3 Hawkeyes Enter Hall of Fame

April 22, 2011

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Former Hawkeye wrestlers Joe Scarpello, Bill Zadick and Doug Schwab were officially inducted into the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa on April 16 in Waterloo, Iowa.

Scarpello was an NCAA champion in 1947 and 1950. He also has the distinction of being the only wrestler inducted into the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa (2011) and the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (2003). Both halls of fame are located in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. Scarpello died on Nov. 9, 1999.

Zadick and Schwab were NCAA champions with distinguished international careers. Zadick was an NCAA champion in 1996 and a World champion in 2006. Schwab was a 1999 NCAA champion and an Olympian in 2008.

Two-time NCAA Champion Jason Smith (Iowa State) and the 1947 NCAA Championship team from Cornell College (Mt. Vernon, Iowa) were also part of the 2011 induction class. Cornell College was recognized for its historic achievement of becoming the first team outside the state of Oklahoma, and the first in the state of Iowa, to win an NCAA team title.

“Since I have been going to the hall of fame inductions this was one of the most successful,” said former Hawkeye head coach and Hall of Fame namesake Dan Gable. “There were a couple new angles, and inducting the team in addition to what we’ve been doing before added to the event.”

Next year’s class will be selected in the coming months. The 13-member selection committee includes 10 past Glen Brand Hall of Fame inductees and three members of the media. Nominations for the hall of fame will be accepted until July 31, 2011. Contact the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum at (319) 233-0745 for more information.

Tickets are also still available for the Dan Gable retirement celebration. “Gable’s Gold: A Celebration of Dan Gable’s Legacy” will be held June 4 at the Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. Click HERE or call the UI Athletics Ticket Office at (800) IA-HAWKS for ticket information.