Cael Sanderson

June 20, 1979 - Present

Cael Sanderson’s first win as an Iowa State freshman in 1998 received little fanfare. By the time his collegiate career concluded, Sanderson had set an unprecedented record that may never be equaled.

Under the guidance of Hall of Fame coach Bobby Douglas, Sanderson wrestled 159 official collegiate matches and won all 159—going 39-0 at 184 pounds as a freshman and posting three straight 40-0 seasons, the last at 197 pounds.

Sanderson won every college tournament he entered, and also won four NCAA Championships Outstanding Wrestler Awards. No wrestler before had won more than two.

Following his 12-4 win over Lehigh’s Jon Trenge in the 2002 NCAA championship finals in Albany, New York, Sanderson joined Oklahoma State’s Pat Smith in an exclusive club: four-time NCAA Division I champions. He is the only undefeated four-time Division I champion in the history of collegiate wrestling.

Prior to attending Iowa State, Cael, coached by his father Steve, won four individual Utah state championships, posting a 127-3 record at Wasatch High School in Heber City, Utah.

After college, he took on the world, qualifying for the 2001 and 2002 World Championships, but did not compete. At the 2003 World Championships in New York City, the former Cyclone superstar won a silver medal in the 185-pound class.

Yet it was at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, that Sanderson reached the highest pinnacle of the sport, defeating Eau Jae Moon of South Korea to win an Olympic gold medal.

Sanderson became head coach at Iowa State in 2006, leading his team to three Big 12 titles and three top-five NCAA finishes. In 2009, he was named head coach at Penn State. Two years later in Philadelphia, he led the Nittany Lions to their first NCAA title since 1953.

In recognition of historic achievements that may never be equaled, Cael Sanderson is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Awards:

Year
2011
Award
Distinguished Member
Chapter/Region
National
Year
2003
Award
Glen Brand Inductee
Chapter/Region
National
Year
1997
Award
Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award
Chapter/Region
West, Utah

All American Awards:

Season
2002
School
Iowa State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
197
Place
1
Season
2001
School
Iowa State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
184
Place
1
Season
2000
School
Iowa State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
184
Place
1
Season
1999
School
Iowa State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
184
Place
1

College Season Records:

Season
2002
School
Iowa State
Class
Senior
Bouts
40
Wins
40
Losses
0
Ties
0
Falls
22
Win PCT.
100
Place
1st
Season
2001
School
Iowa State
Class
Junior
Bouts
40
Wins
40
Losses
0
Ties
0
Falls
18
Win PCT.
100
Place
1st
Season
2000
School
Iowa State
Class
Sophomore
Bouts
40
Wins
40
Losses
0
Ties
0
Falls
11
Win PCT.
100
Place
1st
Season
1999
School
Iowa State
Class
Freshman
Bouts
39
Wins
39
Losses
0
Ties
0
Falls
10
Win PCT.
100
Place
1st
Season
Career
Bouts
159
Wins
159
Losses
0
Ties
0
Falls
61
Win PCT.
100

All Coaching Dual Records:

Season
2011
School
Penn State
Division
Division I
Duals
19
Wins
17
Losses
1
Ties
1
Win PCT.
89.47
Season
2010
School
Penn State
Division
Division I
Duals
20
Wins
13
Losses
6
Ties
1
Win PCT.
65
Season
2009
School
Iowa State
Division
Division I
Duals
18
Wins
15
Losses
3
Ties
0
Win PCT.
83.33
Season
2008
School
Iowa State
Division
Division I
Duals
20
Wins
16
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
80
Season
2007
School
Iowa State
Division
Division I
Duals
16
Wins
13
Losses
3
Ties
0
Win PCT.
81.25
Season
Career
Duals
93
Wins
74
Losses
17
Ties
2
Win PCT.
79.57

All Rankings:

Season
2002
Rank Date
03/22/2002
Weight
197
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2002
Rank Date
03/04/2002
Weight
197
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2002
Rank Date
02/22/2002
Weight
197
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2002
Rank Date
02/08/2002
Weight
197
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2002
Rank Date
01/12/2002
Weight
197
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2002
Rank Date
12/10/2001
Weight
197
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2002
Rank Date
11/09/2001
Weight
197
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2001
Rank Date
02/05/2001
Weight
184
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2001
Rank Date
03/16/2001
Weight
184
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2001
Rank Date
03/02/2001
Weight
184
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2001
Rank Date
02/15/2001
Weight
184
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2001
Rank Date
01/05/2001
Weight
184
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2001
Rank Date
12/07/2000
Weight
184
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2001
Rank Date
11/13/2000
Weight
184
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2000
Rank Date
03/11/2000
Weight
184
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2000
Rank Date
02/25/2000
Weight
184
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2000
Rank Date
02/11/2000
Weight
184
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2000
Rank Date
01/07/2000
Weight
184
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2000
Rank Date
12/08/1999
Weight
184
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
2000
Rank Date
11/12/1999
Weight
184
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
1999
Rank Date
02/26/1999
Weight
184
Rank
1
School
Iowa State
Season
1999
Rank Date
03/12/1999
Weight
184
Rank
1
School
Iowa State

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