Penn State wrestling pod: What's next for the Lions after their historic 2023-2024 season?
Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson was clear about his team’s next steps following an historic 2023-2024 season that ended with eight All-Americans, four national champions, and an NCAA team title featuring a record number of points (172.5) by a record-setting margin (100).
“Just going to be ready for next year,” Sanderson said. “That’s what we do. We always think ahead preparing for the future. We’ll be back in the room on Monday. We love what we do, we love to train. We love the sport of wrestling. Happy for the guys.”
It might sound like a cliche, but it’s anything but. We tell you why on this week’s episode of the Blue-White Illustrated Penn State wrestling show. And, there is a lot to discuss.
You can watch this week’s show in video player above and also on YouTube. Or, you can listen at your favorite destinations for audio like SPOTIFY and APPLE.
Host Thomas Frank Carr and reporter Greg Pickel start with a quick recap of the team’s highly successful folkstyle season. They also explain why graduate senior Aaron Brooks, who won his fourth NCAA title and first at 197 pounds this year, was the logical pick for the 2024 Hodge Trophy award.
From there, the duo dive into three key stay-or-go decisions that will impact the Penn State lineup for the 2024-2025 season. Will 141-pound runner-up Beau Bartlett, 174-pound champ Carter Starocci, and 285-pound first place finisher Greg Kerkvliet be back for one more season with the Lions? We discuss the pros and cons facing each wrestler when it comes to returning or moving on before assigning odds on whether or not each wrestler will be back.
More: Penn State wrestling superlatives: Top wrestlers, best highlight, and a bold prediction for 2024-2025
After that, Carr and Pickel set the stage for what lies ahead on the mat. Numerous past, current, and future Nittany Lions will be at this weekend’s Last Chance qualifier event in Norfolk, Va. Those competing there are hoping to earn a spot at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. They are April 19-20 in State College. Numerous Nittany Lions are already qualified for the event. What do you need to know about both? Carr and Pickel dive into the rundown. Here’s who is competing:
57 Kg:
– Jax Forest: recruit of interest
– Mason Gibson: PSU signee
– Nathan Desmond: PSU verbal
– Gary Steen: PSU team member
– Cael Nasdeo: PSU grayshirt
65 Kg:
– Bo Bassett: recruit of interest
– David Evans: PSU team member
74 Kg:
– Joe Sealey: PSU signee
– Vincenzo Joseph: PSU alum
– William Henckel: PSU verbal
– Terrell Barraclough: PSU team member
86 Kg:
– Morgan McIntosh: PSU alum
97 Kg:
– Cole Mirasola: PSU signee
You can watch this week’s show in video player above and also on YouTube. Or, you can listen at your favorite destinations for audio like SPOTIFY and APPLE.
