How Does Cael Sanderson Think Penn State Wrestling Freshmen Did in Debuts?

As a result, Kraisser won 2-1, with the extra point being because he secured riding time.

Sanderson didn’t criticize the officiating but didn’t defend it, either.

“I mean, the rule has kind of gone back and forth where there was no reaction time, and now they’re maybe giving a little too much reaction time,” he said. “Wrestling’s a hard sport to call, so (I) try not to dwell on it. Just kind of have to try and figure it out. Even when you’re wrestling, you kind of have to wrestle through those positions in case they go back and change it. It’s good experience for Joe, just because it probably would have been different had he not known he had a three (points). Probably could have wrestled through the position a little bit more. But it’s just good experience for him. Wrestling’s a tough sport to call. Sometimes (the calls) go your way and sometimes they don’t.”

Sanderson also pointed out that Sealey “hadn’t wrestled all year.”

“He was out,” Sanderson said. “Had a small surgery, something that kept him off the mat for most of his time here. So I thought that experience for him wasn’t easy, probably. But he didn’t hesitate. He wanted to wrestle. We’re happy to give him that opportunity, and he’s just going to keep getting better.”

CAEL ON MIRASOLA

Mirasola filled in for Kerkvliet, and to say that this was baptism by fire would be an understatement.

His first college dual meet opponent was the ninth-ranked heavyweight in the country in Ohio State’s Nick Feldman.

He lost that one 10-3.

It didn’t get any easier Sunday when Mirasola had to take on the 10th-ranked heavyweight in Illinois’ Luke Luffman.

He fell to Luffman 4-0.

“Mirasola’s been able to wrestle,” Sanderson said, “but he was, I guess, blessed to wrestle two top guys, two top ten guys. It’s great experience to see where you’re at, so, we were grateful they got that opportunity to wrestle. It was good.”

Penn State wrestling ends its dual meet season Friday night at Rec Hall against American. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 on BTN+.

We’ll see if Sealey and Mirasola get another chance at their first college dual meet wins, but regardless, Sanderson feels this past weekend was a positive experience.

“Those are tough matches to throw them out there in the first dual,” he said. “Two, obviously, really good teams in tough environments. But I thought they both… the experience would be worth it for them.”