Derrick Cardinal

Photo by: Evan Patzwald

Photo by: Keith Lucas | Sideline Media Productions

Height:
5-8
Weight:
133
Position:
133 Weight Class
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Forest Lake, Minn.
High School:
Forest Lake H.S.
Major:
Exercise Science

HONORS AND AWARDS

NCAA Qualifier (2023-24, 2024-25)
NWCA Scholar All-American (2023-24, 2024-25)
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District (2023-24, 2024-25)
Academic All-Big 12 Wrestling (2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25)

2024-25: Qualified for the NCAA Tournament at 133 pounds for the second year in a row…upset No. 19 seed TK Davis in the consolation bracket at the NCAA Tournament…put together 19-16 record with a 7-10 record in duals as the starter at 133 pounds for the Jackrabbits…scored first ever pin inside of the newly renovated First Bank & Trust Arena…placed fifth at Big 12 Championships to qualify for NCAA Tournament…took seventh at the Cliff Keen Invitational with a win over returning All-American Dylan Ragusin (Michigan)...picked up 28 dual points throughout the season.

2023-24: Put together a breakthrough season in which he finished with a 23-11 overall record and earned a berth in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships ... opened campaign with a third-place finish at the Bison Open (11/11), followed by winning the 133-pound title at the Daktronics Open with a 3-0 record (11/19) ... cracked the national rankings for the first time after posting a sixth-place finish at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational with a 3-2 mark (12/1-2) ... pinned Michigan's Nolan Wertanen (6:39) to help lead the Jackrabbits to a dual victory over the Wolverines at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls (1/4) ... placed fourth at Big 12 Championship with a 3-2 record over two days of competition (3/9-10) ... notched a 1-2 record at the NCAA Championships, earning an 8-2 decision over Maximilian Leete of American University in the wrestlebacks for his lone victory

2022-23: Held the starting spot at 133 pounds throughout the season ... finished with an 11-15 overall record, including a 6-9 mark in dual competition ... posted a 3-2 record to win consolation bracket at Soldier Salute (12/29-30) ... picked up first two dual victories in triangular against Northern Illinois and California Baptist (1/7) ... turned in 2-0 weekend with dual wins against Utah Valley (1/20) and Wyoming (1/22) ... notched back-to-back victories over North Dakota State's McGwire Midkiff to help spark season-ending dual victory (2/19) and in the opening round of the Big 12 Wrestling Championship (3/4) ... completed first Big 12 postseason appearance with a 1-2 record

2021-22: Redshirted, but competed in a handful of open tournaments at 133 pounds ... placed fifth at the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open with a 3-2 record (11/21) ... won pair of matches by major decision en route to 3-0 record and winning the 133-pound title in the Freshman/Sophomore Division of the Harold Nichols Cyclone Open (11/28) ... closed calendar year with runner-up finish and 3-1 record at Doane Open ... wrapped up freshman campaign with fourth-place finish at North Country Open (1/23)

BEFORE SDSU: Derrick was a four-time state champion at Forest Lake High School who capped his career by being named Minnesota's Mr. Wrestling by the state's high school wrestling coaches ... compiled a 240-30 record during his high school career with 109 of those victories by fall ... his four Class AAA state titles came in all different weight classes: 113 (freshman), 120 (sophomore), 126 (junior) and 132 (senior) ... qualified for the state tournament for the first time as an eighth-grader, placing fourth in the 106-pound division ... was named the Minneapolis Star Tribune Metro Athlete of the Year during the 2019-20 season, when he completed an undefeated campaign with a 50-0 record ... ... posted a 38-1 record as a senior ... went on to earn Fargo All-America honors during the 2020 club season ... two-time academic all-state honoree and a member of the A Honor Roll

CAREER STATISTICS