Career Accolades
- NCAA All-American (2024)
- Two-time NCAA qualifier (2023, 2024)
- Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year (2023)
- Pac-12 champion at 157 pounds (2023)
- Amateur Wrestling News All-Rookie Team (2023)
- Two-time Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week (Nov. 15, 2022, Dec. 19, 2023)
- NWCA Scholar All-American (2024)
As a Sophomore (2023-24)
- NCAA All-American
- Placed fourth at 157 pounds
- Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week (Dec. 19)
- NWCA Scholar All-American
- 28-8 overall and 12-2 in duals at 157 pounds
- Second-most wins on the team
- 19 wins by bonus points
- 13 wins over ranked opponents
- No. 6 seed at the NCAA Championships in Kansas City
- Runner-up at the Pac-12 Championships (March 10) in Corvallis
- Won the Roadrunner Open (Nov. 19) and finished fifth at CKLV (Dec. 1-2)
- Runner-up at the Southern Scuffle (Jan. 1-2), helping Stanford win its first team title in program history
As a Freshman (2022-23)
- Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year
- Amateur Wrestling News All-Rookie Team at 157 pounds
- Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week (Nov. 15)
- Pac-12 champion at 157 pounds
- The ninth freshman in school history to win a conference title
- Earned the No. 6 seed at the NCAA Championships in Tulsa
- Reached the Round of 12
- 24-3 overall and 5-0 in duals at 157 pounds
- Second-most wins on the team
- Nine wins by bonus points
- 14-match winning streak to start his career
- Four wins over ranked opponents
- Won the Menlo Open (Nov. 6) and the Mountaineer Invitational (Nov. 12)
- Placed third at the Southern Scuffle (Jan. 1-2)
USA Wrestling
- Won gold at 70 kg (Freestyle) at the U23 Pan Ams in Rionegro, Colombia (2024)
- Helped Team USA win the team title
Prior to Stanford
- A 2022 graduate of Pomona High School in Arvada, Colo.
- Three-year letterwinner
- Four-time 5A team champions
- Four-time state champion
- First in his school's history
- Second eight time team and individual state champion in state history
- Two-time Reno Tournament of Champions Outstanding Wrestler
- Fargo champion
- Two-time finalist
- Three-time All-American
- Ironman champion (2022)
- Doc B champion
- Two-time finalist
- Also lettered in soccer and track
- Captained the soccer team in 2022
- Placed 10th in the 5A 4x400m
Personal
- Parents are Daniel Cardenas and Adrina Garcia
- Has two siblings, Mark and Geno
- Full name is Daniel Eugene Cardenas
Career Numbers
| Year | Record | Dual Record | Dual Points | Falls | Technical Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 24-3 | 5-0 | 18 | 1 | 4 |
| 2023-24 | 28-8 | 12-2 | 51 | 3 | 10 |
| Totals | 52-11 | 17-2 | 69 | 4 | 14 |