Completed Event: Wrestling versus NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships - Day 2 on March 20, 2026 ,
/
FINAL
Wrestling
vs NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships - Day 2
South Dakota State University Athletics
2025-26 Wrestling Roster
Cael Swensen
- Height:
- 5-10
- Weight:
- 157
- Position:
- 157 Pound Weight Class
- Class:
- Redshirt Junior
- Hometown:
- Plymouth, Minn.
- High School:
- Wayzata H.S.
- Major:
- Business Economics
HONORS AND AWARDS
2021-22: Redshirted during his first season in the Jackrabbit wrestling program ... wrestled extensively in open tournaments, compiling a 17-11 record ... placed in the top six of the 157-pound weight class in six of the seven tournaments he competed ... began collegiate career with a third-place finish at the Bison Open (11/13) ... tied for fifth at the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open (11/21), then advanced to the finals in his next two tournaments ... placed second in the Freshman/Sophomore Division of the Harold Nichols Cylone Open (11/28), then won the championship at the Doane Open the next weekend, winning the last two of his four matches by technical fall (12/4) ... recorded a sixth-place finish at the UNI Open (12/11) ... after posting a 1-2 record at the Southern Scuffle (1/1), wrapped up his season with a fourth-place showing at the North Country Open (1/23)
BEFORE SDSU: Cael was a five-time all-conference honoree and four-time Class AAA state placer at Wayzata High School … finished his prep career with a 223-37 record after winning consecutive state championships at 138 pounds in 2020 and 152 pounds in 2021 under his coach and father, Eric … also was active in USA Wrestling, finishing as runner-up in the 126-pound division at the 2019 Greco-Roman Junior Nationals and placing in the 106-pound class at the 2018 Cadet Nationals
- NCAA Qualifier (2022-23, 2023-24, 2025-26)
- Amateur Wrestling News All-Rookie Team (2022-23)
- NWCA Scholar All-American (2022-23, 2023-24, 2025-26)
- Academic All-Big 12 Wrestling First Team (2022-23, 2023-24, 2025-26)
- College Sports Communicators Academic All-District (2023-24)
2025-26: Returned to the starting lineup after missing all of the 2024-25 season with an injury … qualified for his third NCAA Wrestling Championships, going 1-2 during his run with a major decision over 157-pound 33-seed Yannis Charles … finished 4th at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships, going 3-2 in Tulsa … wrestled every dual for the Jackrabbits, putting up a 15-2 record in duals … scored early season upset over No. 15 Charlie Millard (Minnesota) by decision, 8-5 … finished as the runner-up at the Tiger Style Invitational … put up most dual points on the team with 57 … put up 25-9 record overall, the second most wins on the team … picked up 4 technical falls and 2 falls … seven major decision victories … fastest fall came at 4:03 … NWCA Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big 12 selection … SDSU’s Justin Sell Leadership Award recipient.
2024-25: Medical redshirt for the 2024-25 season.
2023-24: Was the starter for SDSU at 157 pounds and finished third at the Big 12 Championships (3/9-10) … put up a 22-10 record overall and a 12-4 record in duals throughout the year … qualified for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships for the second year in a row … finished runner-up at the Soldier Salute (12/29-30) … went on a nine match winning streak during January, earning bonus points in six of the nine matches ... scored four wins by technical fall and four wins by major decision …notched eight ranked wins throughout the season including Brock Mauller (Missouri) and Teague Travis (Oklahoma St.) (3/10) ... put up 47 team dual points for SDSU.
2021-22: Redshirted during his first season in the Jackrabbit wrestling program ... wrestled extensively in open tournaments, compiling a 17-11 record ... placed in the top six of the 157-pound weight class in six of the seven tournaments he competed ... began collegiate career with a third-place finish at the Bison Open (11/13) ... tied for fifth at the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open (11/21), then advanced to the finals in his next two tournaments ... placed second in the Freshman/Sophomore Division of the Harold Nichols Cylone Open (11/28), then won the championship at the Doane Open the next weekend, winning the last two of his four matches by technical fall (12/4) ... recorded a sixth-place finish at the UNI Open (12/11) ... after posting a 1-2 record at the Southern Scuffle (1/1), wrapped up his season with a fourth-place showing at the North Country Open (1/23)
BEFORE SDSU: Cael was a five-time all-conference honoree and four-time Class AAA state placer at Wayzata High School … finished his prep career with a 223-37 record after winning consecutive state championships at 138 pounds in 2020 and 152 pounds in 2021 under his coach and father, Eric … also was active in USA Wrestling, finishing as runner-up in the 126-pound division at the 2019 Greco-Roman Junior Nationals and placing in the 106-pound class at the 2018 Cadet Nationals
Tuesday, March 24
Friday, March 20
Thursday, March 12
Saturday, March 07
