Grad Transfers Cardenas, Saldate Join Wolverines' 2024-25 Squad
6/12/2024 1:41:00 PM | Wrestling
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan wrestling head coach Sean Bormet announced Wednesday (June 12) the addition of graduate transfers Jacob Cardenas and Chase Saldate to its 2024-25 roster. Both have signed their National Letters of Intent and will join the Wolverines this summer with one year of eligibility remaining.
"We are thrilled to have Jacob and Chase join us at Michigan," said Bormet. "Both are passionate about wrestling, love to train and compete and are committed to the hard work and lifestyle that it takes to be successful. They will be with us most of the summer, and we look forward to working with them and getting to know them better. I think they're going to fit in well with and contribute greatly to our team."
Cardenas is a two-time All-American at 197 pounds, earning NCAA finishes of fourth (2024) and eighth place (2023), and a three-time NCAA qualifier while representing Cornell. He captured the EIWA 197-pound title in 2023 and is a two-time EIWA finalist and three-time unanimous All-Ivy League honoree. He compiled a 71-22 record over three competitive seasons at Cornell, including a 28-8 mark last year.
A native of Kearny, N.J., Cardenas is the third Bergen Catholic High School alum to join the Wolverines as a graduate transfer, joining Nick Suriano (2023) and Shane Griffith (2024). He is a two-time 92kg freestyle medalist at the U23 World Championships, capturing silver in 2022 and bronze in 2023, and qualified for his third straight world team earlier this month. Cardenas will compete at 197 pounds this season for Michigan.
Saldate is a four-time NCAA qualifier at 157 pounds, reaching the NCAA Round of 12 in 2023, while representing Michigan State. He placed at the Big Ten Championships four times, taking fourth place in 2021 and fifth in 2022, and placed at every regular-season tournament over his career to date, including the prestigious Midlands, Southern Scuffle and Reno Tournament of Champions.
A native of Gilroy, Calif., where he wrestled under Olympian and UFC champion Daniel Cormier at Gilroy High School, Saldate posted an 85-33 record over his four seasons at MSU, including a 25-8 mark last season. He ranked among the nation's leaders with 11 falls in 2023-24 and has earned bonus points in more than half of his collegiate wins to date with 28 falls, two technical falls and 21 major decisions. Saldate is projected to wrestle at 157 pounds for Michigan.
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