Former ISU wrestler Cael Sanderson fell 4-3 to Russian Sajid Sajidov in the 185-pound final of the World Championships in New York Sunday night.

The two wrestlers were tied at three late in the second period before Sajidov scored a takedown at the 5:40 mark of the match. The point held up to give Sajidov the championship.

Sanderson had been unscathed through pool play, quarterfinal and semifinal matches. In pool play Friday, Sanderson defeated Finland’s Tero Perkkio 4-0 and Iranian Majid Khodaei 8-2. Saturday saw Sanderson beat Armenian Mamed Agaev 3-0 to advance to the 185-pound semifinals.

Sunday morning, Sanderson won 4-2 over Georgia’s Revaz Mindorashvili to reach the finals.

Sanderson went 159-0 and won four national championships at Iowa State. This was his first trip to the World Championships.

ISU head wrestling coach Bobby Douglas coached the U.S. team in New York.

— Lucas Grundmeier