AWESOME THREAD! THANKS FOR STARTING IT, MENDOZA!!!
Who influenced you to become a Hawk wrestling fan
- Thread starter Mendoza77
- Start date
Sherwin Thorson. 1962 heavyweight champion (a couple months after becoming a football All-American).
Dad and I had season tickets starting in the mid/late-90’s. Mark Ironside and Joe Williams led teams drew me in
I have a high schoolmate of mine that works for Iowa Public Television. She would be excited to read that IPTV helped cultivate some to become Iowa wrestling fans!
Came from an Iowa HS town with wrestling tradition, Marv Reiland was our coach and my HS math teacher, tho I had a body for BB and wasn't good enough to wrestle. Watched IPTVs coverage of state wrestling every year, and also Hawkeye wrestling on IPTV. I don't remember exactly when, but I remember watching during the days of Looooouuuu Banach and Ed, and Randy Lewis. Probably late 70s.. Was a great time for Hawkeye sports with Gable & co dominating on the mat, Fry resurrecting the FB team and Lute trying to bring the BB team to prominence. Good times!
I'm from SD so Randy Lewis was a favorite. Also Rico and the guys from that era. Later, I wrestled at Augustana with Mcllravy's older brother and got to meet Lincoln when he would come and practice with us. Being there and watching him win that 1st one was the best for me!
IPTV. I was already a Hawk fan, but IPTV got me into wrestling.
Was just getting into wrestling as a kid. Lived in northern Indiana at the time. Dad took our family to a dual against Michigan State in Michigan in the 80s. Still have the roster sheet with autographs from Barry Davis, Matt Egeland, and of course Gable! A pic with Dan too! I was hooked! Ended up in Iowa later and able to go to a lot of events over the years.
Our own ElDub - I did not wrestle before the 7th grade. He and some others from the '70s era ORABS (pre Brands days). Got me wrestling in tourneys in Worthington - and he and others were chatting up IPTV. And then I saw Randy Lewis wrestle - man was I hooked.
I grew up knowing Dan gable was a legend and even met Lincoln McIlravy in person at my home when I was a kid (our neighbors kid was friends with him at iowa). I remember showing him my "standup", i was probably 8 or 9 at the time, I don't remember if it was before or after his Olympics. But i didnt really follow Iowa wrestling closely until I was in late high school early college and followed Metcalf and those brands championship teams. I would have been a Hawkeye wrestling fan anyone but if I had to pinpoint when i became a passionate fan it would be following that 2008 brands team
Doug Brown at IPTV. The first college wrestling match I attended was in Ames to see Gable. Then I didn't see another college meet until I discovered the IPTV broadcasts. Watching all of those great wrestlers fueled my love for the sport, but it was watching Lewboo, the Banachs, Davis and Zalesky that made me a Hawkeye fan. My wife bought us season tickets in 1989 and I've probably missed less than a dozen meets since then.
My dad was a basketball guy who took me to my first match when I was seven. It just so happened to be Iowa-ISU when Simpson pinned Volker. We were way up in Carver and while I don't remember the Simpson match other than the pin, I remember the roar making the hairs on my arms stand on end. I actually didn't know the back story to that match until years later. In fact, the heavyweight match was what stuck with me, because that match was electric the whole time and also ended with a pin and another deafening roar. I think anyone in that building with a pulse who may not have been a wrestling fan before that night, became a wrestling fan that night.
A.C. Slater being recruited by legendary coach, Jeff Tramer, at the Max 
Seriously, I started getting into sport right around the time episode aired....So I started doing research and everything and learned about Gable and the rest was history.
But without that episode, Iowa probably is not one of my top-3
Seriously, I started getting into sport right around the time episode aired....So I started doing research and everything and learned about Gable and the rest was history.
But without that episode, Iowa probably is not one of my top-3
Dave McCuskey.A.C. Slater being recruited by legendary coach, Jeff Tramer, at the Max
Seriously, I started getting into sport right around the time episode aired....So I started doing research and everything and learned about Gable and the rest was history.
But without that episode, Iowa probably is not one of my top-3
I’d have to say my nephew influenced me to become a Hawkeye Wrestling fan. I’ve never wrestled a single match, but I watched him grow up in a wrestling family (his moms side) and attended many of his youth and high school wrestling matches. He got me interested in the sport and I started following the Hawks while my wife was attending the U of I in the late 70’s. We got to see some great Hawkeye vs Cyclone matches! I’ve been hooked ever since!
I grew up in Northwest Iowa(George) in the late 80's and early 90's so this is pretty easy for me. Tom and Terry. They came back every summer and did a camp in Sheldon. They still go out of their way to say hi to me when I go to a open practice before a football game or wrestle offs after all these years. My Dad, brother and I would make a trip every year to either Carver or Hilton to watch Iowa vs Iowa St. They are still my favorite and always will be. Really started following again when They came back to coach. Now, i can't say i have a favorite, but Kemerer is rising on my list in a hurry. Lee and Warner may be joining the list soon.
Born a Hawkeye. Uncle was a 2X All-American at Iowa. Grew up watching the dominance of Dan Gable teams.
Joe Melchiore and going to a tournament where if anyone had a Iowa shirt on they were the buzz!
PBS in the 70's - watching Iowa wrestling on my black and white TV.
My kid came home with a sign up sheet in 1st grade & said he wanted to try it. Another Dad brought me a couple VHS tapes of the Hawkeyes on IPTV... Zappital, Terry Brands, Tom Brands...I was hooked!!
My dad for sure and we watched IPTV in the 70s on our black and white tv. I was raised with the dominance of the Gable era. I almost feel like a [redacted] fan believing national titles is a birthright. Except I'm pretty sure I'm right.
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