Derrick Sanderson graduated from Berlin High in 1985. He was a three sport athlete while at Berlin. He participated in football, wrestling, and track where he was a team captain in all three. In football he was an All Northwest Conference selection and the leading rusher on the team in 1984 and 1985. He was also the leading receiver in 1984 and won the coaches’ award as a senior.

During his wrestling career at Berlin he was a Class S State Champion at 157 lbs. in 1984, the Northwest Conference Champion at 157 lbs. in 1984 and the 169 lb. champion in 1985. He was also a two time 2nd place winner in the State tournament at 140 lbs. in 1983 and 169 lbs. in 1985. As a senior he set the school record for career wins with 73 and received the coaches’ award.

In his track career at Berlin Derrick had a 1st place finish in the States in the long jump in 1984. He was also a coaches’ award recipient having achieved this award in all the three sports he participated in.

After high school Derrick attended Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia where he was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. He was actively involved in fund raising for the Special Olympics. He possesses black belts in the following martial arts: judo, jujitsu, hapkido, aikido, and infighting. Derrick has been employed by the State of Connecticut Department of Corrections for twenty years and is a certified instructor in behavior management for the department. He is married and has one son.