10 Wrestling Icons to Learn From

Dan Gable, Cael Sanderson, Jordan Burroughs, Helen Maroulis. Those are all household names in the world of wrestling. They are icons of the sport, not just in the United States, but also throughout the world.

Through the years, there have been several American wrestlers who have achieved great results, overcome great odds, or become pioneers in the sport of wrestling.

Below, we look at 10 great American wrestlers, what they achieved, and how they did it. This is not intended to be a “best of all time” list, but these athletes are true icons in the sport, and each has lessons to share.

Dan Gable

Dan Gable has been the most recognizable name and face of wrestling for nearly 50 years. He’s had success at every level. But it was how he overcame that one collegiate loss to Larry Owing of Washington in his final NCAA match that drove Gable to a 1972 Olympic Gold Medal, when he won six matches without giving up a single point. As stated in his bio at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (NWHOF), Gable is “the living example of the values of dedication in pursuit of a goal.” In other words, there was nothing Gable wouldn’t do to be the best. His will and determination to succeed was second to none and he outworked everyone on his way to winning Olympic Gold.

Cael Sanderson

Cael Sanderson became the first four-time undefeated NCAA Division I wrestling champion when he defeated Jon Trenge of Lehigh in the finals of the 2002 NCAA tournament at 197 pounds. His 159-0 collegiate record included four NCAA titles, four Big 12 titles, and four Outstanding Wrestler awards at the NCAA tournament. Sanderson was also a 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and has since led Penn State University to seven of the last NCAA Division I team titles as head coach of the Nittany Lions. He is the example of excellence on and off the mat, and how to truly lead, and live, the wrestling lifestyle to accomplish great things.

Helen Maroulis

Maroulis became the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic Gold Medal in women's freestyle wrestling when she won the 53 KG/118 lb Gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games by defeating Saori Yoshida of Japan 4-1. Yoshida is the most decorated female freestyle wrestler of all time (winning Olympic Gold Medals in 2004, 2008, and 2012). What's even more remarkable is that Maroulis previously lost to Yoshida twice by pin (2011 and 2012 World Championships), and that Yoshida had not lost a World Championships or Olympic match in 16 years. Maroulis is a prime example of never giving up, and never letting past results dictate future opportunity or success.

Jordan Burroughs

The results speak for themselves: Jordan Burroughs has won a combined five World and Olympic titles and is No. 2 in U.S. history, tied with Bruce Baumgartner, and just one behind John Smith at six, for total World and Olympic titles. Burroughs won a U.S. record 69 straight matches to start his career on the senior level from 2011–14 and won a 2013 World title less a month after breaking his ankle. He was also a two-time NCAA champion at the University of Nebraska. Despite all the success and accolades, Burroughs remains humble. He’s an ambassador of the sport, not only in the United States, but also throughout the world. He truly is an icon that others throughout the world come to see. Kyle Snyder, who is building his own legacy on the international circuit, summed up the impact Burroughs has had on the sport:

“We all know Jordan has had an extreme amount of success on the international stage. Above his accolades, he has been an inspiration to people around the world. In any country that we compete in, Jordan is one of the crowd favorites. He has managed his success with a great humility and has continued the drive and determination to improve his wrestling every year.”

Ben Peterson

Ben Peterson has the rare distinction of being a member of three different Olympic wrestling teams. In 1972 Peterson won a gold medal in Munich. Four years later, at the 1976 Olympics, he turned in a silver medal performance. Peterson made his third Olympic team in 1980 but was denied a chance at another medal when the United States boycotted the Games because of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.

Peterson’s college career was equally impressive. Wrestling for Iowa State, he was also a three-time All-American and two-time NCCA champion for Iowa State University. His brother, John, won a silver medal at the 1972 Olympics and a gold medal at the 1976 Olympics. After retiring from competition, Peterson was the head coach at Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, WI, for 28 years.

What many people overlook is that Peterson never won a high school state championship. He finished second in Wisconsin his senior year, but that didn't stop him from setting his sights on becoming an Olympic champion. And through hard work and determination, he made it come true.

Steve Fraser

Fraser won a gold medal at 90 kg (198 lbs.) at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, becoming the first U.S. wrestler to ever win an Olympic gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling. Fraser also won a gold medal at the 1983 Pan American Games and was a member of the 1979 and 1982 U.S. World Teams. He claimed U.S. Nationals titles in Greco-Roman in 1981 and 1983, and was a U.S. Nationals freestyle champion in 1984.

Fraser went on to serve as USA Wrestling’s National Greco-Roman Coach for more than 18 years and was instrumental in building the U.S. Greco-Roman international program. As National Coach, Fraser coached four individual World champions: Dennis Hall (1995), Rulon Gardner (2001), Dremiel Byers (2002) and Joe Warren (2006). During his tenure, Fraser led the USA to 15 World championships medals, including four golds, five silvers and six bronzes.

Fraser is noted for his own personal toughness and the toughness he instilled in his wrestlers.  His “grind match” philosophy, where practice matches consist of considerably longer times than one will ever compete, is something that is seen in many high school and college wrestling rooms now nationwide.

John Smith

John Smith is arguably the greatest amateur wrestler in the history of the sport. From 1986–1992 Smith won six championships—two Olympic Gold Medals (1988/1992) and four world titles—becoming the first American wrestler to win four world championships. Smith has since gone on to become a highly successful collegiate coach at Oklahoma State University (leading the Cowboys to five NCAA team titles).

In an article written by Kyle Klingman, Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum, Smith shared his six keys to success:

1. Drill ... a lot.
2. Take meticulous notes.
3. Stay balanced emotionally.
4. Train consistently.
5. Win gold medals in the wrestling room.
6. Don’t underestimate the work it takes to be on top.

Smith told Klingman: “I think we throw the word talent around a lot,” Smith said. “(People say) I was talented or this or that. I probably hit a million low single legs in my lifetime. I probably drilled a leg lace 40 or 50 times a day. I earned the right to be able to hit sharp techniques. It had nothing to do with talent. It had to do with a commitment to getting better. I didn’t just fall into a leg lace. I didn’t just fall into positions where I dominated in. I drilled them countless times. I can’t tell you how many times.”

Said Klingman: “John Smith shattered our view of what is possible in wrestling.”

Tricia Saunders

Before Gold medalists Helen Maroulis and Adeline Gray were accomplishing great things on the mat, there was Tricia Saunders. Saunders was a four-time World Champion (1992, 1996, 1998, 1999), the first female inductee into the UWW Hall of Fame and the first female Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. The Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award is named after her and presented annually to a high school senior based equally on outstanding wrestling success, scholastic achievement, and citizenship or community service. Saunders was a pioneer in promoting women's wrestling and went on to serve in leadership positions with USA Wrestling and a number of key committees, proving long ago that girls and women can succeed on the mat, and in leadership positions within the sport of amateur wrestling.

Lee Kemp

Kenny Monday was the first African-American wrestler in the world to win Olympic Gold (1988), but before Monday, there was Lee Kemp, another highly successful African-American wrestler. Kemp was America’s first three-time World Champion, winning his first title in 1978 at age 21, establishing him as the youngest American world champion ever, a distinction he held for 30 years. Kemp won World Championships in 1979 and 1982 but unfortunately missed out on an opportunity to pursue Olympic Gold because of the 1980 Olympic boycott. At the University of Wisconsin, Kemp was a four-time NCAA finalist, and three-time NCAA champion.

Kemp’s beginning in wrestling wasn’t all success.  In fact, he was just over a .500 wrestler as a sophomore in high school, showing that early success, or lack thereof, doesn’t necessarily determine one’s long term prospects in the sport.

Terry Brands

Terry Brands was one of the nation’s greatest freestyle wrestlers, winning World titles in 1993 and 1995 at 125.5 pounds (57 kg). He won World Team titles as a member of the 1993 and 1995 U.S. World Teams. In 1993, he won a world title the same year his brother, Tom, was a World champion at 136.5 pounds (62 kg). They became the first U.S. brothers to win World Titles during the same year. Terry was named 1993 USA Wrestling Athlete of the Year, 1993 John Smith Freestyle Wrestler of the Year and 1993 Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year. Terry Brands was also a two-time NCAA champion, three-time All-American and three-time Big Ten champion for the Iowa Hawkeyes (1989–92) at 126 pounds and is currently an assistant coach with the Hawkeyes. When people think of The Iowa Style—being aggressive, outworking an opponent, and doing whatever it takes to win—they think of Terry Brands, and how he and his brother Tom did just that, to find wrestling success.