The sweat streaks on the blue mats at Lorenzo Wrestling Complex create larger puddles each minute at practice.
With the spots growing, Cael Sanderson admits his coaching staff runs practices differently than other coaches.
But the straightforward, laid-back Sanderson also knows he focuses on each wrestler one-on-one and feels the coaching staff is receptive to every grappler's concerns.
It's this mentality and the openness of the Penn State wrestlers that has enabled Sanderson and his coaching staff to connect with his new Nittany Lion team.
"Our goal is their goal," Sanderson said, "to help them be the best they can be."
United under this headline, the Lions will wrestle in their first meet this season tonight even though they will face each other in the Intrasquad Dual meet.
Quentin Wright, who is expected to redshirt this season, will face off in an exhibition match v. David Crowell.
Wright said each wrestler is testing their limits at practices, and because of this, he feels positive results this year are bound to come for the team.
"We have a great coaching staff up here," Wright said.
"It's a great accommodation with the guys we have on the team."
With the true freshmen expected to redshirt, the entire Penn State lineup will feature wrestlers Sanderson didn't recruit besides the coach's brother and 157-pounder Cyler Sanderson.
Because most Lions aren't Cael Sanderson's recruits, a transition period was something both sides expected.
"We're meshing well," assistant coach Cody Sanderson said. "These guys are doing a good job. They're listening to us almost all the time. Every day we get to know them a little bit better."
Still, Cody Sanderson said it will take some time for the team and staff to get fully acquainted.
Whether redshirting the freshmen class or two All-Americans, Cael Sanderson said he is trying to look at the wrestlers best interests. Wright said he was open to redshirting when Cael Sanderson asked about the possibility.
It's these types of accommodations that has the team and coaching staff uniting -- and also the coaches knowing the wrestlers' best interests.
"As long as they know that and believe that -- that we're here trying to help them reach their goals," Cael Sanderson said. "That is really the key and that is what we're doing."
