In other words, which college mat stars would rank among the all-time legends?
NCAA.com took up the challenge. In another installment of its NCAA "High Five" series, the website named its choices of the five top legends in collegiate wrestling in a fast-paced, one-and-a-half-minute video unveiled this week. (Just two weeks ago, NCAA.com named the top five all-time great college wrestling programs.)
Here is NCAA.com's list of all-time collegiate mat legends, along with some basics about each athlete's career:
5. Kyle Dake, Cornell University: As a wrestler for the Big Red, Dake is a member of the ultra-exclusive NCAA Division I four-time champions club ... but is the only wrestler to have earned his four individual titles at four different weights: 141 pounds in 2010, 149 in 2011, 157 in 2012, and 165 in 2013. The New York State native compiled an overall record of 137-4 at Cornell (including 44 falls) ... with no losses his last two seasons.
4. Dan Gable, Iowa State: As a Cyclone, Gable compiled a near-perfect 118-1 record, with his only collegiate loss being to University of Washington's Larry Owings at the 142-pound finals at the 1970 NCAAs. In addition to his collegiate career, Danny Mack Gable made a name for himself in international competition (winning a gold medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics), as head coach at the University of Iowa, and as a goodwill ambassador for the sport.
Yojiro Uetake crafted a flawless 57-0 record as a Cowboy2. Dan Hodge, University of Oklahoma: This native of Perry, Okla. earned the nicknames "Dangerous Dan" and "Homicide Hodge" for his total dominance of the 177-pound weight class in the mid-1950s. As a Sooner, Hodge was 46-0, with 36 falls. He won three NCAA titles (1955-1957) and two Outstanding Wrestler trophies. Speaking of trophies… his name is on the award given each year to the nation's top college wrestler. And Hodge owns the distinction of being the only amateur wrestler to have appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated as an amateur wrestler. (Read The greatness of Dan Hodge.)
Cael Sanderson, Iowa State: This four-time Utah high school state champ went on to rewrite the history books in college wrestling, compiling a 159-0 record as a Cyclone (with 51 of those wins by pin). Sanderson become only the second Division I wrestler to win four consecutive NCAA titles (1999-2002, at 184 and 197 pounds). He also brought home three Hodge Awards. Post-college, Sanderson won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Sanderson is now head coach at Penn State, where he has led the Nittany Lions to six NCAA team titles.
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