Nittany Lions Love Wrestling and Fencing (and Football, Volleyball, Basketball, etc.)

Sports are a long-standing tradition here at Penn State. Sure, we’ve got a great football team (hence our nickname in the sports world of “Linebacker U”), but did you know that some of the best collegiate wrestlers and fencers in the United States are pursuing degrees at Penn State?

This gives us yet another reason to be proud of being a Penn Stater!

Nittany Lion Wrestlers Celebrate!
National Champions Celebrate! (Photo by Mark Selders, courtesy of www.GoPSUSports.com)

About a week ago, the Nittany Lion wrestling team brought home an NCAA championship under the guidance of coach Cael Sanderson (an Olympic Gold Medalist and 4-time NCAA wrestling champ). It’s the first wrestling title for Penn State in more than 50 years (1953 was the previous title). Adding to that, sophomore Quentin Wright won the national title for his weight class, 184 lbs. (Read more about this feat on Penn State Live.)

We’re good with sabers, too. The combined men’s and women’s fencing team won second place in the recent NCAA Fencing Championship. The team scored high individual rankings over the season, too, with five first team All-Americans, one second team All-American, and two honorable mentions. Read more at GoPSUSports.com.