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Penn State Wrestling Team

Floor Speech

Date: April 27, 2026
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Penn State wrestling team for winning the NCAA Division I wrestling tournament last month. This historic achievement marks the Nittany Lions' fifth consecutive title and Penn State's 13th team title over the last 15 seasons.

The NCAA wrestling tournament, hosted in Cleveland, Ohio, saw the Lions qualify all 10 wrestlers for the 3-day event, with 7 wrestlers placing as top seeds.

The team scored 181.5 points, breaking their own record of 177 points, which they set last year.

To conclude championship weekend, four Nittany Lions earned individual national titles. In addition, Mitchell Mesenbrink was named the 2026 NCAA Championship Outstanding Wrestler.

Much of this success is a testament to the leadership of Head Coach Cael Sanderson, who has been with the team since 2010. Cael, a former collegiate wrestler and Olympic athlete, knows exactly what it takes to deliver a championship-level team. As the university's head coach for more than 10 years, Cael has delivered the team from strength to strength. Another accolade that the team can tout is winning the Big Ten championship for the fourth consecutive year.

As a former high school wrestler myself and a Penn State alum, I love seeing the success that the Nittany Lions have had each year. Penn State wrestling brings together the student body, Penn State alum, and State College residents to watch an exciting evening of matches. There is nothing quite like a packed Bryce Jordan Center on a Saturday evening.

I was a former wrestler at Bald Eagle Area High School under the leadership of Coach Dick Rhoades, and in 2015 I was honored to be recognized by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. The leadership and discipline that I learned during practice have stuck with me throughout my life.

I know that all young men at Penn State will be able to take the lessons that they learn through wrestling and apply them to other aspects of their lives.

Mr. Speaker, the athletes, the coaches, and the staff should all be proud of this amazing accomplishment, and I wish the team the best as they continue working towards their goals next season.

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