SB Nation User Blog: Pete the Streak

Any Pre-Game Meet-up this week?

Pete the Streak — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:10:27 -0000

Just wondering if anyone here is tailgating, and wouldn't HATE HATE HATE it if some BSD'ers showed up to say 'Hey, what's up, can we have some booze, and maybe some snacky s'mores"?

Mike, you gonna be outside Medlar again? Or do you just HATE HATE HATE it when weasels such as myself feel free to self-invite?

JtotheP was hitting on me in the wrestling post thread, and I'd feel safer in a group setting.

So? Will it happen?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Sanderson Locks, Loads, and....Locks Again

Pete the Streak — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:12:11 -0000

Penn State wrestling's version of Midnight Madness kicks off tonight with Coach Cael Sanderson changing the usual wrestle-off format for starting spots into an intra-squad scrimmage. Preliminary eliminations have whittled the weight classes down to the top two (more or less), and the scrimmage winners will begin the season as starters. Except when they won't.

Confused? Then read on.

Sanderson has decided to redshirt (if possible, and injuries permit) his entire ass-kicking '09 recruiting class, even if some win in tonight's scrimmage. This isn't remarkable in itself; freshmen have a difficult time adjusting to both the physical and mental rigors of big time D-1 wrestling (Coach Cael being one obvious exception). Wrestling doesn't lend itself to Frosh Phenoms like other sports do, as wrestlers don't have the luxury of being specialists (e.g. nickel backs, kick returners, short yardage backs, etc.). They need to do it all themselves - offense, defense, 2-minute drill and running out the clock. It's very tough for an 18 year old to compete with a twenty-two or twenty-three year old with years of experience and mature man-strength in a one-on-one situation.

As much as we'd like to get a look at David Taylor (nation's #1 ranked recruit), Ed Ruth (#3) Jake Kemmerer (#9), and Luke Macchiaroli, it likely won't happen in a varsity setting this year.

Expect the same with next year's nasty group ('10 class), which already includes the Alton twins (Andrew #2, Dylan #5), Sam Sherlock (#17), and Dirk Cowburn (#47). Unconfirmed rumors indicate more gunslingers will be joining them; Sanderson is a HUGE draw for PSU.

Locking and loading is great, but...relocking? Sanderson plans on also redshirting '08 NCAA runner-up and senior Bubba Jenkins. Jenkins currently has academic issues, and isn't eligible until January anyway. Injuries kept him from repeating his NCAA showing last year, so another year in the practice room getting splattered by Cael should do wonders. He's National Champ material.

Relocking? Another unexpected redshirt is soph Quentin Wright, who had to step up last year as a true frosh because of lineup injuries. Boy, did he deliver: 33-13, and 6th at Nationals. That is amazing, especially at 174 pounds where he battled juniors and seniors all year. Coming back next season with sophomore eligibility and a year under Cael will be tremendous for PSU. More National Champ material.

These guys won't be stashed in a closet all year, though. All are allowed to wrestle in Open tourneys throughout the season, listed as 'Penn State - Unattached', and will gain invaluable experience. By season's end, our 'unofficial' team may be stronger than our varsity. Weird, but waaay cool for the upcoming years.

Sanderson also just received a committment from HS junior ('11) Nico Megaludis, currently the #2 ranked 112 pounder in the country. He was a Pa. State Champ last year as a soph, and a tough little dude. In other words - just our type. More commits for both '10 and '11 should begin rolling in after January

While this list of guys that WON'T be competing this year is impressive, it doesn't mean we'll be throwing out a team of stiffs this season. Far from it. The next update will focus on who IS wrestling, and we'll have a better handle on it after tonight.

I just wanted to give you a glimpse of what's in store for the next few years. Lots and lots of fun for us, but not so much for everyone else.

Cael Sanderson rocks.

DA Madeira gets Pwned!

Pete the Streak — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:31:44 -0000

DA Madeira gets Pwned!

PSU athletes exhale, and smile.

Sanderson Scores Again!

Pete the Streak — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:39:38 -0000

Penn State wrestling was the beneficiary of another change of heart, as Hempfield's Jake Kemerer decommitted from Oklahoma and joined Cael's eye-popping 2009 class.

Kemerer went 48-0 last year, won his second PIAA State Title, and was #1 in Intermat's final national rankings at 160. He is number 7 in Intermat's top 50 high school recruits for 2009, giving Penn State 3 of the top 7 this year, joining #1 David Taylor and #5 Ed Ruth. All 3 are expected to redshirt.

Jake Kemerer is one tough kid, and a tremendous get.

Looking ahead, Intermat's national recruiting rankings for 2010 includes 4 Pennsylvania kids in the top 6, including Penn State early commits Dylan and Andrew Alton. Rumors (which I cannot yet confirm) indicate much more ridiculous awesomeness could follow.

Hiring Sanderson was hella brilliant, and instantly turned Penn State into Recruiting Central. The PSU brass done good on this one, kids.

PSU Wrestling Scores Yet Again

Pete the Streak — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 01:54:41 -0000

Gimme a State Champ and a Siren Whoooooooo!!!

Cael Sanderson snared another Pa. State Champ this week in West Mifflin's Sam Sherlock. Sherlock, another stud in the Class of 2010, took the AAA class title at 125 lbs. last winter as a junior, and was ranked #6 nationally. He recently competed with a Pa. All-Star team in the Disney Duals, and merely went 15-0, barely sweeping the field.

If it seems like you're reading this same story every week, it's only because you are. Sherlock makes the fourth State Champ to choose PSU from Pa.'s 2010 HellaClass, joining Coudersport's ~~Mr. Country~~ Dirk Cowburn, and Central Mountain's ~~carnivores~~ twins Dylan and Andrew Alton.

Additional background info on Sherlock here:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09204/985642-364.stm

It's very probable you'll be seeing another edition of this story in the next few weeks. No matter how many times it repeats itself, it sure doesn't get old.

Welcome, Sam!

Can someone 'splain this to me?

Pete the Streak — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:12:03 -0000

As a result of Bama's latest foray into the land of NCAA violations, part of the penalty (besides the fine and a pretty much useless type of probation) is the 'vacating' of any wins in which the transgressors participated.

What, exactly, does that mean? If Bama loses the wins, but the opponent in those games is not credited with a win, where did it go? Is the opponent stuck with the loss? Did the game go down the memory hole? Does Bama's, say, 7-5 season become an 0-5 season?

Can someone explain? Use small words, please.

'Preciate it.

Sanderson Hire produces quick results

Pete the Streak — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 11:42:21 -0000

Two of the biggest names in Pennsylvania's primo wrestling class of 2010 have committed to ~~Cael the Animal~~ Penn State within days of his hiring. The Alton twins provide a double shot of ass kick, and appear to be actively recruiting some of the other studs in Pa.'s stable.

While I expected Cael to grab some of the ridiculous Pa. talent for Penn State, I didn't expect to see it happen nearly instantaneously.

Penn State's recruiting has just shifted into warp speed, and I'm sure Sanderson will keep the throttle wide open. This is why he took the PSU job - he loves Pa. high school wrestling.

To serious wrestling fans, this is tremendous news.

http://www.centredaily.com/153/story/1249758.html

2004 was the last of the 'Dark Years',

Pete the Streak — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:58:17 -0000

but what really sparked the late season surge, and that goal-line stand that led into the glory of 2005? Was it simply the players feeling that enough was enough? Better coaching? Underclassmen stepping up?

We may never know for sure. However, it's possible the team took some much needed inspiration, and a lesson on the consequences of dissing PSU from a group you'd least expect.

I present to you - Cheerleaders with Attitude:

http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/photogallery/adventures-in-cheerleading.html?curPhoto=4

I don't remember hearing about any of this (which doesn't mean it wasn't well known by the rest of you folks).

I love it - as long as the cheerleaders involved were of the female gender. Were they? The story doesn't really say. PLEASE tell me it was our hot women kickin' some PSU-mocking ass!

Wonder of wonders

Pete the Streak — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:06:13 -0000

Our favorite PG columnist, Mr. Ron Cook, actually took a fairly firm stand behind JoePa in the All-Time Winningest Coach race.

Read, and be amazed: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09069/954416-87.stm

Of course, this being Cook, he felt obligated to toss in the ridiculousness of Joe coaching from the press box . No mention of the minor detail regarding a hip that got replaced; he just laid it out as if this has been Joe's MO for years.

While the basis for the column is the FSU penalties, he does manage to hit on the point that has bugged us 'purists' over the years: his 31 wins at Howard College / Samford University. And overall, does a nice job of praising Joe as both a coach and, more importantly, as a man.

Surprisingly, a nice write by Cook. It reinforces to me the validity of the 'blind squirrel', if not the 'stopped clock' theories. I can't imagine Cook being correct twice a single day of his life.

Women's V-Ball Update

Pete the Streak — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:31:49 -0000

#1 ranked PSU's defending NC ladies swept #8 Cal 3-0 today to move into the Final 4. They are now 36-0 on the year. Pretty dominating.

What's really dominating, though, is the way they did it: by sweeping every match 3-0. That's right - they haven't dropped a single game (or set, as they're called now) since the 4th game of last year's title match. 109 straight, breaking Forida's long-time NCAA mark of 105. Folks, THAT'S domination.

They are off to Nationals in Omaha next week, and two wins means becoming back-to-back National Champions.

Let's go Lady Lions!

(Yes - they're waaay hot. Sorry to pre-empt you guys.)