An Open Letter to the Penn State Nittany Lions Wrestling Family from Coach Cael Sanderson
Dear Wrestling Family at Penn State,
I am overcome with thankfulness, introspection, and admiration for the amazing road we have traveled together as I sit down to write this letter. This school, this program, and this community became more than just a place where I could coach as soon as I stepped foot on campus at Penn State. A family was formed.
Thank you to all of the student-athletes who have sacrificed so much on the mat. One of the greatest honors of my life has been coaching you. This program has been defined and elevated to previously unheard-of heights by your unrelenting quest for greatness, your unshakable dedication, and your faith in the process. My biggest joy has been seeing you develop as leaders and people in addition to being athletes. I am honored to have shared this journey with you, and each practice, demanding training session, and victory or defeat has been a part of it.
I want to express my gratitude to my coaching staff and all those that work behind the scenes to make our program the force it is. Although the outside world frequently ignores your dedication, passion, and ceaseless efforts, they are the cornerstone of our success. Building winners requires a village, and I am fortunate to be surrounded by some of the sport’s brightest brains and souls.
Our success has been greatly attributed to the Penn State administration and athletic department’s steadfast support. You have given us the tools, the space, and the faith we need to create something genuinely unique. We have been able to push boundaries, establish new standards, and make Penn State Wrestling the best collegiate wrestling program thanks to your dedication to this program.
To the supporters, the lifeblood of Nittany Lion Wrestling, you are unparalleled. Your enthusiasm drives our quest for greatness, your cheers reverberate around the nation where we compete, and your energy permeates Rec Hall and the Bryce Jordan Center. You have welcomed our wrestlers as your own, rejoiced with them when they win, and encouraged them when they lose. Because of you, our program is a movement rather than just a squad.
And I want to express my gratitude to the entire Penn State community for adding such significance to this journey. Penn State is a family, not just a university. Our wrestlers have become champions on and off the mat thanks to the same characteristics that distinguish this institution: perseverance, hard effort, and integrity. I will always be appreciative of being a member of this amazing community.
Know that my dedication is unwavering as we look to the future. The quest for greatness never ends, and we shall all work together to carry on this tradition.
Penn State, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
With pride and appreciation,
The head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling team is Cael Sanderson.