Correction appended
With two All-Americans set to be absent from the lineup, the Penn State wrestling team will need other wrestlers to collect points in the first season of the Cael Sanderson era.
Frank Molinaro, Cyler Sanderson and Dan Vallimont are all safe bets to make a run at the national tournament in March, as all three have previously cracked the top eight at NCAAs for All-America honors.
Junior 125-pounder Brad Pataky will look to join their ranks this season after narrowly missing the podium in the spring.
The Clearfield native lost in the round of 12 to Kent State's Nicholoas Bedelyon. A win over Bedelyon would have given Pataky All-America status.
Sanderson didn't temper his outlook for the nation's preseason No. 8-ranked 125-pounder at Tuesday's Media Day.
"Our expectation of Pataky is for him to be in the hunt for the national title," Sanderson said. "... He wrestles at his best at the national tournament. He did last year. I don't remember -- coaching the other team -- but I do remember seeing him pin a few guys."
In addition to Pataky holding down a key spot in Penn State's lineup, his coach mentioned him as one of the wrestlers taking on a lead-by-example role on the team.
Last year's fourth-place 125-pounder in the Big Ten didn't seem fazed by being looked at as a leader.
"I like taking the responsibility with the team," Pataky said. "I'm learning a lot from them, and I'm trying to teach down to the younger guys what it takes to be at this level, and with the help of the new coaches and the new staff the discipline that we have now is tremendous."
As Penn State's marquee lightweight, Pataky could be tasked with nurturing whoever winds up taking over the 133-pound spot that currently stands vacant with Jake Strayer's eligibility expired.
Sanderson said redshirt freshmen Bryan Pearsall and Jack Chidester are currently the leading candidates at that weight, as redshirt sophomore Tyler Saltsman is on the mend with a right leg injury.
Saltsman sported a full brace on his right leg at Tuesday's practice, but was still walking with the brace around the wrestling room.
Correction: A photo caption with the article "Penn State's Pataky looked to as leader" on page 10 of Thursday's Daily Collegian incorrectly identified the wrestlers in the photo. Brad Pataky is the wrestler on the left, and Jake Kemerer is the wrestler on the right.
