Normally it wouldn't matter, but when you claim there is no legitimate case for Dake, what I am about to say needs to be considered. Cael wasn't undefeated. He lost in the 1997-1998 season to the late Paul Jenn during his true freshman (redshirt) year.
Jenn, who I believe was a walk on at Iowa, took 6th at Big 10's in 1998, going 1-3. He went 2-2 at nationals; getting majored (Aaron Simpson) and teched (Eggum) against the 4th and 5th place finishers.
This isn't just a technicality; Dake didn't redshirt his true freshman year. Who knows how many other matches Cael would have lost against higher level competition had he competed like Dake. Maybe he would have went on a run and still won nationals; we will never know. But being undefeated would not be an argument in his favor if he is going to be judged on a similar playing field.
You can obviously still say that Cael is the best. I agree with you on Cael being the greatest due to his incredible rate of improvement and high level of bonus against top competition (He teched Paul Jenn just a year later). Dake wrestled tighter matches against better guys. But to say there is no argument for Dake does not take all the facts into consideration.
