By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Just 15 days stand between the Penn State wrestling squad and its competition mats that will be laid in Rec Hall for the season-opening Intrasquad Dual.

And the Nittany Lions are itching to get started.

The 2011-'12 season officially began with the team's first practice of the year last Monday, October 10. Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson sat in the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex training room on a large red exercise ball in front of his 36 Nittany Lion grapplers on Thursday of that same week, ready to get to work.

Among the group of young men waiting for direction from Sanderson was redshirt senior and heavyweight Cameron Wade.

Wade has wrestled under Coach Sanderson and his staff for the past two years now, and said that he and his teammates came into the season knowing that they were going to have to work hard right from the start.

"All of the guys are really ready and getting intense and just getting ready to get back at it and have the coaches in here," said Wade. "They're kind of putting us back through workouts now."

After winning the Big Ten Championship and a National Championship title last season, the Nittany Lions have been recognized as the No. 1 team in pre-season rankings by Intermat, once again. Still, Wade said that the beginning of this season is no different than any other where his coaches are concerned.

"It has always been different when the coaches actually put you through workouts," said Wade. "It gets a little more intense in here and everyone knows that the first match is coming up soon so everyone's got to get ready."

Wade also made note of the fact that this year's roster features a lot of younger athletes, namely 18 wrestlers who are at a freshman eligibility level, and holds just three senior competitors. As one of the veteran names on the lineup this year, Wade said that he is impressed with how his new teammates have handled the pressure.

"The way we run things around here is a lot different than any other wrestling program but I think that's what sets us apart from any other program, just the way that our coaches run things and the plan that they have for us," said Wade. "It's easy to adjust to if you just buy into the system and I think all of the freshmen are doing a good job of doing that."

Redshirt junior Bryan Pearsall was among the mix of Nittany Lion returners in the practice room last week as well and he said that for him, just the thought of getting back on the mat is enough to get him motivated.

"I'm just getting really ready," said Pearsall. "Anticipation is building up and I'm just eager to get back on the mat in front of Rec Hall.

The Penn State squad hasn't officially wrestled as a team since the NCAA National Championships in March of 2011, and Pearsall said that after a long offseason some of his teammates are still getting back into the swing of things.

"It's been tough," said Pearsall. "We haven't practiced at this level for quite some time and a couple guys are feeling tired but this is the time where we've got to push through and keeping working hard toward the season."

Pearsall made a few key appearances in the Nittany Lion roster last season, stepping in at the 141 spot from time to time and getting some experience on the mat, but the junior has yet to earn a starting spot on the defending national champion lineup.

This season, Pearsall said he is working to change that.

"It's a similar process to last year," said Pearsall. "I know what I went through - I kind of have to do the same stuff and just stay disciplined and focus on the areas where I need improvement and have self confidence knowing that I can go out there and wrestle with the best in the country."