Penn State Wrestling’s Historic Streak Isn’t Just About Wins - It’s About Sustained Greatness
As Penn State’s wrestling juggernaut rolls into Nashville this weekend, the Nittany Lions are on the brink of history - again. With 75 straight dual meet wins already in the books, two more victories would push them past Oklahoma State’s legendary 76-match streak, a mark that stood tall in Division I for decades. And the way Penn State has been steamrolling opponents, it’s not a matter of if, but when.
Let’s take a step back and appreciate what this streak actually looks like. Over the course of these 75 consecutive wins, Penn State has outscored its opponents by a jaw-dropping margin: 2,679 points to just 514.
That’s an average score of 36-7. This isn’t just winning - it’s domination on a level that’s rarely seen in collegiate sports.
And this isn’t a streak built on cupcakes. The Nittany Lions have consistently faced top-tier programs, and while the final scores often don’t reflect it, there have been some intense individual battles along the way. But when you’re this good, even the most competitive matchups rarely come down to the wire.
The Company They’re About to Leave Behind
The streak Penn State is about to surpass belongs to Oklahoma State, a program that built its record over three decades from the late 1930s through the early 1950s. That’s the gold standard in Division I, and Penn State is about to rewrite that chapter.
Beyond D-I, the overall college wrestling win streak record belongs to Grand View University (NAIA) with 117 straight. SUNY-Delhi (NJCAA) had 92, and St.
Cloud State (Division II) hit 77. With two more wins this weekend - against North Dakota State and Stanford - Penn State will not only break Oklahoma State’s D-I record but also tie St.
Cloud State on the all-division list.
Just below Penn State in the D-I history books is a three-way tie at 69 wins between Oklahoma State (twice) and Iowa. Augsburg holds the D-III record with 65. But right now, this era belongs to the Nittany Lions.
A Decade of Dominance
Penn State hasn’t just been winning - they’ve been redefining what a dominant wrestling program looks like. Over the last 10 seasons, they’ve gone undefeated in nine of them and have won 141 of their last 143 dual meets. Let that sink in.
The only blemishes? A pair of tight losses during the 2019-20 season - a 19-18 defeat to Arizona State (after forfeiting the 184-pound match) and a 19-17 loss to Iowa, where the Hawkeyes pulled off something no other team has done in this stretch: win six of the 10 bouts in a dual against Penn State.
But even those rare losses only underline how close the program has come to perfection.
March Is What Matters
For head coach Cael Sanderson, the streak is secondary. The real focus has always been March - the NCAA Championships. And with 12 national titles in the last 14 years, that focus has clearly paid off.
Sanderson keeps things simple. “We’re just trying to get better and just trying to make progress as the year goes on,” he said this week. “We compete as individuals, so that’s kind of what we’re looking at.”
It’s not about chasing records or headlines. It’s about development, consistency, and peaking when it counts most.
When the Spotlight Did Get Bright
While most of the duals in this streak have been blowouts, there have been a few moments where Penn State had to dig deep. These weren’t just wins - they were gut-check performances that showed the Lions could handle pressure when it actually showed up.
- Feb. 15, 2020 vs. Ohio State: Penn State went just 1-for-4 in toss-up matches but still pulled out a 20-16 win.
- **2021-22 Collegiate Duals vs.
Cornell**: Trailing 16-8, the Lions rattled off four straight wins to take it 21-16.
- 2021-22 vs. Iowa: A gritty 19-13 win that featured clutch victories from Roman Bravo-Young, Nick Lee (in OT), and Carter Starocci (also in OT).
- 2021-22 vs. Nebraska: Aaron Brooks and Greg Kerkvliet came through late to seal a 21-13 win.
- 2023 Collegiate Duals vs. Iowa State: Max Dean’s win over Yonger Bastida helped Penn State pull away for a 22-12 victory.
- Feb. 18, 2024 vs. Nebraska: Beau Bartlett, Levi Haines, and Mitchell Mesenbrink all delivered key wins in a 22-13 result.
So yes, they’ve had to sweat a few out. But even in tight spots, the Lions have found ways to win - often relying on their stars to step up in the biggest moments.
A Culture Built to Last
What makes this streak even more impressive is the consistency of the program’s mindset. There’s no panic in losses, no over-the-top celebrations in wins. It’s a steady drumbeat of preparation, execution, and improvement.
Sanderson once shared a bit of wisdom passed down to him: “If you don’t like the pressure, all you have to do is lose.” But clearly, this team doesn’t just handle pressure - it thrives under it.
He’s also said, “Unless you continually work, evolve and innovate, you’ll learn a quick and painful lesson from someone who has.” That’s not just coach-speak - that’s the ethos behind one of the most dominant stretches in college wrestling history.
And based on what we’ve seen, Penn State has no plans of letting that lesson come their way anytime soon.