-
The beginning of arguably the greatest wrestling dynasty in NCAA history. Sources -
https://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling-men/article/2024-10-02/penn-state-wrestling-championships-history-stats-records-dynasty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penn_State_Nittany_Lions_wrestling https://pennstatewrestlingclub.org/history/ https://gopsusports.com/documents/640a96b9-c072-4847-abbf-dff7dff6f404.pdf -
Penn State's first conference title in its first conference, the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association. They would go on to win 16 EIWA conference titles before moving to a different conference. -
Howard K. Johnson was the first NCAA All-American and Champion for Penn State at 165 pounds. He was the first of over 250 and counting. -
Penn State's First National Title of 14. They won it with five All-Americans and a Champion in Sam Hudson. -
Penn State left the EIWA to compete as an Independent before joining a conference a year later. They later joined the EWL and then later the Big 10.
-
After a year of competing independently, Penn State joined a conference. They joined the Eastern Wrestling League, with Pitt, Clarion, Lock Haven, Bloomsburg, and Buffalo. -
After multiple 10-win seasons and top-10 finishes at the NCAA Tournament, Penn State fell apart, recording 11 consecutive losses and finishing 2-11 on the season. The worst performance in program history.
-
Penn State's first win over the Iowa Hawkeyes marked the beginning of the greatest wrestling rivalry of all time. The rivalry currently sits at 24-18, with Iowa leading, but Penn State has shown dominance in recent years. -
Penn State left the EWL in 1990 to join the Big 10 after the rest of the school did for football and other sports. This move made the Big 10 the hardest conference year in and year out. -
Cael Sanderson was a 4-time national champion and undefeated college wrestler with a record of 159-0.
In April of 2009, beginning the Cael Sanderson Era of Penn State, which is still active today. -
Shortly after hiring Cael Sanderson, Penn State found its footing and won its first of many Big 10 titles. This was the beginning of the dominance shown in the Sanderson Era. -
Penn State's first of three national 4-Peats, showcasing utter dominance in the Sanderson Era. They were only stopped by Ohio State in 2015 at the NCAA Championships
-
The second of three national 4-peats, further continuing Penn State's dominance. Penn State could only be stopped by COVID-19 and the shutdown of the National Tournament.
-
Penn State's third national 4-peat with a winning streak that is still active today. The dominance shown by Penn State in the 2025-26 season is likely to result in a 5-peat.
-
There have only ever been 6 4-time national champions in the history of NCAA Wrestling. Both Aaron Brooks and Carter Starocci became Penn State's first and only current 4-time NCAA Champions. -
The entire Penn State starting lineup placed in the top 8, technically the top 6, at the 2025 NCAA Championships. They were the second team ever to do so, after the 2001 Minnesota Golden Gophers. -
4-timer Carter Starocci used his last year of eligibility to wrestle the 2024-2025 season, and in doing so won his 5th individual NCAA title over another NCAA Champ Parker Kekiheisen, the first and only ever to do so. He will most likely go down as the only 5-time NCAA champ in history. -
Penn State's success helped them destroy records in recent years. Penn State broke its own points record set in 2024 at 172.5, scoring 177 points at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships.