Illinois state champ heading to Iowa

Vince Turk wasted little time to make a decision on where to continue his wrestling career.

The Montini Catholic (Ill.) senior state champion made up his mind the same day he concluded an official visit to the University of Iowa.

Turk confirmed Tuesday that he has verbally committed to wrestle for the Hawkeyes and head coach Tom Brands next year.

'My whole life I've liked Iowa as a top wrestling school,” Turk told The Gazette in a phone interview. 'It seemed like a good fit.”

Turk is a two-time state finalist in Illinois, placing second as a sophomore and winning the 138-pound championship as a junior. Turk is ranked 11th at 138 pounds by flowrestling.com and is the 99th on InterMat's top-100 seniors list. Northwestern also recruited him.

Turk said he expected to wrestle 141 in college. He was attracted to an accomplished staff dedicated to wrestling.

'All the coaches were really good wrestlers,” Turk said. 'Their whole life seems to be wrestling. That's why I like it.”

Turk has not attended a Hawkeye meet in person, but is well aware of the fan support of the program. He was attracted to that as well as the chance to train with current wrestlers in the Dan Gable Wrestling Complex.

'Everything from the rooms to the fans are why I like Iowa,” Turk said. 'I like how it's all about greatness and that is going to help me achieve my goals.”

Turk is the third current prep ranked in InterMat's top-100 ranked seniors, joining Pennsylvania's No. 16 Michael Kemmerer and OA-BCIG's Class 2A 182-pound state champ and three-time state medalist Cash Wilcke, who is 93rd. Turk is focused on being an NCAA champion at Iowa and competing internationally for the Hawkeye Wrestling Club.

'Everything I do in wrestling I want to be the best,” Turk said, 'whether it's nationals or Worlds after college.”

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