Penn State Wrestling Coach Praises Rocco Welsh's Comeback Victory

Cael Sanderson discusses Welsh's dramatic win over former Ohio State teammate that helped clinch Big Ten title

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Penn State Wrestling coach Cael Sanderson praised 184-pound wrestler Rocco Welsh's stellar comeback victory over his former Ohio State teammate Dylan Fishback. Welsh fell behind early but rallied to claim a 7-6 win, helping the Nittany Lions extend their win streak to 85 and clinch the Big Ten regular season title.

Why it matters

Welsh's comeback win was crucial for Penn State, as they defeated the second-ranked Ohio State team that was missing several of its top starters. Sanderson's comments highlight Welsh's determination and ability to make key adjustments, which will be important as the Nittany Lions look to continue their dominant run and compete for more titles.

The details

Welsh, who transferred from Ohio State in 2025, has been undefeated this season since moving up to the 184-pound category. In the recent matchup against his former team, Welsh fell behind early but stormed back, scoring two late takedowns to claim a dramatic 7-6 victory. Sanderson praised Welsh's ability to elevate his game, stay technically sound, and make small adjustments to get the job done against a tough opponent.

  • The Feb. 13 match against Ohio State helped Penn State clinch the Big Ten regular season title.
  • Welsh won his match against former Ohio State teammate Dylan Fishback 7-6.

The players

Cael Sanderson

The head coach of the Penn State wrestling team, who is the only wrestler in NCAA history to go undefeated in official matches. He has guided several wrestlers to individual titles and set NCAA records.

Rocco Welsh

A 184-pound wrestler for Penn State who transferred from Ohio State in 2025. He has been undefeated this season since moving up to the 184-pound category.

Dylan Fishback

A wrestler for Ohio State who faced off against his former teammate Rocco Welsh in the recent match.

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What they’re saying

“He just stepped it up a notch. I think just kind of really started pressing a little bit more, which he's capable of doing a great opponent that's really good. Kept tagging him with that that lowlevel shot where we were kind of walking into it coming out of our stance. So, little adjustments will be good, but yeah, it's just the heart and just the determination and seeing that it's okay if you fall behind, you can still come back and win those matches.”

— Cael Sanderson, Head Coach, Penn State Wrestling (profootballnetwork.com)

What’s next

The Nittany Lions will next face Princeton on Feb. 20 and then compete at the Big Ten Championships on March 7-8, 2026.

The takeaway

Welsh's dramatic comeback victory against his former Ohio State teammate showcases his determination and ability to make key adjustments, which will be crucial as Penn State looks to continue its dominant run and compete for more titles this season.