The University of Iowa wrestling program is famous for producing some of the nation’s best athletes. From Olympic champions to national champions, it has a rich history of excellence. It’s been a while since the last time the Hawkeyes won the NCAA championship, but they are once again on the verge of bringing the title back to Iowa City. The team is led by legendary coach Tom Brands.
Under Brands, the team has won four NCAA titles, trained 21 Olympic and World Team members, and produced 13 NCAA champions. Several of those athletes went on to win the Hodge Trophy, which is wrestling’s version of the Heisman Trophy. During his tenure, Brands has also won six Big Ten Championships and coached 89 All-Americans.
Brands has also won five Big Ten and three NWCA Coach of the Year honors. In addition, he has coached a pair of wrestlers to the Olympic Games and two to the World Championships. He’s arguably the most successful coach in the sport’s history.
This season, the team is once again stacked. Seniors Mark Ironside and Jeff McGinness have already earned All-American honors. And junior Spencer Lee is on track to become a three-time champ and earn an Olympic spot. He’s undefeated on the year and has bonused 100% of his opponents. And that’s all while competing on two reconstructed knees.
In addition to these stars, there are a number of talented younger players on the team. Patrick Kennedy and Ben Kueter both won age-group national titles this year. And both of them made it to the finals at the U20 World Team Trials.
There are also several international students on the roster this year. Both Puerto Rican wrestlers, Jorge Cruz and Angel Rivera, were successful in their respective collegiate programs before making the Olympic team.
According to InterMat, the team remains #2 in both the tournament and dual rankings this week. And FloWrestling isn’t giving the team much of a goose egg at 184 pounds, ranking Nelson #5 in the country.
The Hawkeye Wrestling Club is a nonprofit organization that provides top-tier wrestling training for post-collegiate athletes who are seeking to achieve their goals of becoming world and Olympic champions. The money raised by the HWC goes directly toward helping these athletes with their living expenses, training and travel needs. This is what makes the HWC so special. If you want to learn more about the HWC, please visit their website. There, you’ll be able to find out more about their mission and how you can contribute to the cause. In addition, you’ll be able to follow their progress as they pursue their dreams of wrestling greatness!