Cornell's Dick Simmons honored with Hall of Fame induction

CEDAR RAPIDS — He was affectionately deemed 'The Fixer' by a former Cornell College football coach.

At that time, Dick Simmons was an athletic trainer for the Rams. Well-known coach Bob Thurness couldn't have known that nickname would still be accurate decades and a few other positions later. Simmons remains the go-to guy when problems need corrected.

Now, 'The Fix' is in. To be exact, he is in the National Wrestling Coaches Association NCAA Division III Hall of Fame. Simmons was one of eight members inducted during a ceremony Thursday night, preceding the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships at U.S. Cellular Center.

The honor will likely settle in more when he's finished serving as tournament director of this tournament for the sixth time in nine years.

'Thursday night was really special,' said Simmons, Cornell's Associate Director of Athletics. 'My goal was not to get emotional, which I didn't. I'm pretty proud of myself.

'I got emotional when I got back to the hotel room when it sunk in a little.'

He joins Hall of Famers Cornell's 1947 national title team, former Cornell wrestling coaches Steve DeVries and Barron Bremner and Rams four-time All-American Shawn Voigt.

'We're really blessed and lucky to have him around our program and athletes,' Cornell Coach Mike Duroe said. 'He's been a big part of Cornell's wrestling success.'

Simmons started at host Cornell as head athletic trainer in 1991, following his graduation from William Penn University in Oskaloosa. The next year DeVries approached him to help organize the program's Matman Invitational.

'That is what started it,' said Simmons, who took on more responsibility with each year. 'One thing after another, it's led to where we are now.'

As Simmons transitioned from athletic training to administration, he said he realized he wanted to serve NCAA administrative roles. He has been a member of the D-III Wrestling Committee since 2011 and is the current committee chairman.

'Coaches and student athletes are great people to work with,' the Brooklyn native said. 'It's a tough, hard-nosed environment with hard workers. It was the way I was brought up.'

He was instrumental in the national tournament, coming to Cedar Rapids. He worked with current Cornell Athletics Director and former Iowa Conference Commissioner John Cochrane to secure the bid in 2008. The USCC and Cedar Rapids Ice Arena — when the USCC underwent renovations — have been a regular home for the event.

'It snowballed from there,' said Simmons, noting it had been a vision of his and DeVries' for years. 'We got it. I ran it.'

He experienced chills during the Parade of All-Americans his first year. His favorite moment was when Cornell's Alex Coolidge captured the 197-pound title in 2014, right here at USCC. He excused himself from his position to be a fan.

'Our rule is if you are at the head table there is no cheering and be neutral and professional,' Simmons said. 'Before the match started, I turned to all my committee members and said, 'I'm out of here.' I went off to the side and cheered. That was special.'

Simmons is a fixture at 'The Hilltop,' devoting his time to numerous Cornell sports teams and supervising their events. He loves all sports, but has been very devoted to wrestling.

'Dick has given so much to wrestling,' Duroe said. 'He's a passionate guy. He is so passionate about the sport.'

SEVEN COME 11

A regulation college wrestling match is seven minutes. Luther duo Tristan Zurfluh (157) and heavyweight Conner Herman needed some extra time to earn first-round wins. Both earned victories after a second overtime tiebreaker, competing for 11 minutes apiece,

'They train hard, so they are ready if they need to go that far, but I'd rather not,' Luther Coach Dave Micthell said with a slight laugh. 'It's awfully nerve-racking. They can go if they need.'

Zurfluh topped Wabash's fifth-seed Nick Bova, 6-5, with a decisive escape in the final 30-second period.

'I feel really comfortable about Zurfluh at 157 the longer a match goes,' Mitchell said. 'He's a fighter. That is how he got here. To beat the fifth seed is an indication of the fight he has. I feel good about him going that long.'

Herman, the seventh-seed, cinched up a cradle in the final 30-second period for an 8-5 win over John Carroll's Will Porter. Herman is a three-time national qualifier, looking for his second All-American finish.

'Herman is a competitor,' Mitchell said. 'He's not going to beat himself. He competes all the time. He's been in those before and has come out on top a lot of times.'

TOPPLED TOP SEEDS

Three top seeds were defeated in the first round of competition. All of them involved area competitors.

The first came at 133 pounds. Brockport State's Eric Velez upset Wartburg's No. 1 Connor Campo, 9-5. Coe's defending NCAA champion and top seed Farai Sewera won his pigtail match before dropping a 5-4 decision to Connor Brummett, of Wabash (Ind.) at 165.

Cornell's Trevor Engle added to the fallen favorites, beating Derek Arnold, of Ursinus, at 149. Engle scored a takedown with four seconds left for a 7-5 victory.

'I always tell myself I'm the baddest competitor out there on that mat at that time,' Engle said. 'No one has trained harder than me the last four years, so why not go out there and get it.'

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