April 14, 2008
- The Big Ten Network: Programming Schedule
- Photo Galleries
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 25 Years of Carver-Hawkeye Arena
IOWA CITY, IA — The 2008 NCAA and Big Ten Champion Iowa wrestling team will be recognized at Kinnick Stadium prior to the start of the Iowa football spring practice/scrimmage Saturday. The team introduction will take place at approximately 1 p.m.
The Hawkeyes have also earned national recognition as U.S. Congressman David Loebsack sponsored resolution number H.RES.1100, which congratulated the team on winning the national title. Congressmen Leonard Boswell, Bruce Braley, Steve King and Tom Latham served as co-sponsors for the legislation.
Iowa won its 21st NCAA title – the first for Head Coach Tom Brands and the first for the Hawkeyes since 2000 – and crowned two individual champions and seven all-Americans at the 2008 national tournament in St. Louis. Brands was named National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) and Big Ten Coach of the Year this season. Hawkeye senior Mark Perry (165) and sophomore Brent Metcalf (149) each won NCAA titles. Metcalf was also awarded the Dan Hodge Trophy, which is annually presented to the nation’s top collegiate wrestler. Iowa’s lone Big Ten champion, Metcalf was named Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA and Big Ten Championships, and at the Division I NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals. He was also named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year. The NCAA title capped off a strong season for the Hawkeye wrestling team. The squad won Iowa’s 32nd Big Ten title – the first for Brands – at the conference championships in Minneapolis. The Hawkeyes won the Big Ten regular season title with a perfect 8-0 conference record, while posting a 21-1 overall dual record. Iowa won its last 14 dual matches.
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