2 Penn State Wrestling Recruits Win Gold at PIAA Championships

Five total Penn State connections place at the high school state tournament

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Two Penn State wrestling recruits, Landon Sidun and Elijah Brown, won individual state titles at the 2026 PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Three other Penn State connections, including the son of head coach Cael Sanderson, also placed at the tournament.

Why it matters

The success of these young wrestlers highlights the strength of Penn State's wrestling program and its ability to attract top talent. The Nittany Lions have been a dominant force in college wrestling, and these results suggest the pipeline of talent feeding into the program remains strong.

The details

Sidun, a Class of 2027 commit, won his second state title with a 17-0 technical fall in the 121-pound final. Brown, a Class of 2026 signee, took first at 215 pounds with a 1-0 decision victory. Other Penn State connections to place were James Whitbred (5th at 152 pounds), Braiden Weaver (5th at 133 pounds), and Teag Sanderson (3rd at 172 pounds).

  • The 2026 PIAA Wrestling Championships took place on March 6-8, 2026 in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

The players

Landon Sidun

A junior at Norwin High School and a Penn State Class of 2027 commit, Sidun won his second PIAA state title with a technical fall victory at 121 pounds.

Elijah Brown

A senior at Belle Vernon High School and a Penn State Class of 2026 signee, Brown won the 215-pound state title with a 1-0 decision victory.

James Whitbred

A Penn State Class of 2027 commit, the State College Area wrestler placed fifth at 152 pounds.

Braiden Weaver

A Penn State Class of 2026 signee, the Altoona High wrestler placed fifth at 133 pounds.

Teag Sanderson

The son of Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson, the State College Area wrestler placed third at 172 pounds in his first state tournament.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

Penn State's wrestling program continues to attract top high school talent, as evidenced by the success of its recruits at the PIAA Championships. The Nittany Lions' ability to develop elite wrestlers bodes well for their continued dominance at the college level.