Iowa wrestling championships: History and records from the dynasty

Iowa Hawkeye wrestling is unique. Few teams garner a fan base quite as passionate, sell out an arena as often and have the cult following as intense as this legendary wrestling program does year after year. The Black and Gold Iowa faithful know wrestling. 

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The Hawkeyes are now led by a coach who won NCAA and Olympic titles for the program and most recently coached one of the most dominant college teams in NCAA history. Head coach Tom Brands started competing for the Hawkeyes in 1988, and he's been at the school almost every year since.

Under Brands, the Hawks have won four NCAA titles, trained 21 Olympic and World Team members and produced 13 NCAA champions.  Three Hawkeyes have also won the Hodge Trophy, wrestling's equivalent to the Heisman Trophy; Brands coached two of those three athletes. The team has also won six Big Ten Championships and produced 89 All-Americans. Along with his brother Terry and his assistant coach Ryan Morningstar, Iowa has continued a history of excellence that began well before their time. 

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The first team championship came in 1975 under head coach Gary Kurdelmeier, an NCAA champion for the Hawkeyes himself in 1958. Kurdelmeier would go on to be inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame, but his biggest contribution was creating a winning culture and a dominant program that went on to win 22 more team titles. 

Here's everything you need to know about the Iowa wrestling dynasty, including season-by-season records and breakdowns of every one of the Hawkeyes' championships.

Iowa wrestling quick facts

Coach: Tom Brands
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
All-time record (through the 2020-21 season): 1031-231-31
NCAA championships: 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2021
Conference tournament championships: 1915, 1916, 1958, 1962, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2020, 2021

Iowa wrestling has won a total of 24 national championships, including back-to-back titles from 1975-1976 as well as consecutive titles from 1978-1986, 1991-1993, 1995-2000 and 2008-2010. The team also ended the 2019-2020 season ranked No. 1 in the NWCA poll with ten All-Americans and won the 2021 team title. 

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Iowa wrestling statistical leaders

SEASON WINS: 

1. Barry Davis (1981-82): 46
2. Tom Brands (1990-91): 45
3. Mark Reiland (1990-91): 44
T4. Barry Davis (1984-85),Terry Brands (1990-91): 43
T6. Royce Alger (1987-88), Troy Steiner (1991-92): 42
T8. Chuck Yagla (1975-76), Ed Banach (1979-80), Tom Ryan (1990-91) & Tom Brands (1991-92): 41

CAREER WINS: 

1. Barry Davis (1981-85):162
2. Tom Brands (1988-92):158
3. Troy Steiner (1990-93): 148
4. Ed Banach (1980-83): 141
5. Terry Brands (1988-92): 137
6. Duane Goldman (1983-86): 132
T7. Jim Zalesky (1981-84) 131, Jim Heffernan (1983-87) & Royce Alger (1984-88): 131
10. Doug Schwab (1998-2001): 130

SEASON PINS: 

1. Bruce Kinseth (1978-79): 23
T2. John Bowlsby (1976-77) & Ed Banach (1982-83): 22
4. Brent Metcalf (2008-09): 20
T5. Randy Lewis (1978-79; 1979-80), Ed Banach (1981-82), Royce Alger (1987-88) & Luke Moffitt (2001-02): 19
T10. Rico Chiapparelli (1982-83), Mark Reiland (1988-89), Terry Brands (1990-91), Mark Reiland (1990-91):18

CAREER PINS: 

1. Ed Banach (1980-83): 73
2. Randy Lewis (1978-81): 64
3. John Bowlsby (1975-79): 59
T4. Rico Chiapparelli (1983-87), Royce Alger (1984-88): 49
6. Terry Brands (1988-92): 48
7. Brent Metcalf (2008-10): 47
8. Tom Brands (1988-92): 46
9. Mark Reiland (1989-92): 45
10. Chuck Yagla (1973-76): 44

Iowa wrestling: Olympians

Iowa wrestling has had 18 Olympians since 1928. Five have won a gold medal. 

YEAR	ATHLETE	CITY	WEIGHT	MEDAL
1928	Leslie Beers	Amsterdam	158.5
1948	Joe Scarpello	London	174
1960	Terry McCann	Rome	125.5	Gold
1968	Steve Combs	Mexico City	171.5
1980, 1992	Chris Campbell	Moscow, Barcelona	180.5, 198	Bronze (1992)
1984	Ed Banach	Los Angeles	198	Gold
1980	Chuck Yagla	Moscow	1449.5
1980, 1984	Randy Lewis	Moscow, Los Angeles	136.5	Gold (1984)
1984	Lou Banach	Los Angeles	220	Gold
1984, 1988	Barry Davis	Los Angeles, Seoul	125.5	Silver (1984)
1996	Tom Brands	Atlanta	136.5	Gold
2000	Terry Brands	Sydney	127.75	Bronze
2000	Lincoln McIlravy	Sydney	152	Bronze
2004	Joe Williams	Athens	163
2008	Steve Mocco	Beijing	264.5
2008	Doug Schwab	Beijing	145.5
2008	Mike Zadick	Beijing	132
2016	Daniel Dennis	Rio	125.5
2021	Thomas Gilman	Tokyo	125.5	Bronze

Iowa wrestling stats, records

Here are some of the most remarkable stats from the Iowa dynasty (as of June, 2020)

• The Hawkeyes have led the nation in attendance for each of Brands' 14 years as head coach. The program broke a new attendance record in 2020, averaging 12,568.4 fans. The 2020 season marked the first time that any team in NCAA wrestling history has averaged over 10,000 or more fans for every home event. The team also set the record for the largest attendance at a single event, drawing 42,287 fans to the Grapple on the Gridiron even in November 2015. 
• Iowa has not lost a dual to in-state rival Iowa State since head coach . The Hawkeyes are 16-0 against the Cyclones. 
• Iowa has the second-longest winning streak in NCAA wrestling history with 69 wins. Oklahoma State broke Iowa's streak in 2011 when the tied the Hawkeyes. 
• Iowa has won the most consecutive national titles of any , and the streak of nine titles, is second among streaks for any Division I men's sports team in the NCAA, eclipsed only by Arkansas 12 consecutive indoor track and field titles. Iowa set it's record from 1978-1986. 

Iowa wrestling season records from 1910 to today

Here's an overview of every Iowa wrestling season.

SEASON	COACH	RECORD	CONFERENCE finish	NCAA TOURNAMENT FINISH
1910-1911	E.G. Schroeder	0-1	N/A	N/A
1911-1912	E.G. Schroeder	1-1	N/A	N/A
1912-1913	E.G. Schroeder	2-0	N/A	N/A
1913-1914	E.G. Schroeder	1-0	N/A	N/A
1914-1915	E.G. Schroeder	1-0-1	N/A	N/A
1915-1916	Pat Wright	2-0-1	N/A	N/A
1916-1917	Pat Wright	0-2	N/A	N/A
1917-1918	Pat Wright	1-0	N/A	N/A
1918-1919	Pat Wright	0-1	N/A	N/A
1919-1920	Pat Wright	0-3	N/A	N/A
1920-1921	E.G. Schroeder	4-1	N/A	N/A
1921-1922	Mike Howard	2-2	N/A	N/A
1922-1923	Mike Howard	4-1	N/A	N/A
1923-1924	Mike Howard	5-1	N/A	N/A
1924-1925	Mike Howard	4-1	3rd	N/A
1925-1926	Mike Howard	5-1	3rd	N/A
1926-1927	Mike Howard	5-1	9th	N/A
1927-1928	Mike Howard	1-5	10th	T9th
1928-1929	Mike Howard	0-5-1	N/A	N/A
1929-1930	Mike Howard	2-3	N/A	N/A
1930-1931	Mike Howard	3-3	N/A	N/A
1931-1932	Mike Howard	1-4	N/A	N/A
1932-1933	Mike Howard	0-5	N/A	N/A
1933-1934	Mike Howard	2-1-2	3rd	T13rd
1934-1935	Mike Howard	4-1	2nd	T8th
1935-1936	Mike Howard	5-0	2nd	9th
1936-1937	Mike Howard	3-3-1	7th	N/A
1937-1938	Mike Howard	1-6-1	8th	N/A
1938-1939	Mike Howard	3-3-1	5th	N/A
1939-1940	Mike Howard	3-3	6th	N/A
1940-1941	Mike Howard	4-3	2nd	T10th
1941-1942	Mike Howard	6-1	4th	N/A
1942-1943	Mike Howard	3-0	5th	N/A
1943-1944	Mike Howard	0-0	T6th	N/A
1944-1945	Mike Howard	0-2	2nd	N/A
1945-1946	Mike Howard	4-1	5th	N/A
1946-1947	Mike Howard	4-1	T3rd	7th
1947-1948	Mike Howard	5-1	T2nd	T5th
1948-1949	Mike Howard	3-2-1	7th	T7th
1949-1950	Mike Howard	4-2	5th	6th
1950-1951	Mike Howard	4-2-2	T6th	N/A
1951-1952	Mike Howard	0-5-2	7th	T14th
1952-1953	David McCuskey	3-4-1	T5th	N/A
1953-1954	David McCuskey	4-4	4th	T4th
1954-1955	David McCuskey	9-2-1	2nd	6th
1955-1956	David McCuskey	6-2	2nd	4th
1956-1957	David McCuskey	7-2	3rd	8th
1957-1958	David McCuskey	10-3	1st	5th
1958-1959	David McCuskey	10-2	2nd	4th
1959-1960	David McCuskey	4-4-1	2nd	4th
1960-1961	David McCuskey	5-6	4th	T21st
1961-1962	David McCuskey	7-2	1st	3rd
1962-1963	David McCuskey	8-4	2nd	7th
1963-1964	David McCuskey	7-3	2nd	T12th
1964-1965	David McCuskey	5-6	T9th	N/A
1965-1966	David McCuskey	2-7-2	T8th	N/A
1966-1967	David McCuskey	7-8	8th	N/A
1967-1968	David McCuskey	13-3	T2nd	T31st
1968-1969	David McCuskey	15-2	2nd	7th
1969-1970	David McCuskey	15-1	2nd	5th
1970-1971	David McCuskey	12-4-1	2nd	T32nd
1971-1972	David McCuskey	11-0-1	2nd	11th
1972-1973	Gary Kurdelmeier	10-4-2	2nd	T7th
1973-1974	Gary Kurdelmeier	10-2-2	1st	5th
1974-1975	Gary Kurdelmeier	17-0-1	1st	1st
1975-1976	Gary Kurdelmeier	14-1	1st	1st
1976-1977	Dan Gable	17-1-1	1st	3rd
1977-1978	Dan Gable	15-1	1st	1st
1978-1979	Dan Gable	19-0	1st	1st
1979-1980	Dan Gable	17-1	1st	1st
1980-1981	Dan Gable	21-1	1st	1st
1981-1982	Dan Gable	16-0-1	1st	1st
1982-1983	Dan Gable	17-1	1st	1st
1983-1984	Dan Gable	16-1	1st	1st
1984-1985	Dan Gable	18-0	1st	1st
1985-1986	Dan Gable	16-1	1st	1st
1986-1987	Dan Gable	19-2	1st	2nd
1987-1988	Dan Gable	16-3	1st	2nd
1988-1989	Dan Gable	17-2	1st	6th
1989-1990	Dan Gable	19-2-1	1st	3rd
1990-1991	Dan Gable	25-0-1	1st	1st
1991-1992	Dan Gable	16-0-0	1st	1st
1992-1993	Dan Gable	14-1-1	1st	1st
1993-1994	Dan Gable	11-3-0	1st	2nd
1994-1995	Dan Gable	14-0	1st	1st
1995-1996	Dan Gable	17-0	1st	1st
1996-1997	Dan Gable	15-1	1st	1st
1997-1998	Jim Zalesky	13-3	1st	1st
1998-1999	Jim Zalesky	13-4	2nd	1st
1999-2000	Jim Zalesky	18-0	1st	1st
2000-2001	Jim Zalesky	18-4	3rd	2nd
2001-2002	Jim Zalesky	16-4	2nd	4th
2002-2003	Jim Zalesky	17-3	2nd	8th
2003-2004	Jim Zalesky	11-4	1st	2nd
2004-2005	Jim Zalesky	10-5	4th	7th
2005-2006	Jim Zalesky	11-7	6th	4th
2006-2007	Tom Brands	14-5	3rd	8th
2007-2008	Tom Brands	21-1	1st	1st
2008-2009	Tom Brands	24-0	1st	1st
2009-2010	Tom Brands	23-0	1st	1st
2010-2011	Tom Brands	15-0-1	2nd	3rd
2011-2012	Tom Brands	14-4	3rd	3rd
2012-2013	Tom Brands	20-3	3rd	4th
2013-2014	Tom Brands	15-2	2nd	4th
2014-2015	Tom Brands	17-1	T-1st	2nd
2015-2016	Tom Brands	16-1	2nd	5th
2016-2017	Tom Brands	13-2	3rd	4th
2017-2018	Tom Brands	12-3	4th	3rd
2018-2019	Tom Brands	14-1	3rd	4th
2019-2020	Tom Brands	13-0	1st	N/A
2020-2021	Tom Brands	5-0	1st	1st

Iowa wrestling championship breakdowns

Here is a closer look at all 23 national championships with videos, photos, stats and analysis from each of Iowa's title runs: 

Watch the full match between Iowa 1975 national champion Chuck Yagla and Olympian Lee Kemp of Wisconsin.

1975

NCAA Champions:
Chuck Yagla (150 pounds)
Dan Holm (158 pounds)

All-Americans: 
Chris Campbell (2nd, 177 pounds)
Greg Stevens (2nd, 190 pounds)
John Bowlsby (3rd, Unlimited)

Iowa's first national title came 65 years after the establishment of the program, but this win set in motion a dynasty that would continue for decades. Led by national champions Chuck Yagla and Dan Holm, the Hawkeyes finished with a solid 102 points in the 1975 tournament to earn a convincing win over second-place Oklahoma. The team also put five athletes on the podium, setting a new school record for number of All-Americans at the NCAA tournament. The win marked the first national title for Gary Kurdelmeier, but he wasn't done yet. 

1976

National Champions: 
Brad Smith ( 142 pounds)
Chuck Yagla (150 pounds)
Chris Campbell (177 pounds)

All-Americans: 
Tim Cysewski (3rd, 134 pounds)
Dan Wagemann (2nd, 167 pounds)
Bud Palmer (3rd, 190 pounds)
Doug Benschoter (5th, Unlimited)

That 1975 championship set the new standard. In his final year of coaching before moving on to athletic administration, Kurdelmeier built upon his success the previous year and guided Iowa to its first back-to-back titles in program history. Yagla led the team with his second individual national title, but teammates Brad Smith and Chris Campbell also won gold. Tim Cysewski, Dan Wagemann, Bud Palmer, Doug Benschoter earned All-American honors to again break the program record for All-Americans at the tournament, a mark set the previous year. Iowa State finished 37.5 points behind the reigning Hawkeyes, while Yagla became the first Iowa wrestler to earn the Most Outstanding Wrestler award at the tournament. 

“I had a good career at Iowa and was there during the start of the so-called dynasty,” Yagla told in 2013. "But my freshman year was Dan Gable’s first year as an assistant coach and Gary Kurdelmeier’s first year as a head coach. So it was only partly because I was there that good things began to happen at Iowa.”

1978 (

All-Americans: 
Dan Glenn (3rd, 118 pounds)
Randy Lewis (2nd, 126 pounds)
Scott Trizzino (3rd, 142 pounds)
Bruce Kinseth (2nd, 150 pounds)
Mike DeAnna (6th, 167 pounds)
John Bowlsby (5th, Unlimited) 

1978 brought a narrow victory, but a victory nonetheless for the Hawkeyes, and the year signaled the first in what would ultimately become 15 total for the famous Hawkeye coach Dan Gable. Iowa did not have a single national champion on this championship team, but six All-Americans allowed the team to edge out Iowa State by half a point to earn its third title in four years. 

1979

National Champions: 
Randy Lewis (126 pounds)
Bruce Kinseth (150 pounds)

All-Americans: 
Dan Glenn (3rd, 118 pounds)
Scott Trizzino (2nd, 142 pounds)
Mike DeAnna (2nd, 167 pounds)
Bud Palmer (2nd, 177 pounds)

Bruce Kinseth, a national runner-up in 1979, highlighted Gable's and Iowa's second national championship as he pinned his way through both the Big Ten and NCAA tournament to set the program record of in-season pins at 23. Joining Kinseth on the top of the podium for the Hawkeyes in 1979 was Randy Lewis, also a national runner-up the year before. The Hawkeyes again beat out in-state rival Iowa State for the title, but this time extended the gap between first and second to 34.5 points.

1980

National champions: 
Randy Lewis (134 pounds)
Ed Banach (177 pounds)

All-Americans: 
Dan Glenn (2nd, 118 pounds) 
Lenny Zalesky (4th, 142 pounds)
King Mueller (3rd, 150 pounds)
Mark Stevenson (7th, 158 pounds)
Doug Anderson (8th, 167 pounds)
Dean Phinney (3rd, Unlimited)

Iowa added two more national champions to the history books along with six additional All-Americans, setting a new school record on the way to winning its third consecutive national title. The team beat out second-place finisher Oklahoma State by 23.75 points, despite the Cowboys also finishing the tournament with two national champions. As college wrestling moved into a new decade, so did the Hawkeyes, and this decade would be marked with even more title wins for the Black and Gold. 

1981 (

National champions: 
Ed Banach (177 pounds) 
Lou Banach (Unlimited) 

All-Americans: 
Barry Davis (7th, 118 pounds)
Tim Riley (7th, 126 pounds)
Randy Lewis (7th, 134 pounds)
Lenny Zalesky (2nd, 142 pounds) 
Scott Trizzino (2nd, 150 pounds) 
Jim Zalesky (5th, 158 pounds) 
Mike DeAnna (2nd, 167 pounds) 

The 1981 NCAA champion was the year of the Banach Brothers. Twins Lou and Ed Banach each captured NCAA titles as they helped propel Iowa to its fourth consecutive NCAA title. With Ed Banach earning his second title at 177 pounds and Lou Banach picking up gold at heavyweight, these two athletes showed the world what the Banach family was made of. The Hawkeyes also put nine athletes on the podium at the NCAA tournament, the most All-Americans the team had ever produced in one season until 2020. In addition, this year's team became the winningest team in program history after earning victory in 21 duals during the season. 1981 was unquestionably a banner year for the program. 

1982

National Champions: 
Barry Davis (118 pounds) 
Jim Zalesky (158 pounds) 
Pete Bush (190 pounds) 

All-Americans: 
Jeff Kerber (6th, 134 pounds) 
Lenny Zalesky (2nd, 142 pounds
Dave Fitzgerald (7th, 167 pounds) 
Lou Banach (3rd, Unlimited) 
Ed Banach (2nd, 177 pounds) 

Another Iowa-Iowa State NCAA championship race once again ended with Gable's Hawkeyes hoisting the national trophy again. The Hawkeyes put three champs on the podium this year and had two sets of brothers earn All-American honors for a total of 131.75 team points. Barry Davis, a 118-pounder who finished seventh the year before, set the school record for season wins during the Hawkeyes' 1981-1982 campaign, posting a total of 43 victories, a mark that he later broke himself. Iowa also posted an undefeated record this season as the team added to its trophy collection. 

1983 ()

National champions: 
Barry Davis (126 pounds) 
Jim Zalesky (158 pounds) 
Ed Banach (190 pounds) 
Lou Banach (Unlimited) 

All-Americans: 
Tim Riley (5th, 118 pounds) 
Jeff Kerber (5th, 134 pounds) 
Harlan Kistler (3rd, 142 pounds) 
Jim Heffernan (4th, 150 pounds) 
Duane Goldman (2nd, 177 pounds) 

Four national champions, nine All-Americans, and another title run for the Hawkeyes, that's what 1983 was all about for Dan Gable and his squad. Nine athletes on this team also won conference titles and paced the team to a 17-1 dual season record as the Hawkeyes continued to chase and break team as well as sport records. The year was monumental not just for the team's success, but also because it marked the year when Davis, Zalensky and both Banach brothers became multiple-time NCAA champions together. The Hawkeyes had found their dominant rhythm and would go on to win three more consecutive NCAA titles to extend their winning streak to nine. 

1984 (

National champions: 
Jim Zalesky (158 pounds) 

All-Americans: 
Tim Riley (5th, 118 pounds) 
Mark Trizzino (4th, 126 pounds) 
Greg Randall (2nd, 134 pounds) 
Jeff Kerber (6th, 142 pounds) 
Marty Kistler (2nd, 150 pounds) 
Lindley Kistler (2nd, 167 pounds) 
Duane Goldman (2nd, 177 pounds) 

The degree of separation between Iowa and its opponents continued to grow in 1984 as the team dominated the NCAA championships with 123.75 points, a national champion, and eight All-Americans. Led by three-time NCAA champion Jim Zalesky, the Hawkeyes had four additional athletes in the NCAA finals, including another family connection as the Kistler brothers each finished second at 150 and 167 pounds. Head coach Dan Gable was building something special, and his reputation and success would land him the head coaching job for Team USA at the 1984 Olympics. 

1985 (

National champions: 
Barry Davis (126 pounds) 
Marty Kistler (158 pounds) 

All-Americans: 
Matt Egeland (2nd, 118 pounds) 
Greg Randall (5th, 134 pounds) 
Kevin Dresser (4th, 142 pounds) 
Jim Heffernan (2nd, 150 pounds) 
Lindley Kistler (5th, 167 pounds) 
Rico Chiapparelli (5th, 177 pounds) 
Duane Goldman (2nd, 190 pounds) 

The 1985 championships was all Gable's world, and everyone else was just living in it. The Iowa Hawkeyes dominated the NCAA tournament with two national champions and five NCAA finalists, the second year in a row that the Black and Gold sent five athletes into the final match. For the third time in his career, Iowa's Davis also won a national title, and his performance in the 126-pound weight class earned him Outstanding Wrestling honors. A monumental undefeated season and another title run for the Hawkeyes ended with an 18-0 dual record and nine All-Americans. "Fight for Iowa" was becoming a local and national anthem in the wrestling community. 

1986 () 

National champions: 
Brad Penrith (126 pounds) 
Kevin Dresser (142 pounds) 
Jim Heffernan (150 pounds) 
Marty Kistler (167 pounds) 
Duane Goldman (190 pounds) 

All-Americans: 
Greg Randall (2nd, 134 pounds) 
Royce Alger (5th, 158 pounds) 
Rico Chiapparelli (4th, 177 pounds) 

In front of a hometown crowd and roaring chants of Hawkeye support, Dan Gable led the Hawkeyes to their ninth consecutive championship highlighted by five individual champions, three additional All-Americans and a handful of broken records. Marty Kistler won his second consecutive NCAA title while previous All-Americans Kevin Dresser, Jim Heffernan and Duane Goldman found their way to the top of the podium for the first time in their careers. As a team, Iowa broke the NCAA scoring record with 158 points, a whopping 73.25 points ahead of NCAA runner-up Oklahoma, and tied the NCAA record for most consecutive NCAA titles. The Iowa streak would be broken the following year, but in 1986, all was golden in Iowa City. 

1991 ()

National champions: 
Tom Brands (134 pounds) 
Mark Reiland (167 pounds) 

All-Americans: 
Chad Zaputil (2nd, 118 pounds) 
Terry Brands (2nd, 126 pounds) 
Troy Steiner (2nd, 142 pounds) 
Terry Steiner (3rd, 150 pounds) 
Tom Ryan (2nd, 158 pounds) 
Bart Chelesvig (3rd, 177 pounds) 
Travis Fiser (6th, 190 pounds) 

Five years after their last title, the Iowa Hawkeyes were back on top again, as Dan Gable compiled yet another championship team led by elite performers. His streak in the 1990's would be shorter than his earlier title runs, but nevertheless, three consecutive national titles showed the world that Iowa wasn't done fighting. Leading the way for the Hawks was two-time NCAA champion Tom Brands, a man who would go on to coach the Hawkeyes to even more NCAA titles. Mark Reiland also won gold, while Brands' brother Terry, Chad Zaputil, Troy Steiner and another future NCAA title winning head coach Tom Ryan finished as NCAA runner-ups. Another banner year for the Hawks came to a close with nine All-Americans and a championship banner for Carver-Hawkeye Arena. 

1992 ()

National champions: 
Terry Brands (126 pounds) 
Tom Brands (134 pounds) 
Troy Steiner (142 pounds) 

All-Americans: 
Chad Zaputil (2nd, 118 pounds) 
Terry Steiner (5th, 150 pounds) 
Tom Ryan (3rd, 158 pounds) 
Bart Chelesvig (3rd, 177 pounds)
Travis Fiser (5th, 190 pounds) 
John Oostendorp (5th, 275 pounds) 

All three national champions from the 1992 winning Hawkeye team went on to be impactful coaches at the collegiate level after their own athletic careers concluded. But at this time, they were simply the talented, determined young men that propelled Iowa to a second-consecutive national title. The lightweights proved to be Hawkeye territory as Chad Zaputil made the finals at 118 pounds and Tom and Terry Brands along with Troy Steiner swept 126, 134 and 142. Tom Brands was ultimately named the Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament as he picked up his third career title. The season also marked Gable's third undefeated year of his Iowa coaching career and the 19th time that the Hawkeyes won the conference tournament in a row. 

1993 ()

National champions: 
Lincoln McIlravy (142 pounds) 
Terry Steiner (150 pounds) 

All-Americans: 
Chad Zaputil (2nd, 118 pounds) 
Troy Steiner (3rd, 134 pounds) 
Ray Brinzer (3rd, 177 pounds) 
Joel Sharratt (2nd, 190 pounds) 
John Oostendorp (3rd, 275 pounds) 

The 1993 championship didn't produce the most amount of NCAA champions Iowa had seen, and the tournament didn't yield the greatest number of Hawkeye All-Americans in program history. But the season did produce a second Steiner NCAA champ and the rise of future three-time champion Lincoln McIlravy, both middleweight athletes who climbed their way to the top through adversity. Steiner earned the national tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler honor, and Iowa capped off another winning year with head coach Dan Gable winning Big Ten Coach of the Year honors for the first time in his career. The team would fall twenty points short of the title in 1994, but Gable came back in 1995 for the start of another program title streak. 

1995 ()

National champions: 
Jeff McGinness (126 pounds) 

All-Americans: 
Mike Mena (3rd, 118 pounds) 
Mark Ironside (6th, 134 pounds) 
Bill Zadick (5th, 142 pounds) 
Lincoln McIlravy (2nd, 150 pounds) 
Daryl Weber (6th, 158 pounds) 
Matt Nerem (6th, 167 pounds) 
Ray Brinzer (3rd, 177 pounds) 
Joel Sharratt (2nd, 190 pounds) 

The Hawks may not have won the 1994 championship, but they came back with a vengeance in 1995 and put nine of ten wrestlers on the podium with one wrestler, Jeff McGinness, taking home a national title. Gable was continuing to establish a deep team of gifted athletes who would go on to be some of the best to ever wrestle for the Black and Gold. At the conference level, Iowa remained dominant as well, earning a 22nd conference Big Ten tournament title and remaining undefeated during the dual season. Wins were expected in Iowa, and for a team that fell just short of gold in 1994, 1995 felt like a return to normalcy. 

1996 ()

National champions: 
Bill Zadick (142 pounds) 
Joe Williams (158 pounds) 
Daryl Weber (167 pounds) 

All-Americans: 
Mike Mena (5th, 118 pounds) 
Mark Ironside (3rd, 134 pounds) 
Mike Uker (8th, 150 pounds) 
Lee Fullhart (4th, 190 pounds) 

In a year full of honors for the Hawkeyes, Bill Zadick, Joe Williams and Daryl Weber stand out as the three champions from the 1995-1996 Hawkeye team that won its 16th NCAA tournament and its 23rd straight conference tournament. Zadick and Weber stood on the podium for the first time as they ended their collegiate careers in a spot that had a eluded them in the past. Sophomore Joe Williams won the first of his three titles, while Mark Ironside, who would go on to be one of just three Hawkeyes to ever win the Hodge Trophy, earned his first All-American honor. Three additional Hawkeyes, Mike Mena, Mike Uker and Lee Fullheart, also collected All-American honors as Iowa head coach Dan Gable was once again honored as the Big Ten Coach of the Year.

1997 ()

National champions: 
Jesse Whitmer (118 pounds) 
Mark Ironside (134 pounds) 
Lincoln McIlravy (150 pounds) 
Joe Williams (158 pounds) 
Lee Fullhart (190 pounds) 

All-Americans: 
Mike Mena (2nd, 126 pounds) 
Kasey Gilliss (6th, 142 pounds) 
Mike Uker (5th, 167 pounds) 

Five national champions in 1997 gave the Hawkeyes a new NCAA points record with 170 with second-place Oklahoma State finishing over 50 points behind at 113.5. This squad, led by NCAA champs Jesse Whitmer, Mark Ironside, Lincoln McIlravy, Joe Williams, Lee Fullhart, is considered to be one of the best Hawkeye lineups in program history given the amount of points scored and the resumes of these stars. The Hawks also had an NCAA finalist in Mike Mena and two additional All-Americans in Kasey Gilliss and Mike Uker. 

1998 ()

National champions: 
Mark Ironside (134 pounds) 
Jeff McGinness (142 pounds) 
Joe Williams (167 pounds) 

All-Americans: 
Eric Juergens (3rd, 118 pounds) 
Lee Fullhart (3rd, 190 pounds) 
Wes Hand (8th, 275 pounds) 

A new coach, the same tradition of success. Following the retirement of head coach Dan Gable, three-time Hawkeye national champion Jim Zalesky took the reins and kept the momentum rolling. Zalesky led Iowa to a narrow and fiercely-fought title win over Minnesota by 13 points in 1998 headlined by the success of the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler Joe Williams. Joining Williams on the top of the podium were multiple-time NCAA champions Mark Ironside and Jeff McGinness. The Hawks also had two wrestlers finish third and a seventh All-American in Wes Hand finish eighth. Gable made his mark in Iowa City, but Zalesky showed that the heart of the program remained strong as he guided Iowa into a new era. 

1999 ()

National champions: 
Doug Schwab (141 pounds) 
T.J. Williams (149 pounds) 

All-Americans: 
Eric Juergens (3rd, 133 pounds) 
Jamie Heidt (8th, 157 pounds) 
Lee Fullhart (2nd, 197 pounds) 

The Hawkeyes ended the decade at the 1999 NCAA championship winning their eighth title in 10 years and producing two national champions in Doug Schwab and T.J. Williams. Both athletes also won conference titles along with Jamie Heidt. The race for the title in 1999 however, was the closest the Hawks had been a part of in 20 years, beating Minnesota by just two points. The team separated itself from the pack further in 2000, beating Iowa State by 6.5 points, but their dominance was slipping ever so slightly. 

2000 ()

National champions: 
Eric Juergens (133 pounds) 

All-Americans: 
Jody Strittmatter (3rd, 125 pounds) 
Doug Schwab (3rd, 141 pounds) 
Mike Zadick (7th, 149 pounds) 
T.J. Williams (3rd, 157 pounds) 
Wes Hand (2nd, 285 pounds) 

The Hawkeyes rolled into the new millennium with the same force that allowed them to dominant the late eighties and early nineties. Led by national champion and three-time All-American Eric Juergens,  Jim Zalesky's squad edged out in-state rival Iowa State by just 6.5 points to claim their twentieth title. The 2000 championship title would be the last for the Hawkeyes for eight more years, but they ended strong and added the first banner of the decade to Carver-Hawkeye. Twenty years after this tournament, Iowa would produce a squad potentially as dangerous and dominant as any squad in program history. While the twenty-year anniversary of this 2000 win would not be marked with another title due to COVID-19, the 2000 championship will be remembered in Hawkeye history as the last title under the Jim Zalesky era and one that continued the Iowa success story. 

2008 () 

National champion: 
Brent Metcalf (149 pounds) 
Mark Perry (165 pounds) 

All-Americans: 
Charlie Falck (6th, 125 pounds) 
Joey Slaton (2nd, 133 pounds) 
Jay Borschel (3rd, 174 pounds) 
Phillip Keddy (6th, 184 pounds) 
Matt Fields (5th, 285 pounds) 

In 2006, Iowa legend and Olympic gold medalist Tom Brands returned to the program that built him with the mission of inspiring a winning program and taking Iowa to new heights. He took on the role with focus and fierceness, determined to coach athletes up to his level and beyond. One year later, Brands' squad lifted the trophy that he once lifted as an athlete. The Hawkeyes were on top again. Brent Metcalf and Mark Perry were largely responsible for that victory, as the two national champions raked in big points for Iowa, but a slew of five additional All-Americans proved to be the difference. Brands was back, and so was Iowa. 

2009 () 

All-Americans: 
Daniel Dennis (7th, 133 pounds) 
Brent Metcalf (2nd, 149 pounds) 
Ryan Morningstar (3rd, 165 pounds) 
Phillip Keddy (4th, 184 pounds) 
Dan Erekson (4th, 285 pounds) 

Tom Brands didn't even need a national champion in 2009 to win the NCAA tournament, and as the Hawkeyes put five on the podium and edged out Ohio State by 4.5 points to win the title, Brands had officially started a tournament winning streak of his own. Future Olympian and Hawkeye Wrestling Club head coach Daniel Dennis took seventh at 133 pounds while star and future Iowa State assistant coach Brent Metcalf took second at 149 pounds in an infamous final bout. Ryan Morningstar, who would go on to coach with Brands as an assistant for the Hawkeyes after his career, took third at 165 pounds and Phillip Keddy took fourth in what would be the second of three All-American finishes for the Hawkeye. Dan Erekson rounded out the lineup with his fourth place at heavyweight, ending a competitive tournament that left the Hawkeyes wanting more. 

2010 () 

National champion: 
Matt McDonough (125 pounds) 
Brent Metcalf (149 pounds)
Jay Borschel (174 pounds)

All-Americans: 
Daniel Dennis (2nd, 133 pounds) 
Montell Marion (2nd, 141 pounds) 
Ryan Morningstar (7th, 165 pounds) 

From zero national champs to three, Iowa put Matt McDonough, Brent Metcalf and Jay Borschel on top of the podium in 2010 for what would be Tom Brands' last NCAA title to date. The win marked Iowa's 23rd title, and the team also added a conference title that year, bringing the Big Ten championship count to 34. Brands, who won Big Ten Coach of the Year for the third time in 2010, now heads into the 2020-2021 season with 2010 All-Americans Ryan Morningstar on his staff for another season and Daniel Dennis at the helm of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. 

2021 (see full brackets)

National champion: 
Spencer Lee (125 pounds) 

All-Americans: 
Austin DeSanto (3rd, 133 pounds) 
Jaydin Eierman (2nd, 141 pounds) 
Kaleb Young (7th, 157 pounds)
Michael Kemerer (2nd, 174 pounds)
Jacob Warner (4th, 197 pounds)
Tony Cassioppi (3rd, 285 pounds)

After the cancellation of the 2020 tournament, the Iowa Hawkeyes stormed back in 2021 determined to accomplished the feat they had been denied the previous year because of COVID. This experienced squad of All-Americans battled the always-intense Penn State for the team title and lost two heartbreaking national final matches at 141 and 174 before Hawkeye Hero Spencer Lee came in and shutout Brandon Courtney to "," as Tom Brands said after the tournament, and help his team capture the championship title they had been looking for. Lee would go on to win his second Hodge Trophy, despite wrestling his final match of the year with two torn ACLs.