Cael Sanderson was just 29 years old when he was named as Penn State’s head wrestling coach in 2009. 

Though he may not have majored in cartography while starring for Iowa State a decade prior, he wasted no time putting the Penn State wrestling program on the map in the decade that followed. 

Among his accomplishments in his first 10 years with the Nittany Lions was eight team titles at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships from 2011 to 2019, and the path of his quick success was captured in a three-episode docuseries by FloWrestling in 2022.

If you haven’t seen it, this is the perfect time to check out “WE ARE: Cael’s First Decade,” as Sanderson and Penn State are preparing to defend the Big Ten and NCAA national titles they won in 2024.

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The Nittany Lions’ Big Ten title in 2024 was their eighth under Sanderson, with the first coming in 2011.

Their national championship was their third consecutive and 11th since Sanderson took over, along with a runner-up finish in 2021.

Clearly, his first decade with Penn State would be hard to duplicate, yet he’s well on his way. 

As the excitement builds for the 2025 college wrestling postseason, including the star-studded Big Ten Wrestling Championships, it’s the perfect time to celebrate what Sanderson already has accomplished and begin to discuss what’s ahead.

Watch all three episodes of “WE ARE: Cael’s First Decade” on FloWrestling:

WE ARE: Cael’s First Decade

• Trailer
• Episode 1
• Episode 2
• Episode 3

About Cael Sanderson

If there was a Mount Rushmore of collegiate wrestling, many would expect Cael Sanderson to be on it. 

After becoming a four-time Utah state champion at Wasatch High School in Heber City, Utah, his career at Iowa State spanned 1999-2002 (after redshirting the 1997-1998 season). He wrestled at 184 pounds for three years and finished his career at 197.

He remains the only competitor in history with more than 100 wins to complete an undefeated CAREER. 

Sanderson compiled a record of 159-0 and is one of only seven wrestlers in history to win four individual national championships. He’s also the only wrestler in history to be named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships four times. 

Oh, and he claimed four Big 12 titles along the way, too, as well as an ESPY for Best Male Collegiate Athlete in 2002.

Beyond the college ranks, Sanderson found similar success internationally, as the three-time United States national champion went on to win bronze at the Pan American Games in 2003, silver at the World Wrestling Championships in 2004 and gold at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. 

He’s now a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (2011) and Iowa State Hall of Fame (2017).

After completing his eligibility at Iowa State and traveling the world, Sanderson worked his way through the administrative side of the Cyclone wrestling program and then spent three years as the head coach at his alma mater. 

The success he’d enjoyed as a competitor follow him, and Sanderson was named the 2007 Big 12 Coach of the Year, National Rookie Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year. His time at ISU included a 44-10 record, three conference titles and two individual national titles. 

Under Sanderson, the Nittany Lions have won 34 individual national titles and 10 team national championships. They’ve also claimed all eight of their Big Ten team titles during his reign, including their first in 2011.

After taking Penn State to unprecedented heights in 2011, Sanderson was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year, making him the first coach in NCAA history to achieve the honor in both the Big 12 and Big Ten.

In all, he has been the Big Ten Coach of the Year six times. 

When Are The 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships?

The 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships will be held March 8-9 at the Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois, the home of Northwestern basketball, volleyball and wrestling.

On the line, will be a coveted Big Ten title in each weight class and the opportunity to move on to the 2025 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship.

The 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships will be held over two days and four exciting sessions at the Welsh-Ryan Arena. 

The first-rounds, quarterfinal, semifinal and wrestleback matches all will take place during Session I and Session II. 

Consolation semifinals and seventh-place matches will happen during Session III. 

The event will conclude with the first-, third- and fifth-places matches during Session IV.

What Teams Compete In Big Ten Wrestling?

The Big Ten Wrestling landscape includes 14 teams:

• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Michigan State
• Minnesota
• Nebraska
• Northwestern
• Ohio State
• Penn State
• Purdue
• Rutgers 
• Wisconsin

What Team Won At The 2024 Big Ten Wrestling Championships?

Penn State, before going on to win a third consecutive national title, outdistanced Michigan (170.5-123.5) for the Big Ten team title.

The event was held at the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland.

Revisit the FloWrestling coverage from the 2024 Big Ten Wrestling Championships.

How To Watch The 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships

The Big Ten is the premier conference in collegiate wrestling, and the conference’s talented teams are a big draw for viewers on the Big Ten Network and the FOX Sports App, which are scheduled to air two dozen duals and the Big Ten Wrestling Championship during the 2024-2025 season.

More than 80 additional contests will be broadcast on BIG+ (the Big Ten Network’s subscription service for non-televised events). 

The Big Ten Wrestling Championships, specifically, on March 8-9, will air on the Big Ten Network.

Big Ten Wrestling Championships Television Schedule

The Big Ten Network air three segments of coverage from the 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships on March 8-9.

All Times Eastern

March 8

• 11 a.m. – Session I
• 8 p.m. – Session II

March 9

• 5:30 p.m. – Championships

When Are The 2025 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships?

The 2025 collegiate wrestling season will come to a close with the 2025 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, set for March 20-22.

The event will take place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. 

Penn State is the three-time defending national team champion in Division I wrestling and has won the title 11 of the 13 times the competition has been held since 2011. The Nittany Lions won in four consecutive times twice during the streak. 

A team from the Big Ten has won the team title 17 consecutive times. The last non-Big Ten team to win was Oklahoma State, which won four straight championships from 2003-2006.

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