Cael Sanderson

Cael Norman Sanderson (/ˈkeɪl/ KAYL; born June 20, 1979) is an American former folkstyle and freestyle wrestler who is the current head coach of Penn State University's wrestling team. As a wrestler, he won an Olympic Gold medal and was undefeated in four years of college wrestling at Iowa State University (ISU) (159–0), becoming a four-time NCAA Division I champion (1999–2002). He is the only wrestler in NCAA Division I history to go undefeated in official matches with more than 100 wins. Sports Illustrated named his college career as the second most impressive college sports feat behind the setting of four world records by Jesse Owens in a single hour at the 1935 Big Ten track and field conference championship meet.[1]

Cael Sanderson
Weight	191 lb (87 kg)
Born	June 20, 1979 Salt Lake City, Utah
High school	Heber City (UT) Wasatch
State championships	4 (Utah)
College	Iowa State University
NCAA championships	12 (4 competing, 8 coaching)
Olympic team	United States of America
Olympic medal	Gold
Status	Head Coach for Penn State Nittany Lions Wrestling
Medal record Men's freestyle wrestling Representing the  United States Olympic Games 2004 Athens 84 kg World Championships 2003 New York 84 kg World Cup 2003 Boise 84 kg University World Championships 2000 Tokyo 85 kg Pan American Games 2003 Santo Domingo 84 kg Cadet World Championships 1994 Frankfort 55 kg Collegiate Wrestling Representing the Iowa State Cyclones NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships 1999 State College 184 lb 2000 St. Louis 184 lb 2001 Iowa City 184 lb 2002 Albany 197 lb Big 12 Championships 1999 Ames 184 lb 2000 Lincoln 184 lb 2001 Stillwater 184 lb 2002 Norman 197 lb

Early life

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah to Steve and Debbie Sanderson, Cael attended Wasatch High School in Heber City, Utah, where he was coached by his father, a former wrestler at the Brigham Young University. As a high school wrestler, Sanderson was a four-time UHSAA state champion (1994-97), like his brother Cody, and compiled a record of 127 wins and 3 losses.[2]

Wrestling career

College

Upon graduation, Sanderson followed his brothers, Cody and Cole, to ISU. After redshirting in 1997-98, Sanderson won all 39 of his matches to his first NCAA and Big 12 Conference titles at 184 pounds (his brother, Cody, was the runner-up at 133 pounds). He was also the first freshman in NCAA history to be named the Outstanding Wrestler (OW) at Nationals.[3] His next three seasons were virtually identical, compiling 40 wins and no losses in each and finishing with the only perfect record in NCAA Division I history at 159-0. By winning all of his matches, he became only the second wrestler in history to that point to win four NCAA Division I titles. He was also named the OW in all of the NCAA tournaments he competed in.[4]

Sanderson was a three-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner (equivalent to the Heisman Trophy), being the first to win the award multiple times and the only person to win it three times.[3] He holds the longest win-streak across all NCAA divisions.[5] All of this combined, makes him the most accomplished collegiate wrestler in the history of the sport.[6][7]

On 2017, Sanderson was inducted into the ISU Hall of Fame.[8]

Freestyle

Sanderson was a two-time US Cadet World Team Member, placing third and fourth in 1994 and 1995, respectively.[9] He was also a US University National Champion in 1999 and a University World Champion in 2000.[10]

He became the US National Champion in 2001, 2002 and 2003.[11] He was also an original US World Team Member in 2001 and 2002, however, he chose not to participate at the 01' World Championships to focus in folkstyle,[12] and the USA team chose to not compete in 2002.[13]

In 2003, he won the Manitoba Open in Canada in February,[14] placed second at the World Cup in April, third at the 2003 Pan American Games[15] and second at the World Championships.[16] In 2004, he once again claimed the Manitoba Open title[14] and won the US Olympic Team Trials.[17]

At the 2004 Summer Olympics, Sanderson claimed wins over Magomed Kurugliyev, Siarhei Borchanka, Majid Khodaei, Yoel Romero and Moon Eui-jae to become an Olympic Gold medalist in Athens, Greece.[18]

While already a full-time coach at Penn State, Sanderson came out of retirement in 2011[19] and took home an Ion Corneanu Memorial title,[20] won the US World Team Trials[21] and placed fifth at the World Championships.[22]

Freestyle record

Coaching career

Iowa State

Sanderson began his coaching career with the season ending in 2004 as a special assistant for the wrestling team at ISU. After short stints in associate head coaching positions, he became the head coach for the season ending in 2007. In three seasons, Sanderson led ISU's wrestling team to NCAA Division I national placements of second, fifth, and third.[23] He also coached his wrestlers to two individual NCAA Division I national titles.

Penn State

Before the 2010 season ended, Sanderson became the head coach of Penn State's wrestling team. As of 2019, Sanderson's Penn State teams have won eight NCAA Division I team titles.[24] During that time, he also coached his wrestlers to 23 individual Division I titles.

Coaching results

Awards and honors

2011

• Ion Corneanu Memorial

2004

• Summer Olympics
• Manitoba Open
• John Smith Award as the Freestyle Wrestler of the Year[25]

2003

• World Wrestling Championships
• Pan American Games
• Manitoba Open
• John Smith Award as the Freestyle Wrestler of the Year[26]

2002

• Best Male College Athlete ESPY Award
• Dan Hodge Trophy winner
• NCAA Division I Championships Outstanding Wrestler
• NCAA Division I
• Big 12 Conference

2001

• Dan Hodge Trophy winner
• NCAA Division I Championships Outstanding Wrestler
• NCAA Division I
• Big 12 Conference

2000

• Dan Hodge Trophy winner
• NCAA Division I Championships Outstanding Wrestler
• NCAA Division I
• Big 12 Conference

1999

• NCAA Division I Championships Outstanding Wrestler
• NCAA Division I
• Big 12 Conference

Other honors

• Iowa Sports Hall of Fame inductee[27]
• Wheaties cereal box appearance

See also

• List of Pennsylvania State University Olympians

References

1. Anderson, Kelli (2002-04-01). "The Top 10: SI picks the most impressive college sports feats ever". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
2. "15 years ago: Cael concludes perfect college career". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
3. "Cael Sanderson: College statistics, records, championships | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
4. "15 years ago: Cael concludes perfect college career". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
5. "NCAA Wrestling Unbeaten Streak Leaders". mwolverine.com. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
6. "NCAA weighs in: Top 5 NCAA wrestlers of all time". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
7. "Ranking top college wrestlers of all time". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
8. "Cael Sanderson (2017) - Hall of Fame". Iowa State University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
9. "Cael Sanderson (State College, PA) | Trackwrestling Profile". Trackwrestling. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
10. "Cael Sanderson named U.S. Men's Freestyle World Team coach | Penn State University". news.psu.edu. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
11. "BeUndefeated.com - Undefeated Sport Nutrition – Sport Cookies – Custom Sport Drink". beundefeated.com. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
12. "EGGUM, PAULSON CLAIM SILVER MEDALS AT WORLD WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
13. "Cael Sanderson, 3-time Hodge Trophy winner". WIN Magazine. 2010-10-07. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
14. "Cael Sanderson". Key Speakers Bureau. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
15. Grundmeier, Lucas. "Overtime loss for Sanderson in Pan American Games semifinals". Iowa State Daily. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
16. "Cael Sanderson loses final at World Championships". Iowa State Daily. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
17. "Match of the Day: Cael Sanderson defeats Lee Fulhart in match three to make the 2004 Olympic Team". Team USA. May 1, 2020.
18. "Perfection: Sanderson wins wrestling gold". ESPN.com. 2004-08-28. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
19. News, Deseret (2011-07-28). "Cael Sanderson excited to be back on the wrestling mat". Deseret News. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
20. "Cael Sanderson captures title at Ion Corneanu Memorial in Romania". Team USA. August 6, 2011.
21. "Sanderson wins spot in worlds with trials title". ESPN.com. 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
22. "Sanderson Takes Fifth at World Championship and Varner Wins Bronze". Penn State University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
23. "Cael Sanderson Bio :: Penn State :: Official Athletic Site". Gopsusports.com. Archived from the original on 2016-07-08. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
24. "WR: Two Lions Up for the Hodge! :: Penn State :: Official Athletic Site". Gopsusports.com. 2018-03-20. Archived from the original on 2018-05-03. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
25. Abbott, Gary (2005-04-28). "Cael Sanderson named 2004 John Smith Award winner, as the Freestyle Wrestler of the Year by USA Wres | TheMat.com - USA Wrestling". Content.themat.com. Archived from the original on 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
26. Abbott, Gary. "Cael Sanderson named 2003 John Smith Award winner, as the Freestyle Wrestler of the Year by USA Wres | TheMat.com - USA Wrestling". Content.themat.com. Archived from the original on 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
27. Hamilton, Andy (21 July 2012). "Cael Sanderson elected to Des Moines Sunday Register's Iowa Sports Hall of Fame". Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2012.

External links

• Cael Sanderson at United World Wrestling
• Cael Sanderson Official Site (caelsanderson.com)
• Cael Sanderson Penn State Bio (gopsusports.com)
• Cael Sanderson Wrestling Technique (thewrestlingtalk.com) at the Wayback Machine (archived February 20, 2011)