Top ten wrestling moments, wrestlers, ect.

chadfrey

Well-Known Member
The other day I won an auction on Ebay for a couple of old programs from Hawkeye wrestling - one form 1980 and one from 81. Brought back memories reading names like Barry Davis, the Banach brothers, Gable and seeing the venue as the old field house. Owned a lot of those programs as a kid - and yearbooks. Lost to me now (stolen is more like it) but great to get my hands on again.

It got me thinking about my favorite memories ... take a read and post your own as well. One caveat, however, for readers/posters. I've been living in BFE Kansas for 10 years now. I don't get to see much Hawkeye wrestling much anymore. I am trying, desperately and unsuccessfully, to make that change.

Brands Brothers. With an unmatched work ethic, incredible talent and strength, the twins were instant faves in Carver. Watching them wrestle was incredible. A close second place feeling is the day it was announced they were coming home to coach.

Rico Chiapparelli. Known for the "Chiapparelli Roll." Funner than a barrel full of monkeys to watch when he won - but frustrating as heck when he didn't.

Lincoln McIllravy. The guy could flat-out dominate. It was always fun to watch him dismantle someone. That 56-match win streak was a heck of a lot of fun as well.

1983. First meet in Carver Hawkeye arena. I remember the big gold pipes, the seats getting better and how big the place felt compared to The Field House. I also remember seeing all of those national title trophies on display on the concorse.

1984 - Great year for the Hawks, even better for Jim Zaleksy. Closed off his career with a national title and almost 90 straight wins.

Barry Davis. His career was a thrill ride, the little guy helped Iowa come out of the gates like a rocket. Seeing him strike the "Herky Victory pose" was a joy every darn time.

1986. National finals in Carver, Hawks completly destroy the rest of the nation, but I went nuts for Duane Goldman as he got his first national title with his 132nd career win. It was obvious to everyone there how much it meant to him, and how he beleived he finally had finished some unfinished business.

Royce Alger. The Fall Guy. It was fun to watch him walk on the mat, lean and ready. Even better, seeing him at the Old Captial Mall during the week and playing a few video games at Aladin's Castle with him. Still have a token from that experience.


1980 (ish), my first meet memory in the old field house, my dad scored first-row seats to Iowa Vs Iowa State. The place was packed, we were right behind the cows (Iowa State Cheerleaders). I got Nate Carr's autograph, the only non-Hawkeye wrestler I ever asked for an auto, at that meet.

1988. Iowa beats Iowa State, thanks in no small part to Brooks Simpson. I bought the video from IPTV, it was a moment I never want to forget. With the Hawks on the ropes, unheralded Brooks Simpson caught defending champ Eric Voelker sleeping, turned him center mat and pinned him. Carver erupted, and it was LOUD.
http://www.kcrg.com/sports/85377837.html

Brooks Simpson Interview | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and Weather | Related Content
 
Last edited:
o my just ten?

my best memory with an iowa wrestler is when i was in 5th grade i went to a wrestling clinic put on by both brands brothers and tom ripped off his champion logo off of his wrestling shorts after letting me take a couple single legs on him and he said i would be a champion some day. never forget it, it meant so much to me as a kid

i'll have to write out my top ten and get back to you! great thread
 
I'm a fairly new convert to Iowa wrestling...so for me a big moment was when Gable flipped Iowa State the "elbow".

I also think we were robbed of a big moment when Caldwell decided not to wrestle this year.
 
"1986. National finals in Carver, Hawks completly destroy the rest of the nation, but I went nuts for Duane Goldman as he got his first national title with his 132nd career win. It was obvious to everyone there how much it meant to him, and how he beleived he finally had finished some unfinished business."

I was there for nationals in 1986. My AMC Gremlin broke down on the drive up from Keokuk and I had to hitch hike the rest of the way to Iowa City...good times.
 
Some good ones already mentioned and a couple more big wins

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grx3Xfg1P0Q]YouTube - Doug Schwab (Iowa) vs Eric Guerrero (Oklahoma St)[/ame] Schwab Guerrero

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JojAYM4rbmg]YouTube - College Wrestling: Iowa's Johnston Pins MN's Becker[/ame] Johnston Becker

And the loudest I ever heard Carver, I can't find video of but this recap: 2001 national championships. Iowa City, Ia. Second round action. #1 seed Reggie Wright (Okla. St.)faces unseeded Mike Zadick of Iowa, billed as the key match of the second round. Wright gets the first takedown to lead 2-0. Wright hits a bodylock to move the lead to 4-1. Wright takes down and escapes, he leads 5-2 going into the third period. Zadick chooses neutral and hits a takedown, Wright leads 6-4. Wright is warned for stalling. With 16 seconds left, Zadick hits a takedown and nearfall to win the match 9-6.
 
A lot of great moments here already as AustinMNhawk said and that Schwab/Guerrero was one of my favorites for sure.

I'll throw in my personal favorites and you guys can probably figure out why from my name and if you know me.

Lee Fullhart beating John Kading in the national finals in 1997 in Cedar Falls. He was the last match that Dan Gable ever coached as the head coach at Iowa as well.

Ryan Fulsaas run to the national finals. I always knew that he had it in him but after years of defending my friend he finally showed everyone what he was capable of. He trailed Stender of UNI BIG in that semifinal match before the big comeback win!
 
When Hulk Hogan body slammed Andre the Giant at WrestleMania, or was it Summer Slam. Cant remember.



Newer wrestling fan, memory that sticks out me is when Morningstar beat ISU's #1 in his freshman year at Carver.

Also, Perry winning a national title his senior year on a bum leg.
 
Last edited:
Last year when Erecson pinned Zabriskie was pretty special. I also liked the one when Perry beat long time nemesis Hendricks.
 
I agree that the loudest I ever heard CHA was when Zadick beat Wright. That was crazy.

In addition to other posted memories:

Beating the snot out of Okie State in CHA 44-3 (?) - the worst defeat in Okie State's history. Barry Davis was a madman, ran in front of the Okie State bench during introductions like he had six-guns, then scored a tech fall.

1997 at the UNI dome - wow.

2000 in Cedar Rapids watching Schwab, Strittmatter and Williams all wrestle back to third place followed by Juergens championship to win another title.
 
Beating the snot out of Okie State in CHA 44-3 (?) - the worst defeat in Okie State's history. Barry Davis was a madman, ran in front of the Okie State bench during introductions like he had six-guns, then scored a tech fall.

Heck yeah. Was there that day as well. I hated Okie State, they ran to the edge too darn much! One thing I could never understand about Okie State, and Okie as well, is how often their headgear fell off.
 
ive done a lot of thinking on this one and the Schwab/Guerrero has gotta be up there. top ten is just too hard
 
134lbs Cary Kolat vs. Mark Ironside - 1996 NWCA Allstar Classic | Throwback Thursdays | Georgia National Wrestling Alliance

Ironside vs. Kolat is going to be the 9 best minutes of your day.

Nationals at UNI my number one fondest memory, had my wisdom teeth taken out on Monday. Every time I'd yell my mouth would bleed, but it was well worth it.

My numbers 2-10 were all in my living room as a kid watching IPTV broadcast on Sunday afternoon with my Dad. The voices Gibbons and Anderson are THE voices of wrestling.
 
I agree with alot of everybodies favorite moments but my personal favorite was Perry winning against Hendricks. Just when the program looked as if it was headed in the wrong direction this win helped in a VERY BIG way to revive the program.
 
Combine the Schwab vs. Guerrero 3rd period and the Metcalf vs. Mueller dual this year and that should be a good sign that when a hawkeye lets you up, you GET UP!!! I love the commentary from the Johnston vs. Becker match..."He pinned the national champ, he pinned the national champ!" and "its that carver hawkeye madness!"
 
I think it was 75 - 76 and maybe the first time Iowa vs ISU was number 2 vs 1. Went down to the last match and we won. I think the fire marshall came out soon after that announcing they were going to enfore code on attendance in the old field house. The names I remember are Chris Campbell, Chuck Yagla and Brad Smith. The rest, as they say, is history.
 
Hulk Hogan body slamming Andre the Giant to win the World Title...its the first and last time I have ever seen a regular body slam used as a Finishing Move.
 
Note on the dual when Johnston pinned becker it was one of two duals that Tommy coached that year while Zalesky was suspended. In one we hammered Wisky and the other we beat Minny with no Mocco in the lineup. Great signs of things to come.
 
Johnston over Becker was only my 2nd favorite match of that meet. Remember that Ryan Fulsaas also beat Damion Hahn in that same dual!!! :)
 

Latest posts

Top