-- Penn State went 13-6-1 in dual meets, much improved from the prior year's 8-12-2, and a strong finish to return to the Top 10 (No. 10) in the final NWCA Coaches Poll.
-- Sanderson led Penn State to a fifth-place finish at the 2010 Big Ten Championships, including his first Big Ten individual champion as younger brother Cyler claimed the 157-pound title.
-- Penn State tallied 49.0 points at the 2010 NCAA Championships in Omaha, Neb., the 17th-most in school history and good enough for ninth place in the final team standings. Dan Vallimont was the top finisher among Penn State's three All-Americans, advancing to the national finals at 165. Frank Molinaro finished fifth at 149 and Cyler Sanderson took sixth at 157.
Final Results (13-6-1, 5-3 B1G, 5th B1G, 9th NCAA)
Nov. 13 at #17 Lehigh 14-23 L
Nov. 15 BLOOMSBURG 23-15 W
Nov. 22 vs. Rutgers$ 18-17 W
vs. Harvard$ 36-6 W
vs. #15 Edinboro$ 22-9 W
Dec. 11 at West Virginia 33-12 W
Dec. 12 at #24 Pittsburgh 19-19 T
Jan. 3 at Lock Haven 32-6 W
Jan. 8 vs. Virginia Tech! 26-9 W
Jan. 8 vs. #13 Kent State! 22-13 W
Jan. 9 vs. #4 Oklahoma State! 13-24 L
Jan. 9 vs. #10 Oklahoma! 15-22 L
Jan. 22 #19 ILLINOIS* 24-11 W
Jan. 24 at #3 Ohio State* 14-21 L
Jan. 29 at #1 Iowa* 6-29 L
Jan. 31 at #12 Wisconsin* 22-15 W
Feb. 5 NORTHWESTERN* 37-10 W
Feb. 7 MICHIGAN* 29-10 W
Feb. 12 MICHIGAN STATE* 26-12 W
Feb. 19 at #5 Minnesota* 16-26 L
March 6-7 Big Ten Championships 5th
March 18-20 NCAA Championships 9th
$ Sprawl and Brawl Duals, Binghamton, N.Y.;
! Virginia Duals, Hampton, Va. -- * Big Ten Dual
