Wrestling: Iowa City delegation makes its case for ’12 Trials

Mike Duroe seemed positive Wednesday about the chances of Iowa City's being the center of the nation's amateur wrestling focus next spring.

Duroe, the Cornell College wrestling coach, was in a group of nine people who made a final bid presentation Wednesday before a USA Wrestling panel in Colorado Spring, Colo., as Iowa City continued its quest to host the 2012 Olympic Wrestling and Weightlifting Trials.

Iowa City, Council Bluffs and Columbus, Ohio, are the finalists to host the event April 20-21, 2012. All three made presentations Wednesday in Colorado Springs.

“I think our presentation went extremely well,” Duroe said.

Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau President Josh Schamberger led the delegation.

“Josh knocked it out of the park as far as presenting everything from media and marketing plans to a fan fest,” Duroe said. “He really laid a lot of things out that we think are going to make our bid unique.”

Also in the Eastern Iowa delegation were former Iowa coach Dan Gable, Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands and former Hawkeye wrestler Lincoln McIlravy. All three are Olympic medalists. Duroe, an international coach for USA Wrestling, said he, Gable and Brands were able to speak to the selection panel.

“The main points by Brands and Gable were about culture,” Duroe said. “Culture of the state, region and educated fans, who are people that are passionate about wrestling.”

Iowa City and the University of Iowa have been a gateway for Olympic-caliber athletes and coaches. Seventeen former Hawkeyes have been on U.S. Olympic teams. Duroe, Gable, Tom Brands and Terry Brands have done significant coaching for USA Wrestling.

“If you add the years of coaching with USA Wrestling, you have almost 80 years of loyal and dedicated service to our national governing body,” Duroe said. “We have the experience.”

Duroe also cited the university's experience in hosting NCAA and Big Ten wrestling meets.

"I think that gives our bid a huge boost,” he said.

Attendance is a vital component in earning the right to host this type of event, and no program in college wrestling can boast the crowds the Hawkeyes attract.

According to Iowa's wrestling media guide, the Hawkeyes have been involved in 48 of the top 49 best-attended college dual meets. And 32 of those duals were against Iowa State, showing the support for the sport stretches across the state.

“The potential for a lot of wrestling fans is incredible,” Duroe said. “Within a 200-mile radius of Iowa City, there are 14.7 million people. A lot of fans can just drive.”

---- USA Wrestling has indicated it may make a site decision by Monday.