Dales-Schuman, Sanderson named Big 12's top athletes

DALLAS (AP) _ Iowa State wrestler Cael Sanderson and Oklahoma basketball player Stacey Dales-Schuman and have been named the Big 12's athletes of the year. <br><br>The male and female honorees were

Tuesday, July 9th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DALLAS (AP) _ Iowa State wrestler Cael Sanderson and Oklahoma basketball player Stacey Dales-Schuman and have been named the Big 12's athletes of the year.

The male and female honorees were announced Tuesday. They were chosen by a panel of athletic administrators from each school and reporters. Each school nominated one male and female.

Sanderson is the most decorated and accomplished wrestler in NCAA history, finishing his career with an unprecedented record of 159-0. He's the second wrestler in NCAA history to win four national titles.

He went 39-0 his freshman year and 40-0 in each of the past three seasons. He was awarded the Dan Hodge Trophy in his last three seasons, an award given annually to the nation's best collegiate wrestler. Sanderson is the only multiple winner of the award.

Dales-Schuman, who now plays for the Washington Mystics of the WNBA, led Oklahoma to the NCAA tournament finals. She's been named Big 12 player of the year the past two seasons.

During her stint at OU, the Sooners amassed the best four-year record in school history at 99-32, won three Big 12 regular season titles, three consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and one league tourney title.