Michigan wrestling coach Sean Bormet struck gold in the NCAA transfer portal when he landed Chase Saldate and Jacob Cardenas.

The two veterans are taking their grad year in Ann Arbor and are immediately plugged into key spots in the lineup. Saldate could finally break through and become an All-American while Cardenas is on the short list for a national title at 197 pounds.

Now that they’re both in Maize and Blue after coming from Michigan State and Cornell, respectively, Bormet saw the impact right away.

“So the first thing I noticed right away for both of them is they both have just a high level of passion for the sport and a great work ethic,” Bormet told On3. “So they’ve been in here, and they just bring a ton of passion. Obviously, a lot with that passion comes a lot of effort and intensity in their training. They want to be great.

“They’re really excited to be here and have this grad transfer year here at Michigan with us. They were quickly adjusted and sort of accepted into our room, and just through their passion and (their) work ethic is contagious. So those guys fit right in right away.”

Sean Bormet loves having Chase Saldate, Jacob Cardenas at Michigan

Cardenas finished 4th at 197 at the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships. He was 27-8 last season en route to his second All-American finish.

He placed 8th in 2023 and qualified for the tournament back in 2022, going 1-2 at those championships. Cardenas is 70-22 in his career and should be on the shortlist of national title contenders in 2025.

Saldate went 82-33 in four years at Michigan State and made it to NCAAs each season. However, he went 0-2 last year in Kansas City at 157 pounds (his career weight).

“Obviously, they’re great training partners in our room, so they bring a ton of value in terms of just raising the level and and how hard they compete in the wrestling room,” Bormet said. “Jacob’s been on a little bit different training cycle because he’s getting ready to prepare for the U23 Worlds, so he’s sort of on a different training cycle than the in the college program right now, as we’re sort of working through that preseason phase. 

“Jacob’s been on a peaking phase and primarily focusing on on freestyle. So, you know, he’s just two and a half weeks out from leaving. But yeah, both those guys have just brought a ton of passion, ton of commitment, and just great, great leaders in the room.”

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