OLD WRESTLERS NEVER DIE

Old wresters, new wrestlers, parents, coaches, and Team Moms, over 8500 of them, packed Oregon State’s Gil Coliseum Friday evening.

The locals said it was the biggest crowd in years, that the only fanbase comparable show up for women’s basketball.

Why did so many come out for a sport with low attendance in most parts of the country?

Mighty Penn State Wresting was in town for the second of a home and home match that started in State College, Pa. last year.

The best college wrestling team in the world did what great teams are famous for, winning ten of the last twelve NCAA National team titles.

The headlines for last night’s match:

 

Penn State Wrestling Cruises Past Oregon State

No. 1 Penn State Wrestling Tramples No. 17 Oregon State 36-3

Penn State wrestlers overpower Oregon State, 36-3; 2 freshmen score impressive victories

 

BoomerPdx Headline: Near Record Crowd Lifts The Roof On Gil

The building filled with a roar at every chance of a win, or points scored.

It felt good to be in the crowd with high school wrestling teammates.

The fans came from all around.

Say hello to Jess Lewis.

That’s him in the middle of the shot.

High school teams, both boys and girls, came to see what a stable program focused on results looks like.

1973 -78 Bulldogs were in the house.

Old wrestlers never die, they just fade away.

We were a serious group, an urgent group, hoping for fireworks on the mat.

What we learned: how to manage an opponent with a close score, and how to leave the mat after a superior decision.

Once you’re down by fifteen points, the match ends.

 

The Beauty Of Penn State Wrestling 

Teams get a chance to see how they measure up to the best.

Win, lose, or draw, there’s only one standard of excellence.

“But Blogger D, what’s the big takeaway besides renewed friendship with wrestling fans?”

Coach Cael Sanderson hits home for everyone everywhere all at once with this:

It reads like a reality poem.

The best part?

Take the lessons learned and get better.

The day after a good shellacking, the score is 0-0.