Des Moines Register’s Top 50 all-time wrestlers from Iowa colleges: No. 1 through No. 50
Who is the greatest of all-time?
It’s a question that haunts every sport in one way or another. You see it in the Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate in basketball, and conversations about Patrick Mahomes catching Tom Brady in football, and when hockey fans wonder if anyone can reach the peak of “The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky.
Here in Iowa, we like to debate wrestling. As in, who is the greatest Iowa Hawkeye wrestler of all-time? Will anyone be as great as Iowa State’s Cael Sanderson was in college? How does former Cyclone Dan Gable’s loss to Larry Owings affect his legacy as a collegiate wrestler?
Wrestling is uniquely Iowan. Fans’ passion does not waver from one generation to the next. Iowans care deeply about the Cy-Hawk dual winner in November and the guys who reach the podium at NCAAs in March. Debates about “who’s better” are waged throughout the year.
The Des Moines Register decided to join in the fun and curated a top-50 list of the state of Iowa’s greatest college wrestlers of all-time.
For this exercise, we considered a wrestler’s resume only from their collegiate careers. No high school, national or international accomplishments were considered, comparing only the accolades earned within the confines of collegiate competition at Iowa colleges from every division. Experts such as wrestling historian Mike Chapman and former Wartburg head coach … more at … https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/2025/09/13/iowa-wrestling-des-moines-register-top-50-wrestlers-from-iowa-colleges-1-to-50/85522302007/?sltsgmt=0154_A
Barket, Console & Wallace Tabbed Duke University Wrestling Captains for 2025-26
DURHAM, N.C. —With the wrestling season approaching, Duke head coach Glen Lanham has announced tri-captains to lead the 2025-26 squad as Connor Barket, Gaetano Console and Aidan Wallace were selected. It marks the third season in a row that Barket and Console will serve as captains.
“All of the guys really put in a really good summer of work,” said Lanham. “Gaetano and Connor led us the last two years and now we add in a fresh face in there with Aidan. Aidan is very competitive and wants to take more of a leadership role. So, I think we’re heading in the right direction with all of these guys. Obviously, Connor and Gaetano have the experience of leading the team last year and they’ve done an outstanding job. And now, Aidan has stepped up in the mix. He had a really good season last year, was more vocal in the leadership role, more responsible and was named to the ACC Honor Roll. Aidan has showed that he was capable of being one of those three guys to lead the program.”
Coming off his first appearance in the NCAA Championship, Barket is primed for another outstanding season with the Blue Devils. He has won 40 matches over the last two seasons and was ranked as high as No. 17 nationally a season ago. Barket, who hails from West Lafayette, Indiana, totaled 24 wins this past year, which were the fifth-most in Blue Devil history as a heavyweight.
A native of Barrington Hills, Illinois, Console has been a steady leader since stepping foot on campus three seasons ago. Wrestling at 165/174 over his career, Console has tallied 19 wins as a Blue Devil. He is … more at … https://goduke.com/news/2025/9/19/barket-console-wallace-tabbed-wrestling-captains-for-2025-26
Iran wins Greco-Roman wrestling world championship after 11 years
Iran’s Greco-Roman wrestling team has won the championship title at the 2025 Wrestling World Championships in Croatia, securing victory ahead of schedule with an impressive medal tally.
Amin Mirzazadeh and Gholamreza Farrokhi, competing in the 130 kg and 82 kg weight categories, respectively, delivered outstanding performances, securing two gold medals for their team.
Payam Ahmadi, a young prodigy competing in the 55 kg weight category, won a silver medal. Mohammad Hadi Saravi, the Olympic gold medalist, is set to compete in the finals on Saturday evening and is tipped to clinch the third gold medal for Team Iran at Zagreb.
Danial Sohrabi secured the first bronze medal for Iran on Saturday, beating his Armenian counterpart 7-0 in a commanding fashion. … more at … https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/09/20/755380/Iran–Greco-Roman-wrestling-team-wins-championship-title-Croatia-2025-Wrestling-World-Championships-Pezeshkian-congratulates-team
World Champion Trent Hidlay to highlight second annual coaches clinic
OREM, Utah—Utah Valley University wrestling head coach Adam Hall has announced the second annual Utah Valley Wrestling Coaches Clinic on Friday and Saturday, October 24-25, 2025, in the UVU Wrestling Room. This year’s clinic features 2025 World Champion Trent Hidlay, who earned gold for Team USA on Monday, Sept. 15 in Croatia.
The UVU coaching staff, led by Hall, assistant head coach Timmy McCall, and assistant coaches Andrew Hochstrasser and Ed Scott, will serve as hosts for the event. Over the two days, the clinic will feature four technique sessions and specialized sessions with UVU Athletic Compliance, Sports Nutrition, and Strength and Conditioning.
Also among the presenters will be Utah Valley RTC head coach Jason Chamberlain and 2025 NCAA All-American for the Wolverines, Terrell Barraclough. The UVU staff will also host a coaches’ social from 5:00 to 6:30 on Oct. 24, leading up to Utah Valley’s annual wrestle-offs.
The clinic … more at … https://gouvu.com/news/2025/9/22/wrestling-world-champion-trent-hidlay-to-highlight-second-annual-coaches-clinic.aspx
On the Mat in 2026: IMG Academy to Launch Wrestling Program
IMG Academy Launches 11th Sport Program led by North Carolina Assistant Coach Enock Francios, Adding to its Unprecedented Growth of 4 New Sports Since 2022.
BRADENTON, Fla. (Sept. 17, 2025) – IMG Academy, the world’s leading sports education brand, announced the launch of its newest sports program. This bold expansion marks the fourth sport launched in four years, a testament to IMG Academy’s continued growth and commitment to its mission of empowering student-athletes to win their future both on and off the mat. Driven by its vision to be the global leader in performance and personal development, IMG Academy is expanding access to its world-class resources, providing more student-athletes with the opportunity to pursue their athletic, academic, and personal goals at the highest level.
Following the successful launch of softball and the addition of boys volleyball, the new wrestling program continues IMG Academy’s pursuit to be unrivaled in opportunity and access. As one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation, with a 129% increase in participation in 2021–22, wrestling presents a timely opportunity to deepen IMG Academy’s impact here and beyond. Wrestling is set to begin in 2026 with a series of spring and summer camps, leading up to the official launch of the boarding school program in August.
“At IMG Academy, our commitment to empowering student-athletes to win their future fuels our continuous evolution and has allowed us to grow our campus offering at a revolutionary pace over the last several years,” said Mike Milliron, Chief Operating Officer at IMG Academy Campus. “The launch of wrestling as our 11th overall sport marks an unrivaled milestone for our team, students, and families, and we cannot wait to see what we can accomplish under our wrestling leadership.”
To lead its newly launched wrestling program, IMG Academy has appointed Enock Francois as its Wrestling Director. Francois brings a distinguished track record of athletic and academic excellence, along with extensive coaching experience at top collegiate programs. He comes to IMG Academy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he served as an assistant wrestling coach under Rob Koll, an NCAA National Champion, four-time All-American, and three-time ACC Champion. … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14542328-on-the-mat-in-2026-img-academy-to-launch-wrestling-program
PSAC 75th Anniversary: 75 Greatest Male Athletes announced
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, celebrating its 75th anniversary season in 2025-26, continues the process of honoring 300 of its most prominent contributors throughout the month of September.
The third grouping so honored are the PSAC’s 75 Greatest Male Athletes, recognizing former male student-athletes that had exceptional athletic careers during or after their participation in the PSAC.
“The legacy of the PSAC has been built on the backs of remarkable student-athletes whose impact transcends box scores and record books,” said Steve Murray, PSAC Commisioner. “Honoring the 75 greatest male athletes in our history is more than a celebration of talent. It’s a tribute to the character, discipline, and competitive spirit that define our conference. These men didn’t just compete in the PSAC—they helped shape its identity.”
The PSAC was founded on March 11, 1951, and comprised 14 institutions as the Pennsylvania State Teachers College Athletic Conference (PSTCAC). Since then, it has grown into one of the largest conferences in the NCAA across all three divisions. … more at … https://psacsports.org/news/2025/9/11/general-psac-75th-anniversary-75-greatest-male-athletes-announced.aspx
Ken Kraft Midlands Championships Return to Northwestern University Campus
EVANSTON, Ill. – The Ken Kraft Midlands Championships are coming back to Evanston, Northwestern wrestling announced Thursday. After the last six tournaments have been held in Hoffman Estates, Ill., the prestigious event will return to campus on December 29-30, 2025, to be hosted inside Ryan Fieldhouse. “My staff and I are very excited to be bringing the Midlands Championships back on campus this December,” said head wrestling coach Matt Storniolo. “Ryan Fieldhouse will provide a truly unique setting for one of college wrestling’s premier events. We’re looking forward to welcoming some of the nation’s elite men’s and women’s programs to Evanston for two intense days of competition.”
It will mark the second time a wrestling event has been held in Ryan Fieldhouse after the ‘Cats hosted SIUE for a dual meet there in February of 2019.
The Midlands Championships have been hosted by Northwestern since 1963, when then-head coach Ken Kraft organized the inaugural tournament in La Grange, Ill. Beginning in 1972, the tournament was held annually in Welsh-Ryan Arena until 2017, when it moved off campus. This year’s tournament will be the 61st iteration of the event and the first one held in Evanston in nearly a decade.
READ MORE ON THE LEGENDARY KEN KRAFT
Last year’s field featured 25 teams on the men’s side, including nine ranked squads. This December’s tournament will be the fourth to feature a women’s division as well. … more at … https://nusports.com/news/2025/9/11/wrestling-ken-kraft-midlands-championships-return-to-campus
Cowgirl Wrestling is on the Rise and Dani Nugent is a Big Reason Why
Cowgirl wrestling is building something special.
The Oklahoma State Cowgirl Wrestling Club has quickly become a trailblazing force in women’s wrestling. They recently welcomed in one of the top female wrestlers in the nation, stamping a potential new beginning for Cowgirl wrestling. Daniella Nugent recently announced by way of Instagram that she would be continuing her academic and wrestling career at Oklahoma State University.
With a resume boasting four New England Prep titles, three National Prep championships, and a spot on the U.S. U20 World Championship team in Bulgaria, where she finished fifth, this wrestler has found a home in Stillwater’s orange and black.
“Joining the Cowgirl Wrestling Club has given me access to the best coaches, resources, and people,” Dani said. “Wearing orange and black is special because it represents the beginning of women’s wrestling history in a place that truly appreciates the sport. I’m extremely excited to compete for OSU.”
Since its inception in 2022, the Cowgirl Wrestling Club has leveraged OSU’s unparalleled wrestling tradition to foster a competitive environment. Training in the Cowboy Wrestling Club’s state-of-the-art facility under coaches like Izzak Olejnik, the Cowgirls are pushing boundaries despite their club status. For this wrestler, the move to Stillwater has sharpened her skills and resolve. … more at … https://www.si.com/college/oklahomastate/wrestling/cowgirl-wrestling-is-on-the-rise-and-dani-nugent-is-a-big-reason-why
Reasco becomes Ecuador’s first world champ as Maroulis adds to gold tally
ZAGREB, Croatia (September 16) — While Helen MAROULIS (USA) was adding to her mountainous pile of world medals with a fourth career gold, Genesis REASCO (ECU) made history by becoming Ecuador’s first-ever world champion.
Reasco reached the pinnacle of the sport with a 4-2 victory in the 76kg final over Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), denying the two-time world medalist her first gold in the last of four women’s finals on Wednesday at the World Championships in Zagreb. “I went in, gave my all, and it worked,” Reasco said. “That’s how the gold medal was achieved, because honestly, I have a lot of respect for all my opponents. They gave everything out there on the mat, and they were really good matches — both yesterday’s and today’s. Everything was very tough, very close.”
Maroulis, who will turn 34 on Friday, showed why she has accumulated eight medals overall in 12 trips to the World Championships when she scored a dramatic takedown with :05 left to edge Il Sim SON (PRK) 3-2 in the 57kg final.
In other finals, Myonggyong WON (PRK) gave the DPR Korea its second women’s title in two nights … more at … https://uww.org/article/reasco-becomes-ecuadors-first-world-champ-maroulis-adds-gold-tally
Hidlay takes World title by force, Haines finishes with silver, Carr fifth in men’s freestyle
ZAGREB, Croatia – Modern-day American Gladiator Trent Hidlay set Arena Zagreb ablaze in the final bout of the Monday evening medal rounds. He overcame an eight-point, first period deficit to become World champion at 92 kg in the highlight moment of the 2025 World Championships thus far.
After a couple jury reviews on 50-50 calls put Hidlay well behind on the scoreboard early, he mounted monstrous comeback against UWW athlete Amanula Gadzhimagomedov. Hidlay chipped away at the 10-2 lead before the break, cutting it to 10-5 on the scoreboard. The second period started slow, with no points until the final minute. The floodgates finally opened with Hidlay connecting on three takedowns, including the match clinching four-pointer, in the final 58 seconds.
The finals victory cemented Hidlay’s place in U.S. wrestling lore. He completed his tournament with a 5-0 record, notching signature wins over past World medalists Osman Nurmagomedov of Azerbaijan and Miriani Maisuradze of Georgia prior to the electrifying title match.
Hidlay became the second World champion for Team USA this week, joining 86 kg gold medalist Zahid Valencia atop the podium. It’s Hidlay’s first Senior-level World medal. He was a U20 World bronze medalist in 2019 and … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2025/september/15/hidlay-takes-world-title-by-force-haines-finishes-with-silver-carr-fifth-in-men-s-freestyle
TDR blog
After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
Martin Fleming, Editor
Takedown Report
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