Malcom likes family feel of Iowa wrestling

Matt Malcom identified with the tight-knit atmosphere within the University of Iowa wrestling program.

His experience reminded him of his Western Iowa home.

The Glenwood senior confirmed Friday that he verbally committed to wrestle for the Hawkeyes and head coach Tom Brands next year.

'The team feels like one big family,” Malcom said. 'That is what I'm used to being from a small town.”

Malcom has followed the Hawkeyes from an early age. He liked the program as a whole. Iowa was his top choice and an aspiration since he was young. Malcom said he chose the Hawkeyes over Iowa State, Grand View and Augustana (S.D.).

'Iowa has always been there,” Malcom said. 'Once I talked to them, I felt like I really fit in. I really like it there,”

Malcom has a 128-31 career mark for the Rams, placing fifth at 152 pounds of the 2015 Class 3A state meet, going 47-6. He is a three-time state qualifier, going 1-2 at 132 as a sophomore and wrestling at 120 as a freshman.

He also competed in the Junior Nationals at Fargo, N.D., and helped represent Team Iowa at Junior National Duals in Tulsa, Okla., during the summer. Malcom turned some heads and proved something to himself.

'This was my first year wrestling freestyle and Greco-Roman and I was able to compete with some of the best guys,” Malcom said. 'It opened my eyes.”

Malcom said he plans to wrestle at 152 again for Glenwood and will wrestle 157 or 165 for the Hawkeyes.

'I'm just excited,” Malcom said.

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