NEWTON, Iowa, March 28, 2002-  Iowa State sensation Cael Sanderson has become synonymous with "firsts" in the sport of wrestling.    After becoming the first four-time undefeated Division I national champ and the tournament1s first four-time winner of the Outstanding Wrestling award, he has now become the first wrestler ever to be awarded wrestling's most prestigious award for three straight years. Sanderson has been named the 2002 Dan Hodge Trophy winner, given to the sport1s most outstanding collegiate wrestler.    Sanderson will be publically awarded the trophy at his last folkstyle meet, the 3Spirit of the Heartland2 dual presented by the Dan Gable Classic, at Cedar Rapids' U.S. Cellular Center at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 29. Sanderson's coach, Bobby Douglas, said for him to win the Hodge Trophy multiple times is monumental.    "It's very hard for me to describe how big it is for Cael to win the Hodge Trophy three times because two years ago I didn1t think that was possible," Douglas said. He added that Sanderson1s accomplishments will change the sport of wrestling forever.    "This is a defining moment in wrestling,2 Douglas said after Sanderson won his fourth NCAA title in Albany, NY on March 23. "Wrestling has been like the invisible sport and Cael has lit a fire with the media with his performance which will take wrestling into the 21st century and perhaps keep us alive."    The media attention surrounding Sanderson1s 159 straight wins has been almost overwhelming at times. Nearly 300 journalists applied for media credentials for the national tournament. Sanderson1s record-setting final match was broadcasted live on ESPN during Sports Center and Fox Sports flew the Cyclone senior to New York on March 27 to be on a sports show with former Iowan Tom Arnold.           Sanderson rolled up record-setting numbers during his senior campaign. He recorded his third straight season of 40 wins. Amazingly, only four of Sanderson's * more * matches this year went the entire seven minutes - three of those were against Lehigh's Jon Trenge, who Sanderson beat 12-4 in the NCAA finals. The fourth bout was an 18-7 major decision over Ohio State1s Nick Preston in the semis.    Of the other 36 bouts, Sanderson pinned 23 opponents, the most falls he has had in his four years at Iowa State. Those 23 pins gave him a pinning percentage of over 60 percent on the year. Sanderson, who moved up to 197 pounds from 184 this season, also had 11 tech falls and two forfeits. Sanderson's pin totals his first three years were: 10-10-18.    The only other real contender for the award was Fresno State's Stephen Abas. Abas was the only other Division I wrestler to finish the year as an undefeated national champ. He racked up his third NCAA title this year at 125 pounds. Abas finished his senior season with a 35-0 record but was not as dominant as his 197-pound counterpart. Only twelve of his wins came by fall, three by tech fall and nine were major decisions.       Mike Chapman, the executive director of the International Wrestling Institute and Museum and founder of the Hodge Trophy, agreed with Douglas and is amazed college wrestling has produced a wrestler who is able to win the award three times.    "Only one man in the long and storied history of the Heisman Trophy has ever won the award more than once, dating back to 1935. I thought someone would eventually win two Hodge trophies," said Chapman. "But I never thought anyone would win three, nor did I think anyone would win four OW awards at the NCAAs. He is simply amazing."    The Hodge Trophy, which is co-sponsored by IWIM and W.I.N. Magazine, was named after former Oklahoma collegiate star Dan Hodge. Hodge was a prolific pinner who won three NCAA titles (1955-57) for the Sooners and finished with an undefeated 46-0 record. Hodge epitomized the word dominance on the wrestling mat and set the standard for which all other great wrestlers were compared after never giving up a takedown in his three collegiate seasons.    Hodge said Sanderson's accomplishments are great for the sport.    "To know that he won the award three times in a row is an honor. I feel honored to have had it happen while I'm still living. I'm very proud of Cael," said Hodge. "It's not just a great accomplishment for Cael, but for amateur wrestling."    Hodge will present the award to Sanderson personally at the Iowa State wrestling banquet on April 16.    A number of criteria are used to select the Hodge Trophy winner as college wrestling1s most outstanding wrestler: dominance on the mat, number of pins, record, past credentials, quality of competition, sportsmanship, citizenship and heart.    Hodge Trophy winners  1995 * T.J. Jaworsky, North Carolina  1996 * Les Gutches, Oregon  1997 * Kerry McCoy, Penn State  1998 * Mark Ironside, Iowa  1999 * Stephen Neal, Cal. Bakersfield  2000 * Cael Sanderson, Iowa State  2001 * Cael Sanderson, Iowa State       Nick Ackerman, Simpson  2002 * Cael Sanderson, Iowa State     FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:  Bryan Van Kley, Publisher, W.I.N. Magazine  toll-free phone: 888-305-0606  email: info@win-magazine.com