Best Iowa Wrestling Team Ever?

hawk709

Member
This year I think will go down as one of the all time greatest Iowa teams, but what is the all time greatest team Iowa has ever assembled?
 
The 1992 team was the best ever as far as overall strength, both duals and tournament. 1997 gets the credit because of what they did at nationals head to head though I would go with 1992.

118-Zapitul over Whitmer, except in national finals.
126-Terry over Mena, this one would be ugly, Terry would win big.
134-Tommy over Ironside, but that would be one heck of a match to watch, non-stop action the whole time.
142-Troy Steiner over Gillis, this one would also be ugly.
150-Lincoln over Terry Steiner, would be close but Lincold would win this one 99 out of a 100 time.
158-Williams over Ryan, this would be close though.
167-Reiland over Uker, another close one.
177-Chelsvig over Ersland, possibility of being Ugly.
190-Fullhart over Fiser, close but Fullhart would win everytime although Travis was good rising to the occasion.
Hwt-Big O over Hand, could be a throw for the pin.
7-3 in matches for team 92.
 
How about just best wrestler - Chris Campbell from the mid 70's. I moved out of state in 1980 and never got to see anyone until the B10 network last year.....I know, I know I missed some fabulous guys so don't rub it in.
 
134-Tommy over Ironside, but that would be one heck of a match to watch, non-stop action the whole time.

would love to see this match some of my favorite iowa wrestlers
 
This year I think will go down as one of the all time greatest Iowa teams, but what is the all time greatest team Iowa has ever assembled?

Not the best team, but my favorite team was the 1998 squad. This was the first year post-Gable. My first meet I ever attended was the 1998 Valentine's Day match between #1 OSU and #2 Iowa that year. This was the dual where Schwab upset Guerrero, followed by Ironside pinning future Olympic Silver Medalist Jamill Kelly. I've never heard CHA that loud. Iowa lost the dual (18-22), but won the war, beating the Cowboys and the Gophers at NCAAs (Iowa - 115, Minnesota - 102, Okie State - 99.5). This was also the year Paul Jenn beat Cael Sanderson to give him his only loss as a collegian.

Especially gratifying was seeing McGinness win after RSing during the record-setting 1997 season. 1998's lineup was:

118 Eric Juergens - 3rd at 1998 NCAAs (3-3-1-1)
126 Doug Schwab - DNP at 1998 NCAAs (NQ-1-3-2)
134 Mark Ironside - 1st at 1998 NCAAs (6-3-1-1)
142 Jeff McGinness - 1st at 1998 NCAAs (5-1-NQ-1)
150 Kasey Gilliss - DNP at 1998 NCAAs (6-NQ)
158 Gabe McMahan - DNP at 1998 NCAAs(NQ-NQ-NQ-6)
167 Joe Williams - 1st at 1998 NCAAs (7-1-1-1)
177 Paul Jenn - DNP at 1998 NCAAs(NQ-NQ)
190 Lee Fullhart - 3rd at 1998 NCAAs (4-1-3-2)
HWT Wes Hand - 8th at 1998 NCAAs (NQ-8-NQ-2)
 
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When Cael was a true freshman and in his redshirt year Paul Jenn beat him at the Omaha open. I was there and witnessed it first hand. RIP, Paul...

As far as best team I have to agree with AsicsFanatic that 92 was probably the best team that I have ever seen!!
 
For some reason then, that match did not count towards official records, because officially Cael Sanderson went undefeated in his collegiate career. I don't pretend to know or understand all the ins and outs of wrestling, but he went 159-0 according to the limited research I did.
 
For some reason then, that match did not count towards official records, because officially Cael Sanderson went undefeated in his collegiate career. I don't pretend to know or understand all the ins and outs of wrestling, but he went 159-0 according to the limited research I did.

You have it correct, he did officially go 159-0. That is in his 4 official years of competition. Redshirt years dont count for your official record so that loss will not be shown.
 

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