Penn State wrestling welcomes high expectations

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - In year two, probably at least a year earlier than many expected, Cael Sanderson coached the Penn State wrestling team to a national championship.

But as the coach said in his season-opening news conference on Monday: "Last year is last year."

The Nittany Lions, who open their season Thursday with an intrasquad dual, enter the season ranked No. 1 and the favorite to win another national title. They return four wrestlers who placed in the top three in their respective weight classes at nationals last March in Philadelphia.

"We have a great chance this year to have a very successful season," said Sanderson, a college wrestling legend in his third year coaching Penn State. "As long as our guys continue to attack with the same attitude and passion that they have in the past, we're gonna have a lot of fun."

Quentin Wright, who capped off his 21-6 season with a national championship in the 184-pound weight class last year, said the Penn State wrestlers have targets on their backs. They will compete in a tough Big Ten where Iowa enters the season No. 2 and Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio State are all ranked in the top 10.

"Everybody wants to beat the Penn State wrestlers," said Wright, one of three Lions with a No. 1 preseason ranking in his respective weight class. David Taylor and Frank Molinaro are the others. "They're going to be shooting for us but we're going to be shooting back."

The Lions also return All-Americans Taylor, Molinaro and Ed Ruth, but Andrew Long, their fifth All-American from last season, is no longer with the team.

Long faces charges of attempted rape, aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault in connection with an incident that occurred Aug. 12. The case is still pending but Long withdrew from classes in August and is not in State College, Sanderson said.

Taylor said the off-the-mat problems have not been a distraction.

"You can't dwell on the past no matter what it is," said Taylor, the reigning Big Ten's wrestler of the year and freshman of the year who won 38 straight matches before losing in the national championship in the 157-pound weight class. "Everyone's goal this year is to be national champs. Our team's goal this year is to be national champs.

"This time last year, when I said we were going to be national champs, people wouldn't necessarily believe me. But I think this year, the difference is everyone's expecting a national title so we just can't let that get to our heads. We've just got to go out and wrestle to our ability, and if we do that I still don't think there's a team out there that can beat us."