Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Four (Or More) Time State Champions in College = Iowa

Iowa's first state championship was held in 1921. The first four time state champion wasn't crowned until 1962. This had a lot to do with freshmen ineligibility. I'm not sure exactly how it worked but I know in the Hawkeye state there was a time when certain schools could wrestle freshmen, while others either couldn't or chose not to. I'm not sure exactly when they became eligible for the entire state. 

Bob Steenlage 

Britt's Bob Steenlage was the first four time state champion in Iowa (59'-62'). Collegiately he wrestled for The Army, where he was a three time NCAA participant. He earned All American honors his senior season of 1966 with a 3rd place finish. A EIWA champion in 1965, he was runner up in 1966. 

Jeff Kerber 

Jeff Kerber won his four Iowa high school state titles for Emmetsburg from 76'-79'.  He had an outstanding career at the University of Iowa where he earned All American status on three occasions. Placing 5th in 1983 as a junior, he was 6th in 1982 & 1984 his sophomore & senior seasons respectively. He was also a three time BIG 10 champion. 

Scott Morningstar 

Winning four Iowa State titles for Lisbon from 77'-80', Scott Morningstar wrestled collegiately for Northern Iowa. Even though his career was severely hampered by injuries he did qualify for the NCAA championships his senior season of 1985. 

Joe Gibbons 

Representing both Waterloo Columbus as well as Ames, Joe Gibbons won Iowa State titles from 78'-81'. Collegiately competing for Iowa State, he had a standout career.  A four time All American, Gibbons won the NCAA title in 1985 as a junior, he took back to back 4th place finishes in his freshman & sophomore seasons, finishing 3rd as a senior.  Gibbons was also a four time BIG 12 finalist, winning titles his freshman & junior seasons. He graduated with a varsity record of 124-20. 

Greg Randall 

Greg Randall won four Iowa high school state titles for Mt. Vernon form 79'-82'. He wrestled for the Iowa Hawkeyes in college. 5th in the nation as a sophomore, he was runner-up in his freshman & junior seasons. A BIG 10 champion as a freshman, he was runner-up the next three seasons. 

Mark Schwab 

Mark Schwab won four Iowa High School state titles for Osage from 82'-85'.  Competing for Northern Iowa in college, he had quite a unique experience. Placing 5th in the nation as a true freshman in 1986, he then would get a severe staph infection that took him out for his sophomore & junior seasons. Making a miraculous comeback in 1990 as a redshirt senior, Schwab placed 6th in the nation. 

Dan Knight 

Dan Knight won Iowa high school state titles from 84'-87'. In college he wrestled for the Iowa State Cyclones. An All American his junior season of 1990 with a 4th place finish, he was also 3rd in the BIG 12 that season & a BIG 12 runner-up as a senior in 1991. 

Shane Light 

Representing Lisbon, Shane Light won Iowa high school state titles from 84'-87'. Collegiately he was an NJCAA qualifier for Ellsworth CC. 

Jeff McGinness 

Winning four Iowa High School state titles for Iowa City City High from 90'-93', Jeff McGinness had an outstanding career at Iowa. Placing 5th at the NCAA's as a true freshman, he won NCAA titles in his true sophomore & redshirt senior seasons. He was also a four time BIG 10 finalist, winning titles his sophomore & senior seasons. 

Jason Keenan 

Jason Keenan won his four Iowa High School State titles for Ogden from 92'-95'.  He decided not to wrestle in college to concentrate on his bull riding career instead. 

Eric Juergens 

Representing Maquoketa, Eric Juergens won four Iowa high school state titles from 93'-96'.  Competing collegiately for Iowa, his BIG 10 finishes mirrored his NCAA finishes. 3rd-3rd-1st-1st. 

Jesse Sundell 

Another four time state champion for Ogden (98'-01'), Jesse Sundell wrestled collegiately for Iowa State. There he was a two-time NCAA qualifier, placing 3rd at the BIG 12's as a junior in 2005. His senior season of 2006, he was also a Midlands runner-up. 

Mack Reiter 

Mack Reiter won four Iowa High school State titles for Don Bosco from 00'-03'.  Collegiately he competed for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Taking back to back 4th place finishes at the NCAA's as a freshman & sophomore, he was 5th as a senior.  He also won a BIG 10 title as a freshman, with a runner-up finish as a sophomore & a 3rd place finish as a junior. 

C.J. Ettelson 

C.J. Ettelson of Hudson won four Iowa High School State titles from 00'-03'.  He competed collegiately for Northern Iowa. Winning back to back Western Regional titles as a freshman & sophomore in 2005 & 2006, he was runner-up in 2007 as a junior & 3rd in 2008 as a senior. 

Dan LeClere 

Competing for North Linn, Dan LeClere won four Iowa High School state titles 02'-05'. Collegiately he wrestled at Iowa (after redshirting at Virginia Tech) where he qualified for the NCAA's as a sophomore in 2008. That season he also won a Midlands title. 

Jay Borschel 

Jay Borschel won four Iowa High School State titles from 02'-05' for Linn-Mar. In college after redshirting at Virginia Tech he wrestled for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Winning a national title as a senior in 2010, he was also 3rd in the nation as a sophomore in 2008. In the BIG 10 he won a title as a senior after back to back 3rd place finishes as a sophomore & junior. 

T.J. Sebolt 

T.J. Sebolt won four Iowa high school state titles for Centerville from 03'-06'. Originally slated to wrestle for Iowa State he decided not to wrestle in college. 

Bart Reiter 

Bart Reiter won four Iowa High School State titles for Don Bosco from 06'-09'.  Competing for both Minnesota & Northern Iowa while in college, Reiter's career was plagued by injuries. Nevertheless he did manage a 6th place finish at the MAC championships his junior season of 2013. 

Nick Moore 

Nick Moore won four Iowa High School State titles from 07'-10' for Iowa City West. Collegiately he wrestled the Iowa Hawkeyes becoming a three time NCAA qualifier. A BIG 10 runner-up as a junior in 2014, Moore was also a three time Midlands place-winner. 7th as a freshman in 2012, 2nd as a junior 2014 & 4th as a senior in 2015. 

John Meeks 

Representing Des Moines Roosevelt, John Meeks won four Iowa State titles from 09'-12'.  Competing for Iowa State in college, he took 6th place at the BIG 12 championships his senior season in 2017. 

Cory Clark 

Cory Clark was a four time Iowa High School State champion for Southeast Polk from 09'-12'. Collegiately he competed for Iowa. A national champion his senior season of 2017, he was twice the NCAA runner-up in 2015 & 2016, placing 5th in 2014. A BIG 10 champion in 2016, he was runner up in 17' & 3rd in 15'.  He was also a Midlands champion his sophomore season with 6th place finishes his freshman & junior years. 

Jake Marlin 

Jake Marlin won four Iowa High School State titles for Orient-Macksburg from 10'-13'. Collegiately he redshirted at Iowa & then transferred to NIACC (North Iowa Area Community College) where he was an NJCAA runner-up in 2015. 

Brandon Sorensen 

Brandon Sorensen won his four Iowa High School State titles for Denver-Tripoli from 10'-13'.  Collegiately he had an outstanding career for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Capturing NCAA All American status four times he was 4th-2nd-3rd-5th. A three time BIG 10 runner-up, he was also 3rd as a junior. To top that off three Midlands titles, along with two 3rd place finishes. All in all he was 127-17 in his varsity career. 

Carter Happel 

Competing for Lisbon, Carter Happel won his four Iowa High School State titles from 13'-16'.  Collegiately he competed for Iowa where he was 6th at the Midlands in 2017. 

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Of course Iowa still has four timers competing collegiately as it probably always will...

Brody Teske of Fort Dodge is at Northern Iowa, a BIG 12 champ two years ago was the BIG 12 runner-up this past season. 

Alex Thomsen of Underwood is at Nebraska 

Cael Happel of Lisbon is at Northern Iowa 

Matt Lewis of Centerville is at Indian Hills 
















































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