Cael Sanderson Confident as Penn State Wrestling Begins 2025-26 Season After Historic NCAA Championship

University Park, PA- Head Coach Cael Sanderson opened the 2025-26 Penn State wrestling season with optimism and pride. “Every year we’re excited to get going,” he said, expressing confidence in his athletes and staff to give their best effort while enjoying the season ahead.

Reflecting on the offseason, Sanderson praised the experience gained by seven Penn State athletes competing at the U23 World Championships, emphasizing the developmental value. “Those are the goals of young wrestlers,” he shared. Penn State wrestlers accounted for 15 of the 30 men’s freestyle positions for Team USA. Levi Haines stood out by winning the U23 World title at 174 pounds and finishing second at the senior level. “Levi had a great offseason and jumped levels again,” Sanderson remarked, applauding his growth.

Addressing roster depth, Sanderson acknowledged the competitive nature at 141 pounds but clarified it through a secondhand report, stating, “I think I heard something about 10 guys listed at 141 pounds… but that could have been somebody else saying it.” This showed the competitive landscape in a general sense without confirming the number as a fact within the program.

At heavyweight, Sanderson expressed confidence in Cole Mirisola and Lucas Cochran, who moved up from 197 pounds due to team depth. “He’s tall, had success there before, and we have a lot of confidence in him,” Sanderson said of Cochran.

Injury concerns were addressed with optimism, as Sanderson provided an update on Josh Barr’s rib injury overseas. “Josh is a tough dude and that rib injury, while annoying, will be short term. He’ll be good to go soon,” Sanderson said.

At 133 pounds, the redshirt discussion focused primarily on Masanosuke Ono and Kyison Garcia. Sanderson explained the program’s hope for Ono to receive two years of eligibility, possibly redshirting him to maximize development.

The status of Garcia remained flexible, and Marcus Blaze was expected to be a strong competitor slated to start the season.

Regarding Tyler Kasak’s development, Sanderson explained, “He’s not a natural 157 pounder. He’s only going to get bigger and stronger. So use the season where you have him at 57, redshirt Kasak, and then basically flip them the adjacent year where Duke takes the redshirt next year, grows into his next weight class, and you have Kasak come back and settle in right at 57.” This showed a strategic approach applied to Kasak’s physical growth and career longevity.

Rocco Welsh, a significant addition to the team, was also discussed.

Welsh, a former Ohio State wrestler and 2024 NCAA runner-up at 174 pounds, transferred to Penn State for the 2025-26 season, where he will compete at 184 pounds. Having redshirted at Ohio State last season, he comes with three years of eligibility remaining. Sanderson and Welsh both emphasized the appeal of Penn State’s elite training environment and coaching staff. Welsh said, “It really is just about being in the room with all those really good training partners and the coaches, obviously…They’ve accomplished all the stuff that I want to accomplish there, and I think it’s going to be a confidence thing.” Welsh is expected to be in the starting spot at 184 pounds, a position open following Carter Starocci’s departure, and the transfer of Zack Ryder to Oklahoma State..

Celebrating Penn State’s 2025 NCAA Championship— their 13th overall and fourth consecutive—Sanderson said, “Just really happy for our team, proud of them. They went out here and really competed hard this weekend.” The team achieved a record-breaking 177 points and a historic 10 All-Americans on the podium, underlining their dominance. Sanderson praised Carter Starocci on his fifth national title, highlighting his mental toughness and focus.

The coaching staff, including Cody, Casey, and Nick Lee, was commended for dedication and loyalty. “Our coaches could be head coaches anywhere but choose to stay because they believe in what we’re doing,” Sanderson noted. The program upholds a culture of humility, leadership, and collective success.

Looking toward the season opener against Oklahoma, Sanderson expressed excitement about blending veterans and newcomers but maintained confidentiality around the lineup to protect competitive advantage.

Penn State decided not to participate in the National Duals this year to prioritize athlete wellness but remains open to future participation. Sanderson welcomed Slippery Rock’s return to Division I, considering it a positive for Pennsylvania wrestling and the sport overall.

The program’s connection with the Central Pennsylvania community was highlighted as Sanderson spoke about youth wrestling initiatives that have nurtured local talent competing at Penn State and beyond. “It’s cool to see these guys have success, whether here or elsewhere,” he concluded.