Jacob Cardenas (born September 13, 2001) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at 92 kilograms. A four-time NCAA Division I Qualifier, Cardenas finished as a three-time NCAA Division I All-American. Cardenas is also a three-time U23 World Wrestling Championships medalist.
Raised in Kearny, New Jersey, Cardenas attended Bergen Catholic High School, where he was a two-time New Jersey high school state champion (in 2018 and 2019) as well as capturing Super 32 and a Flo Nationals titles.
Cardenas greyshirt'd during the 2019-2020 season compiling a 21-4 record competing for Spartan Combat RTC.
Cornell did not compete during the 2020-2021 season due to the COVID19 pandemic.
In his sophomore season at Cornell University, Cardenas competed at 197 pounds, where he qualified for the 2022 NCAA Championships. At the EIWA Championships, Cardenas placed fifth to secure an automatic NCAA bid. Cardenas went 1-2 at the NCAA tournament, finishing with a 22-8 record.
As a junior, Cardenas had a strong campaign at 197 lb, finishing with a 20âÂÂ6 record. He claimed the EIWA 197-pound conference title, including a close 10-9 victory in the finals. Cardenas also earned his first NCAA All-American honor by placing eighth at the 2023 NCAA Championships with a 4-3 record. Cardenas finished the season with a 20-6 record.
During his senior year at Cornell, Cardenas had a successful season at 197 lb, posting a 28âÂÂ8 record. He finished second at the EIWA Championships, and at the 2024 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Cardenas placed fourth, becoming a two-time NCAA All-American.
Following graduation from Cornell, Cardenas transferred to the University of Michigan as a graduate student for his final season of eligibility.
At the 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, Cardenas advanced to the 197 lb finals, defeating top opponents including Penn StateâÂÂs Josh Barr in the semifinals and then upset IowaâÂÂs top-ranked Stephen Buchanan to win the conference title at 197 lb.
Entering the 2025 NCAA Championships as the No. 1 seed at 197 pounds, Cardenas won his opening matches via major decision and decision victories, ultimately earning All-American honors again. He reached the semifinals but fell to Penn StateâÂÂs Josh Barr; Cardenas finished fourth at nationals, marking his third NCAA All-American placement and concluding his collegiate career with a 24âÂÂ3 season record and a 95âÂÂ25 overall collegiate record.
At 92kg, Cardenas captured a silver medal at the 2022 U23 World Wrestling Championships, finishing with a 3-1 record. Competing at 92kg, Cardenas captured a bronze medal at the 2023 U23 World Wrestling Championships, finishing with a 3-1 record. At the 2024 U23 World Wrestling Championships, Cardenas captured a silver medal at 92kg, falling to Iran's Amir Hossein Firouzpour 11-4 in the gold medal bout.
! colspan="7"| Senior Freestyle Matches |- ! Res. ! Record ! Opponent ! Score ! Date ! Event ! Location |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 | |- |Loss |26-15 |align=left| Akhmed Bataev |style="font-size:88%"|TF 0-11 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|February 25, 2026 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2026 Muhamet Malo Tournament |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4| Tirana, Albania |- |Win |26-14 |align=left| Albin Peposhi |style="font-size:88%"|7-3 |- |Loss |25-14 |align=left| Miriani Maisuradze |style="font-size:88%"|TF 0-11 |- |Win |25-13 |align=left| Döwletgeldi Myradow |style="font-size:88%"|12-5 |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 | |- |Win |24-13 |align=left| Ion Demian |style="font-size:88%"|6-6 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|January 10, 2026 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|2026 Henri Deglane Grand Prix |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5| Nice, France |- |Win |23-13 |align=left| Michael Macchiavello |style="font-size:88%"|TF 11-0 |- |Win |22-13 |align=left| Serghei Vizii |style="font-size:88%"|TF 10-0 |- |Loss |21-13 |align=left| Daniel Fischer |style="font-size:88%"|Fall |- |Win |21-12 |align=left| Teimuraz Kochkiani |style="font-size:88%"|TF 15-4 |- |Loss |20-12 |align=left| Trent Hidlay |style="font-size:88%"|3-5 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=1|December 20, 2025 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=1|RAF 04 |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=1| Fishers, Indiana |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 | |- |Loss |20-11 |align=left| Yaraslau Slvikouski |style="font-size:88%"|2-4 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|November 7, 2025 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|2025 Bill Farrell Memorial International |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=3| New York City, New York |- |Win |20-10 |align=left| Zane Lanham |style="font-size:88%"|10-2 |- |Win |19-10 |align=left| Luis Miguel Pérez |style="font-size:88%"|TF 10-0 |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 | |- |Win |18-10 |align=left| Omer Ozyildirim |style="font-size:88%"|TF 10-0 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=1|November 7, 2025 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=1|2025 Bill Farrell Memorial International |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=1| New York City, New York |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 | |- |Loss |17-10 |align=left| Bo Nickal |style="font-size:88%"|4-6 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=1|August 30, 2025 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=1|RAF 01 |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=1| Cleveland, Ohio |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 | |- |Win |17-9 |align=left| Amir Hossein Firouzpour |style="font-size:88%"|4-11 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|October 21-27, 2024 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|2024 U23 World Championships |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=5| Tirana, Albania |- |Win |17-8 |align=left| Musza Arsunkaev |style="font-size:88%"|5-2 |- |Win |16-8 |align=left| Andro Margishvili |style="font-size:88%"|Fall |- |Win |15-8 |align=left| Igor Szucki |style="font-size:88%"|5-1 |- |Win |14-8 |align=left| Mustafagadzhi Malachdibirov |style="font-size:88%"|TF 10-0 |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 | |- |Win |13-8 |align=left| Pruthviraj Patil |style="font-size:88%"|4-3 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|October 23-29, 2023 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2023 U23 World Championships |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4| Tirana, Albania |- |Win |12-8 |align=left| Satoshi Miura |style="font-size:88%"|6-0 |- |Loss |11-8 |align=left| Muhammed Gimri |style="font-size:88%"|1-10 |- |Win |11-7 |align=left| Alan Bagaev |style="font-size:88%"|4-3 |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 | |- |Win |10-7 |align=left| John Gunderson |style="font-size:88%"|7-6 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6|December 5, 2020 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6|2022 Last Chance World Team Trials Qualifier |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6| Las Vegas, Nevada |- |Loss |9-7 |align=left| Jonathan Aiello |style="font-size:88%"|Fall |- |Win |9-6 |align=left| Jake Lucas |style="font-size:88%"|TF 13-2 |- |Loss |8-6 |align=left| Nate Jackson |style="font-size:88%"|0-8 |- |Win |8-5 |align=left| Stephen Buchanan |style="font-size:88%"|INJ |- |Win |7-5 |align=left| Kyle Haas |style="font-size:88%"|Fall |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 | |- |Loss |6-5 |align=left| Amir Hossein Firouzpour |style="font-size:88%"|TF 0-10 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|October 22âÂÂ23, 2022 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2022 U23 World Championships |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4| Pontevedra, Spain |- |Win |6-4 |align=left| Miriani Maisuradze |style="font-size:88%"|8-0 |- |Win |5-4 |align=left| Baisal Kubatov |style="font-size:88%"|7-2 |- |Win |4-4 |align=left| Denys Sahaliuk |style="font-size:88%"|4-0 |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 | |- |Win | |align=left| Eli Sheeren |style="font-size:88%"|FF |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|December 5, 2020 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2022 Last Chance World Team Trials Qualifier |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4| Atlantic City, New Jersey |- |Win |3-4 |align=left| David Tuttle |style="font-size:88%"|Fall |- |Loss |2-4 |align=left| Nate Jackson |style="font-size:88%"|TF 0-11 |- |Win |2-3 |align=left| Eli Sheeren |style="font-size:88%"|TF 10-0 |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 | |- |Loss |1-3 |align=left| Kollin Moore |style="font-size:88%"|TF 0-10 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|December 5, 2020 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2020 FloWrestling RTC Cup |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4| Cincinnati, Ohio |- |Loss |1-2 |align=left| Ty Walz |style="font-size:88%"|0-7 |- |Loss |1-1 |align=left| Ty Walz |style="font-size:88%"|1-10 |- |Win |1-0 |align=left| Timmy McCall |style="font-size:88%"|7-4