Penn State Wrestling's top 25 dual meets in the Cael Sanderson era

Penn State Wrestling’s top 25 dual meets in the Cael Sanderson era

STATE COLLEGE, PA - JANUARY 31: A view of the sell out crowd during a match between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Michigan Wolverines on January 31, 2016 at Recreation Hall on the campus of Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State won 35-7. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

13 of 25

Nicholas Megaludis of the Penn State Nittany Lions(Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

No. 13

January 22, 2010
University Park, Pa
No. 19 Illinois 11, No. 13 Penn State 24

Deep into the 2009-2010 season where the skies in Happy Valley go from shades of grey to different shades of gray and then to various shades of other grey, the Nittany Lions returned home for the first time in almost three months to take on B1G foe No. 19 Illinois.

Without looking it up, does anyone know why this dual meet made my list?

Let me ask another question. Prior to this matchup do you know when the last time Penn State beat Illinois in wrestling?

1957.

Yes, you did read that correctly. From 1958 to 2009 Penn State was 0-9 against the Fighting Illini and this dual meet served as yet another stepping stone for what Cael Sanderson was about to build at Penn State.

The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 21-0 lead as No. 12 Brad Pataky (PSU), Bryan Pearsall (PSU), No. 5 Frank Molinaro (PSU), and No. 5 Cyler Sanderson (PSU) each won decisions and Adam Lynch (PSU) upset No. 11 Ryan Prater (UI) by forcefully placing his back on the mat for a pin.

Penn State Wrestling won seven of the ten bouts and sent a message to Illinois.

And Penn State has not lost to Illinois since, piling up an 8-0 perfect streak of their own.

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