University of Minnesota Athletics
2022-23 Wrestling Roster
Carlson, Cael
Cael Carlson
- Class:
- Redshirt Junior
- Hometown:
- Willmar, Minn.
- High School:
- Willmar HS
- Position:
- 165 lbs.
Bio
*Granted extra season of eligibility due to the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic*
2022-23 • REDSHIRT JUNIOR
Italics - indicates redshirt season
2022-23 • REDSHIRT JUNIOR
- Went 3-2 in his five starts on the season, going 2-2 in Big Ten duals for the Gophers.
- Stepped into the lineup and upset #19 Danny Braunagel by 2-1 decision against Illinois (1/28)
- Defeated Nick South (Indiana) by 5-1 decision in first start of the season (1/20)
- Placed sixth at the Southern Scuffle, earning a ranked win over #21 Wyatt Sheets to reach semifinals
- UNI Open champ with a 3-0 record, including two bonus-point victories
- Took 4th at the Bison Open with a 2-2 record
- Academic All-B1G Selection.
- Went 19-17 on the year in his first season as a starter
- Was an NCAA Qualifier at 165 pounds, and went 0-2 at the Championships
- Took 7th Place at the Big Ten Championships in his first conference tournament appearance
- Pinned fifth-seed Caleb Fish (Michigan State) in the 7th Place Match and Big Tens to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships
- Held a 2-6 dual record, all against Big Ten competition
- Earned his first career dual victory by pinning Northwestern's Erich Byelich on Jan. 9
- Made his starting lineup debut against #1 Alex Marinelli (Iowa) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, falling by 6-5 decision
- Placed 3rd at 2022 Southern Scuffle, going 6-1 on the weekend
- Earned two top-15 victories at the Southern Scuffle, defeating #11 Luke Weber (North Dakota State) and #24 William Formato (Appalachian State)
- Took 2nd Place at the UNI Open, falling to Iowa's Patrick Kennedy in the finals
- Went 3-2 at the Daktronics en route to 5th place finish
- Took 3rd Place at Bison Open with 4-1 record
- Academic All-Big Ten selection
- Finished 5-0 at 157 pounds in dual meet "extra" matches
- Made Gopher debut with 17-2 technical fall over Kevon Davenport
- Defeated Iowa's Bretli Reyna by 5-4 decision
- Academic All-Big Ten selection
- Earned a 17-5 record during his redshirt season
- Went 4-2 at the National Collegiate Open
- Placed 3rd at the Iowa State Last Chance Open
- Won the Don Parker Open with a 6-0 record on the day
- Went 5-1 at the Buena Vista Open
- Two-time MSHSL State Champion
- Four-time Minnesota state finalist (2nd, 2nd, 1st, 1st)
- Five-time letterwinner in wrestling
- 2018 US Marine Corps Greco-Roman National Champion (2019 Runner-Up)
- National Honor Society member, graduating with high honors
- Attended Willmar high school
PERSONAL
- Son of Chad and Kindra Carlson
- Has two brothers: Caden and Conlan
- Father, Chad, and Uncle, Carl both wrestled for the Gophers in the 1990s
- Cousin, Clay currently wrestles for South Dakota State
- Chose Minnesota to pursue Dairy Science and Agricultural Business majors
| YEAR | OVERALL W-L | DUAL W-L | BIG TEN W-L | PINS | TFs | MDs | B1G FINISH | NCAA FINISH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 17-5 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 9 | 2 | 1 | --- | --- |
| 2020-21 | 5-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | --- | --- |
| 2021-22* | 19-17 | 2-6 | 2-6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 7th | DNP |
| 2022-23 | 10-7 | 3-2 | 2-2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | --- | --- |
| CAREER | 34-24 | 5-8 | 4-8 | 8 | 1 | 5 | --- | 1x NCAA NQ |
Gopher Wrestling Tries Gymnastics
Thursday, May 29
Steveson Advances to NCAA Title Match
Friday, March 21
Gable Steveson: NCAA Quarterfinals
Friday, March 21
Gable Steveson: NCAA Pin
Thursday, March 20
