This Wrestler Was Almost Cael Sanderson #2 

Lee Kemp deserves consideration. A three-time NCAA champion who never red shirted. Lost in the finals as an 18-year-old true freshman via a controversial overtime split referee's decision, to two-time NCAA champion and future Olympian Chuck Yagla of Iowa, even though Kemp had the only takedown in the match. Had he received that decision, he would have been the very first 4-time NCAA champ, some 15 years before Pat Smith. Went on to go undefeated his last three years of college, going 108-0-1. Beat Dan Gable in the 1975 Northern Open Tournament, as an 18-year-old sophomore, bringing an end to Gable's comeback attempt. Then proceeded to dominate on the World stage by winning 3 World championships, before being screwed out of a sure Gold Medal because of the 1980 Olympic boycott.

What was most incredible about Zain's win over Steiber was his ability to DOMINATE riding Logan as a TRUE FRESHMAN.. Yes, Zain's win was by a narrow margin, but the dominate ride Zain put on Logan is one that I will never forget; and I bet Logan will never forget too!

I can't be the only one who thought "Dan Gable" before clicking.

I said Zane before I watched this lol. Zane was amazing like Bo Nickel amazing. He had the best cardio I ever saw EVER!!

what about Bo Nickal? 3X NCAA champ and was upset as the 1 seed his freshman year going against the 11 seed in Myles Martin who he’d beat multiple times that year. Way closer than Zain imo

When I think of Zain, I think of the Bow-and-Arrow from Hell. Amazing NCAA wrestler. and my fav

Craziest part for me, is that he’s still getting better. Watch out world.

What a beast Zain was and is! Insane to think what he did at PSU.

Y’all remember what John Jones did at the JUCO level. Imagine if he went to a powerhouse school . Not saying he would of been on Zains level but super impressive. Then you have Cary Kolat which I admire and appreciate as one of the greatest folkstyle wrestlers to ever do it.

John Smith said the best wrestler he ever saw was Yojiro Uetake. 57-0, was never taken down and won 2 olympic golds for Japan. Shame they could only win 3 titles back then.

One name casually forgotten: Aaron Pico.

I agree, what a guy!

Don’t forget Rick Sanders. A great wrestler, amazing record. Cut down in his prime.

Missed Ed Ruth

I thought flowrestling had him way too low on the top one hundred American wrestlers of all time

Another PA boy- Greg Jones!

ANY discussion of 'almost 4 timers' that doesn't include Lee Kemp is sour from the start. Look it up.. a 'referee decision' away from being the First 4-timer

Read through the comments. Did everybody forget about Lincoln McAllravy? Behind Sanderson and Gable, he's got the best collegiate record.

No disrespect to Zain. He's awesome. But Bo Nichol would have been "that guy" had he not been caught by Myles Martin in the finals. 120-3.

You can do thousands of what ifs... what if Dake wrestled a guy like Burroughs or J'Den Cox in the NCAA finals?!?! Burroughs beat the poor guy for a decade. What if Cael Sanderson hadn't red shirted his first freshman year? Zain is a monster but the timing has to work out. It took Dake 10 years after college just to make the Olympic team and then he got teched 11-0 in Tokyo.

Good argument

Hard to disagree. The guy was just so dominant especially for top with that bow and arrow

Lee Kemp…no argument.

I wanted to try to guess who he was going to say before he did… I was thinking IMAR, or Alex Derringer from Oklahoma.. Zain train is 100% the correct person, RUTHLESS and scored more points than almost any other wrestler I can think of haha great choice

I would pick Lee Kemp as the guy who was closest to becoming a 4x'er. He lost in overtime on referees decision to a two-time defending national champion as a freshman and then won three NCAA titles in a row.

Joe Williams Iowa

Agree with Zain. If they had redshirted him freshmen year he might have done 4. Nolf and Nickal came close. I did'nt realize how many guys they redshirted whne Zain did. Wow. Zain was/is brutal on top. Man I wish 70 kg was in the Olympics.

Zain was a beast, but u know who is the ONLY guy to destroy zain… AARON PICO! I wish he went the wrestling route 😢

Exactly. I thought the same about Zain if he had taken a redshirt year he could have been an undefeated 4x champ. Cael lost as a redshirt. I don't doubt Penn State could have a 4x undefeated champ. Problem is they do keep pulling redshirts early.

Technically it’d still be 5 4x if Zain won, Logan wouldn’t have won his fourth

spencer lee

Bo nickel

I like how you didn't go with the obvious answer (Imar).. Could probably make a case for Ringer too. Didn't he take 3rd his freshman year?.

isn't this the dude that advocated sauna use for wrestlers? dangerous and stupid is a dangerous combination..

Zain was and is a great wrestler but I think Ed Ruth was closer to doing it than Zain not to mention the greatest of this generation not to win an NCAA title and totally DOMINATED Zain in Aaron Pico. Imagine if Pico would have wrestled, Zain would not have a title unless he could win at a different weight.

Great profile on Zane but hands down, Lee Kemp is unquestionably the closest. @rossogden9920 couldn't have stated it any clearer. "Lost in the finals as an 18-year-old true freshman via a controversial overtime split referee's decision, to two-time NCAA champion and future Olympian Chuck Yagla of Iowa, even though Kemp had the only takedown in the match." - @rossogden9920