Greatest ISU Wrestler of all time?

cmoore_23

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Mar 23, 2006
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i say cael because he didnt lose, also, i know how much gable has had an influence, but when you look at all cael has done so far at his age..is remarkable.. not only as an athlete, but as a coach, and as a person
 

Cypwr

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Mar 18, 2006
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Hands down Cael and gable are the two best wrestlers of all time but I think Cael is better because he is humble. I think gable in the end of his college career got cocky and got surprised and that is why he lost and went on to have his great run in the Olympics.

Gable did not get cocky, he actually went mental, thought about it too much and psyched himself out because of all the hoopla surrounding his undefeated record and the distractions that came with it. It is one of the reasons he was a good coach because he was never going let any of his wrestlers do the same thing.
 
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Cypwr

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Mar 18, 2006
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Ya, they each had one bad match, but, Cael was a RS freshman in a tourny with little consequence where lack of focus is somewhat expected. Gables match was his last collegiate match which also was for the NCAA title and he was a senior. You expect more focus out of a senior in that caliber of a match.

I am not sure who is the better wrestler. The better person, by 100 miles, is Cael. Gable is a pit bull who's pure focus is winning and he would trample his own grandma to get it done. Sanderson is humble, quiet, family oriented and show's his character by his actions, not doing the crap that Gable did at the ISU-EIU wrestling match last December.

I am not sure how old some of you guys are that are replying in this thread, but the way I remember it (I was around but young enough that I may be full of BS) Gable was not a pit bull that would trample his own grandma (see Brands twins) He was basically social ******** because all he did was live, eat and sleep wrestling and out-shaped and out-worked everyone else. Gable has even been quoted as saying he was not the most gifted wrestling athlete he just maximize what God give him. Someone like Cael would better fit the gifted athlete role. Gable the pit bull was picked up later as a coach trying to get that style of wrestling taught to the guys he coached.
 

Cypwr

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Mar 18, 2006
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Joe Heskett :)

Actually, Joe was just my favorite, but Cael gets my vote.

Joe is my favorite too, he is a guy that would sit and talk to a nobody like me after an event and always had time for everybody. Joe has a great personality and at the time of his Senior year I always quietly thought he would make a better coach than Cael because of that outgoing personality and the possible recruiting benefits that could entail. The only thing keeping Joe off of alot of peoples top wrestlers list is that he happened to be in the same class as Cael and was overshadowed which makes it harder to remember the incredible sucess he acheived.
 

ericlambi

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Mar 24, 2006
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IMO, Cael is definitely the best collegiate wrestler ever. Gable is definitely the best wrestler ever. So I suppose it depends on what you think constitutes the best ISU wrestler of all time.
 

cyputz

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Jul 26, 2006
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CAEL...plus, Gable ended up being a turncoat.

Gable was not a turn coat. He had to go where the job was offered. ISU did not offer. Why do you think ISU had to be so agressive in keeping Cael. If they let Cael go elsewhere, would have been terrible.

There have been some tremendous wrestlers that went thru ISU, not the best, but one of my all-time favorites was Dave Allen.

Many wrestlers could be mentioned here as great, but between Gable and Sanderson...I would have to see them on equal level as Caels coaching improves. They both were comletely differing style and both placed wrestling back into the limelight. Let's just be thankful they were both collegiate and Olympic champions coming out of ISU.
 

ArathornClone

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Oct 10, 2006
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For a collegiate career, I would give it a toss up. Gable straight up wrestler, relentless. Cael, enjoyed a red-shirt year which helps but he was a masterful technician, very controlled and as Gable...dominant. Only one loss seperated the two.

So Gable's collegiate record was 158 - 1. Hmmm. didn't know that.
 

Balls

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Mar 23, 2006
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Not quite sure where the 138 came from. His varsity record at ISU was between 98-1 and 100-1, depending on the counting of some all-star meet matches.

As was noted by someone else, he won two NCAA titles, not three.

Thanks for the corrections.
 

darts180

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Apr 12, 2006
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I am a great admirer of Cael's accomplishments, and take nothing away from them. The thing is that he wrestled in the upper weights where the competition was not as strong as it was say at 149. You have to admire the fact that the guy never let an opponent have a chance, and was prepared every night even when he may not have been at his best, physically.

I guess the thing that I look at that makes wrestling great are the rivalries. For every Nate Carr (my personal favorite), there has to be a Kenny Monday. Using the bad guys as an example. for every Lincoln McIlravy there is a Chris Bono which makes him have to be great. I don't know that there was ever that guy for Cael.
 
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