The Hawkeyes’ 174-pound sophomore added an honor for his work in the classroom to his sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships in March.

Evans was named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division I All-Academic Team, according to a news release from the UI sports information department Tuesday. He was one of 21 All-Americans and 82 honored student athletes.

“The NWCA All-Academic Team and Individual Team is one of the best acknowledgements that we can give to our coaches and athletes at the end of a physically grueling season” NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer said in the news release. “These young men have proved that they are not only talented competitors but are leaders in the classroom as well. The NWCA Board of Directors and staff look forward to watching these student-athletes continue their success at the collegiate level and eventually as the leaders of the future once they earn their college degrees.”

Evans, a two-time NCAA qualifier, was a Big Ten finalist this season, posting a 23-7 record and tying for the team lead with 10 major decisions.

He is the 17th Hawkeye wrestler to receive the honor, being one of seven Hawkeyes named to the 2012-13 Academic All-Big Ten team. Evans extended a streak of Hawkeyes named to the NWCA All-Academic team, including at least one representative each season since Iowa Coach Tom Brands took over in 2006.

University of Iowa assistant Kurt Backes (back) reacts with head coach Tom Brands (center) and former assistant Mike Zadick (left) during a dual against University of Minnesota in 2012 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. (Brian Ray/ SourceMedia Group News)

Kurt Backes faced a dilemma that led to a tough decision, but it was one he said he had to make.

Backes confirmed Tuesday that he will be leaving his position as volunteer assistant after three seasons with the University of Iowa wrestling program to pursue another career option. His last day on staff is May 31.

He helped Iowa to a 49-7-1 dual record. The Hawkeyes have had two NCAA champions, 15 All-Americans and four Big Ten titlists during his time with the program.

“I can’t compare the relationships I’ve built here in Iowa City between the athletes and coaches to anywhere else,” Backes said. “It’s really tough to leave a program like this to go into other opportunities, but it’s the best move for my family.”

Backes graduated from Iowa State University in 2007 with a degree in finance. He will begin a new position June 10 with Wells Fargo in Des Moines. A promotion of his wife, Mandy, prompted a move to Central Iowa, and it was a chance the family couldn’t pass up, according to Backes. The couple has a son about a year old.

Backes was a two-time All-American for the Cyclones, winning Big 12 titles at 184 and 197 pounds. He won 109 matches in his career with the Cyclones.

Iowa Coach Tom Brands said Backes shared the same ideals of the Hawkeyes program, but he had a different way to convey it to wrestlers.

“I think he brought the same philosophy with a different method,” Brands said. “It’s always good.”

The New Jersey native was an accomplished freestyle competitor, reaching the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials finals and travelling to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, as an alternate and training partner. He claimed the U.S. Men’s Freestyle championship in 2007 and placed third at the U.S. Open that same year.

The future could lead to coaching at the club or high school level, noting he might enter the media working with Takedown Radio’s Scott Casber. After all, wrestling has been a key component of his life for the last 24 years.

“I’ll be involved in wrestling on a different plane,” said Backes, who also served as a volunteer assistant at Virginia Tech and a strength and conditioning coach at the University of Missouri before arriving at Iowa. “It’s always exciting to go into different things. I’m just entering a new chapter in my life. It’s going to be hard to replace wrestling.”

Backes was one of the few to bridge the two rival programs, gaining acceptance from Hawkeye fans despite competing for the in-state rival. He has a deep affection for both programs and will remain a Hawkeye fan. Backes is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Iowa program.

“The way I feel about both programs is personal,” Backes said. “I graduated from Iowa State, training and competing for the university and Cyclone Wrestling Club. Then, coming here for three years and meeting different people in the Hawkeye community, the coaching staff and athletes, I’m always going to be a Hawkeye fan.

“Does one trump the other? No, but right now I’m a Hawkeye and a big fan of the team, because I have time invested.”

The process has already started to find a replacement. There is no current timetable for a hire. Some candidates may still be active wrestlers and contact may be delayed until after upcoming competitions.

“We’re working on that now,” Brands said. “We’re not going to just jump into it. … We’ll see how it goes.”

A special congress Saturday of the federation, known by the acronym FILA, decreed there will be a mandatory women’s vice-presidency role.

The new rules will ensure matches are made up out of two three-minute sessions instead of three two-minute periods. Scoring will become cumulative instead of the previous two-out-of-three system.

The changes come after the International Olympic Committee removed wrestling as one of the core sports of the games in February. It is now one of eight sports that will be competing for an open slot at the 2020 Games. That decision will be made by the IOC in September.

The International Olympic Committee’s 15-member executive board sparked outcry in February when it voted to recommend that wrestling be dropped from the 2020 Olympic program in a bid to modernize the event.

The committee will make a final decision in Buenos Aires in September on which sport will get the final spot in a revamped line-up for 2020. Wrestling is battling against baseball and softball, karate, rollersports, wushu martial arts, wakeboarding, squash and climbing.

Wrestlers from Russia, Iran and the United States held a news conference at U.N. headquarters and weighed in ahead of a competition at New York’s Grand Central Terminal on Wednesday designed to draw attention to a global “Keep Olympic Wrestling” campaign.

“Sport provides a common bond for countries who do not always see eye to eye,” said Mike Novogratz, chairman of Beat the Streets, a wrestling program for disadvantaged New York City children that will benefit from funds raised by the competition.

“Sport is the foundation for good,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director. “Russia, the United States and Iran really are the three best wrestling nations … and certainly our friendship goes pretty deep through wrestling.”

Wrestling was contested in the first modern Olympics in 1896 and was part of the ancient Games in Olympia. It is still on the Olympic program for 2016 in Rio.

“Where I come from wrestling is not just a sport, it is a part of culture and history,” said Iranian wrestling coach and Olympic gold medal winner Rasoul Khadem. “In order to save wrestling in the Olympics it is the want and the desire of people that have lived the sport … for hundreds of years.”

As it tries to market itself to new viewers and tries to improve itself in advance of the IOC’s September vote, wrestling gets a TV audience on Wednesday.

The United States and Iran will wrestle against each other in Grand Central Station in New York City, in a made-for-TV event called the “Rumble on the Rails.”

The show will start at 2:30 p.m. CST on Wednesday. Vote in the poll…will you be watching?

Mark Ironside takes instruction from legends car veteran Warren Ropp last summer at Hawkeye Downs Speedway. Ironside will run on a regular basis at the track this summer. (Nikole Hanna/The Gazette-KCRG)

CEDAR RAPIDS – Mark Ironside owns a reputation of having an unrelenting motor.

The continuous attack and motion he displayed on a wrestling mat resulted in success, including two state titles at Cedar Rapids Jefferson and two NCAA titles with four All-American finishes for the University of Iowa.

Ironside will get the chance to show off a different motor in another form of competition this summer. After racing a very limited schedule in the legend car class last summer, Ironside will compete as a regular for the 2013 weekly points series at Hawkeye Downs Speedway. The season is scheduled to start Friday, May 10 after the original opener was postponed due to weather.

Camps, clinics and vacation will conflict with some dates, but Ironside plans to race most of them in his black-and-gold tribute to Hawkeye Wrestling.

Mark Ironside purchased a legends car shortly after competing in a charity race. It is decorated in University of Iowa colors and pays tribute to Hawkeye wrestling, including the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. (K.J. Pilcher/The Gazette-KCRG)

“I’m looking forward to run a full schedule,” Ironside said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun to be able to go out and hopefully progress as the year goes on.”

Ironside is a novice in auto racing, but he can transfer his personal athletic experiences to his new endeavor. He said his approach to the track resembles what he had on the mat. Ironside said he feels the same nervousness before a feature that he had going into a match. Once competition begins, the outside factors fade away.

“It’s just like a wrestling match in the fact that one that green flag drops or that whistle blows all that is gone,” Ironside said. “I don’t feel any nervousness or anxiety then. That’s where my natural instinct and competitiveness consumes me and takes over. It’s all business. It’s intense.”

Progress started last summer when Ironside bought a legends car, following a celebrity fundraiser race. He competed in just four races, learning to handle the asphalt oval and its traffic. The biggest lesson, he said, was finding the right grooves on the track, hitting his check points to run his best times, and doing it consistently each lap.

“The most important part about last year was just getting a little track time,” said Ironside, who had never driven a race car before last summer. “I got the experience and feel of the track, being in a crowd and in a group of drivers. That was really beneficial.”

He has had to modify his attitude a bit. Ironside was known for his tenacity as a wrestler, running at full throttle against opponents. On a short track, you can’t have the accelerator pressed to the floor. Technique and strategy are important, especially with the short wheel base of the legends cars on a quarter-mile track.

“I also learned smooth is fast,” Ironside said. “It’s easy to go out there, especially with my nature to want to go 100 miles an hour and go as hard as you can. Sometimes taking it easy and being smooth is the best way.”

Ironside became more hands on right before his final race of the 2012 season. He wasn’t settling for finishing behind more experienced drivers. Many legends veterans, like season points champion Kevin Korsmo, brothers Al and Dennis Diercks, and Warren Ropp, help tutor new drivers, but he received a boost when he started working on his own set-up for the last contest. He placed sixth in the feature.

“I ran a few races, basically like taking the car right out of the box and running it,” Ironside said. “It wasn’t set up and designed to run with those guys on the track on a competitive basis.

“The car was like night and day. I was able to go out and not just have a fast car, but be able to have a car that handled on the corners and turns and be able to race against people. That was probably my highlight.”

Racing isn’t just a meaningless hobby for Ironside. He has invested too much of his time and resources into  it. He juggles his duties as a apparel business owner, located in SW Cedar Rapids and close enough to hear the cars run, and a radio/television broadcaster for wrestling with racing. He plans to continue racing for the near future, but he’ll be looking for wins this season.

“Mentally, I can be more competitive than anybody, because that’s just my nature,” Ironside said. “In reality, as far as the car goes, experience in knowing the handling and how to drive it, I think I can be somewhat competitive out there. It’s probably not going to be a situation where I’ll be winning on a regular basis but I just want to compete and run towards the front, and get a win by the end of the season.”

May is a critical month for the sport of wrestling.

The International Olympic Committee Executive Board will meet May 29-31 in St. Petersburg, Russia. On Wednesday, May 29, wrestling, with its top representatives from across the world, will be one of eight sports, making a case to be included in the Olympic Programme in 2020.

In February, the IOC suggested wrestling be dropped as a core sport of the Olympic Games.

This video produced by Wrestling With Iowa, a project directed by Tim Jackson, of Ohio, is a persuasive look at why wrestling is important and should remain in the Olympics.

Watch “Save Olympic Wrestling” video narrated by Jay Mohr above.

Whether it is freestyle or folkstyle, Brent Metcalf is fun to watch.

Part of flowrestling.org‘s great coverage of the sport, there is footage of Metcalf’s final bout, handling Adam Hall in two periods to place third at 145.5 pounds on April 20 at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas.

Metcalf, a former U.S. World Team member, is a two-time NCAA champion for the University of Iowa, reaching the national finals all three seasons.

Watch his dominant match against Hall above.

According to an article on Amateur Wrestling News by Denny Diehl of Lehigh University Wrestling News, the Hawkeyes averaged a crowd of 8,764 in seven home duals for the 2012-13. Iowa attracted 61,350 fans, including 15,077 for its win over top-ranked Penn State in early February. The Hawkeyes are No. 1 for the seventh straight season.

Three-time Big Ten tournament champion and NCAA champion Penn State averaged more than 6,400 fans. It is the third straight year two schools averaged more than 6,000 fans per dual. The article states it is believed that is the first time in about 25 years, despite no specific data prior to 2000 is available.

Ohio State, Oklahoma State and Minnesota rounded out the top five.

Iowa State was sixth with a 2,455 average in five meets. The Cyclones had 12,277 fans attend duals in 2012-13. The dual against University of Northern Iowa drew a season-high crowd of 3,866 for Iowa State.

http://awn.theopenmat.com/2013/04/iowa-again-leads-nation-in-dual-meet-attendance/

Iran will wrestle on U.S. soil when the two countries meet for an event being called “United 4 Wrestling” on Sunday, May 19 at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, according to Thursday’s  announcement from USA Wrestling and Beat The Streets – Los Angeles, Inc. It is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

The meet will be the 11th time Iran has wrestled in the U.S. and the first time since 2003. Tickets go on sale May 1, and are available at www.ticketmaster.com

Below is the full news release:

USA, Iran wrestling teams to compete in historic event in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 19 at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

“United 4 Wrestling” to feature top powers in international wrestling

LOS ANGELES – USA Wrestling and Beat the Streets-Los Angeles, Inc. has announced that the United States and Iran will come together in a friendly international wrestling competition Sunday, May 19 at 2 p.m. at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. The event will also be a major opportunity for the Keep Olympic Wrestling movement and the 2020 Vision: Wrestling, Keep the Dream Alive campaign. The match is being staged in cooperation with California USA Wrestling.

On Feb. 12, the International Olympic Committee Executive Board made a recommendation that wrestling not be a core sport at the 2020 Olympic Games. A final decision on the program of the 2020 Olympics will be made by the entire IOC in September. A worldwide effort has been launched by FILA and all 177 nations which participate in wrestling to retain wrestling as an Olympic sport.

Billed “United 4 Wrestling,” the event will be a showcase competition as part of World Wrestling Month, which was declared by the international wrestling federation (FILA). “We are elated to bring together these nations in this historic friendly competition,” said Beat the Streets-Los Angeles President Andy Barth. “This illustrates how the great sport of wrestling can enable countries from across the world to put aside their differences and create a common bond. `United 4 Wrestling’ will be an event that will demonstrate the broad impact and popularity of wrestling, as a sport, as a tool for diplomacy and as a means to raise funding for the inner-city kids who participate through wrestling in our year-round youth development `Beat the Streets-Los Angeles’ program.”

Sponsoring the “United 4 Wrestling” event in Los Angeles is the Semnani Family Foundation, an international humanitarian organization based in Salt Lake City and founded by Khosrow Semnani, a prominent Iranian-American philanthropist. “For hundreds of thousands of Iranian-Americans – in L.A. and beyond – the `United 4 Wrestling’ event offers a chance to celebrate and defend wrestling as an Olympic sport and tradition,” Semnani said. “Beyond wrestling, these athletes, American and Iranian, embody standards of excellence and a code of sportsmanship that unites us around a culture of fair play. They remind us of the deeper ways in which the Olympic Games bind Iran and America, our ancestral and adopted homelands, as one. Whether it is in philanthropy, sports, medicine, business, culture or education, we Iranian-Americans are more than willing to do our part so that instead of growing up as strangers, future generations of Iranians and Americans can benefit from more of these people-to-people exchanges. “

The USA vs. Iran dual meet will feature the current international freestyle wrestling rules. Lineups will be released when available.

Tickets for “United 4 Wrestling” will be available at www.ticketmaster.com beginning. May 1.

“United 4 Wrestling” will follow on the heels of an event Wednesday, May 15 at Vanderbilt Hall in New York’s Grand Central Terminal involving the United States, Iran and Russia, three of the world’s best wrestling nations. Since the IOC announcement, these three nations have worked closely together to help support Olympic wrestling. Although their governments do not always agree, the wrestling leaders in these nations have a strong working relationship.

Sports competition between the United States and Iran has been an example of how wrestling transcends politics and cultural differences. Iran has competed in wrestling in the United States 10 times in recent years, including two competitions in New York City. This included the 1995 World Championships in Atlanta, the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and the 1998 Junior World Championships in Primm, Nev., the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York City and the 2003 World Championships in New York City. In addition, the Iranian team competed in the World Cup held in the United States five times (1995 in Chattanooga, Tenn.; 1998 in Stillwater, Okla.; 1999 in Spokane, Wash.; 2000 in Fairfax, Va. and 2001 in Baltimore, Md.).

USA Wrestling sponsored the first American sports team to compete in Iran after an absence of nearly 20 years, when a U.S. freestyle wrestling team competed in the 1998 Takhti Cup in Tehran. In total, the USA has wrestled in Iran 11 times, including the historic 1998 tour.

“It is an exciting opportunity for wrestling to show the world its ability to bring together nations of different political, cultural and geographic backgrounds,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. “We are excited to participate in World Wrestling Month, and pleased to partner again with California USA Wrestling and Beat the Streets-Los Angeles to bring wrestling to new heights. I would also like to extend my thanks and thanks from all those involved in wrestling to the Semnani Family Foundation. Their philanthropy and charitable spirit serve as an example to all.”

“This being a unique visit to Los Angeles by the Iranian wrestling team and because of the large Iranian-American population in Southern California, this event will provide one of the most compelling showcase settings our sport has ever had,” said Duane Morgan, state chairman, California USA Wrestling.

TENTATIVE “UNITED 4 WRESTLING” SCHEDULE:

At Los Angeles, May 19

2 p.m. – USA vs. Iran, at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

No Less Than 20 States Passing Resolutions To Assist In The Restoration Of Wrestling To The Olympic Programme

The Committee to Preserve Olympic Wrestling (CPOW) and USA Wrestling Working with State Governments to Raise Grassroots and Political Support

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Committee to Preserve Olympic Wrestling (CPOW) and USA Wrestling are working with no less than 20 state governments in the United States to pass a series of resolutions asking the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reconsider its recommendation to drop wrestling from the 2020 Olympic Games. This is the latest in a series of unprecedented moves by officials around the world to voice support for the re-institution of the sport to The Games.

Each resolution cites the strong ties of each state to the sport, makes note of the United States as a major contender and international player in the diplomacy of sport. These resolutions are being passed and signed as officials from various nations around the world issue similar announcements of opposition to their ruling.

In addition to the State proclamations, last month The U.S. Senate passed legislation urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reverse its decision to eliminate wrestling from the Olympic Games beginning in 2020. The bipartisan resolution, introduced by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), cleared the Senate on March 25. The resolution was cosponsored by Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Al Franken (D-MN), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), James Inhofe (R-OK), Carl Levin (D-MI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Roy Blunt (R-MO). Fellow Ohioan, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-04), also introduced a companion resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The overwhelming support of these state governments across the country has been tremendous for our cause,” said Bill Scherr, CPOW Chairman, Olympic medalist and World Champion. “It really is a great example of how deep the support from our country is, and we really appreciate the government officials taking this step.”

To date, five states have already passed resolutions, Kentucky, California, Minnesota, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. In the near future approximately 18 states will be passing resolutions of their own, with more states confirming for next month. Each state has been making the announcement in conjunction with prominent wrestlers from a variety of levels (high school to Olympians) from their home state.

Here is an overview of the states, government officials and wrestlers involved:

• Pennsylvania (April 15): Senator Bob Robbins, Rep. Brandan Neuman and Pennsylvania wrestling legends Cael Sanderson, Jake Herbert, Rob Eiter, Greg Strobel, and Pat Santoro

• Kentucky (April 3) : Representative Steve Riggs, All-American and KY native Kyle Ruschell, USAW State Chair Steve Smith, and KY high school coach Tim Ruschell.

• Minnesota (April 4): State Representatives Bob Dettmer, Speaker of the House Paul Thissen and Erin Murphy

• California (April 9): Senator Lou Correa, three-time National Champion Steven Abas, and high school national champion twin sisters Marina and Regina Doi.

Additional states with resolutions in process:

• Nebraska, Montana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Virginia, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama

The official website is http://www.KeepWrestlingInTheOlympics.com. You can find the official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/officialkeepwrestlingintheolympics. The official Twitter location is @wrestlingvision.

The international links for FILA are http://www.fila-official.com/, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/fila.official and on Twitter @FILA_Official.

In addition to the efforts in the United States, senior leadership from Russia, Kuwait, India, Iran, Japan, Greece, Canada and a host of other countries have issued similar decrees to help overturn the decision.

ABOUT CPOW

The Committee for the Preservation of Olympic Wrestling (CPOW) was developed by USA Wrestling, whose mission is to insure that wrestling remains as a core sport of the Olympic Games. CPOW features many highly-respected leaders within the American wrestling, chaired by Bill Scherr of Glenview, Ill., a World champion and Olympic medalist in freestyle wrestling and a leader in the Olympic family.

ABOUT USA WRESTLING

USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the Sport of Wrestling in the United States and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee and the International Wrestling Federation FILA. Simply, USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs. Its president is James Ravannack, and its Executive Director is Rich Bender.

Phil Keddy (left) with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club battles Jon Reader with the Cyclone Wrestling Club in their 84kg quarterfinal match in the challenge tournament at the 2012 USA Wrestling Olympic Trials Sunday, April 22, 2012 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. (Brian Ray/The Gazette-KCRG)

Phil Keddy didn’t return to basics. He basically went back to what works best.

The change resulted in freestyle success for the former University of Iowa three-time All-American.

Keddy will look to continue his winning ways at the U.S. Open men’s freestyle tournament April 18-20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev. Keddy was named USA Wrestling’s Wrestler of the Week last week after winning the 185-pound gold medal at the Pan American Championships in Panama City, Panama, on April 7.

The qualifying tournament for 184 and 145.5 will be held Thursday with a championship tournament for both and 264.5 on Friday. The qualifying tournament for 132, 163 ad 211.5 will be Friday with their championship tournament, as well as 121, is set for Saturday. The top-eight finishers advance to the championship tournaments. The top-eight seeds, which includes Keddy, automatically qualify for Saturday’s championship tournament.

Keddy is excited to maintain his recent momentum and contend for a national title, earning the early No. 3 seed.

“I wrestled well,” said Keddy, highlighting a third-period win over Cuban Yuriesku Torreblanco Queralta and a championship win over Russian Tamerlan Tagziev, who competed for Canada. “Obviously, there are things I want to improve on, going into this meet, but it was good to get down to weight and compete at a high level. Now, just fine-tune things and springboard off that into this week.”

The Hawkeye Wrestling Club member, who finished fourth at the NCAA tournament and was a two-time Big Ten Conference finalist at 184, has been able concentrate solely on freestyle since graduation, but he realized a different discipline doesn’t mean a different approach.

“It took me a little while to make the adjustment, but I think one of my biggest problems was thinking I needed to make a big adjustment,” Keddy said. “I tried to wrestle so differently than what I was good at. I was trying to hang on to leads and play a lot of defense when there was short time left.”

Freestyle demands additional mat awareness and recognizing situations. Keddy still had to play to his strengths.

“The best style of wrestling for me is to wrestle a high pace,” Keddy said. “When I’m moving a lot that’s where I’m good offensively and defensively.

“I’m starting to understand that wrestling is wrestling and you just have to go out and win the way you know how.”

It was a lesson taught to him by a familiar face in his career. Iowa Coach Tom Brands, a World Champion and 1996 Olympic gold medalist, provided some advice after a 1-2 effort at last year’s Sunkist Open in Arizona. The discussion helped Keddy reinstate his previous style.

“He said some things to me that opened my eyes and a week and a half later I went to the NYAC and won that tournament and beat a lot of guys in my weight class that were important to beat.”

Keddy has climbed to third in the U.S. senior freestyle rankings. He is rated behind top-two seeds Keith Gavin and Max Askren, and a spot ahead of former Iowa State national champion Jon Reader. Keddy hopes to be one of the top-seven finishers at each weight that qualifies for the U.S. World Team Trials on June 21-22 at Stillwater, Okla., and a representative at the 2013 World Championships on Sept. 16-22 in Budapest, Hungary.

“I have to go out and make everybody work for everything,” Keddy said. “I have to stay at a high pace. I know that’s where I’m good at. That’s where my success increases. I feel if I wrestle at a high pace and keep it that way I can get what I want.”

Former 2010 World Team member and Iowa two-time NCAA champion Brent Metcalf is the top seed at 145.5 and former Hawkeye All-American and Iowa’s current strength and conditioning coach Luke Lofthouse is seeded 10th at 211.5.

Former Lisbon prep and Hawkeye assistant coach Ryan Morningstar is the sixth seed at 163, which is one spot back of two-time Anamosa state champion and University of Northern Iowa All-American Moza Fay.

USA Wrestling announced the seeds last week for the tournament that will be held April 18-20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev.

Metcalf, a two-time FILA Junior World champion and member of the 2010 U.S. World Team member, is the top-seed for the senior division. The bracket includes top contenders such as No. 2 Chase Pami, third-seeded Adam Hall and No. 4-seed Jordan Oliver, who won his second NCAA title for Oklahoma State last month.

Two other Hawkeyes were included in the list of seeds. Phil Keddy was one of three U.S. champions who won gold medals at the Pan American Championships last week in Panama. Keddy, who was named USA Wrestling’s Wrestler of the Week, is seeded third at 185 pounds. Iowa wrestling’s strength and conditioning coach Luke Lofthouse is seeded 10th at 211.5 pounds.

Former Iowa State national champion Jon Reader is seeded fourth at 185.

Qualifying tournaments will be held the first two days with wrestlers earning berths in the championship tournament on the final day of the three-day event.

More information on the tournament, seeding and entrants can be found http://www.themat.com/section.php?section_id=3&page=showarticle&ArticleID=26322

The Hawkeyes completed a season witha  second straight third-place finish at the Big Ten Championships and a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships in March at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Iowa remains a top attraction and one of the country’s best program’s, but they have lost some ground when it comes to contending for team titles. Brands said the goal is to fix that immediately.

“The good upswing, we had another meet this year where we had 15,000-plus. We won the Big Ten in the dual meet season,” Brands said at the event attended by a Gazette multimedia j0urnalist. “The bad is you’re third in the Big Ten, fourth in nationals, 50 points out of being the champion. That gap continues to get wider over the last three years, and that’s something that we want to fix right away. We don’t want to wait to fix it.”

Penn State won its third straight conference and national team title. A stretch that Cael Sanderson strategically set up with his red-shirting of three-time finalist David Taylor and two-time national champs Ed Ruth and Quentin Wright. Taylor and Ruth return for one more season and Wright has graduated.

The championship quest is not based on teams losing talent and stepping back, but to step forward and surpass the competition. The Hawkeyes have to progress better and the coaches need to stimulate that growth, according to Brands. He is confident both can be accomplished.

“If you wait for graduation, for high-powered teams to graduate their best guys, and I think that’s the wrong mentality,” Brands said. “I think we’ve got to develop better and be better coaches and I think we can do that.”

The Hawkeyes had four All-Americans this season, including 157-pound national champion and two-time finalist Derek St. John. Tony Ramos, a two-time All-American, was a national runner-up at 133. Ethen Lofthouse (184) earned his second All-American finish, while Mike Evans (174) placed sixth in his second NCAA tournament appearance. Iowa also has All-American heavyweight Bobby Telford returning. He was well on his way to the awards stand when a knee injury in his second win of the tournament forced him to default from the tournament.

NCAA qualifiers Nick Moore (165) and Nathan Burak (197) come back with national tournament wins.

The Hawkeyes could see the infusion of young talent, including Cory Clark and Thomas Gilman. Both had solid red-shirt seasons. Clark defeated eventual Illinois national champion Jesse Delgado at the UNI Open in December. Upperweight Sam Brooks also is a highly-touted freshman.

Brands and UI Athletics Director Gary Barta spoke about wrestling’s future in the Olympics. Read Scott Dochterman’s article on Brands’ optimism on the sport remaining in the games.

Wrestlers vie for spots on the U.S. Olympic Team during the Olympic trials at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in 2012 (Brian Ray/The Gazette)

Wrestling was dropped as a core sport by the IOC in February and now must lobby for inclusion in the 2020 Olympics on a provisional basis against seven other sports. Brands, a 1996 Olympic gold medalist for the United States, told members of Iowa’s Presidential Committee on Athletics “things seem to be going good and I am optimistic” about wrestling’s Olympic chances.

“We have a lobbying effort, and we will spend $10 million before it even comes to a vote,” Brands said Thursday. “When I say a lobbying effort, we have lobbying firms, we have firms that are very familiar with the International Olympic Committee. As you can imagine and what you’ve heard, there’s a lot of politics that are involved. We need to our job as a sport on the international level to put ourselves in position and in the light of where we represent ourselves that we are valuable to the Olympic movement.”

In late May, the IOC executive board meets in St. Petersburg, Russia. A final decision about the final sport and the site of the 2020 Olympic Games will be made in Buenos Aires, Argentina in September.

Brands said wrestling could land as either a core sport — which is unlikely — or on a temporary basis.

“Then maybe in 2024, they would revisit our status,” he said. “Either way is favorable because right now we’re not in there.”

Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta highlighted the Olympics’ importance to wrestling and its future.

“One of the things that’s made Iowa special in that regard is when we recruit student-athletes, we recruit them like we recruit a football player or basketball player that wants to achieve at the highest level,” Barta said. “That’s what Tom has done, that’s what Dan Gable did is recruit student-athletes that have aspirations to become world champions after they’re done at Iowa.

“That would be a significant discouragement in that sport, a loss in that sport we don’t want to see.”

It appears FILA is seriously encouraging more offense and providing wrestlers a chance to score more points. One of the focus points when the IOC announced that it was recommending to drop wrestling as a core sport of the Olympic Games, beginning in 2020, was to make it more simplistic, which I assume means to make it more excited, leading to more offense. Everyone wants more offense, including more goals in hockey and, of course, everyone digs the long ball in baseball.

Below is the full article at www.themat.com

General modifications for both styles

1. Going out of bounds on their feet with any attack that started in the center will be a caution plus one point for fleeing the mat and not just 1 point. This occurs, when a wrestler makes an action and the defensive wrestler goes straight out of bounds. This can also be called if the wrestler makes no attempt to stay inside the mat and walks off to avoid wrestling, it will be a caution and 1 point for fleeing the mat. If normal wrestling results in wrestlers going out of bounds, it will only be 1-point. The same as it has been in the past.

2. At the Europeans, pushing a wrestler out with arms extended when the defensive wrestlers was trying to stay in bounds, the wrestler was given an “Attention” and no point was awarded at times. If wrestling was near the edge and the action resulted in them going out even if there was a slight push was given 1-point as normal. This was called but never really occurred more than one time in a match. The wrestler pushing the guy out was only given an “Attention” and was not penalized. We will call as we have in the past and give the 1-point for the step out but we will talk to the wrestler scoring the point and indicate that he/she needs to be initiating a hold and not just pushing out. We will follow this lead unless it is flagrant from the center and no obvious techniques are used.

3. Clubbing the head – they did not want wrestlers boxing. If both wrestlers were slapping at each other but it wasn’t too bad, they were first warned verbally. If one wrestler got a good shot or slapping continues, the procedure is to give an “Attention” and a stern warning. If it happens again, it would be a Caution and 1-point. Wrestling in a collar tie is fine, but clubbing down on the head or getting a shot in is not allowed.

4. Posting on the head – this is when the defensive guy has his arm extended posting on the opponents forehead. This was discouraged because it prevented scoring. The procedure would be to say “Open”. Then stop the match, talk with the wrestler. If continues, Stop and give an “Attention”. If it continues, then give a Caution and 1-point for fleeing the hold. Sometimes, the first stop could result in an Attention. The wrestlers must be given an “Attention” before a caution and 1-point can be given. The wrestler cannot put their hands in their opponents face to prevent scoring from taking place would be addressed the same way.

5. Grabbing fingers and hands – This was strongly discouraged because it prevents scoring. The first time, the referee should slap it off and say “Open, No Fingers.” The referee should continue to talk to the wrestlers to stay off the hands. If it continues, Wrestling should be stopped and the offending wrestlers should be given an “Attention.” If continues, then a Caution and 1-point would be given.

6. Fleeing the hold is mainly grouped under some of the above points (grabbing fingers/hands, posting on the head, blocking the chest with forearms and hands, etc…), basically anything that is blocking and preventing scoring actions. If a wrestler is blocking and not making an attempt to score, he or she may be called for fleeing the hold. The procedure for this is to first use FILA vocabulary to get the wrestler to be active. The action could be stopped and the offending wrestler could be told what the problem is. If it continues, then stop and give an “Attention.” If it continues after that, then a Caution and 1-point will be given. The important point is that these Caution and 1-points that are given cannot be challenged by the coach. They also must be confirmed by the Mat Chairman or Judge for it to be called. Also, If technical points were scored, the fleeing the hold call was not called as much. It was mainly called when the score was 0-0. Also, once a caution is confirmed, the referee must look back at the wrestlers to see if any actions were taking place. If something occurred and points were attained, then the caution would go away. If there was no action or no points, then wrestling would be stopped and caution would be given. They didn’t want a good action that scored technical points to be taken away so a caution could be given. This is a judgment call by the refereeing team.

7. Head Butt – if it was intentional – it would be a caution and 1-point and eliminated from the match.

8. The Referees are to be very vocal during the match and are to stimulate action and scoring. There was a big emphasis on using the FILA vocabulary during the match. Like “Red Action, Blue Head up, Red Open, etc…

9. Wet Towels are not allowed in the corner between periods. The Referee will remove the towel immediately. If it continues, they will remove the coach from the corner. This is for a FILA run event.

Freestyle

1. The consensus from the European Championships is that they do not want many clinches at the end of the period if there is not any score. If there was more than 1 clinch in a match is was not good. Fleeing the hold was called more often as a result. However, it was not called out of control and wrestlers were given the opportunities to score points. In most cases, this did stimulate more action because wrestlers knew that they could be called and that may decide the period. The refereeing team must look at who is trying to score points and who is trying block. This is a judgment call by the team.

- The protocol is to talk to wrestler seen as not being active or who is blocking – same as discussed in the previous points. Use FILA vocabulary to encourage them to Open and be more active. The match could be stopped and the wrestler could be talked to first, but that is not a requirement.

- If a wrestler continues to block (or grabbing hands, etc…), the referee will stop the match and give an “Attention” This is important because it tells the wrestler and coaches that they are about to get called for a Caution and 1-point. Giving an Attention does not need confirmation.

- If it continues, then the referee will ask for a Caution and 1-point and must be confirmed by the Mat Chairman or Judge.

- This call cannot be challenged by the coaches.

- The attentions and cautions can be given anytime they are justified. The referee must stop and give the wrestler a verbal “Attention” before giving a caution.

- If a second caution is given for fleeing the mat in the same period, it does not require an “attention”. It may be given immediately. This doesn’t happen very often in a match.

- It seemed, that once a caution and point was given, the action of wrestlers picked up.

- There were still clinches, but they were cut down to 1/5 of the number that was done before.

- This was mainly called in a 0-0 match. That doesn’t mean that it has to be called but should be if it is warranted. Also if points are scored, then fleeing the hold is less likely to be called.

2. Attack and counter attack – who’s action was it? If the offensive wrestler maintains the lock, it may be only a 3 points for the offensive wrestler and not 3-2 (double leg – body lock) situation. This is still a judgment call by the refereeing team.

3. Clinch period – if three points of contact are made it is going to be 1-point – if a wrestler is put into a seated position it is 1-point – mainly the same as before. The one situation that was discussed on a video was a single leg by the offensive wrestler and the defensive wrestler goes to a whizzer low on his ankle. The offensive wrestler has the leg, and the defensive wrestler may have an ankle whizzer but if he is on both knees and 1 hand they will give the 1-point for the offensive wrestler because 3 points of contact are made. This was really only called during the clinch and it is because this is a special situation.

Greco Roman

1. Fleeing the hold – this was called with great variation at the tournament. If one wrestler was constantly blocking, grabbing hands, not being open, etc.. The procedure would be the same as above. 1st – Talk to the wrestlers using FILA vocabulary, the match could be stopped to talk to the wrestler. 2nd – Stop and give an “Attention”, confirmation is not needed to give an Attention. 3rd – Give a Caution and 1-point – this must be confirmed by the Mat Chairman or Judge. This was called throughout the Greco tournament. The feeling is that this will still be called but not at the frequency that it began with at the Europeans. This will probably get called potentially twice throughout a 3 period match. Going to Par-terre was okay. If a wrestler is constantly blocking and making no attempt to take hold, they could be called.

2. Position – there was an emphasis on stopping the wrestlers and talking to them about the correct position. They wanted the wrestlers to be chest to chest and taking a hold. They did not want them forehead to forehead (which was called the Freestyle position). They also wanted them to be open and not locking down on the hands and just pushing a guy around. If a wrestler was just pushing, he would be stopped and warned.

3. Par terre – pause on blowing whistle- same as before

4. Any crawling is discouraged in par terre. They did not want the wrestlers moving much at all or working toward the zone. If a wrestler is fleeing the hold in the par terre position:

1. Verbal warning given, no stoppage of match and no confirmation needed from other 2 officials

2. Attention given, no stoppage of match and no confirmation needed.

3. Fleeing the hold, confirmation needed (judge OR mat chairman) stop the match issue caution and 1 point.

4. This rule involving crawling from par terre, unless it is flagrant, will probably not be called. By flagrant, we mean from the center to the zone, etc.

5. Any fouls that occurred during the 30-second clinch period were returned back to that position. If a leg foul occurred during that time, once confirmed, it was stopped, points and cautions were given and restarted back in the same place. They did not let the time run out of the period before the match was stopped.

6. Leg bent in par terre

- Official will slap away and say “attention” without stopping match

- If continues, caution plus 1 or 2 points depending on scoring attempt or not.

7. Grabbing hands in par terre – this procedure is similar to fleeing the hold in par-terre – the referee should say “Open” and slap off the hand. If continues, say “Attention” and slap again. If wrestler continues, then it would be a caution and 1-point. The caution must be confirmed by the Mat Chairman or Judge.

Rick Tucci is the president of the U.S. Wrestling Officials Association. He was recently elected to the Board of CPLA, the Pan American Wrestling Association.

Shane Hanson, (37), leads the pack in the hornets heat race at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, August 17, 2012. The 2013 weekly points series races begin May 3. (Nikole Hanna/The Gazette-KCRG)

Hawkeye Downs Speedway has always been anchored in the community.

This season, it appears the Cedar Rapids auto racing facility wants to enhance that relationship.

The track’s weekly Friday night points series will include multiple nights to attract community members and feature local organizations during the 2013 schedule. The season consists of 15 sponsored nights and added racing attractions.

The track is attempting to make things more interesting to fans.

“Life is actually good,” Hawkeye Downs Race Promoter Mike Becker said. “We’re looking forward to the season. We’ve got some different things going on.”

Throughout the season, Hawkeye Downs will feature various groups during weekly points races. The Cedar Rapids Police Department will have a canine cop on display to spectators, the Cedar Rapids Fire Department will bring a truck out for children to explore, the United Way will be welcome to the track and Van Meter will host its fourth annual celebrity Legends car charity race, raising funds for the American Cancer Society and spreading Breast Cancer Awareness.

“These are all part of different sponsored nights,” Becker said. “We’re trying to reach out to the community.”

The season will open with a Car Show and Media Day, including a test and tune for drivers, Saturday, April 27. Weekly races kicks off with Innovative Signs Night on May 3. The track celebrates its history with the 12th Keith Fleck Memorial Wall of Fame Night on May 24. Van Meter’s charity night and celebrity race is June 21 and the season concludes Aug. 23.

More could be added before the season starts.

Hawkeye Downs will have some additions on the track as well. This season, the Mid-American Stock Car Series, running a 40-lap sportsman feature, will compete at the track May 17. The series returns for the first time in almost five years, according to Becker.

Allison Legacy Cars will take the track during weekly races July 19.

“We have some different highlights,” said Becker, noting the track is attempting to host a Legends car regional qualifier race in July.

Some of the additions include a collaborative effort with two other sports organizations in Cedar Rapids. The track will offer a special night of hockey at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena on April 12. A similar promotion will be held May 16 for a baseball game at Veterans Stadium.

“We’re going to the RoughRiders and having a Hawkeye Downs night (and) we’ll have a Hawkeye Downs night at the Kernels,” Becker said. “We’ll have those folks here a couple different nights.”

Cuba's Livan Lopez Azcuy reacts after defeating Azerbaijan's Jabrayil Hasanov for the bronze medal of the Men's 66Kg Freestyle wrestling at the ExCel venue during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 12, 2012. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

ATHENS (Reuters) – The Greek athletics federation (SEGAS) joined on Tuesday the chorus of opposition to an International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board recommendation to drop wrestling from the Olympic Games.

SEGAS said it fully supported an official petition from the Greek Wrestling Federation and the University of Thessaly urging the IOC to keep wrestling in the summer Games.

Greek Wrestling Federation president Kostas Thanos has condemned the decision as a “sacrilege” of a sport which was practiced in the ancient Olympics. The vote prompted an instant wave of protest and anger from the sport’s global community with the international federation calling it an aberration.

Wrestling featured in the first modern Games in Athens in 1896 and in every Games since apart from Paris in 1900

However, last month the IOC’s executive board voted to drop wrestling from the list of core sports for the 2020 Games, forcing it to join seven other candidate sports seeking one spot in a revamped program.

The executive board will decide in St Petersburg in May which one of the eight candidate sports will be put forward to win the spot left vacant for the 2020 Games.

It will then put its recommendation to a vote of the full IOC session in Buenos Aires in September.

The tradition was chronicled in a ocumentary called, “No Limits: Coach Miller’s Wrestling Legacy.” Wartburg senior, Shelby Granath, produced the film, which will premiere Saturdat, April 6 at 4:30 p.m. at Wartburg’s McCaskey Lyceum.

Below is a news release from Wartburg Sports Information:

WAVERLY, Iowa– The documentary, “No Limits: Coach Miller’s Wrestling Legacy” produced by Wartburg senior, Shelby Granath, will premiere Saturday, April 6, at 4:30 p.m. in the McCaskey Lyceum on the campus of Wartburg College.

The showing is open to the public.

“No Limits” celebrates the legendary career of Wartburg’s wrestling coach Jim Miller. In his twenty-two years at Wartburg, Miller has won 10 NCAA national titles, 21 consecutive Iowa Conference Championships, and seven NWCA National Dual Titles.

He has also coached 72 NWCA scholar athletes, 145 All-Americans and 35 individual champions.

Below is the news release from FILA:

FILA Announces May as World Wrestling Month

177 Countries to Host Events, Competitions to Spotlight Sport

VEVEY, SWITZERLAND—FILA, the international federation for the sport of wrestling, has announced that World Wrestling Month will be held this May. The 177 countries that are members of the organization will feature activities which promote the sport of wrestling and its campaign to remain in the Olympic Games.

In February, the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board voted to exclude wrestling from the 25 core sports on the program of the Olympic Games.

“World Wrestling Month will feature a variety of activities for our athletes and national federations,” said FILA’s Acting President Nenad Lalovic. He added, “The month will celebrate our storied past as well as our strong future. Many of the countries around the world will be announcing their celebrations and plans in the coming weeks. ”

“The Wrestling Federation of Russia and the European Committee of Associated Wrestling Styles totally support this effort by FILA to put a spotlight on the sport of Wrestling for the month of May,” said Georgy Bryusov, First Vice-President of the Wrestling Federation of Russia. “ We have an excellent chance to show our pride and passion for our sport and why we believe it belongs on the program of the Olympic Games. ”

“USA Wrestling looks forward to helping promote World Wrestling Month as part of our continued support for the Keep Olympic Wrestling effort, “.said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director. He added, “We have some very exciting plans for international competition in the United States in May to help celebrate this special month. USA Wrestling will also recognize International Wrestling Month at a variety of other wrestling events and activities at all levels during the month of May. Wrestling is truly a universal sport, and we take pride in doing our part to publicize the sport within our country.”

Events during the month will include international dual meets in cities around the world, sport demonstrations and youth events. Some of the competitions will involve proposed rule changes to the sport. Each National Federation will announce its own schedule of events in the coming weeks.

http://www.fila-official.com/

It hurts to think about not reaching the level that Hawkeye fans grew accustomed to see from the two-time NCAA champion and three-time national finalist.

After failing to cap his career with a fourth All-American performance, McDonough is working on overcoming the setback that concluded his college career and looking toward a future international career.

McDonough was a dominant force at 125 pounds the last four years, cutting down from 133 after his red-shirt season. He posted a 122-9 career mark, claiming two Big Ten titles and reaching the conference finals four times. McDonough earned bonus points for the Hawkeyes in 83 matches, recording 40 career pins, eight technical falls and 35 major decisions. His career compares favorably to any 125-pounder in college and Iowa history, capturing national titles as a freshman and junior and conference crowns as a sophomore and junior.

It is hard to focus on the big picture when the view is blocked by his 2-2 showing at the NCAA tournament that ended his senior season at 22-5 with five pins, a technical fall and four major decision.

“It’s hard to think about past successes when your most (recent) challenge wasn’t in your favor and you didn’t do what you wanted to do,” McDonough said in a phone interview Monday with The Gazette. “There are times when you’re down you have to remember how successful you were and good you are still.”

After his career came to a close, McDonough spent time reflecting in the tunnels of Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, sitting alone and watching match results. There was mental and physical anguish at the conclusion of his college career, but it certainly doesn’t overshadow his contributions to the Hawkeyes.

“He’s been a staple of this program,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said after McDonough’s consolation-round loss. “Very reliable and it’s not the way to go out. It’s going to hurt, so we’re going to have to help him over that. You don’t just abandon him.”

McDonough, a three-time state champion and four-time state medalist for Linn-Mar, suffered more losses this season than the previous four seasons combined. There have been numerous rumors, circulating about his health. He wasn’t interested in making excuses, noting that once he decided he would take the mat that he erased any doubt that he was capable at competing at the highest level.

“As far as I’m concerned, I have been fine,” McDonough said. “What I have to do now is just what I did after last season and that is heal mentally and physically. At this point in time, I don’t know what that will mean.”

The dominant performances weren’t as common this season. McDonough said weight wasn’t an issue, getting it under control by midseason and fine by the postseason. He didn’t seem to win certain positions and scrambles that he did in the past. McDonough deflected questions as to underlying causes.

“I’m not going to comment on any specific injury or other challenge,” McDonough said. “There’s a lot of things that could affect the season. I think the important thing for me to note is there’s always going to be adversity whenever you’re going to try to accomplish something. Through whatever kind of mental challenges you do have the only way to get what you want is to find ways to adjust so you can be successful in the moment.

“It makes no difference once you decide you’re going to go after a national or Olympic title. There isn’t anything you can let stand in your way.”

After the second day of the NCAA Championships, Brands said he gave McDonough his space, asking him to look him in the eye and leaving him alone.

“He’s a hurting unit,” Brands said then. “We’re going to have to mend him to get him back.”

The coaches have already had an influence on him. McDonough praised the guidance of Brands, Terry Brands and Ryan Morningstar.

“Being able to talk to my coaches really focused my energy on what is ahead,” McDonough said. “(They tell me) what do I have to do next to heal myself mentally and physically to get ready for the international stage. When you go through something like this it’s easy to get lost in negativity and being upset at a lot of different things.”

The beginning of his post-collegiate career is also in question. He isn’t sure when he will resume training, taking some time off to regain energy and refocus his attention on international wrestling. He has aspirations to continue training in Iowa City for the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. McDonough said he will probably compete at 60 kilograms internationally.

“It’s time to move forward. The only way I can get to that world level is to refocus yourself as if I’m back on the bottom tier just like when I started college,” said McDonough, who also noted. “Just like it was a change of levels from high school to college, college to international wrestling is a whole other level. Not only are you competing against guys in a neighboring state, but guys across an entire ocean that don’t even speak the same language or believe in the same God you do.

“It’s a whole new challenge.”

He defeated Penn State’s NCAA champion and three-time national finalist David Taylor to become the third NCAA Division I four-time national champion and the first to do it at four different weight classes

This year’s 165-pound champion completed the season 37-0 with 18 pins and was announced as winner of the 2013 W.I.N. Magazine/Culture House Hodge Trophy presented by Asics on Wednesday. He received 41 of 43 first-place votes.

Dake joined Oklahoma State’s Pat Smith and Iowa State’s Cael Sanderson as the only four-time D-I NCAA champions, winning titles at 141, 149 and 157 his first three seasons.

Below is the news release from W.I.N.

Cornell’s Kyle Dake wins 2013 WIN Magazine/Culture House Dan Hodge Trophy, presented by ASICS

By WIN Publisher Bryan Van Kley

NEWTON, IA — Cornell senior Kyle Dake stepped off the NCAA’s raised championship mat on Saturday night, March 23, and into the history books. He became only the third wrestler in history to win four NCAA titles, but the first to do it at four different weights. To cement his legacy on the sport, he moved up a weight class to 165 pounds to face the best collegiate wrestler in the country from 2012 and his friend David Taylor of Penn State.

He defeated Taylor for the third time this year — in the NCAA finals — counting an unofficial All-Star meet at the beginning of the season. And now he has added college wrestling’s most prestigious individual honor, the 2013 WIN Magazine/Culture House Dan Hodge Trophy, presented by ASICS.

Dake received 41 of 43 first-place votes from the Hodge Voting Committee. The committee is made up of all former Hodge Trophy winners, national wrestling media, retired college coaches from different regions of the country and a representative from a number of national wrestling organizations. Penn State junior Ed Ruth, now a two-time NCAA champ after his dominant run through the 184-pound class, grabbed the other two first-place votes and finished as the Hodge runner-up in total points as well.

When notified of winning the Hodge, Dake’s response showed his elite-level mentality and why he is considered one of the sport’s greatest of all time.

“It’s pretty awesome,” he said. “It’s always been in the back of my mind where I’m the most dominant out there. I wanted to be a three-time Hodge winner with Cael (Sanderson). But it didn’t work out. It came across my mind when I lost that dual meet (a January 2011 loss to Binghamton’s Donnie Vinson) that all the other top guys would have to lose for me to win the Hodge.

“But the rest of everything turned out pretty good.”

Sanderson, the Penn State coach who has led the Nittany Lions to three straight team titles, is one of only two multiple-time Hodge winners in the 19-year history of the award. He won three Hodges from 2000-02. The other multiple-time winner was Ben Askren of Missouri, winning in 2006 and 2007.

Dake’s “pretty good” four-year career started without even a redshirt season. The former two-time state champ from Lansing High School just down the road from the Ivy League, Ithaca, N.Y. campus, started at the 141-pound class and jumped up one weight each year, winning titles each March.

The likely finals bout and rematch with Taylor was so highly anticipated that the NCAA made an unprecedented finals programming decision. The order of the finals was adjusted so the 165-pound match was the final bout and the main event of the night. And it lived up to its billing with Dake winning by a point, 5-4, on riding time.

Dake’s dominant senior season included 18 pins in his 37-win campaign. He was unscored upon in his four NCAA tournament matches leading up to the finals.

Dake wins the 2013 Hodge from the most loaded individual field in the award’s 19-year history. Three of Dake’s peers had such dominant seasons themselves that they would have easily won the award considered the Heisman Trophy of wrestling by numerous media outlets any other college wrestling season.

Ruth put up 12 pins in his 33-win season and finished second in the voting in total number of placement points. There were only six matches this season in which the talented junior didn’t score bonus points. Two of those were to last year’s champ, Steve Bosak of Cornell. He also put up an impressive 12-4 major decision over 2011 NCAA runner-up Robert Hamlin of Lehigh in this year’s NCAA finals.

For the first time, fans were invited to vote for the Hodge Trophy on WIN Magazine’s website. Over 2,500 fans voted as of Thursday, March 28. Fans went a different direction from the rest of the Hodge Voting Committee, selecting Ruth the overall Hodge winner over Dake. With the composite fan vote resulting in two of the official 43 ballots, the fan vote pushed Ruth ahead of Oklahoma State’s Jordan Oliver as the Hodge Trophy runner-up, 89-88, in final placement points. Four points were awarded for a first-place vote, three for second, two for third and a point for a fourth-place vote on each of the official ballots.

Oklahoma State’s two-time NCAA champ in Oliver was the 2011 Hodge runner-up to reigning Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs with his title that year at 133. He finished third in the Hodge standings this year after moving up two weight classes to win the title at 149. The Cowboy finished a spotless 38-0 season with 17 pins, only one less than Dake.

Ohio State sophomore Logan Stieber finished fourth in the final voting. He won his second straight NCAA title in as many tries, beating No. 2 Tony Ramos of Iowa twice in the last two weeks of the season. Amazingly, opponents in only five of 27 bouts all year — Ramos accounting for two of them — were able to keep from getting pinned or teched by Stieber.

Stieber actually recorded the highest pinning percentage of the Hodge finalists at 52 percent, pinning 14 foes.

Dake now moves onto his freestyle career on the Senior level, competing for a spot on Team USA. That road will have to go through Burroughs, himself a Hodge winner for the University of Nebraska in 2011 before going on to win the World Championships that fall. Dake said he’s ready for the challenge of having to beat Burroughs and others to make the U.S. team.

“I want to win the World Championships this year, and win the next couple Worlds and then the Olympics. I want to stamp my name as the best in the world. If you’re not trying to be the best at what you do, then you’re wasting your time and you need to go find something else to go be mediocre at,” he said.

Dake said if he was going to win a World or Olympic title, he’d have to beat the best guys in the world anyway. With the current scenario of having to defeat Burroughs, the Big Red senior could line up against the top man in the world at 74 kilograms in only three months at this June’s World Team Trials in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

When Cornell coach Rob Koll was asked about what separates Dake from other elite-level wrestlers, he was quick to talk about Dake’s laid-back personality and ability to be unaffected by big-match pressure.

“Kyle gets excited for matches when others get nervous. It’s a negative emotion vs. a positive one. The negative one makes you tired, the positive one gets you ready,” Koll said.

Koll, a former NCAA champion himself, said he and Dake were joking around up until 15 minutes before the NCAA finals match. But once the 15-minute mark came, Koll said he had to “stay out of his way. He’s like a race horse getting ready for the Kentucky Derby.”

The award, founded by wrestling historian Mike Chapman of Culture House Books, has seven criteria. They are, in order of importance: season record, number of pins, dominance, quality of competition, previous credentials, sportsmanship/citizenship and heart.

“I created the Hodge Trophy to bring greater recognition to the top college wrestlers in the nation each year, and Kyle Dake is the epitome of what the award stands for,” said Chapman. “I have attended 44 NCAA tournaments and he is one of the finest competitors I have ever seen. This was one of the toughest years to win the Hodge Trophy, as there were a number of great contenders. Kyle Dake is the best of the best!”

Dake will be publicly presented the award at the Cornell wrestling banquet in Ithaca, N.Y., on May 5.

For more information on the Dan Hodge Trophy, visit www.WIN-magazine.com.

The guys talk about the event as a whole, the new video reviews process and the results of the championship matches, plus much more.

As always, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by clicking here.

Athletes have to be a letterwinner and be in their second academic year with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average.

McDonough, a two-time NCAA champion and three-time national finalist, finished his career with 122 wins, is a health and physiology major.

Evans, who placed sixth at 174 pounds, posting a 23-7 record, is a sophomore Communications Studies student.

Dziewa, from Yardley, Pa., won the 149-pound spot for the postseason, but went 0-2. He was 15-4 overall. The red-shirt sophomore is a Leisure Studies major.

Grothus, who split time at 149 this year and had a 6-8 mark, is a pre-business student.

Other Hawkeye wrestlers honored were Joe DuCharme, former Mount Vernon prep Josh Haug and Kris Klapprodt, a red-shirt freshman 174-pounder from Rapid City, S.D.

Don Holmes (left) and Bob McNiel chat at the state wrestling tournament in Des Moines many years ago. Holmes died on Sunday. (Bob McNiel photo/community contributor)

Editor’s note: Bob (Mick) McNiel is retired Cedar Rapids Elementary principal and Grant Wood Area Education Agency School Administrator. He officiated college and high school wrestling for more than 25 years and is the recipient of the IHSAA Wrestling Official of The Year and inductee of the Iowa High School Coaches and Officials Hall of Fame.

By Bob McNiel, community contributor

On Sunday, a few hours after the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships ended in Des Moines, the Iowa wrestling community lost one of its most respected members.
Don Holmes, a former Vinton wrestling coach and state wrestling official, died, a victim of Alzheimer’s disease.
Over the years, Don became my partner, confidante and personal friend as a result of working together at high school and college wrestling meets.
The numerous wintry nights of driving and the all-day Saturday tournaments refereeing created memories I always will cherish.
Don Holmes enjoyed being around people and always had a smile and a story to share with anyone who would listen. He also had a serious side to his personality that communicated high expectations from the students he taught and professional sportsmanship from the coaches and wrestlers he officiated.
Don and I were once invited to an open house after a tournament, and Don was explaining a “stalling call” he had given earlier in the day.
Don said “Boy, I let that kid know I was serious about his stalling.” A parent leaned over and said, “that was my kid you penalized.” Don looked at me and said, “I guess maybe I put my foot in my mouth by sharing too much.” That same parent heard Don’s comments and said, “No, you made the right call and my son will learn from it.”
Don Holmes was a model of professionalism and highly respected by those who knew him. He received the Wrestling Official of the Year award and was voted into the Iowa High School Coaches and Officials Hall of Fame.
Those of us who knew Don — and had the privilege to have him in our lives — are sincerely grateful.

Tickets are $30 apiece and include dinner. They are available at the UI Athletic Ticket Office, www.hawkeyesports.com or via phone at 1-800-IA-Hawks. Deadline for tickets in Monday, April 1.

The Hawkeyes finished the season as the Big Ten Dual Champions, placing second to Penn State at the Big Ten Championships. Iowa was fourth at the NCAA Championships with four All-Americans. Derek St. John Led the way, claiming the 157-pound NCAA title. Teammate Tony Ramos was the national runner-up at 133. Ethen Lofthouse (184) and Mike Evans (174) were fifth and sixth, respectively.

Below is the official UI news release:

IOWA WRESTLING BANQUET TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa wrestling team will hold its annual postseason awards banquet Friday, April 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the Feller Club Room at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tickets are $30 and include a dinner buffet.

Tickets are available through the UI Athletic Ticket Office at hawkeyesports.com or over the phone at 800-IA-HAWKS. Space is limited, and the deadline for ordering tickets is April 1.

The NIACC program was dropped after that season and was reinstated in 2007. The school hosts a tournament in his name. He coached 28 All-Americans and was 114-15-1 as the NACC head coach.

He is a member of the NIACC Athletics, University of Northern Iowa Athletics, National Junior College Athletic Association and Iowa High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.

Below is the official release from NIACC:

MASON CITY – The man who started the wrestling program at NIACC died Tuesday.

Kaye Young, who started the wrestling program in the 1968-69 season and coached the Trojans until the program was dropped after the 1975-76 season, was 78.

“He was very supportive,” NIACC wrestling coach Steve Kelly said. “He wasn’t the type of guy that said ‘we won the national title, why haven’t you?’

“He was always willing to help. He always told me ‘win or tie, I have your back.’”

Young’s Trojans won the NJCAA national title in 1973 as the Trojans claimed five all-Americans and Young was named the NJCAA coach of the year.

NIACC placed second at the national meet in 1970, 1971 and 1972..

Young coached 28 all-Americans in his time as the NIACC wrestling coach, including two-time national champion Joe Hatchett. Under Young, NIACC was 114-15-1 in dual meets.

“Coach Young was a valued member of both the college community and our athletic department family for a long time,” NIACC athletic director Dan Mason said. “One of my most enjoyable days as the athletic director was the day I was able to share with him that the college had decided to bring the wrestling program back.”

After a 32-year hiatus, NIACC brought wrestling back in the 2007 season and the Trojans’ annual early-season tournament was named the Kaye Young Open.

Young, who was inducted into the NIACC Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Iowa High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2010, was pleased when the school decided to bring wrestling back.

“I’m tickled to death,” Young told The Predicament in 2007 at the initial Kaye Young Open. “It’s sure fun to see a gym full of wrestling.

“I told (Dan) Gable when they dropped the program that we would be back. I just didn’t think it would take 32 years. I heard last all that we were going to go for it and I’ve been on a high ever since.”

Young was also a member of the University of Northern Iowa, NJCAA wrestling hall of fames.

Kirk Hardcastle

NIACC Sports Information Director/Recreation Center Coordinator

Phone: 641-422-4416; Toll free: 888-466-4222 hardckir@niacc.edu <mailto:hardckir@niacc.edu> Follow us on twitter @NIACCTrojans and on Facebook at NIACC Trojans

Former Riceville Coach Dave Ripley and former Emmetsburg/AR Coach Bob Kenny, former Janesville state finalist and current University of Northern Iowa assistant Tolly Thompson, who won a bronze medal in the World Championships and an NCAA title for the University of Nebraska and Nebraska NCAA champ Jason Kelber, a three-time state champ from West Marshall will be inducted Monday, April 8 at the annual awards banquet at Cresco Country Club, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Kenny is now an administrator at Mason City High School. He also coached at Maquoketa Valley and Estherville. He was inducted into the Iowa chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2010.

Thompson, a volunteer assistant for UNI, helped guide the Panthers to a 15th-place tie last weekend at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Des Moines. UNI had two All-Americans for the first time since 2005.

See the news release below:

Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Announces 2013 Inductees 

CRESCO, Ia., March 26, 2013 – Two coaches and two wrestlers with diverse backgrounds will be inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in Cresco on Monday, April 8. The 44th Annual Awards Banquet and Induction Ceremony will begin with a 5:30 social hour followed by a 6:30 banquet at the Cresco Country Club south of Cresco.

Those being inducted this year are David Ripley of Charles City, Tolly Thompson of Cedar Falls, Robert Kenny of Mason City and Jason Kelber of Valentine, NE. They become the 105th, 106th, 107th and 108th members inducted into the Hall since the first class was inducted in 1970.

David Ripley was the Riceville wrestling coach for 33 years. In those years Ripley’s teams won two state titles while also being a runner-up in both the state and dual meet tournaments. The Wildcat teams posted a record of 319-90-1 under Ripley’s tenure. Ripley coached 95 state qualifiers, 51 state place winners and 7 state champions. He was twice named Coach of the Year.

Robert Kenny also had an outstanding coaching career, his at Emmetsburg. Kenny’s teams won six state teams titles and two state dual meet titles while also being a runner-up in three other state tournaments. Kenny’s teams were 289-123-1. He had 88 state qualifiers and 56 place winners. He coached 12 wrestlers to state titles, 12 to second place finishes, 13 to third place finishes and 9 to fourth place finishes.

Tolly Thompson was a three-time NCAA All-American while capturing one NCAA championship for the University of Nebraska. The Janesville native twice placed second in the high school state tournament. Thompson further distinguished himself as he wrestled internationally for eight years after college. Thompson placed third at the 2005 World Championship at 120 kgs/265.5 lbs in Budapest Hungary. Along with the bronze at the World Cup, Thompson placed second at the Cerrod Pelado International and was the Dave Schultz Memorial International Champion.

Jason Kelber, who wrestled for West Marshall High School in State Center, was a three-time state champion who went unbeaten his sophomore, junior and senior seasons (123-3 overall). Kelber also wrestled at the University of Nebraska where he was a 126 pound NCAA champion and a three-time all American.

Banquet tickets are available at the Cresco Chamber of Commerce (563-547-3434) and CIA Insurance in Cresco (563-547-2382). Tickets are $20 and advance registration is required.

The Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame, which was remodeled and expanded in the past two months, will be open until 6:00 p.m. the day of the banquet.

About the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame – The Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame’s sole purpose is the promotion of amateur wrestling in Iowa. We have a rich history of honoring native Iowans at our annual awards banquet and induction ceremony. The Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame museum is located in the Cresco Welcome Center, at the intersection of Highway 9 and Elm Street. Visit the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame website at iowawrestlinghalloffame.com.

DES MOINES – Where you are usually depends on where you start.

The premise would explain the different views of the national finishes of the state’s NCAA Division I wrestling programs.

Disappointment surrounds the University of Iowa’s fourth-place finish, while optimism is more prevalent around Iowa State’s improvement to place 11th and University of Northern Iowa’s return to being a top-15 team at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena.

The Hawkeyes entered the tournament with title aspirations, which is an annual goal for one of college wrestling’s most storied programs with 23 NCAA team titles. They finished a distant 30 points out of third behind Minnesota, runner-up Oklahoma State and Penn State, which won its third straight championship. It’s a finish would  be a banner achievement for many teams, but the Hawkeyes’ standards are higher than most.

On the bright side, Iowa crowned its 79th NCAA champion in 157-pounder Derek St. John, who made his second straight finals appearance. Tony Ramos improved last year’s third-place finish with runner-up honors at 133. Ethen Lofthouse was fifth at 184 and 174-pounder Mike Evans placed sixth. All return for next year.

Heavyweight Bobby Telford, an NCAA qualifier who was a 2012 All-American, gives Iowa five returning All-Americans and national qualifiers in sophomore Nick Moore at 165 and 197-pound freshman Nathan Burak, who reached the round of 12.

Throw in a highly-touted freshman class, including lightweights Cory Clark, who beat Illinois NCAA and Big Ten champion Jesse Delgado, Thomas Gilman and 184-pounder Sammy Brooks. The Hawkeyes, whose Coach Tom Brands declined media interviews Saturday night, certainly will be a formidable foe that can contend to repeat as Big Ten dual champions, but it will be tough to overcome Penn State, which returns NCAA champions Ed Ruth and David Taylor, who won in 2012, and two-time national runner-up Nico Megaludis.

“We have a great freshman class and we’re getting rid of a great senior class,” Lofthouse said. “We’ll just have to see what happens, I guess.”

The team finish was limited due to injury. Telford, seeded sixth at heavyweight, easily advanced to the quarterfinals – one win away from placing – and favored to reach the semifinals, but suffered a knee injury during his second-round win and was forced to default from the tournament. Senior Mark Ballweg entered the tournament with a knee injury suffered at the Big Ten Championships, falling a win short from being an All-American.

Evans cruised to a win over Missouri’s Todd Porter to reach the top-eight, but returned with his left leg taped and went 1-2 afterward.

Iowa hasn’t won a Big Ten or national title since 2010. Most programs would still consider that a crowning achievement, but seems like a long time with one for the high standards of the Hawkeyes.

“There’s always pressure to get that team national championship and individual national championship,” Lofthouse said. “That comes with being a Hawkeye and wrestling at the D-I level.”

Iowa State experienced a positive finish compared to a year ago. The Cyclones flirted with the top-10, climbing as high as an eighth Saturday. The Cyclones had three All-Americans of their seven qualifiers. Michael Moreno (165) and 197-pounder Kyven Gadson both placed sixth. Heavyweight Matt Gibson was eighth. Tanner Weatherman reached the 174 quarterfinals and was a win away from the podium. Iowa State national qualifiers Luke Goettl (141) and 184-pounder Boaz Beard returns, as does former four-time Iowa prep champion John Meeks (133).

Last year, the Cyclones failed to have an All-American for the first time in 50 years. After the 2012 NCAA tournament, Iowa State Coach Kevin Jackson said this season would be more indicative of the program’s direction. He confirmed that Saturday.

“I would say so,” Jackson said. “I think we left two All-Americans on the mat out there.

“I would say we’re starting to see where we’re heading. We have to go out and stay healthy and compete at the same level next year. I think our performance will speak for itself.”

Gibson and 149-pounder Max Mayfield were upper classmen in a young lineup. They will need to be replaced, but Jackson said the Cyclones have been trying to build depth and freshman Gabe Moreno, Michael’s younger brother, could step in at 149. Quean Smith and Tyler Swope are possible replacements for Gibson.

“We’ve shown we do have an environment where you can get to the NCAA tournament and you can perform,” Jackson said. “Now, it’s on them to do it.”

They will benefit from have credible leaders. Jackson said Gadson’s injury last year hurt the team, because he is a natural leader, who made helped spur fun and success. His influence was key this season and now Gadson, Moreno and even Weatherman will have a stronger impact to a team, looking to return to contender status.

“We have guys in the room that can speak from experience and not just speak because they’re down to lead the team,” Jackson said. “They’re speaking because they know what it takes to get on the podium here.”

UNI had their first All-American since 2010 and two All-Americans for the first time since 2005. The Panthers should be pleased. They jumped nearly 20 spots in the team standings, tying Pittsburgh for 15th with 34 points. David Bonin placed fourth at 157 and Ryan Loder placed seventh at 184. Two-time NCAA qualifier Levi Wolfensperger (133) and 141-pounder Joey Lazor made the round of 12.

This could be the cornerstone for the programs resurgence.

“As a staff, we said once we get guys on the stand it’s going to take off,” Schwab said. “Our young guys need to see that. We have two guys who got a taste you want more.”

The Panthers should expect more with the accomplishments and potential on the horizon. Loder, Wolfensperger and Lazor all return. Freshmen Dylan Peters (125) and Zach Witte (149) could make an impact for a lineup that returns most of its starters. Their work in the offseason will determine if they can continue the climb.

“This spring, summer and fall is critical that we continue to develop guys, and build on this,” Schwab said. “We have something we can point to now.”

Bonin is a senior and is a perfect example of reaping the rewards of hard work under Schwab and his staff. He recognizes something is special coming after he leaves.

“It’s coming,” Bonin said of the team’s future. “Things are meshing, and we are getting stronger and stronger.”

Schwab has been a part of national championship programs and prepares his current wrestlers in the same manner. He didn’t take the UNI post to be 15th in the country. Schwab wants to build UNI into a championship a program again.

“If we continue to multiply our point totals, we’re going to start being in the hunt,” Schwab said. “It’s good steady progress, but we’re always looking for a little bit more.”

DES MOINES – Derek St. John doesn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve.

The composed University of Iowa junior won’t have to since he has a gold medal to drape around his neck.

St. John scored three points in an exciting third period to capture the 157-pound national title at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena. St. John beat Northwestern’s top-seeded Jason Welch, 3-2, igniting the Hawkeye-heavy crowd.

He described what it meant to win the championship.

Iowa head coach Tom Brands congratulates Derek St. John in his victory over Jason Welch of Northwestern in the 157 pound championship match. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

“It’s awesome,” said St. John, the 157-pound runner-up last year. “It’s something I’ve been working the last four years and finally got it. It’s unbelievable. It’s a satisfying feeling.”

The match remained scoreless through the first two periods, as St. John rode Welch the entire second period to earn two minutes of riding time.

St. John took an advantage with his hustle, hitting a switching and forcing a penalty point for locked hands. An escape put him up, 2-0, with 1:12 to go.

Welch caught St. John out of position, getting a takedown and almost catching him on his back. Welch erased riding time, but St. John escaped with 35 seconds left for the victory. He kept his composure, which helped him in a semifinal win that went into a second tiebreaker.

St. John’s mat awareness allowed him to not panic and surrender two points before it got worse and cost him.

“That’s just part of the game,” St. John said. “You have to stay cool as a cucumber.”

St. John (31-2) earned his sixth win over Welch since 2011. It is challenging to overcome an opponent so many times. This was just the second one-point victory, and it was the biggest of them all.

“Every match is different,” St. John said. “This match meant the most to us.”

Ramos (31-2) and Stieber have developed an exciting series, but Stieber has won all five matchups, including a 3-1 sudden victory decision in the Big Ten Championships.

Unlike the conference finals, Stieber was able to score takedowns in regulation. He was able to hit and finish two low doubles in the first for a 4-1 lead.

“He caught me with my feet together,” Ramos said. “He did a little scouting, he knows I’m coming hard, and when I was chasing him, he caught me with my ankles together.”

The match seemed to turn in the second period. Ramos shot in and then locked up a cradle after Stieber’s counter. Ramos had Stieber turned, but Stieber bellied down with Ramos behind him. The official ruled no back points, which would have tied the match at five apiece.

Iowa challenged for points or even a pin, but after a lengthy review the call was upheld. Stieber led 5-3, adding an escape to lead 6-3 to start the third.

“It’s not up to me,” Ramos said when asked if he had nearfall points. “If I don’t get them, I still have to go out and wrestle, still score points and still get riding time. There’s lots of improvements I have to make.”

Iowa's Tony Ramos is defeated by Logan Stieber of Ohio State in the 133 pound championship match. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

Ramos, a three-time NCAA qualifier, improved on his third-place finish from last year. The loss will burn as he trains to reach an even higher level as he continues to chase a national title.

“It’s a step better, but it’s also a step worse,” Ramos said. “I finished my last season with a loss. I’d rather go out with a win.”

St. John’s match preceded what was billed as the main event of the evening, and the entire tournament. Cornell’s three-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake faced Penn State’s defending national champion and three-time finalist David Taylor in the 165-pound championship.

Dake used 1:13 advantage of riding time for a 5-4 win and become the third NCAA Division I four-time champion, joining Oklahoma State’s Pat Smith and Iowa State’s Cael Sanderson.

Dake earned Outstanding Wrestler honors with the win.

“Kind of at a loss for words,” said Dake, who finished this season 37-0 and with a career mark of 137-4. “Definitely amazing feeling. It’s just you get to finally see all your hard work pay off. I wrestled a tough match. I just wrestled tough. That’s all there is to say.”

The marquee match could have played a factor in the team race. Penn State entered the championship matches with a three-point lead over Oklahoma State (114 ½-111 ½). After Chris Perry’s 174-pound title gave the Cowboys a one-point lead, Penn State’s Quentin Wright clinched the Nittany Lions’ third straight team title with an 8-6 win over Kent State’s Dustin Kilgore in a battle of 2011 NCAA champions.

Wright didn’t watch the Cowboys wrangle the lead away in the first match, but relaxed when he watched Ruth win by major decision in the 184 championship to set up Wright.

“Really, I try not to watch, especially in tournaments,” Wright said. “I know I can help them so much, but I just try to focus on myself because the best I do is going to be the best for the team.”

Penn State had two champions of its five finalists and finished with 123 ½ points. The Cowboys, who also had two champions, was second with 119 ½.

“It’s been a long week,” Penn State Coach Cael Sanderson said. “Well, we’re super happy. Our guys did a great job. Back and forth. Our guys came through. I think every year is a little – you have different challenges. It certainly doesn’t get any easier. The first one was super special. It doesn’t get easier.

“I’m really proud of these guys, I guess, for the effort and what they did. They went out there and they scored the points. That’s what wins. It was a great tournament. I think Oklahoma State had a very good tournament. Made it a lot of fun.”

Officials review a call challenge by Iowa's coaches as Tony Ramos wrestles Logan Stieber of Ohio State in the 133 pound championship match. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

Iowa, whose head coach Tom Brands declined media interviews, placed fourth with four All-Americans, including Ethen Lofthouse and Mike Evans. The Hawkeyes’ tallied 73 points, 30 behind Minnesota. Iowa’s total was hurt by 2012 All-American heavyweight Bobby Telford having to default out after his quarterfinal win, and unexpected consecutive losses by senior 125-pounder Matt McDonough, who did not place after winning two NCAA titles and reaching the finals his first three seasons.

Lofthouse, who moved from 174 to 184 this season, became a two-time All-American. He beat Maryland’s Jimmy Sheptock, 6-2, for fifth place. Lofthouse entered the tournament seeded 12th, but earned wins over the No. 5, No. 7, No. 10 and No. 11 seeds in the bracket.

“I feel good that I finished the right way, but I didn’t get what I wanted,” said Lofthouse, who placed seventh last year. “There’s that motivation right there for next year.”

Lofthouse (23-9) increased his production in the postseason. He struggled part of the season, putting his starting spot in jeopardy, but responded with a third-place finish at the Big Ten tournament and went 5-2 this weekend.

“Just go out and wrestle,” Lofthouse said about the lesson learned during this NCAA tournament. “Wrestle the way you know how.”

Evans, a two-time NCAA qualifier, was seeded third at 174, placing sixth. He went 0-2 Saturday, competing with a hurt left leg, which was heavily taped after a consolation win Friday night against Missouri’s Todd Porter. He finished the season with a 23-7 mark.

DES MOINES – Tony Ramos talked to reporters after losing the 133-pound national final to Logan Stieber of Ohio State on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena.

Logan Stieber’s quotes from the post-match interview:

Officials review a call challenge by Iowa's coaches as Tony Ramos wrestles Logan Stieber of Ohio State in the 133 pound championship match. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

DES MOINES – Dick Simmons is heavily involved in college wrestling.

Cornell College’s Associate Director of Athletics is in his second-year of a five-term on the NCAA Wrestling Committee.

The responsibility placed him in the center of a provisional rule at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships this week at Wells Fargo Arena. Simmons served as the communicator of official reviews and coaches challenges, which was implemented on a trial basis for the postseason and select duals this season.

Coaches receive three challenges per tournament. Coaches maintain the number of challenges as long as they are successful after consulting video replay. Officials can review a call on the mat as well.

“Any official reviews or coaches’ challenges are called to us,” Simmons said about his head table duties. “We communicate to the announcers and we’re tracking the reviews and challenges.”

Simmons hinted the review process cut down on coaches’ warnings for questioning and arguing calls.

“I do believe it is the right thing and gives the officials a chance to look at a situation to solve it differently,” Oklahoma State Coach John Smith said before the tournament. “We made a good decision. I shouldn’t say ‘we’ because they did it without giving the coaches a choice in it, which is good.”

According to NCAA officials, there were 45 coaches’ challenges and 16 officials’ reviews in the first 630 matches before Saturday night’s finals. Twelve coach’s challenges were successful, and five reviews changed calls.

The process is a learning experience. It has been used in the postseason and all three NCAA tournaments. Cornell hosted the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships last weekend at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

Simmons, the NCAA Division III Wrestling Committee Chairman, said the NCAA has implanted improvements discovered during the previous tournaments. Things went relatively smooth once they determined table-worker configurations, according to Simmons.

“We’ve had some kinks,” Simmons said. “Being the first year, Division II learned some stuff the first week. Last week at Division III, we learned some things and came up with new forms.

“This week, we added some phone lines for instant communication.”

He plans to apply what he learned this week to suggest and enact improvements. The rule has been somewhat effective.

“I think it has for the first year of the experimental rule,” Simmons said. “There are things we still have to tweak, if they decide to continue the rule.”

Simmons noticed fans at the Division III tournament were confused or unaware of what was happening during the reviews.

“We wanted to get that smoothed out,” Simmons said. “We wanted to help education fans on the process.”

One criticism is the ability for coaches to use it as a way to create a break for a wrestler and regain their wind. Some coaches have said the process interrupts the flow of matches and competition.

“I don’t think that any of the coaches disliked it at their dual meets,” Smith said. “We will have to find out. There will be times we go through it. Is it holding up the tournament? Is it holding up matches?”

During the fifth-place 165-pound match between Iowa State’s Michael Moreno and Illinois’ Conrad Polz, a review last many minutes, leading Polz to wear a shirt to stay warm. Officials had to rule on the exchange of two reversals, but then had to refigure riding time, causing the lengthy delay.

Simmons said that was the longest review so far, and the exception not the rule.

“We’re tracking the average review times,” Simmons said. “We’re going to be able to get all the stats together from all divisions, look at everything and see if it interfered. Things seemed to flow pretty well.”

Simmons enjoys his position with NCAA wrestling and has been an asset to the sport.

“I enjoy wrestling and working the championship,” Simmons said. “It has been fun.”

ALMOST PERFECT

Predicting the finish of an elite wrestling tournament is tough. When a field is seeded, it is common for someone to crack the mold, like University of Northern Iowa’s David Bonin at 157, who placed fourth, and Iowa State’s sixth-place 165-pounder Michael Moreno.

The 133-pound weight class was nearly seeded perfect. All top-eight seeded wrestlers earned All-American status. The top two seeds, Ohio State’s No. 1 Logan Stieber and Iowa’s No. 2 Tony Ramos, reached the finals. Third-seeded Tyler Graff, of Wisconsin, was third. Edinboro’s A.J. Schopp was seeded and placed fourth.

No. 7 Jon Morrison, of Oklahoma State, was fifth. Minnesota’s No. 5 seed Chris Dardanes placed sixth. Oklahoma’s No. 8 seed Cody Brewer was seventh, while Missouri’s eighth-place Nathan McCormick was seeded sixth.

The NCAA Wrestling Championships have a heavy Big Ten flavor.

Four of the 10 national final matches Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena feature two Big Ten wrestlers, including three rematches from the conference tournament earlier this month.

University of Iowa’s Tony Ramos and Derek St. John are involved in half of them.

Ramos and Ohio State’s Logan Stieber reached the 133-pound finals as the top-two seeds, resulting in a rematch of the conference championship March 10. Stieber won the match, 3-1, with a takedown in sudden victory. They were two of four All-Americans from the Big Ten.

St. John, also the second seed, and Northwestern’s top-seeded senior Jason Welch met for the fifth time in the 157-pound final, although the two did not meet this season. Welch was top-seeded after winning the Big Ten title, while St. John finished third.

The 125-pound final between Penn State’s Nico Megaludis and Illinois’ Jesse Delgado is a rematch of a Big Ten semifinal. At heavyweight, Minnesota’s Tony Nelson and Northwestern’s Mike McMullan wrestled for the title. Nelson beat McMullan, 4-1, for the conference crown.

The Big Ten had 29 All-Americans, including 12 overall finalists. The conference had six All-Americans 174.

DES MOINES — The Iowa State and Northern Iowa programs took big steps at the 2013 NCAA Wrestling Division I Championships.

But to the team’s coaches and wrestlers, it wasn’t enough.

Too many what-ifs, too many could-have-beens.

Iowa State's Michael Moreno (left) struggles against Peter Yates of Virginia Tech in a 165 pound match. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

“We have to be better, we have to wrestle better, we have to compete better,” ISU coach Kevin Jackson said after three of his wrestlers completed their All-American runs Saturday afternoon inside Wells Fargo Arena.

The Cyclones finished 10th with 41.5 points, maybe not up to past expectations but a far cry from last year’s 35th-place showing with no All-Americans.

“It sets us up to keep pushing forward,” Jackson said.

UNI finished 15th with 34 points, again not where coach Doug Schwab wants to languish. Last year, the Panthers were 34th, a half-point in front of ISU.

“It’s progress,” Schwab said after David Bonin placed fourth at 157 pounds and Ryan Loder seventh at 184.

Iowa State didn’t have a great session Saturday. Michael Moreno and Kyven Gadson lost in the consolation semifinals at 165 and 197, respectively, then lost again in their fifth-place place matches. Heavyweight Matt Gibson was pinned in his seventh-place bout by Odie Delaney of Citadel.

For Gadson, it was the conclusion of an emotional week. His father, ISU All-American Willie Gadson, was buried Monday. Kyven wore his father’s warm-up robe to his consolation semifinal.

“It looked like everything caught up to him a little bit,” Jackson said.

UNI’s Bonin pinned Oregon State’s Roger Pena in the consolation semis, then was pinned by Alex Dieringer of Oklahoma State in the third-place bout. Loder beat Mike Larson of Missouri, 8-0, for seventh.

Northern Iowa's David Bonin pins Roger Pena of Oregon State in a 157 pound match. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

“It’s kind of heartbreaking, being seventh, but (184) is a tough weight bracket,” Loder said.

He, too, wants and expects more of the Panthers in the future. UNI had two wrestlers — Levi Wolfensperger and Joey Lazor — come up one win short of All-American.

“It’s another step for us,” Loder said. “Our room is really picking up. The Panther Train is rolling now.”

UNI’s four wrestlers won 15 bouts in three days.

“That’s really good, really good for our team to win that many matches,” Schwab said. “Now we just have to keep building that point total.”

Oregon State Wrestling coach Jim Zalesky watches the last few seconds of Roger Pena's victory over Georgi Ivanov of Boise State in a 157 pound wrestleback at the 2013 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday, March 22, 2013. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

DES MOINES — After seven years, Jim Zalesky easily calls Oregon home.

The bitterness is gone, at least outwardly, and the focus is on his future, his family and his team.

“I’m a Beaver,” he said without hesitation and with a smile inside Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday, after his Oregon State team secured a Top 10 finish at the NCAA Division I Championships.

This was the completion of his seventh season at Oregon State, a school with a rich wrestling tradition that finished as high as second in the national tournament in 1995.

Oregon State University wrestling head coach Jim Zalesky celebrates after OSU's Derek Kipperberg's win over UNI's Charlie Ettelson during their 149lbs. match at the duel between the University of Northern Iowa and Oregon State at the McLeod Center on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007, in Cedar Falls. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

But Oregon State is not Iowa.

Zalesky was a Hawkeye, once the top Hawk. He was a three-time NCAA champion as a wrestler there and the man who succeeded the legendary Dan Gable, his coach, as the Iowa coach.

His teams won three NCAA titles, the last in 2000. After nine seasons, however, Iowa officials, fans and media — myself included — thought a change was needed at the top and after the 2005-06 campaign Zalesky was fired.

It was a tough time for Zalesky, obviously, but also for many around him. Always the “nice guy,” he felt betrayed by many.

But he landed on his feet and has steadily moved past that period.

“It’s like wrestling,” he said. “You lose a match, are you going to dwell on it? You’ve got to move forward and move on.”

All indications are Zalesky has done just that, personally and professionally.

He took over a program that had finished 41st in the NCAA tournament in 2006. His teams have gone from 26th and 46th his first two seasons to 10th last year and eighth this season, the Beavers’ best finish since 1996.

Expectations at OSU are not what they are at Iowa, at least from the administration, fans and media. But Zalesky doesn’t want any less for his Beavers than he did his Hawks.

“I think you’ve got to have (high) expectations no matter where you are,” he said. “I think any program can get (to the top) if you work hard enough.”

He had three All-Americans this weekend, and all will return to the wrestling room next season.

“I think we’re getting there,” he said. “I think we’re getting there every year. But we’ve got to take another jump, we’ve got to get guys in the finals.”

Sounds familiar, like most top wrestling coaches here this weekend.

Nice guys don’t have to finish last.

DES MOINES — Iowa State sophomore Michael Moreno said he found out a lot about himself during the second day of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

The same could be said for the Cyclones as a team.

Moreno led a Cyclone surge on Friday at Wells Fargo Arena, winning four matches and earning a spot in Friday’s consolation semifinals at 165 pounds.

Iowa State's Kyven Gadson sends Micah Burak of Penn to the mat in a 197 pound semifinal. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

Kyven Gadson did the same at 197 and heavyweight Matt Gibson won three times before falling into Saturday’s seventh-place match with a loss Friday night.

ISU won nine of 13 matches Friday and are tied for eighth place with 41 points.

“You find yourself in this sport,” Moreno said after a 4-2 over No. 8-seeded Nicholas Sulzer of Virginia. “You find out how tough you are.”

Unlike Gadson, Moreno (30-8) came in unseeded, but will place no worse than sixth.

“I don’t care about seeds,” he said. “I’m the bad draw…that’s the way I looked at it all week.”

Gadson (30-3) also can finish no worse than sixth after beating fourth-seeded Alfonzo Henderson of Wyoming, 12-4.

Gibson (22-11) will wrestle for seventh Saturday after losing to Jarod Trice of Central Michigan, 3-0. Also unseeded, he scored a pin and major decision earlier in the day.

“We just want our guys to compete,” ISU coach Kevin Jackson said. “When they do that, we get positive results.”

Northern Iowa coach Doug Schwab was in no mood to celebrate after Ryan Loder fell into the seventh place match at 184 with a 3-2 overtime loss to Jimmy Sheptock of Maryland.

David Bonin also lost in the 157 semifinals, 7-0 to top-seeded Jason Welch of Northwestern, but the Panthers have two All-Americans for the first time since 2005 and are in 19th place in the team race.

Two other Panthers — Levi Wolfensperger at 133 and Joey Lazor at 141 — missed All-American finishes by one win.

“Guys are hurting right now,” Schwab said. “They have to take advantage of those opportunities and wrestle whole matches.”

The unseeded Bonin made the semifinals Friday morning with a 3-0 win over Jedd Moore of Virginia. He did not allow a point until the semifinals.

“You train every day for this,” he said after that win. “Why not me?”