Worcester Polytechnic Institute

David Cardenas '11 returns to the WPI Wrestling program as an assistant coach ahead of the 2025-2026 campaign. 

Cardenas has served as head coach at Rutland High School since 2023, where he rebuilt the program and guided multiple wrestlers to tournament podium finishes, including a two-time state place winner. He previously coached at WPI during the 2015-16 season, helping develop multiple regional place winners in the upper weight classes, and also coached at Framingham High School and within the Framingham Youth Program.

A former standout wrestler, Cardenas was a Massachusetts All-State Champion at Framingham High School before competing at WPI from 2007-11, where he earned New England honors with a fourth-place finish at 184 pounds in 2011.

Cardenas is a 2011 graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a degree in management engineering and a specialization in civil engineering.