Nixt Named StarHawk

Dec. 14, 2003

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Wrestler Tyler Nixt, a senior from Greene, Iowa, has been named to the McLeodUSA StarHawks team.

Wrestling for the nationally ranked Iowa Hawkeyes at 174 pounds, Nixt began making a name for himself on the mat as a freshman in 2000-01, winning titles at the McCready and Flanagan Opens. He compiled a collegiate season record of 33-10 as a sophomore, and placed second at the Big Ten Championships that season.

During his junior year, Nixt was again runner-up at the Big Ten Championships, and ended the season with a 28-7 record overall. He recorded six major decisions and four technical falls on the season.

So far this season, Nixt is undefeated and leads the team in pins. “Tyler worked hard over the summer and came back ready to compete,” said UI Coach Jim Zalesky. “I know he wants his senior year to be his best yet.”

Zalesky is equally impressed with the dedication Nixt shows in the classroom. “Tyler is the kind of person every coach wants on their team,” Zalesky said. “He gives his all in the classroom as well as on the mat. He’s just a real hard worker both on and off the mat. You can’t ask for more than that.”

An academic all-Big Ten, President’s and Dean’s list student, Nixt is majoring in accounting. “Tyler is what I would call a quiet leader,” Zalesky continued. “He leads by example both as a student and as an athlete.

“He’s always working whether it’s academically or athletically,” Zalesky added. “That’s a really good thing for our younger wrestlers to see because it tells them that hard work and dedication lead to success all the way around.”

The StarHawks program is an initiative funded in part by McLeodUSA, a leading telecommunications company with corporate headquarters in Cedar Rapids and a long-time member of the UI’s Partners in Excellence corporate sponsorship program. The StarHawks team is a collection of student-athletes at the University of Iowa who truly represent the very best the intercollegiate athletics program at the UI has to offer. StarHawks typically excel athletically and academically, and also are active in community or leadership activities.