2011-12: Sanko earned all-America honors by placing seventh at the NCAA Championships. He earned his trip to nationals by successfully defending his title at the ECWC Championships. The top seed at the conference meet, he opened competition with a shutout and claimed the championship with a 3-1 overtime decision in the final. Sanko recorded a pair of wins over top-10 opponents during the season, beating the nation’s fourth and fifth-ranked wrestlers on his way to being ranked as high as third. He recorded a second-place finish at the season-opening Ithaca Invitational, dropping a one-point decision in the title bout. Sanko was named an NWCA Scholar All-American and earned a spot on the ECWC All-Academic Team.
2010-11: Sanko made his first trip to the NCAA Championships after winning the ECWC title at 165 pounds. He upset the top seed in the title bout, earning an escape point in the third overtime period. Sanko finished 17-7 and placed at two other tournaments, finishing second at the Ithaca Invitational and taking third at York’s New Standard Corporation Invitational. He was selected as an NWCA Scholar All-American and was named to the ECWC All-Academic Team.
2009-10: Sanko returned to the mat and won all three of his bouts. He reached the finals of the season-opening Ithaca Invitational before suffering a season-ending injury.
2008-09: Sanko missed the season with an injury.
2007-08: Sanko competed in four tournaments and 12 dual meets as a freshman. His top performance came at the Williamstown Invitational, where he placed second. Sanko won four matches by major decision; only one Bomber freshman won more.
High School: A 2007 graduate of Hamburg Area High School, Sanko was coached by Kevin Simpson. A four-time letter winner, he won two District 3 titles and was a two-time qualifier for the state championships. He served as team captain as a senior and also captained the football team.
Personal: A clinical exercise science major, he is the son of Mark and Val Sanko. His brother, Brett, is a sophomore wrestler for the Bombers.
Career Statistics
|
|
Overall |
Dual |
|
|
|
|
|
W |
L |
W |
L |
MAJ |
TF |
F |
|
2007-08 |
16 |
12 |
7 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
|
2009-10 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2010-11 |
17 |
7 |
7 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
2011-12 |
16 |
3 |
10 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
|
Totals |
52 |
22 |
24 |
9 |
11 |
1 |
1 |
