# 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's wrestling team. As a wrestler, he won an Olympic gold medal and was undefeated in four years of college wrestling at Iowa State (159–0), becoming a four-time NCAA Division I champion (1999–2002).
Sanderson 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.

## Early life

Sanderson was 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 Utah state champion (1994–97) and compiled a record of 127–3.

## Wrestling career
### College

After graduating from high school, Sanderson followed his brothers, Cody and Cole, to Iowa State. After redshirting the 1997-98 college wrestling season, Sanderson won all 39 of his matches to win his first NCAA and Big 12 Conference titles at 184 pounds. He was also the first freshman in NCAA history to be named the Outstanding Wrestler at nationals. 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 Outstanding Wrestler in all NCAA tournaments he competed in. He did lose 1 match in his career while redshirting and wrestling unattached at the UNI open to Paul Glynn of Iowa. As he was redshirting and wrestling unattached, it did not count against his overall record of 159-0.
Sanderson was a three-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner (collegiate wrestling's equivalent to the Heisman Trophy), being the first to win the award multiple times and the only person to win it three times. For his performance as a senior in 2002, he received the Wade Schalles Award for best collegiate pinner. He holds the longest win-streak across all NCAA divisions. This makes him the most accomplished collegiate wrestler ever.
In 2017, Sanderson was inducted into the Iowa State Hall of Fame.

### Freestyle

Sanderson was a two-time US Cadet World Team Member, placing third and fourth in 1994 and 1995, respectively. He was also a US University National Champion in 1999 and a University World Champion in 2000.
He became the US National Champion in 2001, 2002 and 2003. 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, and the USA team chose to not compete in 2002.
In 2003, he won the Manitoba Open in Canada in February, placed second at the World Cup in April, third at the 2003 Pan American Games and second at the World Championships. In 2004, he once again claimed the Manitoba Open title and won the US Olympic Team Trials.
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.
While already a full-time coach at Penn State, Sanderson came out of retirement in 2011 and took home an Ion Corneanu Memorial title, won the US World Team Trials and placed fifth at the World Championships.
In 2011, Sanderson was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.

## Freestyle record

World Championships & Olympics :
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Score | Date | Event | Location |
| 2011 World Championships 5th at 84 kg |||||||
| Loss | 13–3 | Albert Saritov | 0–1, 0–3 | September 17, 2011 | 2011 World Wrestling Championships | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Win | 13–2 | Alireza Goudarzi | 6–0, 1–0 | September 17, 2011 | 2011 World Wrestling Championships | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Win | 12–2 | Yermek Baiduashov | 4–3, 0–1, 2–1 | September 17, 2011 | 2011 World Wrestling Championships | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Win | 11–2 | Yoon Chan-uk | Fall | September 17, 2011 | 2011 World Wrestling Championships | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Loss | 10–2 | Sharif Sharifov | 1-3, 1-4 | September 17, 2011 | 2011 World Wrestling Championships | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Win | 10–1 | Alejandro Gallardo | 6–0, 7–0 | September 17, 2011 | 2011 World Wrestling Championships | Istanbul, Turkey |
| 2004 Summer Olympics at 84kg |||||||
| Win | 9–1 | Moon Eui-jae | 3–1 | August 28, 2004 | 2004 Olympic Games | Athens, Greece |
| Win | 8–1 | Yoel Romero | 3–2 | August 28, 2004 | 2004 Olympic Games | Athens, Greece |
| Win | 7–1 | Majid Khodaei | 6–5 | August 28, 2004 | 2004 Olympic Games | Athens, Greece |
| Win | 6–1 | Siarhei Borchanka | 9–1 | August 28, 2004 | 2004 Olympic Games | Athens, Greece |
| Win | 5–1 | Magomed Kurugliyev | 4–2 | August 28, 2004 | 2004 Olympic Games | Athens, Greece |
| 2003 World Championships at 84 kg |||||||
| Loss | 4–1 | Sazhid Sazhidov | 3–4 | September 12, 2003 | 2003 World Wrestling Championships | New York City, U.S. |
| Win | 4–0 | Rezav Mindorashvili | 4–2 | September 12, 2003 | 2003 World Wrestling Championships | New York City, U.S. |
| Win | 3–0 | Mahmed Aghaev | 3–0 | September 12, 2003 | 2003 World Wrestling Championships | New York City, U.S. |
| Win | 2–0 | Majid Khodaei | 8–2 | September 12, 2003 | 2003 World Wrestling Championships | New York City, U.S. |
| Win | 1–0 | Tero Perkkioe | 8–2 | September 12, 2003 | 2003 World Wrestling Championships | New York City, U.S. |

## NCAA record

NCAA Championships Matches :
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Score | Date | Event |
| 2002 NCAA Championships at 197 ||||||
| Win | 159-0 | Jon Trenge | MD 12-4 | March 21–23, 2002 | 2002 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| Win | 158-0 | Nick Preston | MD 18-7 | March 21–23, 2002 | 2002 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| Win | 157-0 | Jason Payne | TF 23-8 | March 21–23, 2002 | 2002 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| Win | 156-0 | Kyle Cerminara | Fall 6:33 | March 21–23, 2002 | 2002 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| Win | 155-0 | Eric Mausser | Fall 3:32 | March 21–23, 2002 | 2002 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| 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 | Ryan Fulaas | 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 | Nick McTee | 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 | Chad Wallace | Fall |
| Win | 124-0 | Cris Bietz | TF |
| Win | 123-0 | Josh Broadway | TF |
| Win | 122-0 | Jeremiah Kovarik | Fall |
| 2001 NCAA Championships at 184 lbs ||||||
| 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 | March 15–17, 2001 | 2001 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| Win | 119-0 | Jessman Smith | TF 21-6 | March 15–17, 2001 | 2001 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| Win | 118-0 | Jeremy Wilson | Fall | March 15–17, 2001 | 2001 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| Win | 117-0 | Kyle Hanson | TF 24-9 | March 15–17, 2001 | 2001 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| 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 | Nick Curcio | Fall |
| 2000 NCAA Championships at 184 lbs ||||||
| 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 | March 16–18, 2000 | 2000 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| Win | 78-0 | Rob Rohn | TF 20-5 | March 16–18, 2000 | 2000 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| Win | 77-0 | Dax Pecaro | TF 21-6 | March 16–18, 2000 | 2000 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| Win | 76-0 | Adam Schaaf | Fall | March 16–18, 2000 | 2000 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| 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 | Rob Anspach | 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 | Carson Andorf | MD 17-7 |
| Win | 42-0 | Ty Swarm | TF 24-5 |
| Win | 41-0 | Brandon Eggum | 7-4 |
| Win | 40-0 | Todd Schmauss | Fall |
| Win | 39-0 | Drew Bouwman | 20-5 |
| Win | 38-0 | Ryan Rettke | TF 26-11 |
| 1999 NCAA Championships at 184 lbs ||||||
| Win | 37-0 | Brandon Eggum | 6-1 | March 18–20, 1999 | 1999 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| Win | 36-0 | Brad Vering | Fall | March 18–20, 1999 | 1999 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| Win | 35-0 | Andy Hrovat | Fall | March 18–20, 1999 | 1999 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| Win | 34-0 | Nate Patrick | MD 18-6 | March 18–20, 1999 | 1999 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| Win | 33-0 | Josh Dideon | Fall | March 18–20, 1999 | 1999 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| 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 | Brad Vering | 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 |

## Coaching career
### Iowa State

Sanderson began his wrestling coaching career with the season ending in 2004 as a special assistant at Iowa State. After short stints in associate head coaching positions, he became the head coach for the season ending in 2007. In three seasons, Sanderson led Iowa State to three Big 12 conference championships and NCAA Division I finishes of second, fifth, and third overall. He also coached his wrestlers to two individual NCAA Division I national titles.

### Penn State

Before the 2009 season ended, Sanderson became the head coach of Penn State's wrestling team. Sanderson's Penn State teams have won eleven NCAA Division I team titles. During that time, he also coached his wrestlers to 39 individual NCAA Division I titles. At the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships, Sanderson's Nittany Lions set an NCAA wrestling record of 172.5 points.

## Coaching results

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 |
| Iowa State | Iowa State | 44-10-0 | 15 | 2 |
| 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 |
| 2023 | | 16-0-0 | 8 | 2 |
| 2024 | | 12-0-0 | 8 | 4 |
| Penn State | Penn State | 203-16-2 | 91 | 38 |
| Career | Career | 247-26-2 | 106 | 40 |

## Awards and honors
### 2011

* Ion Corneanu Memorial

### 2004

* Summer Olympics
* Manitoba Open
* John Smith Award as the Freestyle Wrestler of the Year

### 2003

* World Wrestling Championships
* Pan American Games
* Manitoba Open
* John Smith Award as the Freestyle Wrestler of the Year

### 2002

* Best Male College Athlete ESPY Award
* Dan Hodge Trophy winner
* NCAA Division I Championships Outstanding Wrestler
* Wade Schalles Award winner
* 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

* Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award in Utah
* Glen Brand inductee
* Iowa Sports Hall of Fame inductee
* Iowa State Cyclones Hall of Fame inductee
* National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Member
* NCAA 75th Anniversary Wrestling Team member
* Sports Illustrated cover appearance
* Utah Sports Hall of Fame inductee
* Wheaties cereal box appearance