How did you become a fan? For me its two words: Lincoln Mcllravy. Went to a meet as a student, saw him wrestle, and I was hooked.
Why do you love Iowa wrestling?
- Thread starter Fan In Black
- Start date
Mark Reiland came to my gym class, I was in 2nd grade, he was a senior in high school. He was teaching us how to wrestle, I paired up with him and he let me beat him. Started following his career and Iowa wrestling after that.
I became a fan while watching the Huff brothers and my older brother back in the fifties and sixties.
My uncle took me to the 1983 Big Ten championships and we had nine champs and a fourth place out of Rico
Grew up in Iowa.
Tom and Terry Brands.
Dan Gable.
Tom and Terry Brands.
Dan Gable.
Wrestled in high school in Iowa. Walked on at UNI and South Dakota once upon a time. Grew up when Gable was doing the same. Dave Martin and his father were my teammates. Just always loved the Hawks on the mat. Heck I've evan got my Oregon gal friend addicted to the Hawks on the mat. Once a Hawk, always a Hawk. Go Hawks!!!
Put me down in the IPTV group. The late Doug Brown should be in the Glen Brand Hall of Fame.
IPTV, plus I had Mike Uker as a student-teacher in 8th grade so started following him.
I once wrestled Barry Davis in a tournament when I was young...and if you would have bet me before the match I would have bet ANYTHING that I was going to beat him. I remember looking at the bracket on the wall and trying to figure out who my opponent would be in the second round. 
But let's just say that I would have lost it all! I had NO IDEA what happened in that match and suddenly I was in the consi's! I followed him, and also the Zalesky's in particular, then others like McIlravy, etc. Good stuff.
Definitely agree with the IPTV angle...great memories from watching those old Iowa v. ISU matches.
But let's just say that I would have lost it all!
I had NO IDEA what happened in that match and suddenly I was in the consi's! I followed him, and also the Zalesky's in particular, then others like McIlravy, etc. Good stuff.Definitely agree with the IPTV angle...great memories from watching those old Iowa v. ISU matches.
Marty Dickey and PBS. Marty and Gable were joined at the hip from their early days in Waterloo and on to Iowa State. Marty ran the first super club with the Wahawk wrestling club for years and groomed his share of state champions. I can talk to the man whenever I want, but I would pay money if need be. Amazing conversations with an innovator amongst another innovator in Gable.
I could go on and on about Marty Dickey's training, but I'll just say he, as Gable was, was twenty years ahead in conditioning.
I could go on and on about Marty Dickey's training, but I'll just say he, as Gable was, was twenty years ahead in conditioning.
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My 9th grade coach. He was a national qualifier for the Hawks in 1962.
That must mean we are both the same “young” age then.
High school coaches took us to the Iowa vs. ISU dual in (97) my first year of high school. High school coach was a Gable fan, so I was influenced. Said Gabel was the God of wrestling. I was like the kid on "the sandlot" who didn't know who babe Ruth was.
Grew up in Iowa. Interested in wrestling since the late 70s. Never got to watch Randy Lewis wrestle in person, but the Banachs and Barry Davis were early favorites
My uncle had season tickets pre Gable, so I tagged along to matches with him when I was a kid.
I was a casual fan until Perry beat Hendricks. It helped that right after that a bunch of local kids around my age were in the lineup (Borschel, Slaton, LeClere, Morningstar, McDonough etc.)
I was a casual fan until Perry beat Hendricks. It helped that right after that a bunch of local kids around my age were in the lineup (Borschel, Slaton, LeClere, Morningstar, McDonough etc.)
My dad used to fly us from Orlando (grew up in Ocala) to IC every year for a dual. I didn't really have a choice in the matter!
Now I live out west and only get to NCAA's but have B1G network solely to watch wrestling.
Now I live out west and only get to NCAA's but have B1G network solely to watch wrestling.
My dad named me Dan for a reason. He also took me to 2 national tourneys in IC in the late 80s while I was a teenager. (on a side not I didnt even know there were Ia St fans until I moved to western Iowa)
I'm from West Michigan where there was no college wrestling as I came up. (it's better now)
My Freshman year in high school another local school brought Gable in for a clinic.
My high school goes to Midlands every year and I remember watching the Zadick brothers win co-championships and the fight that Mike brought to come from behind in preliminary matches.
Zadick/Frayer at the 2002 National Duals in Columbus.
We walked in as the match started with a video camera in hand and forgot to turn it on as we were slack jawed after Mike got thrown around. Mr. Zadick was right in front of us, pacing as the match went on.
I remember Doug Schwab beating the tar out of some guys right in front of me.
I remember thinking that Pat McNamara (from MSU) was unbeatable until the next year when Eric Jeurgens made him humble.
Then I went to intensive camp before my senior year of high school in the summer of 2000. Among many other awesome things, I got to hear tom Brands talk about Terry's struggles after '96. 2 days later, I got to sit in the fieldhouse tying my shoes as Terry walked in and hugged Coach Siddens and said "I did it. It wasn't pretty, but I did it." Coach Siddens hugged him back, and said (paraphrasing) "I'm proud of you. Now the work begins."
We all went to Gable's house and get autographs in his cabin. Kathy gave us all popsicles.
I remember how eye opening it was to see the work that the guys did with us in camp, and then how hard they worked in addition to the camp work as they had a few "red flag" practices.
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I liked it so much that I moved to Iowa after college for a job. (I moved back to marry my Coach's daughter).
The last 2 summers I've been fortunate enough to come with my HS team to split and stack firewood at Gable's house.
I could go on . . .
PM
My Freshman year in high school another local school brought Gable in for a clinic.
My high school goes to Midlands every year and I remember watching the Zadick brothers win co-championships and the fight that Mike brought to come from behind in preliminary matches.
Zadick/Frayer at the 2002 National Duals in Columbus.
We walked in as the match started with a video camera in hand and forgot to turn it on as we were slack jawed after Mike got thrown around. Mr. Zadick was right in front of us, pacing as the match went on.
I remember Doug Schwab beating the tar out of some guys right in front of me.
I remember thinking that Pat McNamara (from MSU) was unbeatable until the next year when Eric Jeurgens made him humble.
Then I went to intensive camp before my senior year of high school in the summer of 2000. Among many other awesome things, I got to hear tom Brands talk about Terry's struggles after '96. 2 days later, I got to sit in the fieldhouse tying my shoes as Terry walked in and hugged Coach Siddens and said "I did it. It wasn't pretty, but I did it." Coach Siddens hugged him back, and said (paraphrasing) "I'm proud of you. Now the work begins."
We all went to Gable's house and get autographs in his cabin. Kathy gave us all popsicles.
I remember how eye opening it was to see the work that the guys did with us in camp, and then how hard they worked in addition to the camp work as they had a few "red flag" practices.
15,955
42,287
I liked it so much that I moved to Iowa after college for a job. (I moved back to marry my Coach's daughter).
The last 2 summers I've been fortunate enough to come with my HS team to split and stack firewood at Gable's house.
I could go on . . .
PM
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The guy on the left was no slouch either. National champ champ, first wrestling coach to win a NCAA team title at Iowa, and the coach of my former high school in 1966-67.the guy on the right -
http://intermatwrestle.com/articles/3804/rev-rewind-gary-kurdelmeier
IPTV, Gable, Tim Johnson (from my hometown), attending Iowa Wrestling duals in the early 90’s got me hooked.
when i was a younger lad my grandfather would always take me to the Iowa vs Iowa State wrestling meets. This was in the 80's so you all can understand why i love wrestling.
Very true. Gable is phenomenal, but Kurdelmeier was the brains behind the dynasty and put the pieces in place. Gable certainly took the program to incredible heights, but Kurdelmeier often gets overlooked as the guy who assembled a national championship team and put the Iowa program on an upward trajectory before Gable took over.
Dan Dennis. After the knee to the head he could have danced and ran his way to a victory like so many others. Instead, he said I'm not that kind of man and stood his ground.
At some point in the late 60s, the Vallholls were living in Newton and my dad's co-worker took him to watch "this stud" wrestler of the Cyclones. The antipated match started and my father found it all rather boring and turned to his friend to say as much and out of the corner of his eye, he saw some movement and felt a rush of air as Gable took the opponent to his back.
Shortly, after that, we departed the Home of the Figs and moved to Iowa City. We lived on Standford Avenue, with nieghbors that included Gary Kurdelmeier and a future AA for Cornell at 142. When this future AA wasn't busy being my best friend from 4th-6th grade, he was dreaming of playing in a boy band with WWDMHawkeye (material for another thread).
Anyway, it was a "Wrestling block" and we naturally started going to home wrestling meets. Chris Campbell was my favorite. He was then followed by The King of Cutters, Bruce Kinseth as my next idol. I'd hate to leave anyone off, but the Brothers Banach (which rymes with panic) were favorites as well.
Thanks for asking.
Shortly, after that, we departed the Home of the Figs and moved to Iowa City. We lived on Standford Avenue, with nieghbors that included Gary Kurdelmeier and a future AA for Cornell at 142. When this future AA wasn't busy being my best friend from 4th-6th grade, he was dreaming of playing in a boy band with WWDMHawkeye (material for another thread).
Anyway, it was a "Wrestling block" and we naturally started going to home wrestling meets. Chris Campbell was my favorite. He was then followed by The King of Cutters, Bruce Kinseth as my next idol. I'd hate to leave anyone off, but the Brothers Banach (which rymes with panic) were favorites as well.
Thanks for asking.
I’m from CO and am a B1G wrestling fan with PSU being my favorite team.
What I love about Iowa wrestling is Dan Gable. He’s a great American in addition to what he’s contributed to wrestling. I also think Iowa fans are the greatest fans and the state of Iowa is the epicenter for US wrestling.
Many have mentioned IPTV and that illustrates that wrestling needs to be televised to expose it to new fans.
What I love about Iowa wrestling is Dan Gable. He’s a great American in addition to what he’s contributed to wrestling. I also think Iowa fans are the greatest fans and the state of Iowa is the epicenter for US wrestling.
Many have mentioned IPTV and that illustrates that wrestling needs to be televised to expose it to new fans.
I respect Iowa wrestling because of the philosophy of Dan Gable and the pride it brings the state. Metcalf's tenaciousness locked it in.
My dad wrestled on the same team as Chuck Yagla at waterloo Columbus. Being an Iowa wrestling fan and loving the Iowa style was mandatory in my family.
I have a ton of great memories from the years so it is not a bad thing.
I have a ton of great memories from the years so it is not a bad thing.
