John Fuller/USA Wrestling
2004 Olympic gold medalist Cael Sanderson (Ames, Iowa/Heber City, Utah/Sunkist Kids), 2000 Olympic gold medalist and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Rulon Gardner (Wellsville, Utah/Afton, Wyo./Sunkist Kids) and two-time NCAA champion Steve Mocco (N. Bergen, N.J./Oklahoma State/New York AC) have been nominated for 2005 ESPY Awards.
Sanderson has been nominated for “Best Male Olympic Performance, “Gardner has been nominated for “Best Comeback “while Mocco is nominated for “Best Male College Athlete.”
The three wrestling nominees are the most ever in a single year for the sport.
Nominees are selected by a panel of ESPN staff and esteemed journalists.
Sanderson captured an Olympic gold medal in Athens, Greece last summer by coming from behind in four of his five victories.
In college, Sanderson made wrestling headlines by becoming the first collegiate wrestler to finish his career with four NCAA titles and an undefeated record (159-0) while at Iowa State Univ. In 2003, he proved to be an international star by winning a silver medal at the World Championships.
“This came as a real shock to me, “Sanderson said. “There were some awesome Olympic athletes in Athens, including the other two who were nominated – Phelps and Wariner. Winning that gold medal was a special moment for me, and this just helps me to relive that moment.”
Also nominated for “Best Male Olympic Performance “are Michael Phelps of swimming and Jeremy Wariner of track & field.
Sanderson won an ESPY Award in 2002 for “Best Male College Athlete, “becoming the inaugural winner of that particular category.
Gardner won the 2000 Olympic gold medal after defeating Alexander Karelin of Russia in the finals. Karelin had previously gone unbeaten in 13 years of international competition. Gardner followed that win by capturing the 2001 World Championship at the same weight.
On Feb. 14, 2002, Gardner had been snowmobiling when he became bogged down in deep snow near his hometown of Afton, Wyo. Gardner braved overnight temperatures minus 10 degrees for nearly 14 hours before being rescued the next morning. He lost a toe to frostbite during a recovery process.
Last year, Gardner completed his comeback by winning a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympic Games. He brought tears to the eyes of millions of Americans by placing his shoes in the middle of the mat to symbolize his retirement.
“I worked very hard to come back from everything I had to come back from just to get to the Olympics again. It is very touching that a committee also was able to recognize that as well and nominate me for this award, “Gardner said.
Also nominated for “Best Comeback “are Kayla Burt of Washington basketball, Mark Fields of the Carolina Panthers and Jordan Sigalet of Bowling Green hockey.
In 2001, Gardner won an ESPY Award for “Male USA Olympic Athlete.”
Mocco won his second NCAA title in 2005 as a junior at heavyweight. He led Oklahoma State to its third straight NCAA team title and was the last of five individual champions in the Cowboys lineup.
In 2004, Mocco placed third at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials while taking an Olympic Redshirt year from Iowa, where he won an NCAA title in 2003 before transferring.
“This is a huge, not only for me, but for Oklahoma State wrestling, “Mocco said of his nomination. “There are some other real strong athletes in this category, so to even be thought of by them is an honor.”
Also nominated for “Best Male College Athlete “are Andrew Bogut of Utah basketball, Alex Gordon of Nebraska baseball, Matt Leinart of USC football and Marty Sertich of Colorado College hockey.
This is the first ESPY Award nomination for Mocco.
To vote for Gardner, Mocco and Sanderson, visit espn.go.com/espy2005/s/05nomineesindex.html, click on their respective categories and select the athlete.
Fans can visit the personal web sites of Sanderson and Gardner for more information.
Past wrestling ESPY winners include Kyle Maynard in 2004 for “Best Athlete with a Disability”, Cael Sanderson in 2002 for “Best Male College Athlete” and Rulon Gardner in 2001 for “Male USA Olympic Athlete.” In 2003, Eric Larkin was nominated for “Best Male College Athlete.”
The ESPY Awards were created by ESPN in 1993 and are given for Excellence in Sports Performance.
The 2004 ESPY Awards will be held at Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, Calif. on July 13. The show will be televised by ESPN on Sunday, July 17 at 9 p.m. (EST).
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