Jacob Cardenas

Jacob Cardenas
Cardenas in 2021
Personal information
Born (2001-09-13) September 13, 2001
Weight92 kg (203 lb)
Sport
Country United States
SportWrestling
Event(s)
Freestyle and Folkstyle
College teamMichan
Cornell
ClubCliff Keen Wrestling Club
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing the  United States
Grand Prix
2026 Nice 92 kg
2025 New York City 92 kg
2025 New York City 97 kg
U23 World Championships
2022 Pontevedra 92 kg
2024 Tirana 92 kg
2023 Tirana 92 kg
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the Michigan Wolverines
Big Ten Championships
2025 Evanston 197 lb
Representing the Cornell Big Red
EIWA Championships
2023 Philadelphia 197 lb
2024 Lewisburg 197 lb

Jacob Cardenas (born September 13, 2001) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at 92 kilograms. A four-time NCAA Division I Qualifier, Cardenas finished as a three-time NCAA D1 all-American. Cardenas is also a three-time U23 World Wrestling Championships medalist. [1]

Career

High school

Raised in Kearny, New Jersey, Cardenas attended Bergen Catholic High School, where he was a two-time New Jersey high school state champion (in 2018 and 2019) as well as capturing Super 32 and a Flo Nationals titles. [2]

Cornell

2019–2020

Cardenas greyshirt'd during the 2019-2020 season compiling a 21-4 record competing for Spartan Combat RTC. [3]

Cornell did not compete during the 2020-2021 season due to the COVID19 pandemic.

2021–2022

In his sophomore season at Cornell University, Cardenas competed at 197 pounds, where he qualified for the 2022 NCAA Championships. At the EIWA Championships, Cardenas placed fifth to secure an automatic NCAA bid. Cardenas went 1-2 at the NCAA tournament, finishing with a 22-8 record. [4]

2022–2023

As a junior, Cardenas had a strong campaign at 197 lb, finishing with a 20–6 record. He claimed the EIWA 197-pound conference title, including a close 10-9 victory in the finals. [5] Cardenas also earned his first NCAA All-American honor by placing eighth at the 2023 NCAA Championships with a 4-3 record. [6] Cardenas finished the season with a 20-6 record.

2023–2024

During his senior year at Cornell, Cardenas had a successful season at 197 lb, posting a 28–8 record. He finished second at the EIWA Championships, and at the 2024 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Cardenas placed fourth, becoming a two-time NCAA All-American. [7] [8]

Michigan

2024–2025

Following graduation from Cornell, Cardenas transferred to the University of Michigan as a graduate student for his final season of eligibility. [9]

At the 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, Cardenas advanced to the 197 lb finals, defeating top opponents including Penn State’s Josh Barr in the semifinals and then upset Iowa’s top-ranked Stephen Buchanan to win the conference title at 197 lb. [10]

Entering the 2025 NCAA Championships as the No. 1 seed at 197 pounds, Cardenas won his opening matches via major decision and decision victories, ultimately earning All-American honors again. He reached the semifinals but fell to Penn State’s Josh Barr; Cardenas finished fourth at nationals, marking his third NCAA All-American placement and concluding his collegiate career with a 24–3 season record and a 95–25 overall collegiate record. [11]

Freestyle

At 92kg, Cardenas captured a silver medal at the 2022 U23 World Wrestling Championships, finishing with a 3-1 record. [12] Competing at 92kg, Cardenas captured a bronze medal at the 2023 U23 World Wrestling Championships, finishing with a 3-1 record. [13] At the 2024 U23 World Wrestling Championships, Cardenas captured a silver medal at 92kg, falling to Iran's Amir Hossein Firouzpour 11-4 in the gold medal bout. [14]

Freestyle record

References

  1. ^ "Kearny's Cardenas ends NCAA career with 4th place finish". The Observer.
  2. ^ "Bergen Catholic's Jacob Cardenas Wins 195 Pound State Championship". Shore News Network.
  3. ^ "N.J. state wrestling champs dominant in 1st college year, will wait to start Cornell careers". NJ.Com.
  4. ^ "Wrestling Claims 26th EIWA Title On Strength of Three Champions, Six NCAA Qualifiers". Cornell Athletics.
  5. ^ "Cornell Wrestling Earns Second Straight EIWA Title". Ivy League.
  6. ^ "Kearny's Cardenas becomes an All-American at NCAA Wrestling Championships". The Observer.
  7. ^ "Wrestling Wins 28th EIWA Title, Nine Punch Tickets to Nationals". Cornell Athletics.
  8. ^ "For the second year in a row Jacob Cardenas can call himself an NCAA All American". The Observer.
  9. ^ "Michigan Adds Two-Time All-American 197-Pounder Jacob Cardenas". Flo Wrestling.
  10. ^ "Cardenas Advances to 197-pound Big Ten Final, Wolverines Qualify Six for NCAAs". Michigan Athletics.
  11. ^ "Cardenas, Heindselman Close NCAAs on Podium, U-M Places 12th". Michigan Athletics.
  12. ^ "JCardenas Grabs Silver To Lead Three Big Red Wrestlers At U23 Championships". Cornell Athletics.
  13. ^ "Jacob Cardenas Wins Bronze Medal at U23 World Championships". Cornell Athletics.
  14. ^ "Cardenas Captures 92kg Silver at U23 World Championships". Michigan Athletics.