The Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling (PJW) State Championships had its fair share of upsets, but Cael Sanderson’s son’s title run at 157 lbs stole the show. The kid wasn’t just wrestling with a famous last name—he was wrestling like a kid on a mission. Coming in as a No. 20 seed, the eighth-grader flipped the script, rolling through the competition with five falls before locking in a dominant 7-0 win in the finals.
And as if the wrestling gods wanted to make things even more poetic, his final opponent? A kid named Cael Smith. Given Cael Sanderson’s legendary status in wrestling, some fans couldn’t help but wonder—was this kid named after the Penn State head coach himself? Nothing’s confirmed, but the irony wasn’t lost on anyone.
While Teag Sanderson’s win was a statement, the tournament’s seeding system became a major talking point. With little data to work off of, rankings seemed all over the place, leaving some wrestlers criminally underrated. But as Teag showed, seeds don’t mean squat when you’re built for the big stage.
A No. 20 seed? Not for long
Teag wrestles out of State College, PA, making it pretty likely he’ll attend State College Area High School, where the legendary Bo Nickal’s father, Jason, is the head coach. So, yeah, he’s surrounded by some of the best minds in wrestling.
Cael Sanderson’s son Teag captured a PJW Junior High State Title at 157 lbs! He won it all as a 20 seed w/ 5 falls and a 7-0 decision.
So awesome! pic.twitter.com/VqkYJSv989
— The Wrestling Room (Pat Mineo) (@MrPatMineo) March 2, 2025
Still, starting as a No. 20 seed in a loaded bracket? That’s no easy road. But Teag didn’t just survive—he dominated. He pinned five straight opponents, showing a level of aggression that had the wrestling community buzzing. And when it came time to seal the deal, he put on a masterclass in the finals with a 7-0 decision, proving that he wasn’t just winning—he was controlling every second.
While some were shocked by his performance, others knew better. If you’ve got a little bit of Cael Sanderson in your blood, odds are you can wrestle. And now, after this breakout performance, fans are already thinking about what’s next.
Fans are already calling shot on behalf of Cael Sanderson’s son
The second Teag’s hand was raised, Twitter was ablaze with speculation regarding where his career goes next. Given his pedigree, many weren’t quite shocked at his performance. “With his genetics, is anyone surprised?” tweeted a fan, vocalizing what everybody was thinking. His dad was 159-0 in college and now heads the country’s number one program—no surprise Teag knows how to win. But where will he wrestle on the college level? That is the million-dollar question, and fans already have their theories.
“Wonder where he’ll go to college…” mused one fan, knowing full well that Penn State is the obvious option. But another took it even further, mapping out Teag’s entire future as if they had a crystal ball: “Can just see it now. Teag Sanderson at 197 clinching Penn State’s 25th NCAA title in the year 2037. Cael retires after passing Iowa in number of NCAA Championships.”
But wait—some aren’t certain he’ll be sporting Penn State blue and white. Fans can’t help but speculate, and in wrestling, there isn’t a greater rivalry than Penn State vs. Iowa. “Future Hawkeye legend!!” wrote a fan, suggesting Teag would switch sides and make the trek to Iowa. Given Iowa’s wrestling tradition and the tug-of-war between these two programs right now, this is a fascinating hypothesis but one that seems to be a long shot.
But the conversation wasn’t solely regarding Teag’s future. Some fans were left scratching their heads at the tournament seeding, wondering how a potential star was seeded in the bracket at No. 20. “The seeding in this tournament was WILD. They didn’t have anything to really go off of, so it was random for the most part,” said one person. The bracket may have started out appearing random, but in the end, Teag did not doubt who was best.
And yet, the speculation continues. “He’s going to Iowa.” one fan tweeted, doubling down on rivalry drama. Whether they actually think so or just want to get Penn State fans riled up is anyone’s guess. Teag Sanderson’s run at the state title wasn’t just impressive—it was a statement. To enter as a No. 20 seed and exit as the state’s best isn’t so much an issue of talent as of possessing that championship mindset.
With his father leading the most dominant NCAA program in the country, it’s a safe bet Teag will end up at Penn State, but nothing is carved in stone just yet. If he follows in Cael Sanderson’s footsteps or blazes his trail, one thing is sure—this kid’s future is bright, and the wrestling world is already taking notice.
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