A Truly Unforgettable Year for the Nittany Lions: 10 All-Americans and a Devastating Twist
According to a recent ESPN report, Penn State Wrestling has achieved a historic feat, becoming only the second team in NCAA history to produce 10 All-Americans in a single season. The Nittany Lions’ powerhouse roster swept through the 2025 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis, Missouri, etching their names into collegiate wrestling history. But while the celebration of dominance was justified, the season will also be remembered for an unexpected, heartbreaking twist that tested the spirit of the entire program.
Led by head coach Cael Sanderson, Penn State entered the season with lofty expectations, having already established a dynasty over the past decade. The team boasted an extraordinary combination of returning national champions, highly touted freshmen, and resilient veterans. Among the standout performers were Roman Bravo-Young at 133 lbs, Carter Starocci at 174 lbs, and heavyweight phenom Greg Kerkvliet — all returning All-Americans with national title experience. Yet what made this year truly different was the incredible depth throughout the entire lineup.
From 125 to heavyweight, every weight class featured a Nittany Lion contender. Freshman phenom Jamal Reyes, the previously unheralded 149-pounder from Harrisburg, shocked the nation with a third-place finish, defeating three top-10 opponents along the way. Senior captain Michael Hughes, wrestling at 157 lbs, wrestled with unmatched tenacity, sealing his All-American status in a dramatic overtime victory in the blood round. Even backup wrestler Sean Wallace stepped in at 197 lbs after an injury to the starter and made a Cinderella run to eighth place, securing his first All-American honors.
As the Nittany Lions crowned four national champions and placed all ten wrestlers in the top eight, the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park erupted with pride. Yet behind the celebrations was an undercurrent of pain.
Midway through the championship weekend, news broke that longtime assistant coach and former Penn State national champion Mark “Tank” Andrews had suffered a severe stroke while watching the tournament from his home. His condition, critical but stable, sent shockwaves through the Penn State community. Andrews had been instrumental in recruiting and developing the team’s core over the past five years. Wrestlers dedicated their matches to him, writing his initials on their wrist tape, and when the team trophy was lifted, a framed photo of Coach Andrews was held high beside it.
The emotional weight of their accomplishment—coupled with the uncertain fate of their beloved coach—made this season unforgettable not just for its unmatched success, but for the humanity that anchored it. The Nittany Lions didn’t just wrestle for glory. They wrestled for each other, for their fallen coach, and for the legacy of resilience that defines the sport.
With this record-setting performance, Penn State has not only solidified its dominance in the wrestling world—it has redefined what it means to be a team.
