Growing up raising goats on his family’s Doylestown farm helped shape Penn State wrestler Tyler Kasak into one of the NCAA’s top competitors, writes Matt Breen for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Kasak had a list of his goals posted on his bedroom door.
He has achieved most of the things he set out to do. During his time at Bethlehem Catholic, he won several district wrestling titles, state titles, and almost every other tournament. Last year, as a Penn State freshman, he finished third at the NCAA championships and is No. 1 seed at 157 pounds for the next leg of the tournament.
His father, Joel, believes he can attribute his success to the goats he raised. When Kasak told his father he wanted goats, he agreed but made sure his son knew they would be his responsibility.
Every morning, Tyler woke up early to feed them. He put up fences to keep them safe, cleaned them, and trimmed their hair. He started with two goats and now has 100.
“That’s what the secret is,” Joel said. “It’s easy. You have to hold your kids accountable. Teach them to be accountable.”
Read more about Tyler Kasak and how raising goats helped him become a G.O.A.T. in his own right in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on BUCKSCO Today in March 2025.
