06/11/2011
Cael Sanderson battles Jake Herbert in the finals. John Sachs photo.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Can you win a World title after a seven-year layoff?
We are about to find out after Cael Sanderson capped an amazing run by winning a U.S. World Team Trials freestyle wrestling title on Saturday night at the Cox Convention Center.
The 2004 Olympic gold medalist and Penn State head coach looked like the Sanderson of old after sweeping two straight matches from 2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert in the finals at 84 kg/185 lbs.
Sanderson won the first match of the best-of-3 finals series 4-1, 2-0 before winning the second match 5-2, 2-0 against one of the best wrestlers in the World in the talented Herbert.
Sanderson was one of nine champions crowned in three styles on Saturday. Those champions advance to September's World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.
"I haven't been in competitive matches in an atmosphere like this in a long time," Sanderson said. "Early on, I think I was forcing things and maybe trying a little too hard. I felt a lot more comfortable as the day went on."
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