LATINO WRESTLING EXPERIENCE NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM | 57
The statistics that describe
this Latino wrestler are very
impressive, but do not do full
justice to his exceptional career as
both an amateur and professional
athlete.
Born in Salinas, Calif., Velasquez wrestled at Kofa
High School in Yuma, Ariz., then went on to become a Sun
Devil at Arizona State. A two-time Arizona 5A heavyweight state
champion, Velasquez finished his high school career with an overall
record of 110-10. But that is just half the story of his high school
career: Velasquez was not only captain of the wrestling team and
a high school All-American his senior year in 2001, but he also
played football for three seasons at Kofa and was captain of the
football team.
Velasquez earned his Associates Degree at Iowa Central
Community College and won the 2002 NJCAA National
Championship at heavyweight before joining the ASU wrestling
team the following year. This wrestler continued to improve at
ASU, winning two Pac-10 Conference titles and earning All-
America status twice. Velasquez finished fifth at the NCAA
Championships in 2005, followed by fourth place in 2006. He was
the 2005 Pac-10 Wrester-of-the-Year. Sporting a record of 86-17
over his three years as a Sun Devil, Velasquez was just getting
started.
Graduating with a degree in Education from ASU, the Sun
Devil wrestler soon took up professional mixed martial arts
where he excelled. Cain Velasquez is one of the more remarkable
wrestlers at ASU, but is best known for winning the UFC
Heavyweight Championship in 2010 against the widely respected
Brock Lesnar.
CAIN
VELASQUEZ
Wrestled 2003-2006
Arizona State University
Hwt.