Cael Sanderson pulled out a piece of paper as he stood in front of the Penn State wrestling team during its usual meeting before Wednesday's practice.
The words the Nittany Lion coach read didn't involve wrestling.
Instead, they were jokes.
Sanderson's comedic effort -- its success for the team to judge -- was an example of his emphasis to have fun as the Lions compete at No. 1 Iowa tonight before traveling to No. 12 Wisconsin on Sunday.
As the Lions took the mat following the coach's words, Clay Steadman displayed some dance moves while warming up. Sanderson said the 197-pounder has been a hard worker all year and displayed the right mindset while competing for the starting spot with David Crowell.
Sanderson knows the 197-pounders, along with the rest of the Lions, must take advantage
of their shot at the nation's top team.
"Iowa is a solid team up and down the lineup," Sanderson said. "We just need to be at our best and look at this as a good opportunity to go in there and see what we can do. Put [Iowa] to the test."
The wrestlers who will be challenging the Hawkeyes are all set except for the 197-pound weight class.
Sanderson said both Steadman and Crowell will travel with the team. Steadman has been the primary starter at 197 and compiled a 5-5 dual meet record.
Meanwhile, Crowell has an 0-2 record in duals since redshirting the first half of the season after transferring from Pittsburgh last spring.
Having Crowell on his heels hasn't worried Steadman. In fact, he believes it helps him.
"Knowing I might lose my spot helps me work harder," Steadman said. "I need that to be pushed. I need that pressure."
Though Sanderson didn't say Wednesday if he would have the two split the weekend duals, the 197-pounders and assistant coach Troy Letters believed each will wrestle during the weekend. Crowell said he didn't know when each wrestler would compete if they split matches.
While Iowa's lineup is filled with nine ranked wrestlers, No. 4 197-pounder Chad Beatty suffered a broken foot during the Dec. 30 Midlands Championships and might miss the remainder of the regular season. Beatty's replacement, Luke Lofthouse, is 14-11 on the season.
With Beatty injured, Wisconsin's No. 8 Trevor Brandvold offers the toughest test for the Lions' 197-pounders. Brandvold is currently 10-3 on the season.
Whether or not the coaches choose in his favor, Crowell knows the decision will benefit the team. His feeling on the subject was plain and simple.
"He's Cael Sanderson," Crowell said. "Whatever he says, goes."
