Wrestling Media Availability with Cael Sanderson and Mitchell Mesenbrink

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Coach Cael Sanderson speaks to the media on 3/2/2026 | Nathaniel Rasmussen, Black Shoe Diaries

Head Coach Cael Sanderson and 165 lb starter Mitchell Mesenbrink met with the media ahead of the Big Ten Tournament, which gets underway at 10 am on Saturday, March 7 at the Bryce Jordan Center

Cael Sanderson – Head Coach​

Thoughts on the New Big Ten Pre-seeding System​

I can’t explain it. I was there and I voted. In the past, our coaches spent a lot of time seeding the tournament and the bracket, so we thought if a third party could do a good job, we would try it. Obviously, what happened isn’t going to work. There needs to be a common-sense application. We have to figure that out. I don’t know if it’s too late to re-seed it as coaches, but maybe we should. Some of it just doesn’t make sense. You’re relying on a system that I think the coaches all thought would be a little bit better than what they came up with, unfortunately. It just doesn’t make sense. Anybody could look at it and say, well, you have an undefeated national champion or a top-ranked guy that won head-to-head. There has to be a human element in all things, especially a sport like wrestling. I’m not too worried about it; we’ll figure it out. But we do need to do the best that we can to make sure these guys get the seeds that they earned through the season. (00:00 – 01:41)

Potential Early Round Matchups​

Looking at it, some big matches could be right away. In the Big Ten, you have multiple guys that are probably hoping to win the national tournament, so it’s not anything new. It’s good practice. It’s a Big Ten tournament, so you have to show up and be ready to wrestle. That is what we will do. (01:41 – 02:30)

Benefits of Hosting the Big Ten Championships​

It is good for our crowd and our fans. We’re excited for them not to have to travel and be able to watch this tournament. It is a great tournament and the final tune-up before the national championship. To have it at home is great for the community. I am sure a lot of people will come in, fill up hotels, and eat at restaurants. For us, whether it is here or anywhere else, it’s the same approach. (02:30 – 03:05)

Update on Team Health​

We are happy and healthy and ready to go. (03:05 – 03:12)

Conditioning Timeline for Post-Season​

I think our guys are always in top shape. Conditioning has always been a factor for us, and I think that gives them a lot of confidence. We put a lot of work in the last couple of weeks, and we still have some work to do, but we feel pretty darn good with our conditioning. We are ready to compete. We will assess after the Big Ten and get ready for the nationals like we always do. (03:12 – 03:52)

Individual Approaches to Film Study​

Our job as coaches is to be prepared and make sure our guys are prepared. Some kids want to study film and know more about their opponents than others, so that’s more of an individual basis. Our job as a program and coaches is to make sure we’re ready to compete. (03:52 – 04:25)

Post-Season Tournament Structure​

In the Big Ten, you wrestle back-to-back and have multiple matches in a day. These guys are in such good shape that I don’t think three or four matches over two days is really that big of a deal to them. Their conditioning is great. Whether it is a two-day, three-day, or one-day tournament, they’re ready to do it. (04:25 – 05:07)

Managing Workout Partners and Travel Rosters​

The Big Ten gives us the same amount of practice partner travel squad as any other team. We are treating this as an away match as far as how we approach it. A lot of that depends on what’s going on; there is a lot of sickness going around, and you want partners that are happy and healthy just like the team. You try to cover all your bases as far as weight classes and certain guys who like specific warm-up partners. Some guys are just fun to have around. Like Clay [Steadman], we used to travel him back however many years ago just because he has good energy. There are a lot of different things you factor in when you’re trying to decide how to fill up those spots. (05:07 – 06:17)

Integrating Mental and Physical Preparation​

It all goes hand-in-hand. When you’re preparing physically, you’re preparing mentally. If you want to be prepared mentally, you have to be prepared physically. It is a year-long plan for physical and mental training. A lot of it is just your perspective and not changing regardless of the circumstances—just being yourself. It doesn’t do us any good to drill technique if you aren’t willing to execute it in a match. (06:17 – 07:07)

Outlook for Braeden Davis​

I think he is feeling really good. He got some really good training in, so he should feel comfortable and be excited to go compete and just let it rip. (07:07 – 07:27)

Freshman Adjustments to the Post-Season​

We don’t change a whole lot. It is going to be the same energy whether it’s the day before the Big Ten, the day after, or in the middle of the summer. Our approach, perspective, and focus are pretty similar. I think it is pretty easy in this program to just be yourself and go do what you do. (07:27 – 08:08)

Mitchell Mesenbrink Outside of Wrestling​

He is very creative and very ambitious. He loves music and is a very talented musician. He reads a lot; on off days when he is off the mat, he will be sitting in the bleachers reading a book. He is a kid who loves life and lives it to the fullest. He loves philosophy and discussing the meaning of life. He is a lot of fun to have around and is just a kid who isn’t afraid to get after it. (08:08 – 09:05)

Mitchell Mesenbrink as a Musician​

He sings a lot. I think he plays a lot of instruments. He has talked about playing the piano a lot. I don’t know a lot about music, so I don’t know for sure, but I know he is very passionate about everything he does. That is just his personality and the zeal he has in life. He is a philosophy major, so sometimes before practice, he will share some interesting readings he has, and it’s informative and helpful. (09:05 – 10:10)

Legacy of Coach Bobby Douglas​

It is hard to put into words. I love Coach Douglas; he was the perfect coach and a great mentor for me. He was a really good example in coaching. Obviously, a lot of what we are doing is stuff that came from him and stuff that he started. I always thought technically he was 10 years ahead of the competition. He was just a great man and a great coach. I never really saw him be upset in a match or get upset with somebody; he always treated people with love and respect. He was a mastermind and a good friend. It is still really sad, and we are mourning for him and his family, but he was an amazing person. He had a huge impact on Olympic and college wrestling, and his legacy will live on forever in the sport. (10:10 – 11:32)

Nick Lee as an Assistant Coach​

He is a leader. Everyone on our staff is a little different and brings different things to the table. Even though this is only his second year, he is still not afraid to speak up and let us know what he is thinking, which is super helpful. He is very passionate, a great competitor, and a very smart, intellectual kid. When that job opened up, he was a great hire for us. The kids all love and trust him. He possesses all the qualities you are looking for in a human being. (11:32 – 12:30)

Impact of Masanosuke Ono​

He just has great energy. He loves to compete. As you’ve seen, he competes really well in big moments. He enjoys it. Having that kind of presence around gives everybody confidence. Training with him on a regular basis is a boost. He is excited to wrestle folkstyle; it is something he is really looking forward to. We were hoping to get him a handful of folkstyle matches this year, but it just didn’t work out, unfortunately. He’s going to be a lot of fun. (12:30 – 13:21)

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Mitchell Mesenbrink – Junior​

Musical Interests and Instruments​

I play guitar and piano. I like to sing. All my siblings and I really enjoy music; it is just something that we have always loved to do. It never really went away, and it’s something I want to continue to do after wrestling. I play both acoustic and electric, and I write my own music. (00:05 – 00:56)

Reaction to the Viral Singing Video​

It was just a TikTok live, and then someone clipped it and took it. It annoyed me a little bit because I wanted the first thing I put out to be something that I could control. I guess I should have known someone might screen record it, but I wasn’t thinking about that at the time. When FloWrestling started posting about it, I was a little upset at the beginning, but then my attitude changed. Maybe it happened for a reason. Now that it’s out there, it makes it a little easier to post my own stuff. (01:00 – 01:40)

Handling Public Feedback and Criticism​

I have seen both. I’ve seen people saying, “Never sing again,” and then there are other people. It is just like everything else—you can do everything right and some people still won’t like you. It is really not that big of a deal. I have learned that through the way I wrestle and from wrestling in general. I can take that lesson into any facet of life. (02:02 – 02:28)

Parallels Between Music and Wrestling Style​

Definitely. I think it comes down to wanting to enjoy it. Every time I listen to music, I want to enjoy it; I’m not just putting it on for background noise. That translates to wrestling. When I go out and wrestle, I want to enjoy it. I don’t want it to just be like a job. It is also a bit of a dance, and obviously, you can dance to music. (02:40 – 03:16)

Purpose of the Big Ten Championships​

I guess it helps in constantly getting better at wrestling. It is an opportunity to keep improving and see the things I’m working on. I want to be able to implement those techniques into my competition and see them come to fruition. (03:21 – 03:56)

Facing Unfamiliar Competition​

There are challenges in both. You are trying to hit new stuff or the same stuff on new or old opponents. There is a duality to it. It can be different or it can be the same. (04:10 – 04:24)

Advantages of Hosting the Tournament at Home​

I kind of enjoy being on the road, too. It doesn’t really matter where it is. Either way, it’s a wrestling mat, and you throw someone up there and we’re going to wrestle. It is a regardless thing for me. (04:36 – 04:52)

Personal Philosophy and Current Focus​

Probably that enjoyment I mentioned. I want to do things that I enjoy, but I also want to be a tool to brighten someone’s day in any little way I can. My priest says to help someone “make their day suck less,” and I have been thinking a lot about how I can be a tool in that. (05:04 – 05:40)

Thoughts on Tournament Seeding​

I’m going to be honest, I don’t even look at the bracket. Even after I wrestle, I don’t look at the bracket. Like I said, it’s just whoever steps out there. (05:45 – 06:01)

Approach to Film Study​

That has pretty much always been me. There is a balance with the coaches telling me if someone is a leg-lead or left-leg lead, but that’s all I really need to know. Then it’s game time. (06:20 – 06:30)

Interest in Psychology and Philosophy​

I think it’s cool to see how people work. Knowing how people work and how to build relationships is a tool you can use in wrestling, business, or any other facet. Being a personable person is a strong suit. I also gravitate toward philosophy and finding meaning. It is human to contemplate life and try to find fulfillment. Those answers don’t always come easy; sometimes you have to work for them. (06:44 – 07:41)

Philosophy Reading Recommendations​

Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato are great, obviously, for ancient Greek philosophy. There are also contemporary philosophers like Ryan Holiday who have good stuff. You can look it up and things will pop up. (07:51 – 08:21)

Applying Psychology to Wrestling​

You can see how people work and the things they want or don’t want. It sounds like science fiction to say I can be inside their mind and pinpoint weaknesses—that’s trying a bit too much—but there are definitely little things you can implement in your style. You can use it in nonverbal situations as well. Wrestling isn’t just about feeling movement with your eyes closed; you have face-to-face interaction that can be used psychologically to your advantage. (08:30 – 09:20)

Balancing Individual Success with Team Connection​

I have thought a lot about the differences between team and individual sports and the stressors involved. Human nature is to not want to be lonely; every person craves intimacy. I feel like the greatest form of intimacy is communication and conversation. I really enjoy communicating with people. None of the guys in here or the staff are exceptions to craving relationships and wanting to be around people. That is why you see society and cultures throughout history. Even though we are going out there individually, we still have a team and coaches behind us who love us. (09:38 – 10:52)

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