Tradition remains strong after century of Hawkeye wrestling

IOWA CITY - The University of Iowa wrestling tradition is based on specific tenets and now rests in the hands of coaches and wrestlers who live by those values.

Hard work, dedication, toughness, passion, success and not just winning, but winning championships are the foundation. Iowa Coach Tom Brands and current team members continue the tradition in the 100th season of Hawkeye wrestling with those ideals.

“It means all those things to be a Hawkeye,” said Grant Gambrall, a 184-pound red-shirt freshman. “It's definitely a high standard.”

The level was set by legendary coach Dan Gable, who was brought to Iowa City by visionary Gary Kurdelmeier who led the Hawkeyes for four years, including the programs first two national titles in 1975 and 1976.

Gable coached for 21 seasons, claiming 21 Big Ten titles and 15 NCAA championships with a dual record of 355-21-5.

“Gable took it to unprecedented and, probably at that time, unimaginable heights,” Brands said. “He's the guy, but you have to go back to Kurdelmeier.”

Being a Hawkeye isn't a prerequisite to lead the program. Brands, a four-time All-American and three-time national champion and Gable protege, is the engineer now, returning to the program for the 2006-07 and leading the Hawkeyes to two the last two national championships. Gable helped mold Brands' approach and he credits his staff, including assistants Doug Schwab and Terry Brands, for their contributions.

“I don't think it's a feeling that's created because of the tradition,” said Brands, an Olympic and World champion who was a three-time Big Ten champ with a 158-7-2 career mark. “I think it's a feeling created because of how I was raised.

“The urgency I have isn't to uphold tradition. The urgency I have is for the individuals that are currently here,”

The legacy isn't lost on the athletes who don the black-and-gold singlet. The ones whose sweat drips down to cover practice mats in the Dan Gable Wrestling Complex in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“It's an honor,” red-shirt freshman Matt McDonough said. “The history here is unbelievable compared to other schools in any sport.”

McDonough is a second-generation Hawkeye wrestler. His father, Mike, was a letterwinner from 1974-76. He understands the importance of the Hawkeye tradition as much as anyone.

“It's hard to explain,” McDonough said. “It's not necessarily that's a main motivation or anything I try to forget about. Every time I'm on that mat and in that singlet it's kind of in the back of your head my father was here before me and now I'm doing it.”

The program is like a family from the coaches to wrestlers to the supporters. McDonough compares it to a family. The current caretakers know what made the program successful and will work hard to keep it strong.

“As long as there's guys coming through the Iowa room that are willing to look back and help others out and keep it going it's never going to end,” McDonough said. “I really feel that way.”

Brands said passion is at the heart of the tradition. It overflows to fans, parents and expectations of the athletes coming in.

“It's not about just winning matches. It's about winning championships at every level,” Brands said of the Iowa tradition. “It's not about throwing your hat in the ring and seeing how you do. It's not a hobby.”

Hawkeye wrestling is more of a lifestyle than an activity. The names of national champions and All-Americans are posted along an entry way to the wrestling room. Some of those very wrestlers return to work out with the current wrestlers, allowing the tradition to fuel itself.

Wrestlers don't feel pressure to uphold the tradition, but instead are powered by it.

“Having those expectations and setting the bar high is a good thing,” Gambrall said. “Tradition motivates you when you step in the room, and you know all these tough guys trained and done well here.“