[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 126 (Tuesday, October 1, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H6832-H6834]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING CAEL SANDERSON FOR HIS PERFECT COLLEGIATE WRESTLING RECORD

  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 399) honoring Cael Sanderson for his perfect 
collegiate wrestling record, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 399

       Whereas Cael Sanderson, continuing the storied tradition of 
     Iowa State University wrestling, achieved a perfect 
     collegiate wrestling record of 159 wins and no losses and is 
     the first person ever to finish undefeated in collegiate 
     wrestling;
       Whereas Cael Sanderson is a four-time national wrestling 
     champion, a four time National Collegiate Athletic 
     Association championship outstanding wrestler, and a three 
     time winner of the Dan Hodge Trophy;
       Whereas the April 1, 2002, issue of Sports Illustrated 
     ranked Cael Sanderson's perfect wrestling record second in a 
     list of the top ten ``most impressive college sports feats 
     ever'';
       Whereas Cael Sanderson is a two-time Academic All-American, 
     a champion in the classroom as well as on the mat;
       Whereas Cael Sanderson's achievements have set a new 
     benchmark for excellence in the sport of wrestling and will 
     forever have an impact on college wrestling; and
       Whereas through his persistence, hard work, and dedication, 
     Cael Sanderson has set an example for all: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates Cael Sanderson for finishing his career 
     as the first ever undefeated collegiate wrestler;
       (2) recognizes the contributions of Cael Sanderson's 
     parents, Stephen and Debbie Sanderson, his coach, Robert 
     ``Bobby'' Douglas, the support staff of Iowa State 
     University, and Cyclone fans;
       (3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (A) Cael Sanderson;
       (B) Coach Robert ``Bobby'' Douglas of Iowa State 
     University; and
       (C) Cael Sanderson's parents, Stephen and Debbie Sanderson.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Isakson) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George 
Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson).


                             General Leave

  Mr. ISAKSON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on House Resolution 399.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?

[[Page H6833]]

  There was no objection.
  Mr. ISAKSON. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the distinguished gentleman from the State of Iowa (Mr. Latham).
  Mr. LATHAM. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for 
yielding time to me.
  Madam Speaker, I include for the Record a resolution from the Iowa 
State University Government of the Student Body.
  The document referred to is as follows:
     Iowa State University,
     Government of the Student Body

            Senate Resolution 2001-3-060SR The Greatest Ever

       Whereas, Cael Sanderson, an Art and Design major, has 
     recently completed his four seasons as a collegiate athlete, 
     and
       Whereas, Mr. Sanderson has won more matches than any other 
     wrestler in collegiate history, and
       Whereas, Mr. Sanderson is the first wrestler ever to win 
     the Dan Hodge Trophy three (3) years in a row and the first 
     three-time winner of this honor, and
       Whereas, Mr. Sanderson has won the national championship 
     each of the four years he has competed, and
       Whereas, Mr. Sanderson was the first college wrestler to 
     ever win the NCAA Tournament's Outstanding Wrestler award 
     four times, and
       Whereas, Mr. Sanderson has finished his collegiate career 
     with a 159-0 record, and
       Whereas, Mr. Sanderson has brought new spectators to his 
     sport in droves, and
       Whereas, Mr. Sanderson is not only a great wrestler, but 
     also a humble contributor to the Iowa State Community, be it 
     therefore
       Resolved, That the Government of the Student Body 
     recognizes Cael Sanderson as a legendary campus figure whose 
     athletic achievements are unparalleled not only at Iowa 
     State, but unparalleled throughout collegiate history, and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That the achievements of Cael Sanderson have made 
     the students of Iowa State University very proud, and be it 
     further
       Resolved, The students of Iowa State University wish to 
     commemorate Cael Sanderson and his accomplishments on our 
     campus, and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this legislation be sent to Cael 
     Sanderson, President Gregory Geoffroy, Board of Regents, 
     State of Iowa, Vice President Warren Madden, Vice President 
     for Student Affairs Thomas Hill, Athletic Director Bruce Van 
     De Veldc, The ISU Foundation, ISU Alumni Association, ESPN, 
     Sports Illustrated, and all other appropriate print and 
     broadcast media.

  Madam Speaker, this is a great day to be an Iowa State fan. It is a 
great day to be from the State of Iowa to show honor and recognition 
for a tremendous young man, a tremendous athlete who did an astounding 
thing through his collegiate career at Iowa State. Cael Sanderson is 
that young man.
  We just had the honor to be with the President, Cael, myself, and the 
Speaker, down in the Oval Office, and the chance to visit with the 
President. Cael, all the honors bestowed on him are very, very much 
deserved. I congratulate him, as the entire House will, with this 
resolution.
  Cael is now married to Kelly. His parents, Steve and Debbie, had four 
sons, Cody, Cole, Cyler, and Cael. Apparently they wrestled a lot in 
the house. They are still trying to fix a few walls around there from 
all the wrestling going on.
  Cael Sanderson is truly the pride of Iowa State; and not only really 
Iowa State, but the entire State. With the history we have, the 
tradition of wrestling in the State of Iowa, he is someone that we hold 
in extraordinary high esteem. Not since Dan Gable back in my days at 
Iowa State has there been anything close to what Cael has accomplished. 
I would like to really personally thank him. I have a new bobblehead 
doll of Cael Sanderson which will be my number one prize possession 
now.
  Just to bring part of the record forward for Cael, he had a perfect 
collegiate record, which had never been achieved before: 159 wins, no 
losses. He was four-time NCAA national champion; he was four-time NCAA 
outstanding wrestler; and three times a winner of the Dan Hodge Trophy, 
which is the highest acknowledgment that you can have as a college 
wrestler.
  I would say, Madam Speaker, that Cael Sanderson is much more. He is a 
tremendous young man. He was a two-time All-American academic winner at 
Iowa State. He is truly an inspiration and an example for all young 
people today. The way Cael conducts himself makes us all very, very 
proud. He is the type of young man that we would like all of our young 
people to emulate.
  We hear so many times about the problems we have today with our 
youth, and some troubles they get into; but someone like Cael Sanderson 
is an individual that these young people can look up to as an example 
of someone with his leadership that they can follow and really get 
themselves on the right path in life.
  Just on behalf of the Iowa delegation, all Iowans and, I think, all 
Americans, we want to congratulate Cael Sanderson and thank him for his 
tremendous achievements, and wish him and his wife Kelly the best of 
luck. Cael is going to be in the Olympics in 2004 and is working very 
hard towards that goal.
  We wish him the best of luck, and we thank especially his family for 
all their tremendous support; and the family at Iowa State, Coach Bobby 
Douglas and everyone, especially the fans at Iowa State, for the 
tremendous support they have given to Cael, and wrestling in general at 
Iowa State.
  Madam Speaker, again, congratulations and thanks to Cael Sanderson.

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, those of us who have followed wrestling and have 
followed Iowa State, if you were just named one of the outstanding 
wrestlers at Iowa State, you would think you had had a very successful 
career. But to achieve this feat of 159 matches without a loss, for 
those of you who are better at mathematics than I am, you can figure 
out the probabilities of that happening. I once read the mathematics of 
Joe DiMaggio's 56 straight games and that streak and what it meant and 
what the probabilities were for happening. But this is an incredible 
feat. And I note here that ``Sports Illustrated'' said this is a most 
impressive college feat of all time, and they rated this the second. 
The first-place winner was Jessie Owens, who set four world records in 
1935, which puts Cael Sanderson ahead of Barry Sanders, Jim Brown, 
Oscar Robinson and so many others that we are familiar with this 
string. And he is certainly due the congratulations and the honor of 
this resolution of this House.
  Madam Speaker, I would urge all Members to support this resolution 
and extend to him our congratulations. I thank the committee for 
bringing this resolution to the floor.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISAKSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Boehner), the chairman of the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson) for yielding me time and 
congratulate the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Latham) for bringing this 
resolution to the floor today.
  This really is quite an accomplishment that Cael Sanderson has 
contributed; 159 wins, no losses in a 4-year college career is really 
unheard of. I think his contributions as a two-time academic all-
American also speak loudly to his dedication not only to his sport but 
to his academic studies. So Cael is a shining example of what someone 
can do with determination, commitment and a sense of excellence. And I 
am happy to rise today in support of the Latham resolution.
  Mr. ISAKSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Iowa (Mr. Ganske).
  Mr. GANSKE. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to join in recognizing 
one of the greatest athletes in American history, a wrestler who went 
through college undefeated. I saw another great wrestler, Dan Gable, in 
his last match in college. Dan was undefeated in high school and 
college, but fell short in his final match. He used that defeat as 
motivation and then won the Olympics without a point being scored on 
him. Big shoes to fill.
  But Cael Sanderson of the same Iowa State Cyclones as Dan Gable 
wrestled for has now surpassed Dan's achievements at the college level. 
The pressure on him was immense. The way he wrestled his last NCAA 
tournament is a testament to his greatest. He wrestled aggressively but 
intelligently. He never coasted on a lead. His athletic prowess is 
awesome. But it is his soft

[[Page H6834]]

spoken humility, his grace under pressure, his good sportsmanship, his 
example as a role model for younger kids that make him special to 
Iowans.
  He is the Cyclone version of Nile Kinnick, and whether we are 
Hawkeyes or Cyclones or UNI Panthers, we are proud of him. And we all 
hope that he too wins the Olympics. But if Cael Sanderson never stepped 
on a mat again, we would still have to say, thanks for the great 
memories.
  Mr. ISAKSON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I acknowledge that the Speaker of this House, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hastert), is a famous wrestler and wrestling coach of 
great renown; and I am confident, were he not busy working on the 
business of the American people, he would be here on this floor to 
commend not only Cael but also to commend his parents, his coach and 
his supporters.
  In a time of desperate need in America for role models for our young 
people, it is only appropriate that this House acknowledge a young man 
who has distinguished himself by achieving a record never before 
accomplished at a time while still maintaining an average to become an 
Academic All American 2 years in a row.
  I join my other colleagues who have spoken in commending Cael 
Sanderson for his achievement and his contribution and his role model 
life that he leads in the State of Iowa.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 399. This 
resolution congratulates Cael Sanderson for finishing his career as the 
first ever undefeated collegiate wrestler. This resolution provides 
much deserved recognition to Mr. Sanderson's parents, Steven and Debbie 
Sanderson as well as his Iowa State University coach, Robert Douglas.
  Our distinguished Speaker of the House, himself, was once a wrestling 
coach on the high school level, and I am sure would want to extend his 
congratulations to this accomplished young man, as well.
  Mr. Sanderson has completed his college career with a perfect record 
of 159 wins and no losses and is the first undefeated four-time 
Division I college-wrestling champion. Mr. Sanderson has quite an 
outstanding record of achievement, including being a four-time NCAA 
champion, a four-time NCAA outstanding wrestler, a three-time Hodge 
award winner and a two-time Academic All American. This young man has a 
great deal to be proud of and I am happy to join my colleague, 
Representative Latham, in honoring him and all he has accomplished.
  I want to thank my colleague from Iowa for introducing this 
resolution and extend my congratulations to Mr. Sanderson, his family, 
his coach and Iowa State University.
  I ask all my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. HASTERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable 
accomplishments of Cael Sanderson, who this year became the first in 
his sport to finish undefeated over the course of four seasons and only 
the second NCAA Division I wrestler in history to win four NCAA 
Championships.
  Growing up in Utah, Cael Sanderson was one of four wrestling 
brothers, who over the years combined for 11 Utah prep crowns. During 
this prep years, Cael was coached by his father at Wasatch High, where 
he was a four-time State Champ. After high school, Cael decided to 
follow in his older brothers' footsteps by attending Iowa State 
University where he would leave his mark on the sport of wrestling, 
which I believe is safe to say will never be forgotten.
  After 4 years at Iowa State University, Cael broke virtually every 
record and received every award he could garner. As I previously 
mentioned, Cael is a four-time national wrestling champion and finished 
his career with an overall record of 159-0. Moreover, he is also a 
four-time national Collegiate Athletic Championship Outstanding 
Wrestler, a three-time recipient of the Dan Hodge Trophy, given to the 
sport's most outstanding collegiate wrestler and was recently named the 
2001-2002 Big 12 Conference Male Athlete of the Year.
  In addition to taking care of business on the mat, Cael Sanderson 
also excelled in the classroom as he has twice been named an Academic 
All-American. Graduating in December 2001 with a Bachelor's degree in 
art and design, Cael showed patience, hardwork and dedication as he was 
able to balance the popularity that comes with being a collegiate star, 
as well as the long hours needed to accommodate a full academic 
schedule.
  Finally, Cael Sanderson has been a model member of the community and 
has had a positive impact on all those around him. Besides offering his 
time to a number of community services, Cael also makes frequent visits 
to elementary schools and Boys and Girls Clubs in the Ames area, and 
spends his summers as a wrestling spokesman traveling across the nation 
to various wrestling camps, generating interest in the sport.
  As a teacher and former wrestling coach, I commend Cael Sanderson on 
his many accomplishments on and off the mat. I think all of us in this 
body can appreciate the time and effort he has put into the sport so 
many of us love. Cael is a champion in the true sense of the word, as 
well as an inspiration and role model, not just to wrestling fans, but 
to everyone chasing a goal of a dream.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 399, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________