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How Does Penn State Wrestling’s Dynasty Stack Up Across All Sports?

After compiling 10 national titles in the last 12 years, there have been few dominant dynasties that compare to Penn State wrestling.

To start, the Nittany Lions have continued a streak of commanding performances that rival any other sports team in recent years. Across Penn State, collegiate athletics, and even the big four professional sports leagues, there are few teams with similar achievements.

Since 2010, the blue and white have won seven Big Ten championships, 10 national championships, and have gone a combined 178-10-1 in dual competition. The Nittany Lions boast an unheard-of 109-2 record since 2016 with an unbeaten streak in dual competitions lasting over four seasons.

To showcase just how impressive this feat is, here are some other sports dynasties that almost compare to the dominance folks can witness at Rec Hall.

1956-1969 Boston Celtics

With a team comprised of Hall of Famers such as Bill Russell, Sam Jones, and John Havilcek, it’s no surprise this team was so successful for so long. During their 13-year run, the Celtics won a total of 11 NBA Championships, including a streak of eight consecutive titles. You could argue that the dynasty ran into the 1980s with the likes of Larry Bird, however, nothing would compare to the triumph the Celtics had in the 1960s.

1983-1990 Edmonton Oilers

While “goat” debates run rampant among all major sports leagues, the NHL’s rich history holds one of the only undisputed goats, Wayne Gretzky. With a nickname like “The Great One,” Gretzky, paired with fellow Hall of Famers Paul Coffey and Mark Messier, had no trouble leading his Oilers to five Stanley Cup titles in seven years.

2008-2016 UConn Women’s Basketball

If there is a definition of a sports dynasty in the dictionary, it would most certainly mention the UConn women’s basketball team. During a run of six national titles in eight years, including a 111-game unbeaten streak, the Huskies were one of the most dominant dynasties in the 2010s. The Huskies were led by current WNBA player and four-time National Champion Breanna Stewart from 2012 to 2016.

2009-2018 Alabama Football

The Alabama Crimson Tide have been modern-day dynasty on the gridiron for as long as current college students can remember. With six national title wins in nine years and 11 12-win seasons since 2007, it’s hard to deny the powerhouse Nick Saban created.

1963-1975 UCLA Men’s Basketball

Led by legendary coach and basketball mind John Wooden, the Bruins were unbeatable for over a decade. With a run that included 10 national titles in 12 years (sounds familiar, doesn’t it?) and an unbeaten streak of 88 games in a row, UCLA men’s basketball was the king of the court for a long time.

When you compare these legendary teams of decades past to what’s happening now at Penn State, it becomes much easier to see just how dominant Nittany Lion wrestling truly is. With dual season starting in just a few days, it’s a better time than ever to start following this historic dynasty, because who knows, maybe 10 years from now Penn State wrestling will be in the same conversation for the greatest dynasty in all of sports.

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About the Author

Brendan Wagner

Brendan is a senior majoring in print and media journalism. Born in Pittsburgh, he now lives in Mooresville, North Carolina. As a die-hard Pittsburgh sports fan, you can find him on Twitter, @brchwags, often complaining about the Pittsburgh Steelers and maybe Justin Fields, we will see.

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