Kyle Dake: A Legacy of Collegiate and International Wrestling Dominance

Kyle Dake's name is synonymous with excellence in American wrestling. From his dominant high school career to his unprecedented achievements in college and his continued success on the international stage, Dake has cemented his place as one of the sport's all-time greats. This article explores Dake's wrestling journey, highlighting his remarkable records, titles, and the impact he has had on the sport.

Early Life and High School Career

Kyle Dake's wrestling journey began in Lansing High School in Lansing, New York, where he quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with. He comes from a family with a strong wrestling background. His father Doug Dake was his coach. Dake compiled an impressive 212-3 record during his high school career. His accomplishments include:

Two-time New York State champion (2007, 2009).
Dominated state competition all four years.
Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award.
Recognized as nation's top high school wrestler.
Named to Multiple All-American Teams.
Consistently ranked among nation's elite.

His outstanding performance in high school foreshadowed his future accomplishments and earned him a place at Cornell University.

Collegiate Career at Cornell University

Dake's collegiate career at Cornell University is nothing short of legendary. He attended Lansing High School in Lansing, New York. He competed collegiately at Cornell University. Between 2010 and 2013, Dake became only the third wrestler to win four NCAA Division I Wrestling titles. Dake achieved a feat unmatched in the history of NCAA wrestling: winning four NCAA Division I titles in four different weight classes. Here's a breakdown of his historic run:

2010: 141 lbs - Dake defeated Matt McDonough (Iowa) 5-4 in the NCAA Finals. He became Cornell's first NCAA champion in 12 years.
2011: 149 lbs - Dake dominated Kellen Russell (Michigan) 7-1 in the NCAA Finals. He was named Most Outstanding Wrestler of the NCAA Championships and achieved his first undefeated season.
2012: 157 lbs - Dake defeated David Taylor (Penn State) 5-4 in the NCAA Finals.
2013: 165 lbs - Dake defeated David Chamberlain (Boise State) 5-1 in the NCAA Finals.

Accolades and Achievements at Cornell

Beyond the four NCAA titles, Dake amassed numerous awards and honors during his time at Cornell:

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Dan Hodge Trophy (2013): Wrestling's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
Three-time EIWA Wrestler of the Year (2011, 2012, 2013).
2010 Ivy League Rookie of the Year.
Four-time NCAA All-American.
Three-time EIWA champion.
Academic All-American.
Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA tournament.

Dake's overall record at Cornell was an astounding 137-4, with a 97.2% win rate. He earned his degree in Developmental Sociology and minored in Business. He was the first Cornell wrestler to earn the award since Dave Auble in 1960. He is only the third Cornellian to earn the award with Frank Bettucci being the first in 1953. Dake also earned the NCAA award for the most falls in Division I wrestling this season with 18. He wrapped up his amazing Cornell career with a 137-4 record. Dake won his last 79 matches, a winstreak that goes back to March 6, 2011 when lost the EIWA finals at 149 pounds. Dake had perfect seasons at 157 and 165 pounds. He also won the crown at the Southern Scuffle with three falls, a major decision and a 3-2 victory over Taylor in the finals. Dake is third in the Cornell record books for pins in a season with 44, while he is fourth in wins with 137. He is second in winning percentage at 97.2 percent.

The Four Losses: A Testament to Resilience

Even with his incredible success, Dake experienced four losses during his college career. These losses, however, served as learning experiences and fueled his drive for continued improvement:

Kellen Russell (Michigan) - 2010 EIWA Championships (semifinal), lost 6-8. Dake avenged this loss in the 2011 NCAA Finals with a dominant 7-1 victory.
Jordan Oliver (Oklahoma State) - 2010 Southern Scuffle, 6-7 in overtime.
Andrew Howe (Wisconsin) - 2012 dual meet, 3-4.
David Taylor (Penn State) - 2013 dual meet, 3-5.

Transition to Senior Freestyle Wrestling

After graduating from Cornell, Dake transitioned to senior freestyle wrestling, where he continued to compete against the world's best at 74kg and 79kg.

International Achievements

Dake's international career has been marked by numerous successes, including:

Olympic Bronze Medals: Tokyo and Paris.
World Championships: Multiple gold medals.

Key Victories and Rivalries

Dake has had several notable victories and rivalries throughout his senior freestyle career. One of the most significant was his rivalry with Jordan Burroughs. In 2021, Dake defeated Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs in the Olympic Trials, winning two consecutive matches (3-0, 3-2) to earn his spot on Team USA. He was then scheduled to compete at the US Olympic Team Trials in April 4-5, however, the event was postponed along with the Summer Olympics due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Due to the pandemic, Dake was only able to compete one more time in the year, defeating two-time World Champion (65kg and 70kg) from Italy Frank Chamizo while headlining FloWrestling: Dake vs. A week later, he won gold at the Grand Prix de France Henri Deglane. He then defeated Vincenzo Joseph and Jason Nolf. In the challenge bracket, Dake defeated Evan Wick and Jason Nolf to head to the best of three final. In his first event of the year, Dake competed at the Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin. Dake moved back down to 74 kilograms to attempt to compete at the 2020 Summer Olympics. In his first tournament of the year, Dake claimed the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series championship, defeating Soner Demirtaş in the finale to emerge in the rankings at 74 kg.

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World Championships

On September 17, at the World Championships in Belgrade, Dake won his second straight world championship at 74 kg, and fourth overall. 2019 - Nur-Sultan, KazakhstanGold Medal at 79kg

Olympic Games

To start off the Olympic year, Dake defeated David McFadden at the SCRTC I on January 8. Facing former rival and five-time Olympic and World Champion Jordan Burroughs, Dake was able to defeat Burroughs, thus putting an end to his nine year-long reign.

Comparison to Other Great Wrestlers

Kyle Dake's achievements place him among the most elite wrestlers in NCAA history. Here's a comparison of his record to other four-time NCAA champions:

Wrestler	College Record	NCAA Titles	Unique Achievement
Kyle Dake	137-4 (97.2%)	4	Only wrestler with 4 titles at 4 different weights
Cael Sanderson	159-0 (100%)	4	Only undefeated 4x NCAA Champion
Pat Smith	121-5-2 (95.6%)	4	First 4x NCAA Champion in history
Logan Stieber	119-3 (97.5%)	4	3 undefeated seasons

Dake joins an elite club of only four wrestlers in NCAA Division I history to win four championships, and his achievement of doing so at four different weight classes (141, 149, 157, 165 lbs) remains unmatched.

Legacy and Impact

Kyle Dake's impact on wrestling extends beyond his impressive statistics and accolades. He has inspired countless wrestlers with his dedication, perseverance, and sportsmanship. His historic achievement of winning NCAA titles in four different weight classes has set a new standard of excellence in the sport. Dake’s complete wrestling record tells the story of sustained excellence at every level of competition.

Personal Life

Kyle Douglas Dake is the son of Doug and Jodi Dake and has a sister and a brother. He is married to Megan Dake since December 2016. Has two daughters, EllaJo and Emilia and one son, Leo. He started wrestling at the age of four. Hobbies include hanging with his wife, kids and dogs outside on the hammock, and tracking deer with EllaJo.

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