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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