Duroe has positive feeling from 2012 Olympics

Mike Duroe seemed positive about Iowa City being the center of nation's amateur wrestling focus in a little more than a year from now.

Duroe, who is serving on a committee campaigning to bring the 2012 United States Olympic Wrestling and Weightlifting Trials to Iowa City, returned home after the group's final bid presentation to a panel of USA Wrestling directors and athletes, and members of the United States Olympic Committee and USA Weightlifting on Wednesday at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Iowa City was chosen as one of three finalists, competing against Council Bluffs and Columbus, Ohio, to host the 2012 Olympic Trials on April 20-21. All three cities gave presentations Wednesday, according to Duroe.

A group of nine individuals, representing the University of Iowa, Coralville, Iowa City and wrestling community in Eastern Iowa shared why Iowa City would be the best fit to host the event in a presentation that last more than an hour.

"I think our presentation went extremely well," said Duroe, who is the current Cornell College head coach and former Hawkeye Wrestling Club coach.

Iowa City/Coralville Area Convetnion and Visitors Bureau President Josh Schamberger led the effort, preparing a Power Point presentation, to the panel of about 12 people. Duroe was impressed with Schamberger's job.

"Josh knocked it out of the park as far as presenting everything from media and marketing plans to a Fan Fest," Duroe said. "He really laid a lot of things out that we think are going to make our bid unique."

The group itself was unique. The All-Star cast included Olympic wrestling champions legendary Hawkeyes coach Dan Gable and current Iowa head coach Tom Brands, Olympic bronze medalist Lincoln McIlravy and Duroe, who  is an accomplished international coach for USA Wrestling. Duroe said he, Gable and Brands all had the opportunity to speak to the panel.

"The main points by Brands and Gable were about culture," Duroe said. "Culture of the state, region and educated fans, who are people that are passionate about wrestling."

Not only has Iowa City been a gateway for Olympic-caliber athletes - 17 former Hawkeyes have earned spots on U.S. Olympic teams dating back to Leslie Beers in 1928 - but many have coached at that level. Duroe has coached with USA Wrestling for 26 years, Gable has devoted more than 30 years, and Brands, and his brother and associate head coach at Iowa, Terry Brands, have contributed more than 10 years.

"If you add the years of coaching with USA Wrestling ... you have almost 80 years of loyal and dedicated service to our national governing body," Duroe said. "We have the experience."

Duroe also credited Iowa assistant athletics director Les Steenlage, who has run multiple NCAA and Big Ten championship events in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. He also consults Big Ten institutions when they host different events.

"He's an expert at running big wrestling events," Duroe said. "I think that gives our bid a huge boost."

Another attraction for many local fans will be the contingent of former Iowa, Iowa State and University of Northern Iowa wrestlers competing for Olympic spots.

Former Hawkeyes Brent Metcalf and Mike Zadick were members of the 2010 World Team that competed in Moscow, Russia. A number of Hawkeyes, including former All-American Ryan Morningstar, Dan Dennis, Phil Keddy and Dan Erekson will also be looking to be in the mix. Former UNI two-time All-American Moza Fay, a native of Anamosa, is currently training at the USOTC with the goal of competing in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England. Iowa State's Trent and Travis Paulson have recently competed at the international level as well.

“I think its great,” the Lisbon native Morningstar said after Iowa City was announced as a finalist in December. “Fans at Iowa are great and they'd have a good tournament. As far as the environment, it would be awesome.”

Attendance is a vital component of earning the right to host this type of event. No program in college wrestling can boast the crowds the Hawkeyes attract. According to the Hawkeye wrestling media guide, wrestling fans have helped the Hawkeyes be part of 48 of the top 49 largest attended college dual meets. It also noted that 32 of those duals were against Iowa State University, showing Iowans from all across the state support the sport. Iowa has set the national attendance 11 times.

Iowa City has hosted four dual meets that have drawn a crowd of more than 15,000, dating back to 1983's Iowa vs. Iowa State dual. In 2008, Iowa State's visit to Carver-Hawkeye Arena attracted a record 15,955 fans. Over a span of 25 years, support has remained constant in Iowa City, as the 25th-largest recorded crowd was 11,109 in 1991. The Hawkeyes led NCAA wrestling in dual attendance figures, averaging 8,125 fans over six duals with a season best 10,967 crowd for the Oklahoma State dual.

Iowa City is a hub of large metropolitan areas like Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Omaha and St. Louis.

"The potential for a lot of wrestling fans is incredible," Duroe said. "Within a 200-mile radius of Iowa City, there are 14.7 million people. A lot of fans can just drive."