Nov 14, 2025 By Jonathan Guth 3 min read

When arguably the greatest college wrestler, and quite possibly, the best coach at the collegiate level, is interested in you competing for him, it is tough to decline.

That’s what Belle Vernon senior Elijah Brown encountered when he spoke with Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson after decommitting from the University of Pittsburgh.

“Pitt is awesome, and I have no hard feelings towards them, but Penn State is kind of like the boogeyman of wrestling,” Brown said. “I have high goals for myself, and I believe Penn State is where I can achieve those. The way they develop people, and just to get that call from Cael Sanderson about wrestling for Penn State is an honor. The decision was kind of a no-brainer for me.”

Brown committed to the Panthers on Aug. 15, 2024, but last season’s Class 3A state champion at 215 pounds decided to pursue other options and posted his decision on social media to compete for the Nittany Lions on Wednesday.

Brown is eager to compete for a program that has won 12 of the last 14 national championships. Penn State’s run of national titles began in 2011, and other than 2015 and 2021, the Nittany Lions have finished on top of the podium in mid-March. The NCAA tournament was not contested in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is hard not to be a tad awestruck when you see those guys because they are something else,” Brown said. “You are talking about a program that has won 12 of the last 14 national championships, and at the U-23 Worlds, there were seven guys from Penn State on that team who represented the United States. That really put everything in perspective with that program, however, the guys I talked to were very personable and welcomed me with open arms.”

Brown, who has a high school record of 127-19 with one state title, returns at 215 this year, but will move up to 285 at the collegiate level. Brown isn’t too concerned with competing in a larger weight class, as he plans to build up his 6-foot-4 inch frame when he gets to Happy Valley.

“I really hate cutting weight, and just looking at the height of most heavyweights (285 pounds), I tower over them,” Brown said. “I would like to get up to 240. I am going to put on some muscle. They have strength and conditioning coaches and a nutritionist on staff.”

Brown didn’t compete in any offseason tournament this year, as he tore his lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in his state final match with Kiski Area’s Cooper Roscosky.

“I took the summer to recover from the injury,” Brown said. “I focused on watching film and getting better in certain positions. I am still only 17-years-old, so I know that I have time. I am fully recovered from the injury and ready to go, as practice is about to start for the high school season.”

The Leopards open their season on Dec. 3 in a non-section dual meet at Bethel Park.

Belle Vernon will compete in Class 3A this season, but could move down to 2A next year. Brown is eager to face the rigors of competing in Class 3A.

“There are great wrestlers in Class 2A, but in Class 3A, you are facing top guys day-in-and-day-out,” Brown said. “That is important to me, and when I get to college, that is how it’s going to be in every match. From my understanding, I will be facing a top-level wrestler in our second competition of the year, and I am very much looking forward to the challenge.”