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

By Chris Snyder

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)
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) /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – MARCH 8: Seth Gross of the Wisconsin Badgers wrestles Sebastian Rivera of the Northwestern Wildcats during the Big Ten Championships at Rutgers Athletic Center on the campus of Rutgers University on March 8, 2020 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – MARCH 8: Seth Gross of the Wisconsin Badgers wrestles Sebastian Rivera of the Northwestern Wildcats during the Big Ten Championships at Rutgers Athletic Center on the campus of Rutgers University on March 8, 2020 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

No. 12

January 31, 2010
Madison, Wis
No. 13 Penn State 22, No. 12 Wisconsin 15

The 2009-2010 wrestling season was certainly a season of “Firsts”, and for good reason. Penn State brought a wrestling legend on board to build on the coaching career he started at Iowa State.

And it didn’t take long for people to start noticing the changes Cael Sanderson was making on the program.

Shortly after taking down the Fighting Illini for the first time in 53 years, the Nittany Lions then headed to Madison to take on the No. 12 ranked Wisconsin Badgers.

That year’s Badgers squad feature five ranked grapplers which included the No. 2 wrestler at 149 (Kyle Ruschell) and the No. 1 wrestler at 165 (Andrew Howe). Wisconsin was talented, they were experienced, they were wrestling at home, and Penn State had not beat them since 2004.

The dual began at 125 where Penn State and Wisconsin traded bonus points as No. 12 Brad Pataky (PSU) scored a major decision and No. 8 Tyler Graff (UW) earned a technical fall to make the score 5-4 in favor of the Badgers.

The NIttany Lions then pulled off back to back upset decisions as Adam Lynch (PSU) beat No. 20 Cole Schmitt (UW) and No. 5 Frank Molinaro (PSU) took down No. 2 Kyle Rushell (UW) in a thrilling 6-5 match.

No. 5 Cyler Sanderson (PSU) then pinned his foe to put Penn State up 16-5 at the midway point in the dual.

No. 1 Andrew Howe (UW) took care of business against No. 8 Dan Vallimont (PSU) in a decision to cut the lead to 16-8. The Badgers then added three more in a decision in the next match and now the once comfortable lead was down to 16-11 with three matches to go.

No. 13 David Erwin (PSU) knocked off No. 16 Travis Rutt (UW) in a decision and No. 8 Trevor Brandvold (UW) earned a major decision against David Crowell (PSU) to net the score 19-15 in favor of Penn State with one match to go.

Psssh. No problem.

No. 11 Cameron Wade (PSU) came up to bat against fellow 285 pounder Eric Bugenhagen (UW) and calmly won the match 4-0, earning the decision, and sealing the victory for Penn State 22-15.

Is Wisconsin a world beater in wrestling in the B1G? No. But prior to Cael Sanderson coming to Penn State it was a mixed bad in terms of results against the Badgers.

Since Cael came to Penn State? The Nittany Lions have yet to lose to Wisconsin.

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