Iowa State Cyclones wrestling
Encyclopedia
Iowa State has won 8 national championships in wrestling. Iowa State's head coach is Kevin Jackson
. Iowa State became the first collegiate wrestling program to reach 1000 dual wins on February 7, 2010.
four years. In his 28 years as head coach, Otopalik’s teams claimed seven conference championships and
one NCAA title. He ended his illustrious career with a 159-66-5 mark and eight NCAA individual champions. Besides having a huge impact on Iowa State athletics, Otopalik also made his mark on the international scene. In 1932, Otopalik served as head coach of the U.S. Olympic squad, which captured the team title at the Los Angeles Games. He also headed the National AAU Wrestling Committee for five years.
ISU for Dr. Harold Nichols and earned All-America status three times, including the 1981 NCAA individual
title at 134 pounds. Following his collegiate career, Gibbons served as an assistant coach at his alma mater for two years before taking over the head coaching duties. During his seven years as the Cyclone skipper, Gibbons’ squads claimed one Big Eight crown and captured the NCAA title in 1987. He also coached seven
individual NCAA champions while compiling a 96-32-1 career coaching mark. After winning the NCAA Championships in 1987, Gibbons was named national coach of the year. He was named Big Eight Coach of the
Year in 1991. Gibbons retired from coaching after the 1992 season.
(born June 20, 1979, in Salt Lake City
, Utah
), is considered one of the greatest American
amateur wrestler
s of all time. A 2004 Olympic
champion in Athens, Greece, he went undefeated in four years of college wrestling at Iowa State (159–0), winning four consecutive NCAA titles (1999–2002). He was the first NCAA wrestler to go undefeated with more than 100 wins. Sports Illustrated
named his college career as the second most impressive college sports feat behind Jesse Owens
' four Olympic world record-setting performance.
Cael Sanderson accepted the head coaching position at Penn State in April 2009. Cael Sanderson was 44-10 as head coach at Iowa State.
was introduced as Iowa State's head wrestling coach on April 30, 2009. As a college wrestler, he attended LSU
and earned All-America honors three times before the school dropped the sport. He transferred to Iowa State
for his senior year and captained the Cyclones’ last NCAA championship team (1987), earning another All-America award with a NCAA runner-up finish and registering a 30-3-1 record. During his only season at ISU, he was named captain of the team and helped lead the team to a national title. He finished his collegiate wrestling carrier with a 30-3-1 record. In 1992, Jackson won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games. Since 1992, Jackson has coached for team USA at three summer Olympics including being the head coach for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
1932 Los Angeles
1948 London
1956 Melbourne
1964 Tokyo
1968 Mexico City
1972 Munich
1976 Montreal
1980 Moscow
1984 Los Angeles
1988 Seoul
1992 Barcelona
1996 Atlanta
2000 Sydney
2004 Athens
2008 Beijing
Kevin Jackson
Kevin Andre Jackson is the head wrestling coach at Iowa State University, having been hired in 2009 when Cael Sanderson quit the post and moved to Penn State University...
. Iowa State became the first collegiate wrestling program to reach 1000 dual wins on February 7, 2010.
Charles Mayser
Charles Mayser was the founding father of Iowa State wrestling. “Uncle Charlie” performed coaching duties in wrestling and football, as well as being director of athletics. Mayser joined the athletic staff in 1916, the initial season of Cyclone wrestling. He coached for eight years and was responsible for five undefeated teams during his tenure. Despite lack of equipment and facilities, Mayser’s squads dominated the Midwestern wrestling scene. His teams suffered only two defeats in his last six years and his last two squads were named unofficial national champions by Amateur Wrestling News. Mayser left Iowa State in 1923 to head the Franklin and Marshall athletic department.Hugo Otopalik
Hugo Otopalik took over head coaching duties after serving as an assistant on Charles Mayser’s staff forfour years. In his 28 years as head coach, Otopalik’s teams claimed seven conference championships and
one NCAA title. He ended his illustrious career with a 159-66-5 mark and eight NCAA individual champions. Besides having a huge impact on Iowa State athletics, Otopalik also made his mark on the international scene. In 1932, Otopalik served as head coach of the U.S. Olympic squad, which captured the team title at the Los Angeles Games. He also headed the National AAU Wrestling Committee for five years.
Harold Nichols
When you talk Iowa State wrestling history, Harold Nichols looms large. From 1965-73, Nichols’ squads were the most dominant in wrestling, compiling five NCAA titles and three runner-up finishes. Nichols was named the successor to Hugo Otopalik in 1954 after serving as head coach at Arkansas State for five years. His ISU teams racked up six NCAA titles, seven Big Eight titles and produced 38 NCAA individual champions and 91 Big Eight titlists. His career record at Iowa State is an untouchable 456-75-11. Nichols was named coach of the year three times and was tabbed Wrestling Man of the Year by Amateur Wrestling News in 1966. He is a member of the Helms Foundation Wrestling Hall of Fame, Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame, National Wrestling Hall of Fame and served as vice-chairman of the United States Olympic Wrestling Committee. Nichols retired from coaching in 1985.Jim Gibbons
In 1986, Jim Gibbons took over the reins of the Cyclone wrestling squad at age 26. Gibbons wrestled atISU for Dr. Harold Nichols and earned All-America status three times, including the 1981 NCAA individual
title at 134 pounds. Following his collegiate career, Gibbons served as an assistant coach at his alma mater for two years before taking over the head coaching duties. During his seven years as the Cyclone skipper, Gibbons’ squads claimed one Big Eight crown and captured the NCAA title in 1987. He also coached seven
individual NCAA champions while compiling a 96-32-1 career coaching mark. After winning the NCAA Championships in 1987, Gibbons was named national coach of the year. He was named Big Eight Coach of the
Year in 1991. Gibbons retired from coaching after the 1992 season.
Bobby Douglas
A wrestling legend in his own right, Bobby Douglas was an NCAA champion at Oklahoma State and part of two Olympic teams as a competitor, finishing fourth at featherweight in the 1964 Tokyo Games. He was captain of the 1968 U.S. Olympic team in Mexico. Douglas coached the 1992 U.S. Olympic team whose 10 members placed among the top 10 in their respective weight classes, a U.S. Olympic first. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic coaching staff in 1976, 1980, 1984 and 1988. Douglas, a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, was also on the 1996 and 2004 U.S. Olympic coaching staffs. Douglas began his collegiate coaching career at Cal-Santa barbara before coaching three national champions and 58 All-Americans from 1975-92 at Arizona State. His 1988 Sun Devil squad won the NCAA team title in Ames. He furthered his legacy at Iowa State, winning 198 dual matches. Douglas coached Cyclone wrestlers to 10 individual NCAA titles and 52 All-America performances. He is one of four collegiate coaches to win at least 400 duals matches.Cael Sanderson
Cael SandersonCael Sanderson
Cael Norman Sanderson , is considered one of the greatest American amateur wrestlers of all time. A 2004 Olympic champion in Athens, Greece, he went undefeated in four years of college wrestling at Iowa State University , winning four consecutive NCAA titles...
(born June 20, 1979, in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
), is considered one of the greatest American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
amateur wrestler
Amateur wrestling
Amateur wrestling is the most widespread form of sport wrestling. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games under the supervision of FILA : Greco-Roman and freestyle. Freestyle is possibly derived from the English Lancashire style...
s of all time. A 2004 Olympic
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
champion in Athens, Greece, he went undefeated in four years of college wrestling at Iowa State (159–0), winning four consecutive NCAA titles (1999–2002). He was the first NCAA wrestler to go undefeated with more than 100 wins. Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
named his college career as the second most impressive college sports feat behind Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens
James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the sprints and the long jump. He participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, where he achieved international fame by winning four gold medals: one each in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the...
' four Olympic world record-setting performance.
Cael Sanderson accepted the head coaching position at Penn State in April 2009. Cael Sanderson was 44-10 as head coach at Iowa State.
Kevin Jackson
Kevin JacksonKevin Jackson
Kevin Andre Jackson is the head wrestling coach at Iowa State University, having been hired in 2009 when Cael Sanderson quit the post and moved to Penn State University...
was introduced as Iowa State's head wrestling coach on April 30, 2009. As a college wrestler, he attended LSU
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
and earned All-America honors three times before the school dropped the sport. He transferred to Iowa State
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
for his senior year and captained the Cyclones’ last NCAA championship team (1987), earning another All-America award with a NCAA runner-up finish and registering a 30-3-1 record. During his only season at ISU, he was named captain of the team and helped lead the team to a national title. He finished his collegiate wrestling carrier with a 30-3-1 record. In 1992, Jackson won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games. Since 1992, Jackson has coached for team USA at three summer Olympics including being the head coach for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Olympians
1928 Amsterdam- Arthur Holding
- Ralph Prunty
1932 Los Angeles
- Bob Hess
- Hugo Otopalik, Coach
1948 London
- Glen Brand, Gold Medalist
1956 Melbourne
- Kent Townley
1964 Tokyo
- Bobby Douglas
1968 Mexico City
- Bobby Douglas
- Tom Peckham
1972 Munich
- Dan Gable, Gold Medalist
- Ben Peterson, Gold Medalist
- Chris Taylor, Bronze Medalist
- Greco-Roman
- Bob Buzzard
- Greco-Roman
1976 Montreal
- Ben Peterson, Silver Medalist
- Mike Farina
- Greco-Roman
1980 Moscow
- Ben Peterson
1984 Los Angeles
- Bobby Douglas, Coach
1988 Seoul
- Nate Carr, Bronze Medalist
- Bobby Douglas, Coach
1992 Barcelona
- Kevin Jackson, Gold Medalist
- Bobby Douglas, Head Coach
1996 Atlanta
- Bobby Douglas, Coach
2000 Sydney
- Kevin Jackson, Coach
2004 Athens
- Cael Sanderson, Gold Medalist
- Bobby Douglas, Coach
- Kevin Jackson, Coach
2008 Beijing
- Kevin Jackson, Head Coach
Championships
| Titles | Type | Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Championships | |||||||
| 8 | NCAA Tournament Team Champions | 1933, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1987 | |||||
| 8 Total | |||||||
| Conference Championships | |||||||
| 4 | Big 6 Conference Team Champion | 1933, 1937, 1941, 1947 | |||||
| 1 | Big 7 Conference Team Champion | 1958 | |||||
| 6 | Big 8 Conference Team Champion | 1970, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1987 | |||||
| 3 | Big 12 Conference Team Champion | 2007, 2008, 2009 | |||||
| 14 Total | |||||||
Awards
Dan Hodge TrophyDan Hodge Trophy
The Dan Hodge Trophy is awarded to the outstanding college wrestler of the year. The trophy is given each season to the nation's best college wrestler by W.I.N. Magazine and Culture House. It is the wrestling equivalent to the Heisman Trophy...
- 2000 – Cael SandersonCael SandersonCael Norman Sanderson , is considered one of the greatest American amateur wrestlers of all time. A 2004 Olympic champion in Athens, Greece, he went undefeated in four years of college wrestling at Iowa State University , winning four consecutive NCAA titles...
- 2001 – Cael Sanderson (tie)
- 2002 – Cael Sanderson
Record
| Season | Coach | Record | Conference | NCAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | Charles Mayser | 1-1 | ||
| 1917 | Charles Mayser | 2-0 | ||
| 1918 | Charles Mayser | 1-1 | ||
| 1919 | Charles Mayser | 3-0 | ||
| 1920 | Charles Mayser | 5-1 | ||
| 1921 | Charles Mayser | 7-1 | ||
| 1922 | Charles Mayser | 8-0 | ||
| 1923 | Charles Mayser | 8-0 | ||
| 1924 | Hugo Otopalik | 9-0 | 2nd | |
| 1925 | Hugo Otopalik | 6-0 | 2nd | |
| 1926 | Hugo Otopalik | 8-1 | 2nd | |
| 1927 | Hugo Otopalik | 8-1 | 2nd | |
| 1928 | Hugo Otopalik | 7-2 | 2nd | 2nd |
| 1929 | Hugo Otopalik | 7-1 | ||
| 1930 | Hugo Otopalik | 6-3 | 4th | |
| 1931 | Hugo Otopalik | 9-1 | 2nd | |
| 1932 | Hugo Otopalik | 6-3 | 3rd | |
| 1933 | Hugo Otopalik | 6-1 | 1st | 1st |
| 1934 | Hugo Otopalik | 8-2 | 2nd | |
| 1935 | Hugo Otopalik | 4-3 | 2nd | |
| 1936-37 | Hugo Otopalik | 4-2-2 | 2nd | |
| 1937 | Hugo Otopalik | 6-2-1 | 1st | 10th |
| 1938 | Hugo Otopalik | 8-0 | 2nd | 11th |
| 1939 | Hugo Otopalik | 3-3 | 2nd | |
| 1940 | Hugo Otopalik | 4-4 | 2nd | 9th |
| 1941 | Hugo Otopalik | 7-3 | 1st | 13th |
| 1942 | Hugo Otopalik | 3-3 | ||
| 1943 | Hugo Otopalik | 1-3 | ||
| 1944 | No Wrestling | |||
| 1945 | No Wrestling | |||
| 1946 | Hugo Otopalik | 3-1 | 7th | |
| 1947 | Hugo Otopalik | 4-3 | 1st | 8th |
| 1948 | Hugo Otopalik | 5-5-1 | 3rd | 9th |
| 1949 | Hugo Otopalik | 2-6-1 | 3rd | 14th |
| 1950 | Hugo Otopalik | 4-6 | 3rd | |
| 1951 | Hugo Otopalik | 5-5 | 3rd | |
| 1951-52 | Hugo Otopalik | 6-2 | 2nd | |
| 1953 | Hugo Otopalik | 9-1 | 2nd | 19th |
| 1954 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 8-0 | 2nd | |
| 1955 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 7-1 | 2nd | |
| 1956 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 8-3 | 2nd | 21st |
| 1957 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 9-3-1 | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1958 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 10-0-2 | 1st | 2nd |
| 1959 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 11-3 | 2nd | 2nd |
| 1960 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 12-3 | 3rd | 2nd |
| 1960-61 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 13-1-2 | 3rd | 3rd |
| 1962 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 12-1-1 | 3rd | 30th |
| 1962-63 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 13-1 | 3rd | 2nd |
| 1963-64 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 13-0-1 | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1965 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 14-1 | 2nd | 1st |
| 1965-66 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 13-2 | 3rd | 2nd |
| 1966-67 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 12-3-1 | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1967-68 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 12-3 | 3rd | 2nd |
| 1968-69 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 15-1 | 3rd | 1st |
| 1969-70 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 15-2 | 1st | 1st |
| 1970-71 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 17-0 | 2nd | 2nd |
| 1971-72 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 16-1 | 2nd | 1st |
| 1972-73 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 18-1 | 2nd | 1st |
| 1973-74 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 13-5 | 3rd | 4th |
| 1974-75 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 16-2-2 | 3rd | 4th |
| 1975-76 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 19-2 | 1st | 2nd |
| 1976-77 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 18-2-1 | 1st | 1st |
| 1977-78 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 19-2 | 2nd | 2nd |
| 1978-79 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 18-3 | 1st | 2nd |
| 1979-80 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 18-4 | 1st | 3rd |
| 1980-81 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 19-2 | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1981-82 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 17-2 | 1st | 2nd |
| 1982-83 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 14-4 | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1983-84 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 13-7 | 2nd | 7th |
| 1984-85 | Dr. Harold Nichols | 20-7 | 3rd | 3rd |
| 1985-86 | Jim Gibbons | 19-1 | 2nd | 4th |
| 1986-87 | Jim Gibbons | 14-3 | 1st | 1st |
| 1987-88 | Jim Gibbons | 17-4 | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1988-89 | Jim Gibbons | 8-9-1 | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1989-90 | Jim Gibbons | 14-9 | 4th | 9th |
| 1990-91 | Jim Gibbons | 13-3 | 2nd | 5th |
| 1991-92 | Jim Gibbons | 13-3 | 2nd | 4th |
| 1992-93 | Bobby Douglas | 13-4 | 2nd | 6th |
| 1993-94 | Bobby Douglas | 7-7 | 4th | 10th |
| 1994-95 | Bobby Douglas | 17-4 | 4th | 14th |
| 1995-96 | Bobby Douglas | 12-6-1 | 4th | 2nd |
| 1996-97 | Bobby Douglas | 10-7-1 | 2nd | 4th |
| 1997-98 | Bobby Douglas | 12-8 | 4th | 6th |
| 1998-99 | Bobby Douglas | 20-5-1 | 3rd | 4th |
| 1999-00 | Bobby Douglas | 20-2 | 2nd | 2nd |
| 2000-01 | Bobby Douglas | 19-4 | 3rd | 6th |
| 2001-02 | Bobby Douglas | 17-5 | 3rd | 2nd |
| 2002-03 | Bobby Douglas | 8-10 | 5th | 19th |
| 2003-04 | Bobby Douglas | 16-4 | 3rd | 6th |
| 2004-05 | Bobby Douglas | 16-2 | 2nd | 10th |
| 2005-06 | Bobby Douglas | 11-7 | 4th | 13th |
| 2006-07 | Cael Sanderson Cael Sanderson Cael Norman Sanderson , is considered one of the greatest American amateur wrestlers of all time. A 2004 Olympic champion in Athens, Greece, he went undefeated in four years of college wrestling at Iowa State University , winning four consecutive NCAA titles... |
13-3 | 1st | 2nd |
| 2007-08 | Cael Sanderson Cael Sanderson Cael Norman Sanderson , is considered one of the greatest American amateur wrestlers of all time. A 2004 Olympic champion in Athens, Greece, he went undefeated in four years of college wrestling at Iowa State University , winning four consecutive NCAA titles... |
16-4 | 1st | 5th |
| 2008-09 | Cael Sanderson Cael Sanderson Cael Norman Sanderson , is considered one of the greatest American amateur wrestlers of all time. A 2004 Olympic champion in Athens, Greece, he went undefeated in four years of college wrestling at Iowa State University , winning four consecutive NCAA titles... |
15-3 | 1st | 3rd |
| 2009-10 | Kevin Jackson Kevin Jackson Kevin Andre Jackson is the head wrestling coach at Iowa State University, having been hired in 2009 when Cael Sanderson quit the post and moved to Penn State University... |
13-2 | 2nd | 3rd |
| 2010-11 | Kevin Jackson Kevin Jackson Kevin Andre Jackson is the head wrestling coach at Iowa State University, having been hired in 2009 when Cael Sanderson quit the post and moved to Penn State University... |
9-10 |
See also
- National Wrestling Hall of Fame and MuseumNational Wrestling Hall of Fame and MuseumThe National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on the campus of Oklahoma State University. The museum opened on September 11, 1976...
- Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa