Cael Sanderson named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for June 7-13

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Craig Sesker (USA Wrestling)
06/13/2011


Cael Sanderson (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for June 7-13.

Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level.

Sanderson competed in his first major tournament in nearly seven years, winning a U.S. World Team Trials freestyle title at 84 kg/185 lbs. on Saturday night at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

Sanderson, who turns 32 next week, swept 2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert 4-1, 2-0 and 5-2, 2-0 in the final-round series. Sanderson advances to September’s World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.

It was a busy week for Sanderson, who was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Thursday.

He weighed in at 185 lbs. for the first time in nearly seven years on Friday and then beat Raymond Jordan, Chris Pendleton and Jon Reader to win the Challenge Tournament in Saturday’s first session of the World Team Trials.

He then downed one of the World’s best wrestlers in Herbert, who had won April’s U.S. Open. Herbert had made the U.S. World Team in 2009 and 2010.

Sanderson is scheduled to wrestle in his second World Championships. He won a World silver medal in 2003.

Note: To nominate a wrestler for TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week, send the athlete's name, accomplishments for the week and career accomplishments to Craig Sesker at csesker@usawrestling.org