Cael Sanderson’s goatee is streaked with gray these days, but his program might very well be ageless. 

Not only is Penn State the favorite to win what would be its 12th NCAA title since Sanderson took over in 2010, the Nittany Lions over the weekend showed off some firepower that projects well for future championship pursuits.

True freshmen Zack Ryder (184), Connor Mirasola (197) and Cole Mirasola (285) won individual titles at the Southern Scuffle while sophomore Connor Pierce (149) won at the Edinboro Open. Combined, seven Nittany Lions placed in their respective weights while Penn State finished second at the Scuffle without a single starter entered.

“We wanted to just be able to get out on the mat and know that they’re getting better,” Sanderson said. “Sometimes I think our young guys, when they’re in the room, it’s just so competitive in here that sometimes I wonder if they are getting better. So when they can go compete and wrestle outside competition, then it’s a good boost for them.”

It’s also a boon to the program’s future lineup considerations. The team will likely have an open middleweight spot open next season with Beau Bartlett (141) in his final season. Meanwhile, 184-pounder Carter Starocci and 285-pounder Greg Kerkvliet are in their final seasons of eligibility.

“I’m happy for those guys, everybody in our room works so freakin’ hard so it was good to see them get their shot,” 197-pounder Josh Barr said. “And the Southern Scuffle is a really tough tournament so having three true freshman win, it’s pretty impressive.”

As Sanderson stood in front of a trophy case housing a Hodge Trophy and blue plaques listing the team’s always-expanding list of multi-time champs and All-Americans on Monday, he made a good case for why the Nittany Lions continue to set standards.

“As a coaching staff, you always need to or have to believe your best years are ahead,” Sanderson said. “I just think that we have a special thing going here and it’s bigger than just winning or being a starter or being the man. If you can make the lineup at Penn State you can win the national tournament.”

While none of the four recent tournament winners have cracked the lineup yet, Bartlett hinted that they are probably ahead of schedule.

“I’ve heard the coaches talk about before, that when you get to around 20 college matches, you start to really get comfortable, you start to improve really quickly,” Bartlett said. “That’s typically what you want in your first year of college, you want to be able to get to these tournaments and get to these opens and get to these matches.”

Only Pierce, who redshirted in 2022-23, has wrestled that many bouts. He’s 7-3 this year and 24-11 overall. 

So far, Ryder is 8-0, Connor Mirasola is 8-1 and Cole MIrasola is 6-0 in this, their redshirt campaigns. 

The reality that any of them could’ve gone elsewhere to start in duals and chase individual championships as true freshman isn’t lost on Sanderson. 

“These kids, I think they want to win the national tournament,” Sanderson said. “Some kids want to be a four-year starter maybe. Some kids want to be a national champion, it just depends on the kids. It depends on what their ultimate goals are. History has shown this is a really good place to attack your goals on the international scene and our kids get better and they enjoy what they’re doing and I think that’s a big part of them getting better.”

Look no further than redshirt freshman Barr as proof.

After sitting behind journeyman veteran Bernie Truax and four-time NCAA champ and Hodge Trophy winner Aaron Brooks last year, the sharp-chinned Barr has dismantled nearly all his opponents in this, his first year in the team’s lineup.

Barr is 9-0, his only real test coming in a 4-1 sudden victory win over Little Rock’s Stephen Little in the Journeyman Duals. 

Fittingly, Ryder and the Mirasola brothers are three of Barr’s primary workout partners.

Each one has given him a different look in the room based on their different styles and body types. 

“Three different aspects, three different weight classes, but I think more than anything they’re three great dudes,” Barr said. “They’re fun to be around all the time. Just grateful to be on the same team with them.”

Ryder offers quickness Barr hasn’t yet seen in his limited time at 197 while Connor Mirasola is closer in size and strength to what Barr will see once the Big Ten schedule begins. Cole Mirasola offers a step up in size and strength when Barr wants to test his own frame.

“Confidence and momentum is a big thing, but I think I get all of that from being in here with my partners and my coaches,” Barr said. “What we do here works and I just have faith in that and faith in the plan that I’m on. So that’s where all my confidence comes from is just the way I train and my work ethic and my dedication and commitment to the sport, so I think that the success plays a part, but I think what I do in here is the biggest contributor to my confidence.”