Cael Sanderson

Cael Sanderson posted an impressive 127-3 record while wrestling at Wasatch High School in Heber City, Utah and was redshirted during his first year at Iowa State in 1997-98.  However, he’d go on to win all 39 of his matches as a redshirt freshman and win the NCAA National Title in the 184-pound division.  That was only the beginning however, as he’d go on to win all 159 of his collegiate matches and capture four consecutive NCAA National Titles.  During his time at Iowa State he also captured three Dan Hodge Trophies, was named NCAA Most Outstanding Wrestler four times and was a four-time Big 12 Conference Champion.  Sanderson is the only wrestler in NCAA history to go undefeated in 100 or more matches.  His accomplishment was considered to be the second best ever college sports feat by Sports Illustrated.  For his contributions to Iowa State he was inducted into the university’s sports Hall of Fame in 2012.   After his college career he pursued an international wrestling career and won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.  Upon returning stateside he became an assistant coach at his alma mater and was eventually named the head wrestling coach at Penn State University.  During his first five years as the head coach for the Nittany Lions he led his team to four consecutive conference titles and national titles while coaching 19 All-Americans, eight individual National Champions and three National Wrestlers of the Year.  Sanderson is considered to be the greatest amateur wrestler of all-time and one of the greatest collegiate wrestling coaches of all-time.