Dale Anderson was a two-time Iowa state champion for West Waterloo High School and a two-time NCAA champion, three-time All-American and three-time Big Ten Conference champion at Michigan State University.

He only lost one match in his final two years of college and that was an overtime decision to fellow West Waterloo alum Dan Gable, a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and namesake of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum.

Anderson's first NCAA title in 1967 helped MSU become the first Big Ten school in history to win the NCAA team title. He defended his title as a senior in 1968 and was voted MSU Athlete of the Year.

He stepped away from the mat after college and earned his law degree from the University of Virginia.

Anderson was coached by a pair of Distinguished Members of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Bob Siddens at West Waterloo, and Grady Peninger at MSU. Siddens said that Anderson was the best all-around athlete he ever saw at West Waterloo. When a new athletic facility and Hall of Fame were opened at his alma mater, Anderson was selected as one of the "Elite Eight".

He was the starting quarterback, a state doubles champion, a YMCA state table tennis champion, and later an Arizona state racquetball champion. He also completed two marathons.

Anderson also excelled in his law career as he was a professor at MSU and Special Counsel to the Speaker of the House.

He was one of the leaders in the Title IX fight for over five years.

Anderson also authored many law books focusing on constitutional law and the justice function.

He was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1986.