Cael Sanderson
159 college matches, 159 wins
- Born
- June 20, 1979, Salt Lake City, Utah, US
- Nationality
United States- Style
- Continuous-motion attacker
- Weight
- 84 kg
- Active
- 1998–2004
- Status
- Retired · age 47
The record
Iowa State college record, 1999–2002; four NCAA titles
1 Olympic gold, 159-0 in college
The story
ael Sanderson never lost a college match. Wrestling for Iowa State from 1999 to 2002, the Utah native went 159-0, won four NCAA titles, was named Outstanding Wrestler at every NCAA tournament he entered and collected three Hodge Trophies. Sports Illustrated ranked the run as the second most impressive feat in college sports history. Freestyle proved tougher: he took silver at the 2003 World Championships and lost to Cuba's Yoel Romero, later a UFC title challenger, at that year's Pan American Games. A year later he won Olympic gold in Athens at 84 kg, beating South Korea's Moon Eui-jae 9-1 in the final. As Penn State's head coach he has won 13 NCAA team titles.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- Olympic champion (2004)
- World silver medalist (2003)
- NCAA champion ×4 (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
- 13 NCAA team titles as Penn State head coach (through 2026)
- Dan Hodge Trophy (2000, 2001, 2002)
- National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Member (2011)
Defining matches
- 2002WINNCAA final (fourth title, completing a 159-0 college career)
- 2003LOSSvs Sazhid Sazhidov (World final, 1-4)
- 2003LOSSvs Yoel Romero (Pan American Games)
- 2004WINvs Moon Eui-jae (Athens Olympic final, 9-1)
Never stop moving: Sanderson's college coach said you can't stop what you can't see. Chain single and double legs with constant motion so your next attack starts before your partner resets.
