Career Accolades
- Pac-12 team champion (2019) - first in program history
- Pac-12 champion at 149 pounds (2019)
- Two-time NCAA qualifier (2019, 2021)
- Two-time team captain (2019-20, 2020-21)
- Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week (Feb. 3, 2021)
- NWCA Scholar All-American (2021)
- Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll (2021)
- Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team (2019)
As a Redshirt Senior (2020-21)
- Team captain
- NCAA Qualifier
- Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week (Feb. 3)
- NWCA Scholar All-American
- Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll
- 9-5 overall and 5-1 in duals at 157 pounds
- Earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Mo.
- Finished 2-2 at nationals with a win over the No. 16 and No. 31 seeds
- Placed third at the Pac-12 Championships (Feb. 28) in Corvallis, Ore.
As a Redshirt Junior (2019-20)
- Team captain
- 10-6 overall and 2-3 in duals at 149 pounds
- Runner-up at the Pac-12 Championships (March 7) at Maples Pavilion
- Placed second at the Battle at The Citadel (Nov. 3)
- Took sixth at the Southern Scuffle (Jan. 1-2)
As a Redshirt Sophomore (2018-19) • Pac-12 Champions
- Pac-12 champion at 149 pounds
- Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team
- 24-8 overall and 10-1 in duals
- Defeated two ranked opponents
- NCAA qualifier, finishing 1-2 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
- Team-best 10-match winning streak from Jan. 12-March 9
- Runner-up at the Princeton Open (Nov. 4)
- Placed fourth at the Southern Scuffle (Jan. 1-2)
As a Redshirt Freshman (2017-18)
- 9-3 overall record and 2-1 mark in duals at 149 pounds
- Posted an eight-match winning streak from Nov. 5 - Dec. 17
- Placed fifth at the Hokie Open (Nov. 5)
- Notched his first collegiate dual wins against CSU Bakersfield (Nov. 11) and Maryland (Nov. 18)
- Finished 2-1 at the Reno Tournament of Champions (Dec. 17)
As a Freshman (2016-17)
- Redshirted his first season on The Farm
- 9-3 overall record wrestling unattached at 141 pounds
- Placed fourth at the Roadrunner Open (Nov. 20)
- Took sixth at the Reno Tournament of Champions (Dec. 18)
Prior to Stanford
- A 2016 graduate of Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J.
- Four-year letterwinner, captained his team as a senior
- National champions (2013-2016)
- Fargo Junior Freestyle All-American and Cadet Greco All-American
- Earned All-State from 2013-16
- National Prep Champion 2016
- National Prep All-American 2014 and 2015
- Two-time Beast of the East placewinner
- Ranked as high as seventh in the country
- Two-time New Jersey Freestyle state champion
- Also lettered in cross country and soccer
Personal
- Son of Jacques and Ann-Marie van der Merwe
- Has two siblings, Jean-Marie and Deneys
- Born in Pretoria, South Africa
- Full name is Carel Requir van der Merwe
Career Numbers
| Year | Record | Dual Record | Dual Points | Falls | Technical Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 9-3 | 2-1 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 24-8 | 10-1 | 37 | 0 | 3 |
| 2019-20 | 10-6 | 2-3 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| 2020-21 | 9-5 | 5-1 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 52-22 | 19-6 | 69 | 3 | 5 |