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Daniel Cardenas found a ghost from his past while moving. Tucked away in a dusty, old notebook was a message from his third-grade self, a scrawled declaration of a dream nearly two decades in the making. "This is Daniel Cardenas," the page read, "and if you're reading this, I want to take you down, signed NCAA champion."
Today, that third-grade dream is the singular focus of one of the nation's elite collegiate wrestlers. Coming off a fourth-place All-American finish at the 2024 NCAA Championships, the Stanford University junior is channeling every ounce of his being toward one goal: standing atop the podium in Cleveland at the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships.
"My third-grade self could see me now, in contention for an NCAA title, he'd expect nothing less," Cardenas told TheZealot. "And now it's time for me to make it happen."
For Cardenas, the journey to Cleveland isn't just about winning; it's about fulfilling a lifelong prophecy. It's a campaign built on the stinging memory of near-victory and forged in the brutal discipline of pre-dawn practices, meticulous nutrition, and an unshakeable life philosophy.
The 2024 NCAA semifinals were both a breakthrough and a heartbreak. Reaching that stage gave Cardenas a tantalizing glimpse of the finals, a taste of the ultimate prize. Having it "stripped didn't feel good," he admits, but the experience has become the primary fuel for his fire.
"It shows how close I was to obtaining the NCAA title," Cardenas said. "It's filled me these last two years. And for me to be able to go make it happen this year, is going to be a great pleasure."
This intensified drive represents an evolution. His high school coach, Sam Federico, famously noted that for Cardenas, winning was a byproduct of hard work. Cardenas agrees but says he’s operating on a new level.
"I’ve kept that same work ethic up and surpassed it from my high school days," he explained. "I feel as if I'm on a whole different level... I'm excited to go compete. Show that evolution of Daniel Cardenas."
That evolution begins in the dark. Cardenas’s typical week is a testament to his commitment to doing the hard things first.
"It gives us an edge," Cardenas said of the early morning regimen. "It's something that the human body doesn't really want to do but you force yourself out of bed, get up and doing the hard things and starting your day off right. Winning before I even get to practice, my bed’s made, so there's a win itself."
This mindset prepares him for the ultimate test. "If you're ready to go early in the morning, you're gonna be ready to go in the evenings, at 6 p.m. in Ohio this upcoming year."
His preparation is sharpened by a strategic approach to his training partners. He actively seeks out three types of wrestlers: those he can dominate, those he’s evenly matched with, and, most importantly, those who can beat him. "Always striving to get your butt kicked," he stated, "that's when you learn the most."
This season, Stanford has also integrated a data-driven approach, tracking heart rates and VO2 max levels. While Cardenas remains grounded in a simple belief that "winners find ways to win," he sees the technology as another tool in the arsenal. The most crucial preparation, however, comes during the Stanford / CWC / CA-RTC Match Day practices, where he transforms the room into a championship venue.
"I build a mentality, like this guy wants to come and take everything from you, even though that’s your teammate," he described. "I'm look at this match like it's the NCAA championships, so it's always fun."
Cardenas lives by a simple but powerful mantra: "I like to stay ready, so I ain't got to get ready." This philosophy is most evident in his year-round approach to nutrition. He spent the summer eating healthy, arriving on campus already at what he considers competition weight.
"It makes the sport fun," he said. "It makes me want to show up to practice and just learn and try new things."
His diet is focused on high protein and low carbohydrates, a plan that requires immense discipline, especially in a college environment. He sees the constant temptation of desserts in the athlete dining hall not as a challenge, but as an opportunity.
"You have to decide to keep walking," he said. "I like to view it as you get mentally stronger through that... making those kind of decisions."
This perspective is the foundation of his nutritional strategy. "I'm always keeping the meals in my mind, just understanding that it’s fuel, not food," Cardenas affirmed. "They're gonna help me fuel my next workout."
For Daniel Cardenas, the principles learned on the mat are not confined to the wrestling room. They are part of a complete worldview he applies to every facet of his existence.
"Life is a wrestling match. Nothing is handed to you. Train and you will win all your battles," he said, quoting a philosophy that guides him. "This outlook on life is in everything I do from the time I wake up. Whether it's a test or an actual wrestling match, I'm viewing it as so."
From being the hardest worker at a volunteer event to being an outstanding host for team recruits, Cardenas approaches every situation as a competition to be won. It is this all-encompassing commitment that transforms a talented athlete into a formidable championship contender.
As he prepares for a grueling 2025-2026 schedule that includes bouts against top-ranked opponents like #5 Jackson Arrington and #11 Vince Zerban, every 7 a.m. practice and every disciplined meal is a direct investment in his Cleveland dream. The boy with the notebook is gone, replaced by a man on a mission, ready to finish the story he started writing all those years ago.
