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 of all-time, 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Weight | 84 kg (185 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | (1979-06-20) June 20, 1979 (age 43) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
High school | Heber City (UT) Wasatch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
State championships | 4 (Utah) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
College | Iowa State University | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NCAA championships | 13 (4 competing, 9 coaching) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Olympic team | United States of America | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Olympic medal | Gold | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status | Head Coach for Penn State Nittany Lions Wrestling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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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 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 127–3.[2]
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]
In 2017, Sanderson was inducted into the ISU Hall of Fame.[8]
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]
In 2011, Sanderson was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.[23]
World Championships & Olympics | ||||||
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Res. | Record | Opponent | Score | Date | Event | Location |
2011 World Championships 5th at 84 kg | ||||||
Loss | 13–3 | ![]() |
0–1, 0–3 | September 17, 2011 | 2011 World Wrestling Championships | ![]() |
Win | 13–2 | ![]() |
6–0, 1–0 | |||
Win | 12–2 | ![]() |
4–3, 0–1, 2–1 | |||
Win | 11–2 | ![]() |
Fall | |||
Loss | 10–2 | ![]() |
1-3, 1-4 | |||
Win | 10–1 | ![]() |
6–0, 7–0 | |||
2004 Summer Olympics ![]() | ||||||
Win | 9–1 | ![]() |
3–1 | August 28, 2004 | 2004 Olympic Games | ![]() |
Win | 8–1 | ![]() |
3–2 | |||
Win | 7–1 | ![]() |
6–5 | |||
Win | 6–1 | ![]() |
9–1 | |||
Win | 5–1 | ![]() |
4–2 | |||
2003 World Championships ![]() | ||||||
Loss | 4–1 | ![]() |
3–4 | September 12, 2003 | 2003 World Wrestling Championships | ![]() |
Win | 4–0 | ![]() |
4–2 | |||
Win | 3–0 | ![]() |
3–0 | |||
Win | 2–0 | ![]() |
8–2 | |||
Win | 1–0 | ![]() |
8–2 |
NCAA Championships Matches | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Res. | Record | Opponent | Score | Date | Event | ||
2002 NCAA Championships ![]() | |||||||
Win | 159-0 | Jon Trenge | MAJ 12-4 | March 21–23, 2002 | 2002 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships | ||
Win | 158-0 | Nick Preston | MAJ 18-7 | ||||
Win | 157-0 | Jason Payne | TF 23-8 | ||||
Win | 156-0 | Kyle Cerminara | PIN 6:33 | ||||
Win | 155-0 | Eric Mausser | PIN 3:32 | ||||
Win | 154-0 | Scott Barker | TF 22-7 | ||||
Win | 153-0 | Tom Grossman | Fall | ||||
Win | 152-0 | William Gruenwald | Fall | ||||
Win | 151-0 | Jon Trenge | 6-1 | ||||
Win | 150-0 | Jason Gore | Fall | ||||
Win | 149-0 | Unknown | Forfeit | ||||
Win | 148-0 | Kyle Smith | Fall | ||||
Win | 147-0 | Will Gruenwald | Fall | ||||
Win | 146-0 | Bill Stouffer | Fall | ||||
Win | 145-0 | Tom Grossman | Fall | ||||
Win | 144-0 | Erik Gladish | Fall | ||||
Win | 143-0 | Jason Payne | Fall | ||||
Win | 142-0 | Lee Fullhart | 5-3 | ||||
Win | 141-0 | Jon Trenge | MD 16-5 | ||||
Win | 140-0 | Chris Skretkowlz | TF 22-5 | ||||
Win | 139-0 | Nick Curby | Fall | ||||
Win | 138-0 | Jim Kassner | Fall | ||||
Win | 137-0 | Ryan Fulsaas | Fall | ||||
Win | 136-0 | Jareck Horton | Fall | ||||
Win | 135-0 | Bart George | Fall | ||||
Win | 134-0 | Unknown | Forfeit | ||||
Win | 133-0 | Joe Compton | TF 23-7 | ||||
Win | 132-0 | Aaron Granell | Fall | ||||
Win | 131-0 | Brent Miller | TF 20-5 | ||||
Win | 130-0 | Greg Sawyer | TF | ||||
Win | 129-0 | Daegen Smith | Fall | ||||
Win | 128-0 | Peter Mosley | Fall | ||||
Win | 127-0 | Nick Thomas | Fall | ||||
Win | 126-0 | Chris Skretkowicz | Fall | ||||
Win | 125-0 | Wallace | Fall | ||||
Win | 124-0 | Bietz | TF | ||||
Win | 123-0 | Broadway | TF | ||||
Win | 122-0 | Kovarik | Fall | ||||
2001 NCAA Championships ![]() | |||||||
Win | 121-0 | Daniel Cormier | 8-4 | March 15–17, 2001 | 2001 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships | ||
Win | 120-0 | Victor Sveda | MD 21-7 | ||||
Win | 119-0 | Jessman Smith | TF 21-6 | ||||
Win | 118-0 | Jeremy Wilson | Fall | ||||
Win | 117-0 | Kyle Hanson | TF 24-9 | ||||
Win | 116-0 | Scott Barker | TF 22-7 | ||||
Win | 115-0 | Daniel Cormier | 8-3 | ||||
Win | 114-0 | Ry Stone | Fall | ||||
Win | 113-0 | Kyle Hansen | MD 21-8 | ||||
Win | 112-0 | Matt Fletcher | Fall | ||||
Win | 111-0 | R.D. Pursell | Fall | ||||
Win | 110-0 | Ry Stone | Fall | ||||
Win | 109-0 | Josh Lambrecht | TF 21-10 | ||||
Win | 108-0 | Shawn Scannel | Fall | ||||
Win | 107-0 | Daniel Cormier | 10-3 | ||||
Win | 106-0 | Jessman Smith | TF | ||||
Win | 105-0 | Andy Hrovat | Fall | ||||
Win | 104-0 | Daniel Cormier | MD 14-3 | ||||
Win | 103-0 | Josh Lambrecht | MD 16-8 | ||||
Win | 102-0 | Ed Aliakseyenka | TF | ||||
Win | 101-0 | Ralph Everett | Fall | ||||
Win | 100-0 | Jason Rossotti | Fall | ||||
Win | 99-0 | Ralph DeNisco | MD 17-6 | ||||
Win | 98-0 | Francis Volpe | TF | ||||
Win | 97-0 | Nate Patrick | MD 16-7 | ||||
Win | 96-0 | Viktor Sveda | MD 14-5 | ||||
Win | 95-0 | Francis Volpe | Fall | ||||
Win | 94-0 | Marcus Schontube | 16-10 | ||||
Win | 93-0 | Josh Bocks | Fall | ||||
Win | 92-0 | Jessman Smith | Fall | ||||
Win | 91-0 | Jeff Pangborn | Fall | ||||
Win | 90-0 | Adam Kellogg | Fall | ||||
Win | 89-0 | Bert Watford | Fall | ||||
Win | 88-0 | Paul Okins | TF 19-3 | ||||
Win | 87-0 | Ben Blood | TF 18-3 | ||||
Win | 86-0 | Anton Talamantes | MD 20-6 | ||||
Win | 85-0 | Mike Odle | Fall | ||||
Win | 84-0 | Viktor Sveda | MD 16-3 | ||||
Win | 83-0 | Josh Lambrecht | MD 12-4 | ||||
Win | 82-0 | Ralph DeNisco | Fall | ||||
Win | 81-0 | Curcio | Fall | ||||
2000 NCAA Championships ![]() | |||||||
Win | 80-0 | Vertus Jones | MD 19-6 | March 16–18, 2000 | 2000 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships | ||
Win | 79-0 | Brandon Eggum | MD 16-5 | ||||
Win | 78-0 | Rob Rohn | TF 20-5 | ||||
Win | 77-0 | Dax Pecaro | TF 21-6 | ||||
Win | 76-0 | Adam Schaaf | Fall | ||||
Win | 75-0 | Daniel Cormier | 8-4 | ||||
Win | 74-0 | Tom Grossman | MD 17-7 | ||||
Win | 73-0 | Kyle Hansen | Fall | ||||
Win | 72-0 | Charles McTorry | TF 22-6 | ||||
Win | 71-0 | Mike Marshall | Fall | ||||
Win | 70-0 | John Maze | TF 27-10 | ||||
Win | 69-0 | Brandon Eggum | 6-1 | ||||
Win | 68-0 | Tom Grossman | TF 19-4 | ||||
Win | 67-0 | Daniel Cormier | MD 20-9 | ||||
Win | 66-0 | Brandon Eggum | MD 8-0 | ||||
Win | 65-0 | Tom Grossman | Fall | ||||
Win | 64-0 | Lionel Halsey | Fall | ||||
Win | 63-0 | Jeff Knupp | TF 21-6 | ||||
Win | 62-0 | Unknown | Forfeit | ||||
Win | 61-0 | Dave Murray | Fall | ||||
Win | 60-0 | Cash Edwards | TF | ||||
Win | 59-0 | Isaac Weber | MD 16-7 | ||||
Win | 58-0 | Nate Patrick | 7-2 | ||||
Win | 57-0 | Kevin Vogel | MD 17-5 | ||||
Win | 56-0 | Lionel Halsey | 5-1 | ||||
Win | 55-0 | Sean Salmon | TF 20-5 | ||||
Win | 54-0 | Brian Falciglia | Fall | ||||
Win | 53-0 | Joe Cotant | TF 20-5 | ||||
Win | 52-0 | Donavan True | Fall | ||||
Win | 51-0 | Paul Jenn | DQ | ||||
Win | 50-0 | Joel Schrimpf | Fall | ||||
Win | 49-0 | Nathan Ackerman | TF 17-2 | ||||
Win | 48-0 | B.J. Shelley | TF 22-6 | ||||
Win | 47-0 | Chad Karnal | Fall | ||||
Win | 46-0 | Joe Terrill | TF 23-7 | ||||
Win | 45-0 | Damion Hahn | 4-3 | ||||
Win | 44-0 | Jessman Smith | TF 17-2 | ||||
Win | 43-0 | Andorf | MD 17-7 | ||||
Win | 42-0 | Swarm | TF 24-5 | ||||
Win | 41-0 | Brandon Eggum | 7-4 | ||||
Win | 40-0 | Schmauss | Fall | ||||
Win | 39-0 | Bouwman | 20-5 | ||||
Win | 38-0 | Ryan Rettke | TF 26-11 | ||||
1999 NCAA Championships ![]() | |||||||
Win | 37-0 | Brandon Eggum | 6-1 | March 18–20, 1999 | 1999 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships | ||
Win | 36-0 | Brad Vering | Fall | ||||
Win | 35-0 | Andy Hrovat | Fall | ||||
Win | 34-0 | Nate Patrick | MD 18-6 | ||||
Win | 33-0 | Josh Dideon | Fall | ||||
Win | 32-0 | Brad Vering | 9-5 | ||||
Win | 31-0 | Tom Grossman | MD 13-5 | ||||
Win | 30-0 | Ken Bigley | TF | ||||
Win | 29-0 | Casey Strand | 6-2 | ||||
Win | 28-0 | Tony Spiker | Fall | ||||
Win | 27-0 | Jason Moore | MD 19-6 | ||||
Win | 26-0 | Matt Carpenter | TF 22-7 | ||||
Win | 25-0 | Scott Coleman | MD 17-7 | ||||
Win | 24-0 | Vertus Jones | 6-5 | ||||
Win | 23-0 | Unknown | Forfeit | ||||
Win | 22-0 | Tom Grossman | Fall | ||||
Win | 21-0 | Mark Munoz | MD 10-2 | ||||
Win | 20-0 | Paul Jenn | TF MD 10-2 | ||||
Win | 19-0 | Tom Grossman | MD 20-8 | ||||
Win | 18-0 | Mark Munoz | 5-1 | ||||
Win | 17-0 | Casey Strand | Fall | ||||
Win | 16-0 | Tom Ciezki | 6-3 | ||||
Win | 15-0 | Nate Patrick | 7-2 | ||||
Win | 14-0 | Ryan Rettke | Fall | ||||
Win | 13-0 | John Van Doren | 11-4 | ||||
Win | 12-0 | Aaron Simpson | TF 9-3 | ||||
Win | 11-0 | Greg Gingeleskie | 5-0 | ||||
Win | 10-0 | James Brimm | 5-0 | ||||
Win | 9-0 | Mike Gadsby | TF 19-4 | ||||
Win | 8-0 | Tom Ciezki | TF 23-7 | ||||
Win | 7-0 | Paul Jenn | TF 19-4 | ||||
Win | 6-0 | William Rufis | Fall | ||||
Win | 5-0 | B.J. Shelley | Fall | ||||
Win | 4-0 | Brant LaGrange | MD 21-8 | ||||
Win | 3-0 | Steve Burleson | Fall | ||||
Win | 2-0 | Joe Brougard | TF 20-5 | ||||
Win | 1-0 | George Flannick | TF 20-5 |
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.[28] He also coached his wrestlers to two individual NCAA Division I national titles.
Before the 2010 season ended, Sanderson became the head coach of Penn State's wrestling team. As of 2022, Sanderson's Penn State teams have won nine NCAA Division I team titles.[29] During that time, he also coached his wrestlers to 32 individual NCAA Division I titles.
Coaching Record | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team Finish | Dual Record | All Americans | National Champions | |
Iowa State University | |||||
2007 | ![]() |
13-3-0 | 4 | 1 | |
2008 | 5th | 16-4-0 | 7 | 0 | |
2009 | ![]() |
15-3-0 | 4 | 1 | |
Pennsylvania State University | |||||
2010 | 9th | 13-6-1 | 3 | 0 | |
2011 | ![]() |
17-1-1 | 5 | 1 | |
2012 | ![]() |
13-1-0 | 6 | 3 | |
2013 | ![]() |
13-1-0 | 5 | 2 | |
2014 | ![]() |
15-1-0 | 7 | 2 | |
2015 | 6th | 11-4-0 | 5 | 1 | |
2016 | ![]() |
16-0-0 | 6 | 2 | |
2017 | ![]() |
14-0-0 | 6 | 5 | |
2018 | ![]() |
14-0-0 | 8 | 4 | |
2019 | ![]() |
14-0-0 | 7 | 3 | |
2020 | DNC | 12-2-0 | 5 | 0 | |
2021 | ![]() |
6-0-0 | 6 | 4 | |
2022 | ![]() |
17-0-0 | 6 | 5 | |
Career | 219-26-2 | 90 | 34 |
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