InterMat: Unfair to criticize Cael, Penn State for National Duals decision

As the qualifying round of the Division I National Duals -- also known as Mat Mayhem -- is about to start this weekend, the amateur wrestling website InterMatWrestle.com addresses the absence of defending NCAA champ Penn State.

In an article posted Thursday titled "Cael, Penn State taking unfair criticism for decision," InterMat senior editor Andrew Hipps explains why the Nittany Lions will not be competing at one of the four National Duals Regional Qualifying Tournaments being held Feb. 11-12.

The decision of head coach Cael Sanderson not to participate at Mat Mayhem has drawn fire from wrestling fans as well as some top coaches that will be at the newly reformatted National Duals, including J Robinson of the University of Minnesota, and Mark Manning of the University of Nebraska, who said, ""If you're defending national champions, you should be in the National Duals."

As Hipps points out, Penn State isn't the only school to decline an invitation to participate in the 2012 National Duals from the event organizer, the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). In his article, Hipps includes quotes from Northwestern head coach Drew Pariano and Lehigh's Pat Santoro... as well as the results of an extensive interview with coach Sanderson, who explains his decision why the Nittany Lions will travel west for a dual at Utah Valley University this weekend.

As Hipps writes, "The simple, short answer for why Penn State chose not participate in the National Duals is that Cael and his staff don't believe it's in the best interest of college wrestling. Cael and his staff are doing what they feel is right."

Andrew Hipps' article for InterMat is a thoughtful opinion piece, built on solid reporting, with insightful quotes from a number of college coaches, including Cael Sanderson. It may well change your mind -- or at least get you to reconsider your position. For all these reasons, it's must reading.

History repeats? These days, some wrestling fans may be experiencing a strong sense of deja vu. Last year there was similar uproar when the University of Iowa did not participate at the 2011 National Duals. It was the topic of wrestling forums as soon as it was revealed that the Duals were not on the Hawkeyes' 2010-11 schedule; much was said about the fact the event was being held at the University of Northern Iowa, just 90 miles from the Iowa campus. Iowa head coach Tom Brands and NWCA's Mike Moyer shared their opinions on the issue, and other college coaches weighed in on this decision.

Another voice: Jim Carlson, sportswriter for the Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pa., posted a well-written analysis of the Penn State-National Duals situation Thursday.

Want to know more? For College Wrestling Examiner's ongoing coverage of the 2012 National Duals, click here. And, for those who can't get enough Cael, check out his official website... and the unofficial Fans of Cael Sanderson Yahoo group.