PennLive Wrestling Podcast

PennLive's Jim Carlson and Bob Flounders are back with the initial episode of the PennLive Wrestling Podcast for 2025-26 season.

This one is all about Cael Sanderson's Penn State Nittany Lions, winners of 75 consecutive matches.

PSU can make history by beating North Dakota State and Stanford on Saturday to break Oklahoma State's long-standing record of 76 consecutive wins.

Plus, Jim and Bob discuss Penn State's impressive true freshmen and Jim offers insight into what makes PSU wrestler Levi Haines a great team leader.

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We have a very special guest on this episode of the PennLive Wrestling Podcast. Shane Sparks, the Big Ten Network analyst and one of the great ambassadors of wrestling, joins PennLive's Jim Carlson and Bob Flounders to look back on Penn State's magnificent season. Shane shares his thoughts on Cael Sanderson's influence, Penn State finishing with 10 All-Americans at nationals and what makes five-time NCAA champ Carter Starocci so special. You will want to hear what Sparks has to say about Starocci.

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It's a special edition of the Blue-White Breakdown with PennLive's Bob Flounders and Austin Hertzog. Bob and Austin detail some of the Penn State wrestling program's amazing accomplishments this season, which concluded over the weekend at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia. PSU won its 12th title in the last 14 seasons and set a new points record. James Franklin's Penn State program begins spring drills this week and expectations could not be higher with the amount of talent returning. Bob and Austin discuss the one position group that must step up.  

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PennLive's Jim Carlson and Bob Flounders preview the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia and Penn State's quest for another national championship. Cael Sanderson's Lions are heavy favorites to win the team title and PSU star 184-pounder Carter Starocci is seeking an unprecedented fifth NCAA title. Jimmy and Bob discuss PSU's title hopes, Carter's title hopes and examine many of the storylines involving the Penn State wrestlers.

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PennLive’s Jim Carlson and Bob Flounders dissect the Penn State wrestling team’s performance at the Big Ten championships at Northwestern over the weekend. Cael Sanderson’s Nittany Lions crowned five individual champions and ran away with the team title. But the news was not all good. A couple of PSU wrestlers fell short of making the championship finals and young 197-pounder Josh Barr had to default in the consolation round after suffering an injury that could be significant with the national tournament looming. Plus, Jimmy and Bob discuss some of four-time NCAA champ Carter Starocci’s comments after he captured the 184-pound weight on Sunday in Evanston.

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PennLive's Jim Carlson and Bob Flounders take an in-depth look at the Big Ten wrestling championships this weekend at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. Cael Sanderson's Nittany Lions should have multiple champs but a couple of PSU wrestlers could face stiff competition in the finals. Jim and Bob share their thoughts on the toughest weights and Jim has an update on PSU's Braeden Davis.

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PennLive's Jim Carlson and Bob Flounders react to what Penn State was able to accomplish during its 15-0 regular season. The stats surrounding PSU's unbeaten campaign are astonishing. Jim and Bob also share their thoughts on Penn State AD Pat Kraft's recent comments on Cael Sanderson's impact at Penn State. Plus, Jim and Bob discuss Iowa's dual meet win over Oklahoma State.

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PennLive’s Jim Carlson and Bob Flounders welcome Cumberland Valley wrestling great Tristan Warner to the show. Warner, a three-time NCAA qualifier at Old Dominion and two-time winner of the prestigious Elite 89 academic award, discusses his time at CV and Old Dominion, his role at Win Magazine and his thoughts on what Cael Sanderson’s wrestling team can do in the postseason.

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The question is no longer if any college wrestling program can beat No. 1 Penn State this season, it’s can any team stay close to Cael Sanderson’s team?

Not likely. The unbeaten Lions, coming off impressive wins over Michigan and Maryland at home, are too good.

On this episode of the PennLive Wrestling Podcast, Jim Carlson and Bob Flounders discuss Penn State’s two-match road trip this weekend, beginning with Friday’s meeting with Ohio State and a Sunday afternoon clash with Illinois.

Jim and Bob also discuss the health of PSU wrestlers Braeden Davis and Tyler Kasak and preview the unbeaten battle between the Lions’ Beau Bartlett and Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez at 141.

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PennLive's Jim Carlson and Bob Flounders react to Bo Bassett's decision to attend Iowa. Jim offers his thoughts on why Bassett picked the Hawkeyes and not Cael Sanderson's Penn State program. The news was all good for PSU last week, as the No. 1 Lions trounced No. 2 Iowa in State College. Jim and Bob preview PSU's home matches with Michigan and Maryland this weekend.

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