What’s the future of Penn State wrestling? Cael Sanderson’s era has been a game-changer, bringing in championships and titles and raising the bar to new heights. But what’s the real secret behind it all? Take a look at athletes like Carter Starocci, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Levi Haines, Greg Kerkvliet, and Aaron Brooks—they started out as long shots, but now Starocci’s a four-time NCAA champ, and Mesenbrink’s a 2023 U20 World Champion. It’s like Penn State has the golden touch when it comes to developing talent.

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The reason might be that even with David Taylor moving on to Oklahoma State, Penn State wrestling seems to have that Midas touch, always finding a way to stay on top. So what’s the magic formula that keeps them ahead of the pack? Could it be a case of them just having the right pieces in place, or is there something else at play?

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Maleeha Shakeel

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Maleeha Shakeel is a Senior Olympic Sports Writer at EssentiallySports, known for covering some of the biggest moments in global sport. From the World Athletics Championships 2023 to the Paris Olympics 2024 and the Winter Cup 2025, she has reported live on events that define sporting history. Her coverage has also been cited by Olympics.com on its official platform. Whether breaking developments in real time, such as her widely-followed live blog on Jordan Chiles’ medal revocation, or crafting feature stories that explore the mental and emotional journeys of athletes, Maleehah’s work blends accuracy, clarity, and storytelling flair to resonate with fans worldwide. As part of EssentiallySports’ Journalistic Excellence Program, an in-house initiative to hone advanced reporting, editorial strategy, and audience-focused writing, she has developed a distinct voice that focuses on people, pressure, and pivotal moments. From chronicling Sha’Carri Richardson’s sprints to capturing Letsile Tebogo’s rise, her reporting offers readers insight beyond the scoreboard.

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Suman Varandani