2011 U.S. WORLD TEAM TRIALS
Sanderson delivers in comeback to mat
By Craig Sesker OKLAHOMA CITY – Can you win a World title after a seven-
year layoff? We are about to find out after Cael Sanderson capped an amazing run by winning a U.S. World Team Trials freestyle wrestling title on June 11 at the Cox Convention Center. The 2004 Olympic gold medalist and Penn State head coach
looked like the Sanderson of old after sweeping two straight matches from 2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert in the finals at 84 kg/185 lbs. Sanderson won the first match of the best-of-3 finals series 4-
1, 2-0 before winning the second match 5-2, 2-0 against one of the best wrestlers in the World in the talented Herbert. Sanderson was one of nine champions crowned on June 11
who advance to September’s World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. Sanderson won a silver medal at his only World Championships in 2003. “I haven’t been in competitive matches in an atmosphere like
this in a long time,” Sanderson said. “Early on, I think I was forc- ing things and maybe trying a little too hard. I felt a lot more comfortable as the day went on.” Sanderson had a busy week. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame two days before competing at the World Team Trials. He won three matches earlier in the day in the Challenge
Tournament to earn a shot at Herbert in the finals series. Herbert advanced to the finals by virtue of winning April’s U.S. Open.
Sanderson, who turned 32 nine days after the Trials, becomes the third active Division I head coach to make a U.S. World or Olympic Team. Oklahoma State coach John Smith and former Edinboro coach Bruce Baumgartner were the others. Sanderson returned to competition in March, winning the Northeast Regional in Brockport, N.Y. at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. It was his first tournament since he won the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.
Sanderson proved he is still lethal on his feet in downing the 26-year-old Herbert, who has made the last two World Teams at 84 kilos. The freestyle rules have changed significantly since Sanderson last competed full-time in 2004. “It’s a little weird, a little different,” Sanderson said. “It’s some-
thing you can’t prepare for until you get out there to compete. You go win a period and then you have to start all over again. You have to get out there and experience it. That’s the only way to prepare for it.” One of the wrestlers Sanderson coaches at the Nittany Lion
Wrestling Club, Teyon Ware, made a triumphant return home by winning the freestyle title at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Ware, an Edmond, Okla., native who won two NCAA titles for Oklahoma, provided his boisterous cheering section with some-
10 USA Wrestler
Cael Sanderson lifts Jon Reader during the Challenge Tournament finals. John Sachs photo.
thing to remember as he beat 2010 World Team member Brent Metcalf in the finals. Ware executed a celebratory backflip after his win. Ware won the first and third matches to make his first World
Team. Ware beat Metcalf in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open en route to the title. Ware was the No. 8 seed at the U.S. Open. “Metcalf is a very tough wrestler and he brings it every time
he steps out there,” Ware said. “This is a big step for me, but this isn’t my No. 1 goal. I’m on the World Team now and I want to bring home a medal. I want to win a World title. I still have a lot of work to do before I get to that point.” An emotional Nick Simmons pulled out a tough three-match
series over past Oklahoma All-American Sam Hazewinkel to win the freestyle finals series at 55 kg/121 lbs. Simmons made his first World Team. He placed second in the 2009 Trials.
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