Year one: complete. In the first season under the guidance of Cael Sanderson, the Penn State wrestling team performed amid the excitement and expectations that came along with its new coach.
The Nittany Lions compiled a 13-6-1 dual meet record -- a vast improvement on the 2008-09 mark of 8-12-2.
Add a Big Ten champion, three All-Americans and a ninth-place finish at the NCAA championships to the list of improvements in Sanderson's first season at the helm.
Yet, for 2010 All-American Frank Molinaro, the largest progression among the Lions came in the form of the wrestlers' attitudes and feelings toward their sport -- which are powering them as they begin preparation for next season.
"I love this sport now," Molinaro said. "I got that passion for the sport of wrestling back."
That passion flowed from the wrestlers to the Penn State faithful in Rec Hall during several February duals.
The winter storms that covered Pennsylvania with snow didn't stop crowds of 4,000 strong from seeing the Lions display the product of their hard work during three-straight home victories in Big Ten duals. During that stretch, senior Cyler Sanderson thrilled the crowd with pin after pin as he gained momentum for an eventual 157-pound Big Ten title.
It was during that time seniors Adam Lynch and Dave Erwin made noise in the conference. Both took advantage of their opportunities with Lynch going 6-2 and Erwin 7-1 in the Big Ten.
During NCAAs, senior 165-pounder Dan Vallimont's runner-up finish led the six Lion grapplers who competed. Vallimont, along with Cyler Sanderson and Molinaro, earned All-American honors and led the Lions to a ninth-place finish -- the 43rd top-10 finish at NCAAs in the program's history.
The team improved eight spots from its 17th-place showing at the tournament in 2008-09, and freshman David Taylor believes the Lions have a chance to improve another eight spots, which would translate to a national championship.
"I can't wait [for next season], especially after watching nationals this year," Taylor said. "The whole time I was just thinking about next year and what we can do as a team. I think we'll be right there competing for a national title, and that just fires me up."
Taylor, who redshirted this season, is just one of several young talents waiting to get their shot at representing the Lions next season.
The freshman from Urbana, Ohio, highlighted Sanderson's first recruiting class that helped push the starters during the season.
The newcomers gained a year of collegiate wrestling experience as Sanderson redshirted each true freshman. Ed Ruth and Jake Kemerer -- who has full eligibility after being released by Oklahoma in February -- join Taylor as grapplers who expect to see their first action against opposition while donning the Penn State singlet.
The 2010-11 season will offer Penn State fans the chance to welcome back All-American Quentin Wright to the lineup after he worked with Sanderson during a redshirt season.
Wright is eager to show the Lion faithful what he can do.
"I can't wait for [next season] to have the chance to go out there and wrestle in front of the crowds again," Wright said. "I expect us to keep getting better and be able to compete for the national title next year in Philadelphia."
With NCAAs set to take place in Philadelphia, Wright expects an increase in Penn State fans compared to this season's tournament.
He believes the blue-and-white supporters may outnumber those wearing Iowa's black and gold who filled up a large section of the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., during this season's NCAA championships. The Hawkeyes won their third consecutive national title and will be looking to repeat once again next season.
Though Iowa will present tough competition within the Big Ten for Penn State, Taylor believes the Lions may not be too far behind the current champions.
"Some people think we're a couple years away from being a national title threat, but I honestly think we can be right there next year to be a threat," Taylor said. "We have the ability to step in as younger guys and perform at a higher level."
