By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After just four dual meets this season, Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson said that his wrestlers are doing more than just competing at a high level.

They're getting better.

"I think we're seeing improvement and that's kind of the name of the game," said Sanderson. "That's what we like to see."

The Nittany Lions cruised to a 34-6 dual win over the Mountaineers on Sunday afternoon in front of a crowd of more than 6,000 in Rec Hall. Penn State topped West Virginia in eight of the 10 individual bouts, scoring one decision, one technical fall, one pin and five major decisions.

Throughout the lineup, the Lions that took their bouts dominated by a wide margin to outscore their opponents 104-31. Penn State wrestlers took further control by winning the riding time point in six of the eight bouts that they took. Three of these Nittany Lions garnered more than four minutes of riding time in their perspective match-ups.

Sanderson said that his athletes have been working to have that edge over their competition week in and week out during practices and training sessions.

"A lot of that is just the attitude that we take or the individuals take when they're in those positions because the guys that are good wrestlers they can wrestle wherever," said Sanderson. "They can wrestle on the mat or on their feet and it's just a matter of putting a little more emphasis into it."

One of the notable spots in the dual was junior Derek Reber's major over West Virginia's freshman Jesse Schiffbauer. Reber posted a 12-4 win over Schiffbauer and delivered four takedowns in the bout for his first dual win of the season.

"It feels good getting a win here at home finally," said Reber. "I just love the atmosphere."

The junior is making his debut as a member of the starting lineup for Penn State this season, and has been suffering a high-ankle sprain since the Nov. 20 dual against Minnesota.

"It's improving a lot," Reber said of his ankle. "I feel a lot better compared to two weeks ago."

Sanderson was also impressed at how his 133-pounder took to the mats in his first dual victory of the year.

"I thought he wrestled very well," said Sanderson. "His shots, I mean he has great shots but he finished them well and got several takedowns and did a nice job on top and he just wrestled a solid match."

The Nittany Lions' head coach said that overall he is more and more satisfied with his younger wrestlers who have opened up the matches for the team for the majority of this season. Sanderson said that Reber's win is one that he thinks that the whole team can build on.

"That's a big deal especially early in a dual like that to come out and set the tone for the rest of the match but a real solid performance and just a place to really plant your feet and just keep moving forward and something that he can really take this match and continue to build off of it," said Sanderson. "That's what we need."

Junior Quentin Wright also had a big day under the lights of Rec Hall as he spent less than two minutes on the mat at the 184 spot by pinning West Virginia's Matt Ryan.

After a tough dual loss the match before to Lehigh's Robert Hamlin, Wright said that like Sanderson he has also noticed the progressive improvement in his and his teammates' performances.

"It's a process and it's a long season and every day is just improving because once you find what works and what you need to do to get through those tough matches and beat those good guys then you're there," said Wright. "Sometimes it takes a little bit of time to figure out."

Wright said that he knows the feeling that his less experienced teammates are feeling as they get used to the demands of a tough schedule, but the veteran is convinced that they will only continue to get better.

"They're just getting more confident out there," said Wright. "They're getting more comfortable and as you get more matches under your belt things are starting to work for them. You're also going to see a big difference from now until the end of the year because they're going to keep on improving."