Community made Olympic wrestling trials huge

By Gary Barta

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As I reflect on another first for the University of Iowa and the greater Iowa City area - the staging of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials for wrestling - it seems more than appropriate to congratulate our community for embracing the opportunity to make our award-winning Carver-Hawkeye Arena the center of the universe for amateur wrestling in the United States last week.

The list of individuals who over the past 18 months planned the activities that began Wednesday with the unveiling of the bronze statue of 1972 Olympic gold medalist and former UI wrestling coach Dan Gable included city staff from Coralville, Iowa City and North Liberty, in addition to staff of the University of Iowa and the UI Athletics Department, and USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic Committee.

All deserve high praise. However, all would tell you they didn't invest the time and energy required to successfully stage these activities for personal gain or attention. Instead, they tackled this important project with the spirit that makes living and working in Iowa so unique and special.

They saw an opportunity to bring a world-class event to our area for the benefit and enjoyment of our community.

They saw the chance to stage something that would honor the participants - more than 200 talented men and women who have dedicated themselves to one goal: An opportunity to compete for gold for their country.

They saw an opportunity to add to the legacy that is wrestling at the University of Iowa.

This dedicated group of staff and volunteers seized the opportunity for the benefit of everyone in the Corridor.

We benefitted from the regional, national and international reports generated by the more than 240 members of the media that were in attendance.

We benefitted from the fans and athletes filling our hotels, shops and restaurants.

We will benefit from the goodwill generated between our community and the family and friends of those who chased Olympic dreams.

And, of course, we benefitted from the energy of the 54,000 spectators who filled Carver-Hawkeye Arena for the four sessions on Saturday and Sunday, and shattered the previous attendance record for the Trials. Many also enjoyed the ASICS Fan Fest in downtown Iowa City and the offerings available in the greater community.

No event of this magnitude and importance is staged successfully without volunteers. We will be forever grateful for their service.

A heartfelt “thank you!” to everyone who helped make it happen. Go Hawks! And Go USA!

Gary Barta is the University of Iowa's director of athletics. Comments: gary-barta@uiowa.edu