Sam Cali was a collegiate wrestler for Rutgers University at 133/141 weight class. He attended High school at Don Bosco Preparatory High School. At Don Bosco, he had a 3.5 GPA and was an honors student and was a star wrestler. During his career, he amassed an 89-28 record, two district championships, and placed third at the NJSIAA State Championships at 132 pounds as a senior. Sam trained in Carini's House of Iron. He is from Towaco, NJ.

On the night of June 19th, Sam and his friend Leo Vagias, a passenger pass on in a car crash while driving on Route 287 in Northern New Jersey.