Iowa will open the 2005-06 wrestling season Sunday at the Spartan Classic in Dubuque, IA. Competition will start at 9:30 a.m. in the Stoltz Sports Center.
2005-06 SEASON PREVIEW
Iowa returns eight of 10 starters, and six of seven NCAA qualifiers from 2004-05. That number includes Iowa's four individual all-Americans and two NCAA finalists. The senior trio of Ty Eustice (149), Joe Johnston (157) and Paul Bradley (184) have two seasons of varsity competition and NCAA Championship experience. Bradley is a two-time all-American, while Eustice and Johnston each earned the honor last season. Iowa's other seniors looking to fight their way into the lineup are Trent Goodale (133), Cole Pape (165), and Adam Fellers (197). Also returning for Iowa is sophomore all-American and NCAA finalist Mark Perry, who will be moving up to 174 pounds. Junior Ryan Fuller (Hwt.), who competed in the varsity lineup in 2003-04, also returns and looks to make a run at the starting spot this season. The sophomore trio of Charlie Falck (125), Alex Tsirtsis (141) and Matt Fields (Hwt.) were newcomers who earned varsity spots last season. Tsirtsis and Fields qualified for the NCAA Championships.
ON THE AIR
Radio - Morrie Adams and four-time Hawkeye all-American Mark Ironside will call this season's action live on AM-800 KXIC. Broadcasts will start with the Iowa-Arizona State dual on November 26. To listen to the broadcast online, go to the wrestling schedule page on www.hawkeyesports.com. Broadcasts are available using the CSTV All-Access subscription, which can be purchased for $6.95 per month or $49.95 per year.
Television - Iowa Public Television, in its 30th season of televising college wrestling, will air live telecasts of Iowa's duals at Iowa State (Dec. 5), vs. Oklahoma State (Jan. 7) and vs. Illinois (Feb. 10). Tim Johnson, Jim Gibbons and former Iowa Wrestling Coach Dan Gable will call the action.
HEAD COACH JIM ZALESKY
Jim Zalesky is in his ninth season as head coach at the University of Iowa. He has a school and career record of 116-27 (.811). Named National Coach of the Year in 1998 and 1999, and Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2004, he has led the Hawkeyes to three NCAA (1998-00) and three Big Ten titles (1998, 2000, 2004). Zalesky has coached 10 NCAA Champions, 20 Big Ten Champions and 40 all-Americans at Iowa. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in June 2004, the University of Iowa Letterman's Club Hall of Fame and the Iowa High School Athletic Association Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1994.
A three-time national champion and one of Iowa's 15 four-time all-Americans, Zalesky was an assistant coach and head recruiter at Iowa under Dan Gable for seven seasons (1991-97). He was named Assistant Coach of the Year by the N.W.C.A. in 1992 and 1997. Undefeated as a junior and senior, Zalesky ended his career on an 89-match winning streak.
2005 NWCA All-STAR CLASSIC
Three Hawkeye have been invited to compete at the 40th annual NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the United States Marine Corps. The event will be held November 21 at 7 p.m. (CT) at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, OK.
Iowa seniors Joe Johnston (157) and Paul Bradley (184) and sophomore Mark Perry (174) will compete in the event. All three are scheduled to face Big Ten opponents. Johnston will wrestle Illinois' Alex Tirapelle, Perry will wrestle Northwestern's Jake Herbert and Bradley will face Illinois' Pete Friedl. Johnston has a 2-3 career mark against Tirapelle, scoring his most recent win (6-5) in the quarterfinals of the 2005 NCAA Championships. It will be the first meeting between Perry and Herbert, as Perry wrestled at 165 last season. It will also be the first meeting between Bradley and Friedl, as Friedl is moving up from 174. It will be Bradley's second appearance at the event, and Johnston and Perry's first. Bradley lost a 3-2 decision to West Virginia's Greg Jones last year.
2005 NWCA All-Star Classic Tenative Lineup
125 - Sam Hazewinkel (Oklahoma) vs. Nick Simmons (Michigan St.)
133 - Tom Clum (Wisconsin) vs. Mack Reiter (Minnesota)
141 - Teyon Ware (Oklahoma) vs. Nate Gallick (Iowa St.)
149 - Zack Esposito (Oklahom St.) vs. Jon Masa (Hofstra)
157 - Joe Johnston (Iowa) vs. Alex Tirapelle (Illinois)
165 - Johny Hendricks (Oklahoma St.) vs. Ryan Churella (Michigan)
174 - Mark Perry (Iowa) vs. Jake Herbert (Northwestern)
184 - Paul Bradley (Iowa) vs. Pete Friedl (Northwestern)
197 - Jake Rosholt (Oklahoma St.) vs. Joel Flaggert (Oklahoma)
Hwt. - Steven Mocco (Oklahoma St.) vs. Cole Konrad (Minnesota)
HAWK TALK WITH JIM ZALESKY
KXIC Radio (AM-800) will air the Hawk Talk with Jim Zalesky radio show this season. The show will be live from LaCasa Mexican Restaurant in Iowa City from 6-7 p.m. Here are the show dates:
November 16 February 15, 28
December 7 March 7
January 3, 17, 31
IOWA WRESTLING HISTORY
Iowa's overall dual meet record is 784-202-30 (.786) in 93 seasons. The Hawkeyes have won 20 national titles, including nine of the last 15, and 31 Big Ten titles. Iowa's 47 NCAA Champions have won a total of 73 NCAA individual titles, crowning six three-time and 13 two-time champions. The Hawkeyes' 99 Big Ten Champions have won a total of 180 conference individual titles. There have been seven four-time, 18 three-time and 24 two-time Iowa winners. Iowa's 127 all-Americans have earned all-America status 258 times, including 16 four-time, 27 three-time and 29 two-time honorees.
IOWA TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets and single meet tickets for Iowa's seven home duals are on sale at the University of Iowa Athletic Ticket Office. University of Iowa students will be admitted free of charge for all duals except Oklahoma State on January 7.
Season Tickets
$56 - General Public; $49 - University Faculty & Staff
Single-Match Tickets (Purchased in Advance)*
$8 - Adults; $4 - Youth
* - Iowa vs. Oklahoma State tickets are $10 each.
Single-Match Tickets (Purchased at the Door)*
$10 - Adults; $5 - Youth
* - Iowa vs. Oklahoma State tickets are $10 each.
Group Rates*
$4 - Per person with a group of 15 or more
* -- The group rate for the Iowa vs. Oklahoma State dual is $5 per person.
PACK THE PLACE - BREAK THE RECORD
The Hawkeyes will try to regain the dual meet national attendance record when they host defending NCAA champion and top-ranked Oklahoma State on January 7. Match time is set for 7:30 p.m. The current national attendance record of 15,646 was set February 1, 2002, when Iowa wrestled at Minnesota.
CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Carver-Hawkeye Arena has been the home for Iowa wrestling since 1983. The Hawkeyes have a record of 146-12 (.924) in the arena, which includes a record 10 victories during the 1986 season. Iowa has recorded 16 undefeated seasons in the arena, with the most recent (8-0) occurring in 2002-03. The dual wrestling attendance record for Carver-Hawkeye Arena is 15,291, set when Iowa defeated Iowa State on February 22, 1992. The arena seats 15,500 for a dual wrestling meet.
CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE
The Hawkeye wrestling staff of Jim Zalesky, Troy Steiner, Tim Hartung, Luke Eustice and Mike Zadick earned a total of six NCAA titles, 10 Big Ten titles and 15 all-America honors. Their combined college career wrestling record is 596-90-1 (.881), including four undefeated seasons.
HAWKEYES LEAD NATION IN ATTENDANCE
Iowa wrestling fans love their Hawkeyes, and have no problem coming out to show it. Iowa led the nation in home dual meet attendance last season, posting a season average of 5,073 fans per home dual. Oklahoma State was second (4,542) and Lehigh third (2,488).
The Hawkeye's ability to draw crowds on the road has helped 10 schools set dual attendance records. In 2004-05, Cal Davis (5,150) and Illinois (3,573) set records when they hosted the Hawkeyes. The other eight schools are Minnesota (15,646 - 2002), Iowa State (14,507 - 1982), Penn State (11,245 - 1996), Northern Iowa (10,200 - 1976), North Dakota State (6,307 - 1992), Pennsylvania (5,109 - 2002), Wisconsin (4,800 - 1978) and Cleveland State (3,620 - 1987).
Iowa has been a part of the 35 largest recorded dual meet crowds, helping to set the national attendance record 10 times. The current attendance record of 15,646 was set February 1, 2002, when Iowa wrestled at Minnesota. Thirty-two of the top 35 matchups were with intra-state rival Iowa State. The Hawkeyes have also wrestled in front of 44 of the 47 recorded dual crowds over 10,000. In 2004-05, Iowa competed in 11 of the top 20 reported dual crowds, hosting six (Iowa State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech, Indiana and Arizona State) and visiting for five (Oklahoma State, Cal-Davis, Illinois, Penn State and Northern Iowa).
OH BROTHER
There are four sets of brothers on the 2005-06 University of Iowa wrestling roster. Lucas and Thomas Magnani from Long Island, NY, Jacob and Justin Neuzil from Riverside and Ainsworth, IA, Cole and Dane Pape from Maquoketa, IA, and Ben and Brett Stedman from Sioux City, IA.
There have been 10 sets of brothers to wrestle together in the Hawkeye varsity lineup since the 1950s. They are Don and Tom Huff (1961), Mark and Scott Trizzino (1981), Lenny, Larry and Jim Zalesky (1981-82), Ed and Lou Banach (1981-83), Marty and Lindley Kistler (1984-85), Jim and John Heffernan (1987), Tom and Terry Brands (1989-92), Troy and Terry Steiner (1991-93), Ryan and Randy Fulsaas (2001) and Luke and Ty Eustice (2003-04).
Juniors Ben and Brett Stedman are the fifth set of twins to wrestle for the University of Iowa. Ed and Lou Banach, Tom and Terry Brands, Troy and Terry Steiner and Randy and Ryan Fulsaas are the other four.
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