Cael Sanderson
Encyclopedia
Cael Norman Sanderson (born June 20, 1979, in Salt Lake City
, Utah
), is considered one of the greatest American
amateur wrestler
s of all time. A 2004 Olympic
champion in Athens, Greece, he went undefeated in four years of college wrestling at Iowa State University
(159–0), winning four consecutive NCAA titles (1999–2002). He is the only wrestler in NCAA Division I history to go undefeated 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.
He is the current head wrestling coach at Penn State University.
while wrestling for Wasatch High School in Heber City, Utah. Sanderson had a 127–3 record with four state titles. He was coached by his father Steve. He was also an All-region selection in football.
. He redshirted
the 1997–98 season, losing only one match to Iowa's Paul Jenn in the finals of the University of Northern Iowa Open in November of 1997 by a score of 6-4. He then wrestled Jenn again twice the next year beating him 19-4 and 10-2 and one more time the following year winning 22-7 when Jenn was disqualified. In his second year wrestling as now a redshirt freshman, Sanderson won all 39 matches and the NCAA
title at 184 pounds (83.5 kg). He became the first freshman in NCAA tournament history to be named the NCAA Wrestling Team Championship
's most outstanding wrestler.
Sanderson continued to have unblemished success in the 1999–00 season. He completed the season 40–0 with another NCAA title. He also won the Dan Hodge Trophy
as the nation's most outstanding college wrestler. He was the first underclassman to win the Hodge Trophy. In the off season, he won the World University title in Tokyo, Japan.
As a junior, Sanderson went 40–0, raising his record to 119–0. He broke Iowa State University
alumnus
Dan Gable's
record of 98 consecutive wins. He was also named outstanding wrestler in the NCAA tournament and was the first two-time winner of the Dan Hodge Trophy.
Sanderson's 2001–02 campaign was a coronation of sorts. He again went undefeated at 40–0. He became the second wrestler to win the NCAA Division I title four times, the first being Pat Smith
. He also won his third Dan Hodge Trophy
as outstanding wrestler. Sanderson set an NCAA record with 159 straight wins. His success brought attention even from non-wrestling fans. Sanderson was the first wrestler since 1988's "Wheaties Search for Champions" winner, Sammy Chagolla, to be featured on Wheaties
cereal boxes for his achievement. His final college accomplishments were a record of 159–0, 4 NCAA titles, 3 Dan Hodge Trophy awards, 4-time NCAA Outstanding Wrestler, and 4-time Big 12 Conference
Champion.
in Athens, Greece. Sanderson won gold at the 84 kg(184.8 lbs) weight class, defeating Eui Jae Moon of South Korea
in the finals.
He was also the 2003 World Championship silver medalist, and a three-time national freestyle champion (2001–03).
Iowa State's coach Bobby Douglas supervised Cael's training for the 2004 Olympics.
team titles.
In 2009 Sanderson accepted the post of wrestling head coach at Penn State University, starting with the 2009-10 season. In only his second year, he coached the Nittany Lions to the 2010-2011 Big Ten Championship and the NCAA Championship.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
), is considered one of the greatest American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
amateur wrestler
Amateur wrestling
Amateur wrestling is the most widespread form of sport wrestling. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games under the supervision of FILA : Greco-Roman and freestyle. Freestyle is possibly derived from the English Lancashire style...
s of all time. A 2004 Olympic
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
champion in Athens, Greece, he went undefeated in four years of college wrestling at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
(159–0), winning four consecutive NCAA titles (1999–2002). He is the only wrestler in NCAA Division I history to go undefeated with more than 100 wins. Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
named his college career as the second most impressive college sports feat behind the setting of four world records by Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens
James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the sprints and the long jump. He participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, where he achieved international fame by winning four gold medals: one each in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the...
in a single hour at the 1935 Big Ten track and field conference championship meet.
He is the current head wrestling coach at Penn State University.
High school
Cael was the third of four Sanderson brothers to win high school state wrestling titles in UtahUtah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
while wrestling for Wasatch High School in Heber City, Utah. Sanderson had a 127–3 record with four state titles. He was coached by his father Steve. He was also an All-region selection in football.
College
After graduation from Wasatch High in 1997, Sanderson matriculated to Iowa State UniversityIowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
. He redshirted
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
the 1997–98 season, losing only one match to Iowa's Paul Jenn in the finals of the University of Northern Iowa Open in November of 1997 by a score of 6-4. He then wrestled Jenn again twice the next year beating him 19-4 and 10-2 and one more time the following year winning 22-7 when Jenn was disqualified. In his second year wrestling as now a redshirt freshman, Sanderson won all 39 matches and the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
title at 184 pounds (83.5 kg). He became the first freshman in NCAA tournament history to be named the NCAA Wrestling Team Championship
NCAA Wrestling Team Championship
The NCAA Wrestling Team Championship was first officially awarded in 1929 and began to be continuously awarded on an annual basis in 1934 except during World War II 1943-1945. In 1928 and from 1931 to 1933, there was only an unofficial title. Oklahoma A&M, now Oklahoma State, won the 1928, 1931...
's most outstanding wrestler.
Sanderson continued to have unblemished success in the 1999–00 season. He completed the season 40–0 with another NCAA title. He also won the Dan Hodge Trophy
Dan Hodge Trophy
The Dan Hodge Trophy is awarded to the outstanding college wrestler of the year. The trophy is given each season to the nation's best college wrestler by W.I.N. Magazine and Culture House. It is the wrestling equivalent to the Heisman Trophy...
as the nation's most outstanding college wrestler. He was the first underclassman to win the Hodge Trophy. In the off season, he won the World University title in Tokyo, Japan.
As a junior, Sanderson went 40–0, raising his record to 119–0. He broke Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
alumnus
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
Dan Gable's
Dan Gable
Dan Gable is an American amateur wrestler. He is famous for having only lost one match in his entire Iowa State University collegiate career—his last, and winning gold at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany while not giving up a single point...
record of 98 consecutive wins. He was also named outstanding wrestler in the NCAA tournament and was the first two-time winner of the Dan Hodge Trophy.
Sanderson's 2001–02 campaign was a coronation of sorts. He again went undefeated at 40–0. He became the second wrestler to win the NCAA Division I title four times, the first being Pat Smith
Pat Smith
Pat Smith is a former collegiate wrestler at Oklahoma State University and a former assistant coach at OSU. During his collegiate wrestling career, he became the first four-time NCAA wrestling champion in the sports history, a feat only equalled one other time by Cael Sanderson. Smith resigned...
. He also won his third Dan Hodge Trophy
Dan Hodge Trophy
The Dan Hodge Trophy is awarded to the outstanding college wrestler of the year. The trophy is given each season to the nation's best college wrestler by W.I.N. Magazine and Culture House. It is the wrestling equivalent to the Heisman Trophy...
as outstanding wrestler. Sanderson set an NCAA record with 159 straight wins. His success brought attention even from non-wrestling fans. Sanderson was the first wrestler since 1988's "Wheaties Search for Champions" winner, Sammy Chagolla, to be featured on Wheaties
Wheaties
Wheaties is a brand of General Mills breakfast cereal. It is well known for featuring prominent athletes on the exterior of the package, and has become a major cultural icon...
cereal boxes for his achievement. His final college accomplishments were a record of 159–0, 4 NCAA titles, 3 Dan Hodge Trophy awards, 4-time NCAA Outstanding Wrestler, and 4-time Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
Champion.
2004 Olympics
After graduation, Sanderson worked with the Iowa State wrestling team while training for the 2004 Summer Olympics2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens, Greece. Sanderson won gold at the 84 kg(184.8 lbs) weight class, defeating Eui Jae Moon of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
in the finals.
He was also the 2003 World Championship silver medalist, and a three-time national freestyle champion (2001–03).
Iowa State's coach Bobby Douglas supervised Cael's training for the 2004 Olympics.
Coaching career
On March 29, 2006, it was announced that Bobby Douglas would step down as Iowa State coach and that Sanderson would replace him. In three seasons as the head coach for ISU, Sanderson led the team to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships and three Big 12 ConferenceBig 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
team titles.
In 2009 Sanderson accepted the post of wrestling head coach at Penn State University, starting with the 2009-10 season. In only his second year, he coached the Nittany Lions to the 2010-2011 Big Ten Championship and the NCAA Championship.